Swimming

Swimming requirements

1. Do the following:

   a. Explain to your counselor how Scouting’s Safe Swim Defense plan anticipates, helps prevent and mitigate, and provides responses to likely hazards you may encounter during swimming activities.

   b. Discuss the prevention and treatment of health concerns that could occur while swimming, including hypothermia, dehydration, sunburn, heat exhaustion, heatstroke, muscle cramps, hyperventilation, spinal injury, stings and bites, and cuts and scrapes.

2. Before doing the following requirements, successfully complete the BSA swimmer test: Jump feet first into water over the head in depth. Level off and swim 75 yards in a strong manner using one or more of the following strokes: sidestroke, breaststroke, trudgen, or crawl; then swim 25 yards using an easy, resting backstroke. The 100 yards must be completed in one swim without stops and must include at least one sharp turn. After completing the swim, rest by floating.
3. Swim continuously for 150 yards using the following strokes in good form and in a strong manner: front crawl or trudgen for 25 yards, back crawl for 25 yards, sidestroke for 25 yards, breaststroke for 25 yards, and elementary backstroke for 50 yards.
4. Do the following:

   a. Demonstrate water rescue methods by reaching with your arm or leg, by reaching with a suitable object, and by throwing lines and objects. Explain why swimming rescues should not be attempted when a reaching or throwing rescue is possible, and explain why and how a rescue swimmer should avoid contact with the victim.

   b. With a helper and a practice victim, show a line rescue both as tender and as rescuer. The practice victim should be approximately 30 feet from shore in deep water.

5. Do the following:

   a. Float faceup in a resting position for at least one minute.

   b. Demonstrate survival floating for at least five minutes.

   c. While wearing a properly fitted U.S. Coast Guard–approved life jacket, demonstrate the HELP and huddle positions. Explain their purposes.

   d. Explain why swimming or survival floating will hasten the onset of hypothermia in cold water.

6. In water over your head, but not to exceed 10 feet, do each of the following:

   a. Use the feet first method of surface diving and bring an object up from the bottom.

   b. Do a headfirst surface dive (pike or tuck), and bring the object up again.

   c. Do a headfirst surface dive to a depth of at least 5 feet and swim underwater for three strokes. Come to the surface, take a breath, and repeat the sequence twice.

7. Following the guidelines set in the BSA Safe Swim Defense, in water at least 7 feet deep*, show a standing headfirst dive from a dock or pool deck. Show a long shallow dive, also from the dock or pool deck.

   *If your state, city, or local community requires a water depth greater than 7 feet, it is important to abide by that mandate.

8. Explain the health benefits of regular aerobic exercise, and discuss why swimming is favored as both fitness and therapeutic exercise.

The official source for the information shown in this article or section is: Boy Scout Requirements, 2018 Edition (BSA Supply SKU #641568)

A FREE workbook for Swimming is available here! (PDF or Word) with the maps, charts, links, diagrams, and checklists you need! Or click here to print just the Swimming requirements.

meritbadge.org has PDF and Word versions of workbooks for Scouts BSA ranks and merit badges, Webelos adventures, Cub Scout ranks and adventures, and Nova awards.

• Per the BSA: "You should read the merit badge pamphlet on the subject." The Swimming merit badge pamphlet can purchased at ScoutSthop.org or at your local Scout Shop.
• "Get a signed Application for Merit Badge ... from your unit leader." An electronic, fillable, and printable PDF file version is available.

• Cub Scouts
  • Tiger Elective Adventure: Floats and Boats
  • Bear Elective Adventure: Salmon Run
  • Wolf Elective Adventure: Spirit of the Water
  • Webelos/Arrow of Light Elective Adventure: Aquanaut
• Scouts/Venturers/Sea Scouts:
  • Awards: Boardsailing BSA  •  BSA Lifeguard  •  BSA Stand Up Paddleboarding  •  BSA Swim Test  •  Kayaking BSA  •  Mile Swim BSA  •  Scuba BSA  •  Snorkeling BSA  •  Whitewater Rafting BSA  •  National Outdoor Award for Aquatics
  • Scouts BSA merit badges: Canoeing  •  Fish and Wildlife Management  •  Fishing  •  Fly-Fishing  •  Kayaking  •  Lifesaving  •  Motorboating  •  Rowing  •  Scuba Diving  •  Small-Boat Sailing  •  Swimming  •  Water Sports  •  Whitewater
  • Scouts BSA awards: Complete Angler
  • Scouts BSA ranks: Second Class - First Class
  • Venturer Ranger Award electives: Lifesaving  •  Scuba  •  Watercraft
  • Sea Scout ranks: Apprentice  •  Ordinary  •  Able  •  Quartermaster
  • Sea Scout awards: Small Boat Handler  •  Qualified Seaman  •  Long Cruise Award

• Scouts BSA merit badges: Archery  •  Athletics  •  Climbing  •  Cycling  •  Fishing  •  Fly-Fishing  •  Golf - Hiking  •  Horsemanship  •  Orienteering  •  Rifle Shooting  •  Shotgun Shooting  •  Skating  •  Small-Boat Sailing  •  Snow Sports  •  Sports  •  Swimming  •  Water Sports  •  Whitewater
• Venturing: Quest Award; Ranger Award electives: Cave Exploration  •  Cycling  •  Equestrian  •  Fishing  •  Hunting  •  Mountaineering  •  COPE  •  Shooting Sports  •  Winter Sports

• An Introduction to Merit Badges – how to get started, who chooses the counselor, etc.
• Merit Badge revision dates – latest revision dates of each merit badge pamphlet.
• Merit Badge Worksheets & Requirements – with the revision dates, diagrams, charts, checklists, logs, and links you need.
• Merit Badge Application – offers online resources to let you print "Blue Cards," etc.
• Merit Badge FAQ – answers dozens of questions like: Who can be a counselor? Can requirements be added or removed?
• Merit Badges Requiring Prior Approval – Certain requirements need prior approval. Most do not. Here is the list.
• Also see: List of how many youths have earned each Merit Badge – Merit Badge policies – Merit badges required for the Eagle Scout rank – Merit Badge Days
• Additionally: List of Merit Badges by Field of Study – Merit Badge Pamphlets & Libraries
• Merit Badge Counselors must complete Youth Protection Training, file an Adult Application (and Merit Badge Counselor Information Form); and be approved by the local council. (See the Guide for Merit Badge Counselors for additional details.)
• See Submitting New Merit Badge Ideas for guidance on how to submit suggestions for new merit badges to BSA.