Swimming Merit Badge Requirements
🦅 Eagle RequiredLearn proper swimming strokes, water rescue techniques, and diving skills. Master lifesaving methods to earn this Eagle-required merit badge.

Requirements
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Copy link to requirement 1Do the following:
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Copy link to requirement 1.aReview with your counselor how Scouting America’s Safe Swim Defense guidelines anticipates and deals with common drowning situations such as unfenced residential pools, nonswimmers entering deep water, risky behaviors, medical impairment in the water, drop-offs, cold water, murky water, river currents, rip currents, and surf.
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Copy link to requirement 1.bDiscuss 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.
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Copy link to requirement 1.a
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Copy link to requirement 2Before doing the following requirements, successfully complete the Scouting America swimmer test, found in the Swimming merit badge pamphlet.
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Copy link to requirement 3Correctly perform the following strokes:
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Copy link to requirement 3.aDemonstrate the front crawl or the trudgen using good form.
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Copy link to requirement 3.bDemonstrate the back crawl using good form.
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Copy link to requirement 3.cDemonstrate the sidestroke using good form.
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Copy link to requirement 3.dDemonstrate the breaststroke using good form.
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Copy link to requirement 3.eDemonstrate the elementary backstroke using good form.
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Copy link to requirement 3.a
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Copy link to requirement 4Swim continuously for 150 yards in a strong manner using each of the following strokes in any order; front crawl or trudgen (25 yards); back crawl (25 yards); sidestroke (25 yards); breaststroke (25 yards); and elementary backstroke (50 yards).
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Copy link to requirement 5Do the following:
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Copy link to requirement 5.aDemonstrate 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.
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Copy link to requirement 5.bWith 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.
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Copy link to requirement 5.a
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Copy link to requirement 6Do the following:
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Copy link to requirement 6.aFloat faceup in a resting position for at least three minutes with minimal movement.
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Copy link to requirement 6.bDemonstrate survival floating for at least five minutes.
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Copy link to requirement 6.cWhile wearing a properly fitted U. S. Coast Guard-approved life jacket, demonstrate the HELP and huddle positions. Explain their purposes.
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Copy link to requirement 6.dExplain why swimming or survival floating will hasten the onset of hypothermia in cold water.
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Copy link to requirement 6.a
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Copy link to requirement 7In water over your head, but not to exceed 10 feet, do the following:
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Copy link to requirement 7.aUse the feetfirst method of surface diving and bring an object up from the bottom.
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Copy link to requirement 7.bDo a headfirst surface dive (pike or tuck), and bring the object up again.
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Copy link to requirement 7.cDo 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.
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Copy link to requirement 7.a
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Copy link to requirement 8Following the guidelines set in the Scouting America Safe Swim Defense guidelines, 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. Note: If your state, city, or local community requires a water depth greater than 7 feet, it is important to abide by that mandate.
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Copy link to requirement 9Explain the health benefits of regular aerobic exercise, and discuss why swimming is favored as both fitness and therapeutic exercise.