Boy Scouts of America

Athletics Merit Badge

Athletics
Merit Badge

Boy Scouts of America Merit Badge Hub

Boy Scouts of America
Merit Badge Hub

Athletics

Athletics Merit Badge Overview

Being involved in an athletic endeavor is not only a way to have fun, but it also is one of the best ways for a person to maintain a healthy and strong body, living up to the promise each Scout makes “to keep myself physically strong.”
Athletics_merit-badge-overview

Athletics Merit Badge Requirements

The requirements will be fed dynamically using the scout book integration
If meeting any of the requirements for this merit badge is against the Scout's religious convictions, the requirement does not have to be done if the Scout's parents and the proper religious advisors state in writing that to do so would be against religious convictions. The Scout's parents must also accept full responsibility for anything that might happen because of this exemption.
1. Do the following:
  • (a) Explain to your counselor the most likely hazards you may encounter during athletics activities, and what you should do to anticipate, help prevent, mitigate, and respond to these hazards.
  • (b) Show that you know first aid for injuries or illnesses that could occur while participating in athletics events, including sprains, strains, contusions, abrasions, blisters, dehydration, heat reactions, and concussions.
2. Do the following:
  • (a) Before completing requirements 3 and 5, have your health-care practitioner give you a physical examination, using the Scout medical examination form.
  • (b) Explain the importance of a physical exam.
  • (c) Explain the importance of maintaining good health habits, especially during training-and how the use of tobacco products, alcohol, and other harmful substances can negatively affect your health and your performance in athletic activities.
  • (d) Explain the importance of maintaining a healthy diet.
3. Select an athletic activity that interests you, then do the following:
  • (a) With guidance from your counselor, establish a personal training program suited to the activity you have chosen. Follow this training program for three months.
  • (b) Create a chart to monitor your progress during this time.
  • (c) Explain to your counselor the equipment necessary to participate in this activity and the appropriate clothing for the time of year.
  • (d) At the end of three months, review the chart you created for requirement 3b, and discuss with your counselor what progress you have made during training. Tell how your development has affected you mentally and physically.
4. Do the following:
  • (a) Give the rules for two athletic activities, one of which is the activity you chose for requirement 3.
  • (b) Discuss the importance of warming up and cooling down.
  • (c) Explain to your counselor what an amateur athlete is and the differences between an amateur and a professional athlete.
  • (d) Discuss the traits and importance of good sportsmanship. Tell what role sportsmanship plays in both individual and group athletic activities.
5. Complete the activities in FOUR of the following groups and show improvement over a three-month period:
  • Group 1: Sprinting
  • (a) 100-meter dash
  • (b) 200-meter dash
  • Group 2: Long-Distance Running
  • (a) 3k run
  • (b) 5k run
  • Group 3: Long Jump OR High Jump
  • (a) Running long jump OR running high jump (best of three tries)
  • (b) Standing long jump OR standing high jump (best of three tries)
  • Group 4: Swimming
  • (a) 100-meter swim
  • (b) 200-meter swim
  • Group 5: Pull-Ups AND Push-Ups
  • (a) Pull-ups in two minutes
  • (b) Push-ups in two minutes
  • Group 6: Baseball Throw
  • (a) Baseball throw for accuracy, 10 throws at a target (distance to be determined by age): ages 11 to 12, 20 feet; ages 13 to 15, 30 feet; ages 16 to 17, 40 feet
  • (b) Baseball throw for distance, five throws (total distance)
  • Group 7: Basketball Shooting
  • (a) Basketball shot for accuracy, 10 free-throw shots
  • (b) Basketball throw for skill and agility, the following shots as shown on the diagram:
    1. Left-side layup
    2. Right-side layup
    3. Left side of hoop, along the key line
    4. Right side of hoop, along the key line
    5. Where key line and free-throw line meet, left side
    6. Where key line and free-throw line meet, right side
    7. Top of the key
    8. Anywhere along the three-point line
  • Group 8: Football Kick OR Soccer Kick
  • (a) Goals from the 10-yard line, eight kicks
  • (b) Football kick or soccer kick for distance, five kicks (total distance)
  • Group 9: Weight Training
  • (a) Chest/bench press, two sets of 15 repetitions each
  • (b) Leg curls, two sets of 15 repetitions each
6. Do the following:
  • (a) Prepare plans for conducting a sports meet or field day that includes 10 activities, at least five of which must come from the groups mentioned in requirement 5. Outline the duties of each official needed and list the equipment the meet will require.
  • (b) With your parent or guardian's and counselor's approval, serve as an official or volunteer at a sports meet to observe officials in action. Tell your counselor about your responsibilities at the meet and discuss what you learned.

Get the Athletics Merit Badge Pamphlet

Being involved in athletics is a way to have fun and one of the best ways for a person to maintain a healthy and strong body, living up to the promise each Scout makes to keep themselves physically strong.

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Bray Barnes

Director, Global Security Innovative
Strategies

Bray Barnes is a recipient of the Distinguished Eagle Scout Award, Silver
Beaver, Silver Antelope, Silver Buffalo, and Learning for Life Distinguished
Service Award. He received the Messengers of Peace Hero award from
the royal family of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, and he’s a life member of
the 101st Airborne Association and Vietnam Veterans Association. Barnes
serves as a senior fellow for the Global Federation of Competitiveness
Councils, a nonpartisan network of corporate CEOs, university presidents, and
national laboratory directors. He has also served as a senior executive for the
U.S. Department of Homeland Security, leading the first-responder program
and has two U.S. presidential appointments

David Alexander

Managing Member Calje

David Alexander is a Baden-Powell Fellow, Summit Bechtel Reserve philanthropist, and recipient of the Silver Buffalo and Distinguished Eagle Scout Award. He is the founder of Caljet, one of the largest independent motor fuels terminals in the U.S. He has served the Arizona Petroleum Marketers Association, Teen Lifeline, and American Heart Association. A triathlete who has completed hundreds of races, Alexander has also mentored the women’s triathlon team at Arizona State University.

Glenn Adams

President, CEO & Managing Director
Stonetex Oil Corp.

Glenn Adams is a recipient of the Silver Beaver, Silver Antelope, Silver Buffalo, and Distinguished Eagle Scout Award. He is the former president of the National Eagle Scout Association and established the Glenn A. and Melinda W. Adams National Eagle Scout Service Project of the Year Award. He has more than 40 years of experience in the oil, gas, and energy fields, including serving as a president, owner, and CEO. Adams has also received multiple service awards from the Texas Alliance of Energy Producers.