Boy Scout Merit Badge Notes

The Boy Scouts of America has revised the Personal Fitness merit badge. A new Personal Fitness merit badge pamphlet is currently being produced and will be available in late 1999. This page contains notes for the old requirements which may be used until April 1, 2000. Effective April 1, 1999, Scouts may now earn Personal Fitness using the newer requirements.

[BADGE] PERSONAL FITNESS [EAGLE REQ]

Requirement #3

  1. From the Personal Fitness merit badge pamphlet, answer the questions titled "Evaluating Your Personal Fitness" and list several signs of poor personal fitness. Describe your activity in the eight areas listed at the end of the chapter titled "Social Fitness."

Evaluating Your Personal Fitness

To begin an evaluation of your personal fitness, ask yourself these questions:

  1. Are you free from all curable diseases? Are you living in such a way that your risk of preventible diseases is minimized?
  2. Are you immunized and vacinated according to the advice of your family and school physicians?
  3. Do you understand the meaning of a nutritious diet and know why it is important for you? Does your diet include foods from all food groups?
  4. Is your body weight and composition what you would like it to be and do you know how to modify it safely through exercise, diet, and behavior modification?
  5. Do you carry out daily activities without noticeable effort? Do you have extra energy for the activities?
  6. Are you free from habits relating to nutrition and the use of alcohol, tobacco, drugs, and other practices that could be harmful to your health?
  7. Do you participate in a regular exercise program or recreational activities?
  8. Do you sleep well at night and wake up feeling refreshed and energized for the new day?
  9. Are you actively involved in the religious organization of your choice and do you participate in their youth activities?
  10. Do you spend quality time with your family and friends in social and recreational activities?
  11. Do you support family activities and efforts to maintain a good home life?

Eight Social Fitness Areas

Review the following eight areas. If you are active in each of these areas, chances are that you are progressing toward a healthy life -- socially, mentally, emotionally, and physically.

  1. Health (nutrition, exercise, sleep)
  2. Social
  3. Hobbies
  4. Family
  5. Religion
  6. Work (and service to others)
  7. Education
  8. Culture (reading, art, good music)

Requirement #7

  1. From the Personal Fitness merit badge pamphlet, perform the physical fitness test ("Physical Fitness" section) with your patrol leader, Scoutmaster, parent, or adviser before doing the next two requirements. Be evaluated above the 50th percentile in the aerobic endurance test, flexibility test, and muscular strength test.

    Aerobic Endurance Test
    There are several tests that can used. They are the 9 or 12 minute run and the 1- or 1½-mile run. In the timed run, the objective is to run as far as you can in the allotted time (9 or 12 minutes). In the distance run, the objective is to run the given distance (1 or 1½ miles) in the shortest time. Walking is permitted but the Scouts should not stop. If they need to stop running, they should walk until they can continue to run.

    Percentile Norms for the 1-Mile Run for Boys Ages 10-18
    (in minutes and seconds)
    Age 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17+
    Percentile
    99 6:25 6:04 5:40 5:44 5:36 5:44 5:40 5:41
    95 6:56 6:50 6:27 6:11 5:51 6:01 5:48 6:01
    90 7:26 7:19 6:44 6:22 6:05 6:08 6:02 6:13
    85 7:40 7:30 6:57 6:33 6:13 6:18 6:12 6:28
    80 7:57 7:48 7:12 6:42 6:21 6:29 6:22 6:30
    75 8:10 8:00 7:24 6:52 6:36 6:35 6:28 6:36
    70 8:23 8:08 7:37 7:00 6:41 6:42 6:41 6:42
    65 8:34 8:21 7:48 7:06 6:48 6:56 6:47 6:57
    60 8:49 8:39 7:59 7:14 6:54 7:02 6:53 7:07
    55 9:03 8:56 8:08 7:20 7:01 7:07 7:03 7:15
    50 9:19 9:06 8:20 7:27 7:10 7:14 7:11 7:25
    45 9:34 9:25 8:34 7:40 7:15 7:23 7:19 7:30
    40 9:45 9:46 8:51 7:51 7:24 7:30 7:27 7:45
    35 10:10 10:10 9:10 8:02 7:34 7:41 7:40 7:58
    30 10:38 10:40 9:30 8:24 7:54 7:52 7:51 8:06
    25 11:05 11:31 10:00 8:35 8:02 8:04 8:07 8:26
    20 11:31 12:02 10:42 8:50 8:15 8:26 8:41 8:38
    15 12:11 12:40 11:20 9:09 8:43 8:48 9:10 9:05
    10 13:00 13:37 12:07 9:39 9:30 9:25 9:52 10:37
    5 14:28 15:25 13:41 10:23 10:32 10:37 10:40 10:56
    AAHPERD Health Related Physical Fitness Test

