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77HOW TO USE THIS PAMI IHLETThe secret to successfnlly earning a merit badge is for you to use boththe pamphlet alld the suggestions of your counselor-

Your counselor can be as important to you as .1 coach is to al1 ath]ete.Use all of the lesources your counselor can make available to you.This may be the best chance you will have to learn allout this particular

subject. Make it count.

WHO PAYS FOR THIS PAMPHLET?This merit badge pamphlet is one in a series of more than 100 co'all kinds of hobby and career subjects. It is made available for you

to buy as a seryice of the national and local councils, Boy Scouts:ofA mer i ca . The cos ts o f the de \ e lopmen( , wr i l i n8 . and ed i i ing o f rhe ] . . .meril badge pamphlers are pald for bv IIre Bo) Scouts of America ifr-order to bring you the best book at a reasonable price.

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If you or your counselor feels that any information in this pamphlet isincorrect, please let us know. Please state your soulce of information.

,.Merit badge pamphlets are rep nted annually ard requirements,.iripdated regularly. Your suggestions for improvement are welcome.

comments along with a brief statement about yourself to BoyDivision . Bov Scouts of America . 1325 West Walnut Hill Lane '

Box 152079 . IrvinS, TX 75015-2079.

B O Y S C O U T S or nmtRtcA '

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Note to the CounselorLike other merit badges, the swimming merit badge llas beendeveloped to teach and train youth in a manner consistent withthe overall goals and values of the Boy Scouts of America. Themerit badge counselor should be fair and consistent and shouldpresent and teach the skills as preseDted iD this pamplllet. Noneof the requirements should be omitted, and nothing shouid beadded to them.

Candidates with an extensive swimmiDg background maybe able to meet all or most of the requirements witlr little or noformal instruction from the counselor. Most Scouts, llowevetwill need instruction p or to completing the requirements.Scouts may train as a single buddy pair or in small Sroups.Training sessions can be on a flexible schedule. AlterDatively,larger groups may train together on a more formal basis atprearranged times. A counselor may also provide individualinstruction as long as there is another adult or youtll present.Subject to equipment availability and other constraints, eachcandidate should have the opportuDity to choose which of theoptional requirements he wil l complete. The'Aquatics" sectionof Camp Pro&ram a&d Property Management provides a sug-gested outline for Swimming merit badge instruction.

The merit badge instruction should begin with a review ofrequirement 3. This will lay a suitable foundation for safety andfirst aid rcquirements I and 2. This review also will indicate indi-vidual levels of skill proficiency in various strokes, floatinS, andfeetfirst entry. Scouts should learn the leaping entry in the firstsession. The leaping entry, the preferred entry for the swim testsused in the Second and Filst Class rank requiremerts, shouldbe taught and emphasized in the first session as a safety skill tobe used throughout the class. The faceup float (requirement 6a)

' . l r l l , r i l l r ) r ' r r ) i , : 1 3 5 2 . 8| !1 In \ , , r ! rn . . I t A t rn ) r ( ja

also should l)c t,rugllt in t ltc l i irst Chss session as a confidencebuilder and ns.l rosting nn(l sulviv.rl procedure for use duringthe clrss .rl( i l)fyor)(l.

Strokc inslructior) should begin in tlte fi lst session andcontinue throuAl)out t l)c cortrsc. Base individualized instructionon the pro[ici( 'ncy of t ' .rch parliciprnt. Each padcipant maybe given th('o!l)ortu|rity lo coorplete the stroke requirement(requirenrcot 5) whcn ltt .rppears ready.

Reg.rr(i ing otl)or' r(\ l lr i fclDel)ts, Scouts should first master sur-face dives (rc(luilclncIt 7) l)ciore beginning snorkeling and scubadiving (requift' )orrt tt.r). 'l hcy should receive diving instruction(requiremcnt 9) l)lior t(] contpetitive skills instruction [require-ment 8b). Suryiv.1l skil ls.rnd knowledge (requirements 4, 6b, 6c,and 6d) can l)( 'cov('[\ l , l t .]ny time, because they relate closely tothe safety.rnd [rclirrrin,rry skil ls i l l requirements 1 and 3.

lf ScoLrts conrplclo f('(luirenlenl l0 concuffently with in-waterskil ls instruclior). l lrt ' l l t l tr.trertirrent information should bepresented c'.lrly cr)ouglt it) the course to allow time for Scoutsto study and pr(' l). lr( ' ir)(l ividu.l l exercise program plans.Requirement 10c rrust lx'ron)pleted in writ ing. Requirementsl0a, 10b, and l(kl nr,ry lrt r irDe or.rl ly, but Scouts should notsimply l isten k).r pr('s('Dl,rl ioll iroln the counselor Each meritbadge candidale Ilusl l(.. lrn the material and demonstrate thatknowledge by cxpl.ri|r ir)l l thc i itcts or concepts to his counselor

SWMMING

'\

IFirst Class rank requiremeots:

(9a) Tell what precautions must be taken for asafe trip afloat.

