Req 6 — Planning a Sports Meet
Planning and officiating a sports meet puts you on the other side of athletics. Instead of competing, you are organizing, managing, and leading — skills that are just as valuable as physical performance.
Planning Your Sports Meet (Req 6a)
Your plan needs to include 10 activities, with at least 5 drawn from the Requirement 5 options. Here is a framework to help you design a well-organized event.
Step 1: Choose Your 10 Activities
You need a mix of individual and group activities that keep all participants engaged. Here is an example lineup:
| # | Activity | From Req 5? |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 100-meter dash | Yes (Option A) |
| 2 | Standing long jump | Yes (Option C) |
| 3 | Free-throw shooting (10 shots) | Yes (Option G) |
| 4 | Push-ups in 2 minutes | Yes (Option E) |
| 5 | Baseball throw for distance | Yes (Option F) |
| 6 | Soccer kick for accuracy | Yes (Option H) |
| 7 | Three-legged race | No |
| 8 | Relay race (4 x 100m) | No |
| 9 | Tug of war | No |
| 10 | Obstacle course | No |
Step 2: Schedule and Flow
A good meet runs smoothly because events are organized to avoid bottlenecks:
- Stagger start times so athletes can participate in multiple events.
- Run field events (jumping, throwing) simultaneously with track events — they use different spaces.
- Build in transition time (5–10 minutes between events) for setup, scoring, and hydration.
- Start with warm-ups and end with the most exciting event (often a relay race).
Step 3: Officials and Their Duties
Every meet needs officials to keep things running fairly and safely:
Officials and Roles
Key positions for a sports meet
- Meet director: Oversees the entire event. Resolves disputes. Keeps the schedule on track.
- Starter: Signals the beginning of races using a whistle or starting pistol. Watches for false starts.
- Timers: Record finish times for each competitor. At least two timers per event for accuracy.
- Judges (field events): Measure distances and heights. Determine legal attempts (foot faults, etc.).
- Scorers: Track individual and team points. Post results.
- Course marshals: Ensure athletes stay on course and spectators stay off the field.
- First-aid attendant: Staffs the first-aid station. Responds to injuries.
- Equipment manager: Sets up and breaks down equipment. Ensures everything is in the right place at the right time.
Step 4: Equipment List
Your plan should include a complete equipment list. Here is a starting point:
Equipment Checklist
What your meet will need
- Stopwatches or timing system (at least 2)
- Measuring tape (for distance events)
- Starting whistle or starter’s pistol
- Cones and markers (for lanes, boundaries, and distance markers)
- Baseballs, basketballs, soccer balls, and/or footballs (depending on events)
- Pull-up bar (portable or fixed)
- High jump bar and crash mat (if applicable)
- Sand pit and rake (for long jump)
- Scoreboard or score sheets
- Clipboards and pencils for officials
- First-aid kit
- Water station supplies (cups, coolers, water)
- Award ribbons, medals, or certificates
Serving as an Official (Req 6b)
For Requirement 6b, you will volunteer or serve as an official at an actual sports meet. This could be a school track meet, a community 5K race, a swim meet, a youth basketball tournament, or a Scouting field day.
Before the event:
- Get approval from your parent/guardian and your merit badge counselor.
- Contact the event organizer and offer to volunteer. Explain that you are working on your Athletics merit badge.
- Ask what role you will fill and if there is any training or orientation you need to complete.
During the event:
- Take your role seriously. Officials are essential to fair competition.
- Pay attention to how experienced officials handle calls, disputes, and the flow of the event.
- Note what works well and what could be improved.
After the event: Be ready to discuss with your counselor:
- What was your specific role?
- What did you observe about how officials handled difficult situations?
- What surprised you about the behind-the-scenes work of a sports meet?
- How did the experience change your perspective on officials in sports?