     

    Percentile Norms for the 9-Minute Run for Boys Ages 10-18
    (in yards)
    Age 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17+
    Percentile
    99 2,520 2,520 2,880 2,615 2,686 2,757 2,828 2,899
    95 2,250 2,250 2,400 2,402 2,473 2,544 2,615 2,615
    90 2,120 2,109 2,175 2,320 2,391 2,462 2,533 2,304
    85 2,013 2,025 2,042 2,213 2,284 2,384 2,455 2,526
    80 1,950 1,970 2,000 2,150 2,221 2,292 2,363 2,434
    75 1,910 1,925 1,975 2,096 2,167 2,238 2,309 2,380
    70 1,859 1,890 1,900 2,049 2,120 2,191 2,262 2,333
    65 1,810 1,860 1,860 2,008 2,079 2,150 2,221 2,292
    60 1,780 1,808 1,810 1,964 2,035 2,106 2,177 2,248
    55 1,725 1,770 1,790 1,926 1,997 2,068 2,139 2,210
    50 1,690 1,725 1,760 1,885 1,956 2,027 2,098 2,169
    45 1,633 1,690 1,740 1,844 1,915 1,986 2,057 2,128
    40 1,600 1,640 1,680 1,806 1,877 1,948 2,019 2,090
    35 1,584 1,600 1,620 1,762 1,833 1,904 1,975 2,046
    30 1,536 1,575 1,590 1,721 1,792 1,863 1,934 2,005
    25 1,487 1,540 1,500 1,674 1,745 1,816 1,887 1,958
    20 1,420 1,440 1,450 1,620 1,691 1,762 1,833 1,904
    15 1,356 1,390 1,356 1,557 1,628 1,699 1,770 1,841
    10 1,250 1,275 1,300 1,450 1,521 1,592 1,663 1,734
    5 1,110 1,170 1,000 1,368 1,439 1,510 1,581 1,652
    AAHPERD Health Related Physical Fitness Test

     

    Percentile Norms for the 1.5-Mile and 12-Minute Runs for Boys Ages 13-18

    Percentile    		 12-Minute Run
    (in yards)    		 1.5 Mile Run
    (in minutes and seconds)
    95 3,297 8:37
    90 3,140 9:15
    85 3,037 9:40
    80 2,952 10:01
    75 2,879 10:19
    70 2,819 10:34
    65 2,759 10:48
    60 2,699 11:02
    55 2,648 11:15
    50 2,592 11:29
    45 2,536 11:42
    40 2,485 11:55
    35 2,425 12:10
    30 2,365 12:24
    25 2,305 12:39
    20 2,232 12:56
    15 2,147 13:17
    10 2,044 13:42
    5 1,888 14:20
    AAHPERD Health Related Physical Fitness Test

    Flexibility Test
    By using the sit-and-reach test, boys should remove their shoes and sit down facing the sit-and-reach box with knees fully extended and flat on the floor and feet up against the end of the board. The arms are extended forward with the hands placed on top of each other with palms down. The boy bends at the hips and reaches forward along the measuring scale four times. Record the farthest reach.

    Percentile Norms for Sit and Reach for Boys Ages 10-18
    (in centimeters)
    Age 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17+
    Percentile
    99 37 38 52 41 43 47 45 48
    95 33 34 35 36 39 41 42 45
    90 31 32 32 34 37 39 40 43
    85 30 31 31 33 36 37 38 41
    80 29 30 30 32 34 36 37 40
    75 28 29 29 30 33 34 36 40
    70 28 28 29 29 31 33 35 38
    65 27 27 28 28 30 32 34 37
    60 26 26 27 27 30 32 32 36
    55 26 26 27 27 29 31 31 35
    50 25 25 26 26 28 30 30 34
    45 24 24 25 25 27 29 29 33
    40 23 23 24 24 26 28 28 32
    35 22 23 23 23 25 27 27 31
    30 21 22 22 22 24 26 26 30
    25 20 21 21 20 23 24 25 28
    20 19 20 20 19 22 23 23 26
    15 18 18 18 18 21 22 21 25
    10 17 16 16 15 18 19 18 23
    5 12 12 13 12 15 13 11 15
    AAHPERD Health Related Physical Fitness Test

