Athletics Merit Badge
Athletics
Merit Badge
Scouting America Merit Badge Hub
Scouting America
Merit Badge Hub
Requirement Updates 2026
This Merit Badge’s Requirements have recently been updated in 2025 Scouting America Requirements (33216). Please read more about “Requirements” on the Merit Badge Hub homepage. The previous version of the Merit Badge requirements can be found in Scoutbook.
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 Requirements
The previous version of the Merit Badge requirements can be found in Scoutbook
The requirements will be fed dynamically using the scout book integration
NOTE: The official merit badge pamphlets are now free and downloadable HERE or can be purchased at the Scout Shop.
1.
Do the following with your counselor:
- (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.
Resource: Preventing Injuries in Youth Athletes (video) - (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.
Resources: Using the Rice Method for Injuries - Rest, Ice, Compress, Elevate (video)
How to Treat Cuts & Scrapes (video)
Top 10 Most Common Sports Injuries (and How to Prevent Them!) (video)
2.
Do the following with your counselor:
- (a)
Discuss the importance of having a physical examination each year. Discuss why overall health, immunizations, medications, allergies, and medical history are covered during an examination. Tell your counselor when you last underwent a physical examination.
Resource: Annual Physical Exam (website) - (b)
Explain how you maintain 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.
Resources: Nutrition Tips for High School Athletes (video)
Refusing Use of Harmful Substances (video) - (c)
Describe the elements of a nutritious, balanced diet, and explain what you do to maintain a healthy diet.
Resource: What is MyPlate? (website)
3.
Select an athletic activity that interests you, then do the following:
Resource: Which Sport Are You Made for? Take Our 60-Second Test (website)
Resource: Which Sport Are You Made for? Take Our 60-Second Test (website)
- (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.
Resource: Keys to Sport-Specific Training (video) - (b)
Use a chart or other tracking method to monitor your progress during this time.
Resource: 7 Powerful Journaling Ideas for Youth Sports Athletes (website) - (c)
Explain to your counselor the equipment necessary to participate in this activity and the appropriate clothing for the activity and the time of year.
Resource: Equipment Needed to Play Various Sports (website) - (d)
At the end of three months, review your records from requirement 3(b), and discuss with your counselor what progress you have made during training. Tell how your development has affected you mentally and physically.
Resource: How Do You Measure Progress? (video)
4.
Do the following:
- (a)
Explain the rules for two athletic activities, one of which is the activity you chose for requirement 3.
Resource: Rules of Sports (website) - (b)
Discuss the importance of warming up and cooling down before and after each training session or event.
Resource: Stretching and Warming Up (video) - (c)
Explain to your counselor what an amateur athlete is and the differences between an amateur and a professional athlete.
Resource: What Is an Amateur (PDF) - (d)
Discuss the traits and importance of good sportsmanship. Tell what role sportsmanship plays in both individual and group athletic activities.
Resources: What is Good Sportsmanship? (video)
Olympians' Display of Sportsmanship Fosters Positive Attitudes (video)
What Does Sportsmanship Mean to You (video)
5.
Complete the activities in FOUR of the following options and show improvement over a three-month period:
-
Option A—Sprinting. Do ALL of the following:
Resource: How to Sprint (video) - (1) 100-meter dash
- (2) 200-meter dash
-
Option B—Long-Distance Running. Do ALL of the following:
Resource: Improving Your Running Form (video) - (1) 3k run
- (2) 5k run
- Option C—Long Jump OR High Jump. Do ALL of the following:
- (1)
Running long jump OR running high jump (best of three tries)
Resources: Running Long Jump (video)
Running High Jump (video) - (2)
Standing long jump OR standing high jump (best of three tries)
Resources: Standing Long Jump (video)
Standing High Jump (video) - Option D—Swimming. Do ALL of the following:
- (1)
100-meter swim
Resource: How to Swim Laps (video) - (2)
200-meter swim
Resource: Best Way to Swim a 200m (video) - Option E—Pull-Ups AND Push-Ups. Do ALL of the following:
- (1)
Pull-ups in two minutes
Resource: How to Do a Pull-Up (video) - (2)
Push-ups in two minutes
Resource: How to Do a Push-Up (video) -
Option F—Baseball Throw. Do ALL of the following:
Resource: How to Throw a Baseball (video) - (1) 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
- (2) Baseball throw for distance, five throws (total distance)
-
Option G—Basketball Shooting. Do ALL the following:
Resources: How to Shoot a Free Throw (video)
How to Shoot a Layup (video)
How to Shoot a Basketball (video) - (1) Basketball shot for accuracy, 10 free-throw shots
- (2) Basketball throw for skill and agility, the following shots:
- (a) Left-side layup
- (b) Right-side layup
- (c) Left side of hoop, along the key line
- (d) Right side of hoop, along the key line
- (e) Where key line and free-throw line meet, left side
- (f) Where key line and free-throw line meet, left side
- (g) Top of the key
- (h) Another spot along the three-point line
- Option H—Football Kick OR Soccer Kick. Do ALL of the following:
- (1)
Goals from the 10-yard line, eight kicks
Resource: Shooting a Soccer Free Kick (video) - (2)
Football kick or soccer kick for distance, five kicks (total distance)
Resource: Kick a Football Field Goal (video) - Option I—Weight Training. Do ALL of the following:
- (1)
Chest/bench press, two sets of 15 repetitions each
Resource: How to Bench Press (video) - (2)
Leg curls, two sets of 15 repetitions each
Resource: How to Do Leg Curls (video)
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.
Resource: Planning a Field Day (video) - (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.
Resources: How to Serve as a Swim Meet Timer (video)
Rules of a Swim Meet (video)
7.
Do ONE of the following:
- (a)
Explore three careers related to athletics. Research one career area by interviewing an expert in the field, visiting a site, or using other resources. Learn about training, education, expenses, job outlook, salary, and advancement. Discuss your findings and career interest with your counselor.
Resource: A Career as an Athletic Trainer (video) - (b)
Explore how an area of athletics could contribute to a hobby or healthy lifestyle. Research education, costs, and organizations related to this activity. Discuss your findings and goals with your counselor.
Resource: Making Athletics a Habit (video)
Get the Athletics Merit Badge Pamphlet
Merit Badge Pamphlets are now free and publicly available. Note: Always check www.scouting.org/skills/merit-badges/all/ for the latest requirements.
