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Water Sports
Water Sports
Merit Badge
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.
Water Sports
Merit Badge Overview
Water sports are a fun and exhilarating way to enjoy being outdoors while developing strength, coordination, and fitness. By developing experience with water sports and practicing good judgment, Scouts will gain skills that will serve them well for a lifetime and have extreme fun while they do.
Water Sports
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:
- (a) Explain to your counselor the most likely hazards you may encounter while participating in water sports activities and what you should do to anticipate, help prevent, mitigate, and respond to these hazards.
- (b)
Review prevention, symptoms, and first-aid treatment for the following injuries or illnesses that could occur while participating in water sports: blisters, cold-water shock and hypothermia, dehydration, heat-related illnesses, sunburn, sprains, strains, minor cuts and bruises, spinal injury, and concussions and head trauma.
Resources: Cold Water Shock—How To Deal With Cold Water Shock (video)
What Happens if You Don't Drink Enough Water? Signs of Dehydration + 4 Ways To Keep Hydrated (video)
Dangers of Heat-Related Illnesses (video)
What Causes Sunburns? (video)
Sprain Care With RICE Method (video) - (c)
Review the Scouting America Safety Afloat policy. Tell how it applies to water sports.
Resource: Safety Afloat (website)
2.
Do the following:
- (a) Discuss with your counselor the characteristics of life jackets most appropriate for water sports, and tell why one must always be worn while waterskiing or wakeboarding. Then demonstrate how to select and fit a life jacket for water sports activities.
- (b)
Review and discuss the Water Sports Safety Code with your counselor. Promise that you will live up to it and follow it in all water work for this merit badge. Review the safety precautions that must be used by the boat operator in pulling waterskiers and wakeboarders.
Resource: Watersports Safety Code (PDF)
3.
Before doing requirements 4 through 6, successfully complete the Scouting America swimmer test.
Note: See the Swimming merit badge pamphlet for details about the Scouting America swimmer test.
Resource: Swimming Merit Badge Pamphlet (PDF)
Note: See the Swimming merit badge pamphlet for details about the Scouting America swimmer test.
Resource: Swimming Merit Badge Pamphlet (PDF)
4.
Show the following skier signals to the safety observer in the boat: skier safe, faster, slower, turns, back to dock, cut motor, skier in water.
Resource: Towed Watersports Hand Signals (PDF)
Resource: Towed Watersports Hand Signals (PDF)
5.
Showing reasonable control while using two skis, one ski, or a wakeboard, do the following:
- (a)
Show how to enter the water from a boat and make a deepwater start without help.
Resources: How To Get Up on a Wakeboard (video)
How To Stand Up on Water Skis (video)
How To Water-Ski for Beginners (video)
How To Ski on One Ski (video) - (b)
Starting from outside the wakes, show you can cross both wakes four times and return to the center of the wake each time, without falling.
Resources: Wakeboad Tutorial: Moving Around/Edging (video)
How To Carve and Cross the Wake (Wakeboard) (video)
How To Get Started in Water Skiing (video) - (c) Show you can fall properly to avoid an obstacle. Also show that you can drop handle and coast to a stop without losing your balance.
6.
While on shore, show that you know how to properly adjust the bindings of your ski(s) or wakeboard to fit yourself. Then, in deep water, show you can adjust bindings to fit. Recover and put on your ski(s) or wakeboard that has come off during a fall.
Get the Water Sports 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.
Water Sports
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