Before doing the following requirement,successfully complete the BSA swimmer test:

Jump feetfirst into water over your head in depth,swim 75 yards in a strong manner using one or moreof the following strokes: sidestroke, breaststroke,trudgen, or crawl; then swim 25 ydrds usin8 dn easy,resting backstroke. The 100 yards must be swumcontinuously and include at least one sharp turn.After completing the swim, rest by floating.

with a helper and a practice victim, showa lille rescue both as tender and as rescuerThe prdctice vicrim should be dpproximarely30 feet from shore in deep water

4. Demonstrate survival skills by jumping feetfirst into deepwater wearin8 clothes (shoes, socks, swim trunks, longpants, belt, and long-sleeved shirt). Remove shoes andsocks, inflate the shirt, and show that you can float usingthe shirt for support. Remove and inflate the pants. Swim50 feet using the inflated pants for support, then show howto reinflate the pants while still afloat.

5. Swim continuously for I50 yards using the followingstrokes in good form and in a strong manner:front crawl or trudgen for 25 yards, backcrawl for 25 yards, sidestroke for 25 yards,brcaststrcke for 25 yads, and elementarybackstroke for 50 yards.

6. Do the following:

Float faceup in a resting position for atleast one minute.

Demonstrate suryival floatinS for at leastfive minutes.

while wea rg a properly fitted p6rsonalflotatlon device (PFD), demonstrate the HELPand huddle positions, Explain their purposes.

Explain why swimming or survival floating

(eb)

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Requirementsl . Discuss the prevention of and treatment for health concerns

that could occur while swimming, including hl,Tothermia,dehydration, sunburn, heat exhaustion, heatstroke, musclecramps, hyperventilation, spinal itiury, stings and bites, andcuts and scrapes.

Do the following:

a. Identify the conditions that must exist belore performingCPR on a person. Explain how to fecognizesuch conditions.

b. Demonstrate proper technique for performing CPR usinga training device approved by your counselor

Before doing the following requirements, successfullycomplete Second Class rank requirements 7a 7c a\dFirst Class rank requirements 9a-9c.

Second Class rank requiremerts:

(7a) Tell what precautions must be taken for a safe swim.

(7b) Demonstrate your ability to jump feetfirst intowater over your head in depth, level off and swim25 feet on the surface, stop, turn sharply, rcsumeswimminB, then return to your stdrdnB place.

(7c) Demonstrate water rescue methods by reachingwith your arm or le8, by rcaching with a suitableobject, and by throwing lines and objects. Explainwhy swimming rescues should not be attemptedwhen a rcaching or throwing rescue is possible, andexplain why and how a rescue swimmer shouldavoid contact with the victim.

3 .

(9c)

will hasten the onset of hvDothermia in cold water

SWIMMING

7. In water over your head, but not to exceed t0 feet, do each ofthe followingi

a. Use the feetfirst method of surface diving and bring anollject up from the bottom.

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

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

Do oNE of the following:

a. Detnonstrate snorkeling and scuba diving knowledge:

(t) Demonstrate selection and fit of mask, snor-kel, and fins; discuss safety in both pool andopen water snorkeling.

(2) Demonstr.rte proper use of mask, snorkel,and fins for underwater search and rescue.

(3) Describe the spo( of scuba diving or snorkel-ing, and demolstrate your knowledge of BSApolicies aDd procedures relating to that sport.

OR

b. Denonstraie the following competitive swimmir]8 skills:

(1) Racing dive from a pool edge or dock edge(no elevated dives from racing platforms orstarting blocks)

(21 Racing fonn for 25 yards on one conpetitive stroke(front crawl, back crawl, breaststroke, or butterfly)

(3) Racing turns for the stroke that you chose in 8b(21,OR, if the camp facil i t ies cannot accommodate tl leracin8 tuln, repeat 8b(2) with aD additional stroke.

(4) Describe the sport of competit ive swimminS.

FollowinS the guidelines set in the BSA Safe Swim Defense,in water.rl least 7 feet deep, show a standing headfirst divefrom a docl( or pool deck. Sltow a long shallow dive, alsofrom the dock or pool deck.

Do the following:

a. Explnin lhe health bctrefits of tegul.tr aerobic exercise,.rnd expl.rin wlry ruany peoplo torlay do ltol g!'t cltoughof the l)c' l leficial kin(is oi exercisc.

b. Discuss why swintnring is f.tvofL'(j is both.t t itness anda thefal)L\tl ic exercise.

Write.r plan for I swintnring cxcrcise progrant that wil lpronlotL' icrobic/v.tscul.rr fi tness, strength ard muscletone, bo(ly i lexibil i ty,.rnd weight control for a personoi Scout ige. ldcntify resources aDd lacil i t ies availablern youf home coDllltunity that would be needed forsuch a pfogram.

Discuss with your counselor the incentives and obstaclesior shying with tite fitress program you identif ied inrcquiremerlt loc. Explain the unique benefits that couldbe gained from this program, and discuss how persoralheallh awareness and self discipline would relate to yourown wil l ingness and abil ity to pursue such a program.