    Muscular Strength Test
    Using timed sit-ups, the boy lies on his back with knees flexed, feet on the floor, and heels 12 to 18 inches from the buttocks. The arms are crossed on the chest with the hands on the opposite shoulders. The feet are held by partners to keep them in touch with the floor. The boy curls to the sitting position until the elbows touch the thighs. Arms must remain on the chest and the chin remains tucked on the chest. The number of sit-ups that the boy can correctly do in 60 seconds is the score.

    Percentile Norms for Situps for Boys Ages 10-18
    Age 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17+
    Percentile
    99 59 61 68 70 70 69 70 65
    95 50 51 56 58 59 59 61 62
    90 47 48 52 54 54 55 59 59
    85 44 46 50 52 52 52 55 56
    80 42 44 48 50 51 50 53 54
    75 40 42 46 48 49 49 51 52
    70 39 41 45 46 48 48 50 51
    65 37 40 43 45 46 47 49 50
    60 36 39 42 44 45 46 47 49
    55 35 38 40 42 44 45 46 48
    50 34 37 39 41 42 44 45 46
    45 33 35 38 40 41 42 44 45
    40 31 34 36 39 40 41 42 44
    35 30 33 35 38 39 40 40 43
    30 29 31 33 36 38 39 39 40
    25 27 30 31 35 36 38 38 38
    20 25 28 30 33 35 36 35 37
    15 23 26 28 31 33 34 33 34
    10 19 23 25 29 31 31 30 31
    5 15 17 19 25 27 28 28 25
    AAHPERD Health Related Physical Fitness Test

Requirements #8 & #9

  1. Outline a 4-week physical fitness program using the results of your physical fitness tests. Use the guidelines in the Personal Fitness merit badge pamphlet to write your program. Use exercises to develop aerobic endurance, upper body muscular strength, and flexibility of the lower back and legs. Have the program approved by your Scoutmaster or adviser and your parents.
    1. Fulfill requirement 1 for this merit badge
    2. Complete one of the four aerobic endurance tests, the flexibility test, the muscular strength and endurance test, and the body composition measurements.
    3. Fill in your results on the record sheet and chart your percentile ranks for each test (using the forms found in the appendix) on the progress chart.
    4. Determine the types of exercises you want or need to do, the amount of time you have to exercise, and the equipment or facilities that are available for your use.
    5. If muscular strength exercises are to be a part of your program, determine how many push-ups and pull-ups you can do.
    6. Use the guidelines discussed in the text concerning cardiovascular endurance, flexibility, and muscular strength and endurance to determine the frequency, intensity, and duration of your exercises.
    7. Write your exercise program out for each day of the week on a sheet of paper. Have it approved by your adviser or Scoutmaster and parents.
    8. Retest yourself after 2 full weeks of exercising. Also retest for the number of pull-ups and push-ups you can do. Record the results of this test on the record sheet and graph the percentile ranks on the progress chart.
    9. Retest yourself after another 2 full weeks of exercising and record your results on the record sheet and progress chart.
  2. Carry out the physical fitness program you write in requirement 8. Keep a log of all your exercises (i.e., how long you exercised; how far you ran, swam, or biked; how many exercises you did; your exercise hear rate; etc.). Test yourself again after two weeks of exercise on the information sheets provided in the Personal Fitness merit badge pamphlet. Compare improvements. Describe your experience.

Webmaster's notes:

bulletThe guidelines in the Personal Fitness merit badge pamphlet for writing your own exercise training program are an exact repeat of reqirements 8a-i (above).
bulletThe Personal Fitness worksheet contains the forms necessary to complete these requirements.

Back to Personal Fitness Merit Badge [OLD]

BSA Advancement ID#: 10
Pamphlet Revision Date: 1992

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Last modified on Tuesday, June 29, 2004