Learn ice skating, roller skating, in-line skating, or skateboarding skills including safety, equipment care, and advanced techniques to earn this merit badge.

Requirements

  1. 1. Safety & First Aid

    Safety & First Aid

    Do all
    Do the following:
    1. a.

      Explain to your counselor the most likely hazards associated with skating and what you should do to anticipate, help prevent, mitigate, and respond to these hazards.

    2. b.

      Show that you know first aid for injuries or illnesses that could occur while skating, including hypothermia, frostbite, lacerations, abrasions, fractures, sprains and strains, concussions, blisters, heat-related reactions, and shock.

  2. 2. Choose Your Skating Option

    Pick Your Option

    Choose 1
    Working under the supervision of an experienced adult, do ONE of the following options.

    1. Ice Skating Overview

      Do all
      Do ALL of the following:
      1. 1.

        Ice Safety & Courtesy

        Explain the general safety and courtesy guidelines for ice skating.
      2. 2.

        Outdoor Ice & Ice Rescue

        Discuss preparations that must be taken when skating outdoors on natural ice. Explain how to make an ice rescue.
      3. 3.

        Parts of Ice Skates

        Discuss the parts and functions of the different types of ice skates.
      4. 4.

        Carrying Skates

        Describe the proper way to carry ice skates at the rink and for travel.
      5. 5.

        Storing Skates

        Describe how to store ice skates for long periods of time, such as seasonal storage.
      6. 6.

        Forward Skating & Stop

        Skate forward at least 40 feet and come to a complete stop. Use either a two-foot snowplow stop or a one-foot snowplow stop.
      7. 7.

        Forward Glide

        After skating forward, glide forward on two feet, then on one foot, first right and then left.
      8. 8.

        T-Position Stroking

        Starting from a T position, stroke forward around the test area, avoiding the use of toe picks if wearing figure skates.
      9. 9.

        Backward Glide

        Glide backward on two feet for at least two times the skater’s height.
      10. 10.

        Backward Skating

        Skate backward for at least 20 feet on two skates.
      11. 11.

        180° Turn Around Cone

        After gaining forward speed, glide forward on two feet, making a turn of 180 degrees around a cone, first to the right and then to the left.
      12. 12.

        Forward Crossovers

        Perform forward crossovers in a figure-eight pattern.
      13. 13.

        Ice Race Safety

        Explain to your counselor the safety considerations for participating in an ice-skating race.
      14. 14.

        Hockey Stop

        Perform a hockey stop.

    2. Roller Skating Overview

      Do all
      Do ALL of the following:
      1. 1.

        Roller Safety & Etiquette

        Explain the general safety rules and etiquette guidelines for roller skating.
      2. 2.

        Parts of a Roller Skate

        Discuss the parts and functions of a roller skate and their functions.
      3. 3.

        Roller Skate Care

        Describe five essential steps to good roller skate care.
      4. 4.

        Forward Skating & Stop

        Skate forward with smooth, linked strokes on two feet for at least 100 feet in both directions around the rink and demonstrate proper techniques for stopping.
      5. 5.

        One-Foot Glide

        Skate forward and glide at least 15 feet on one skate, then on the other skate.
      6. 6.

        Forward Crossover

        Perform a forward crossover.
      7. 7.

        Backward Skating

        Skate backward for at least 40 feet on two skates, then for at least 15 feet on one skate.
      8. 8.

        Forward Slalom

        Skate forward in a slalom pattern for at least 40 feet on two skates, then for at least 20 feet on one skate.
      9. 9.

        Backward Slalom

        Skate backward in a slalom pattern for at least 15 feet on two skates.
      10. 10.

        Shuttle Skate

        Shuttle skate once around the rink, bending twice along the way, without stopping.
      11. 11.

        Spins or Hop-Skip-Jump

        Perform a series of two consecutive spins on skates, OR hop, skip, and jump on skates for at least 10 feet.
      12. 12.

        Stepover

        Perform a stepover.
      13. 13.

        Dribble or Hockey Ball

        While skating, dribble a basketball at least 40 feet, then back to your starting position, OR push a hockey ball with a stick at least 40 feet, then back to your starting position.

    3. In-Line Skating Overview

      Do all
      Do ALL of the following:
      1. 1.

        In-Line Safety & Courtesy

        Explain the general safety rules and courtesy guidelines for in-line skating.
      2. 2.

        Parts of In-Line Skates

        Describe the parts of an in-line skate and their functions.
      3. 3.

        Required Safety Gear

        Describe the required and recommended safety equipment for in-line skating.
      4. 4.

        In-Line Skate Care

        Explain four essential steps to good in-line skate care.
      5. 5.

        Forward Skating

        Skate forward with smooth, linked strokes on two feet for at least 100 feet.
      6. 6.

        One-Foot Glide

        Skate forward and glide at least 15 feet on one skate, then on the other skate.
      7. 7.

        Heel Brake Stop

        Stop on command on flat pavement using the heel brake.
      8. 8.

        Forward Crossover

        Perform a forward crossover.
      9. 9.

        Forward Swizzles

        Perform a series of forward, linked swizzles for at least 40 feet.
      10. 10.

        Backward Swizzles

        Skate backward for at least 40 feet in a series of linked, backward swizzles.
      11. 11.

        Lunge Turn

        From a strong pace, perform a lunge turn around an object predetermined by your counselor.
      12. 12.

        Mohawk

        Perform a mohawk.
      13. 13.

        One-Foot Downhill Slalom

        Perform a series of at least four one-footed downhill slaloms on pavement with a gentle slope.
      14. 14.

        Passing from Behind

        Describe how to pass a pedestrian or another skater from behind.
      15. 15.

        Avoiding Obstacles

        Describe at least three ways to avoid an unforeseen obstacle while skating.
      16. 16.

        Curb Techniques

        Describe two ways to get on and off a curb, and demonstrate at least one of these methods.

    4. Skateboarding Overview

      Do all
      Do ALL of the following:
      1. 1.

        Explain the history and evolution of skateboarding.

      2. 2.

        Describe the benefits of skateboarding (physical fitness, balance, coordination, perseverance, and creativity)

      3. 3.

        Explain the safety rules and courtesy guidelines for skateboarding, including right-of-way and communication signals and warnings.

      4. 4.

        Explain the protective gear needed to skate safely, including helmet, knee pads, elbow pads, and wrist guards, and show how to wear them correctly.

      5. 5.
        Describe the two main styles of skateboarding (street and vert), and describe common skatepark features (ramps, manual pad, rails, spine, etc.).
      6. 6.
        Explain skateboard anatomy (deck, trucks, wheels, hardware, etc.).
      7. 7.

        Build a board by assembling all pieces (deck, wheels, trucks, hardware, and grip tape) in the proper order.

      8. 8.

        Explain skateboard maintenance (cleaning, adjusting bolts, and replacing parts).

      9. 9.

        Explain the difference between regular and goofy stance, and demonstrate your preferred stance.

      10. 10.

        Demonstrate how to push, cruise, and carve on flat ground.

      11. 11.

        Show at least two braking and stopping techniques.

      12. 12.

        Do a basic ollie and at least one variation.

      13. 13.

        Show how to drop-in from coping.

      14. 14.

        Demonstrate THREE skateboarding tricks from the following types:

        Choose 3

        1. Flat ground tricks

        2. Flip and shove-it tricks

        3. Grind and slide tricks

        4. Air and grab tricks

        5. Footplant tricks.