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Contents

S a l e t y . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 1

Swimming Sk i l l s . ' . . - .29

S w i m m i n g S t o k e s . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 5

S u r f a c e D i v e s . . . . . - . . 4 9

s n o r k e l i n g a n d S c u b a . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ' 5 3

D i v i n g . . . . . . . . . ' . . 6 9

C o m p e t i t i v e S w i m m i n g . . . . . . . . . . - . . . . . ' . . 7 5

Swimming fo r F i tness and Hea l th . . . . . . . . . . .91

S w i m m i n g R e s o u r c e s . , . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ' . . . 9 5

swtMMrNG 9

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SafetyDeveloped morc lhin 60 years ngo, the procedu|c.s included inthe Boy sco{rts oi Arnerica's walef safety plaD hivc carnedScoutiDg what is bcl icvc'r l to be the mosl colnlnenddble u,atcrsafety rt .cord of .rny youth organiznl iou in ihe Unitd States.

BSA Safe Swim DefenseAl) swimming activi tv in Scouling is conducted . lccofding toSafe Swinl Defense st.rnd.l fds. Thc r. ight points oi S.rfc Swin)Defcnsc . lre as iol lows.

1. Oualif ied SupervisionAll swimming activity must be supervised by amature and conscientious adult age 21 orolder who understands and knowinglyaccepts responsibility for the well-beingand salety of those in his or her care,and who is trained in and committedto compliance with the eight pointsof BSA Safe Swim Defense. It isstrongly recomnendcd tl-rat all unitshave at least one adLrlt ol olderyoulh member cufrently trained inBSA SwimDring aDd Water Rescueor BSA Lifeguard to issist in thepLanning and conducl of allswinrnlir lg activit ies.

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SAF TTY SAFETY

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Safe areas are

best inspected as

a team so hazards

can be identif ied

ano remove0

if possible.

2. Personal Health ReviewA complete health history is required of all partici-pants as evidence offitness for swimming activities.Forms for minors must be signed by a parent orlegal guardian. Participants should be asked to .elateany recent ilcidents of iliness or injury just pdor to theactivity. SupeNision and protection should be adjusted toanticipate any potential risks associated with individualhealth conditions. For significant health conditions, theadult supervisor should require an examiDation by a phy-sician and consult with the parent, guardian, or calegiverfor appropriate precautions.

3. Safe AreaAll swimming areas must be carefully inspected and pre-pared for safety prior to each activity. Water depth, quality,temperature, movement, and clarity are important consider-ations. Hazards must be eliminated or isolated by conspicu-ous markings and discussed with participants.

Controlled access, Tl]ere nust be safe areas for all participatirgability groups to enter and leave the water Swimming areas ofappropriate depth must be defired for each ability group. Theentire area must be within easy reach of designated rescuepersoDnel. The area must be clear of boat traffic, surfing,or other nonswimming activities.

Boftom conditions and depth: The bottom must be clear oftrees and debris. Abrupt changes in depth are not aliowed inthe 4o4.Iuimmer area. Isolated underwater hazards should bemarked with floats. Rescue personnel must be able to easilyreach the bottom. Maximum recommeDded water depth in clearwater is 12 feet. Maximum water depth in turbid water is B feet.

Visibility. Urderwater swimming and diving are prohibited inturbid water. Tirrbid water exists when a swimmer treadingwater cannot see his feet. Swimming at night is allowed onlyin areas with both surface and underwater lighting.

Diving and elevated entry. Diving is permitted only into clear,ulrobstructed water tom heights no greater than 40 inches.Water depth must be at least 7 feet for dives from fixed heightsup to 18 inches and at least 10 feet for dives from the side or adiving board for heights ftom 18 inches to 40 inches. Personsshould not jump into water from heights greater than they aretall, and only into water depths where impact with the bottomis absent or slight. No elevated entry is permitted where theperson must clear any obstacle, including land.

Water temperature. Comfortable water temperature for swim-ming is near 80 deSrees. Activity in water at 70 degrees or lessshould be oi l imited duration and closelv monitored fornegative effects of chilling.

Water quality. Bodies of stagDaDt, ietid water, areas with signif-icant algae or foam, or areas polluted by livestock or waterfowlshould be avoided. Comply with any signs posted by local healthauthorities. SwimminS is not allowed in pools with green, murky,or cloudy water.

Moving water. Pa icipants should be able to easily regain andmaintain their footing in currents or waves. Areas with largewaves, swiftly flowing curents, or moderate currents that flowtoward the open sea or into areas of danger should be avoided.

Weather. Participants should be moved ftom the water to aposition of safety whenever lightDing or thunder threatens.wait at least 30 minutes after the last lightning flash or thunderbefore leaving shelter Thke precautions to prevent sunbum,dehydration, and hypothermia.

PFD use. Swimming in clear water over 12 feet deep, in turbidwater over 8 feet deep, or in flowing water may be allowed if allparticipants wear properly fitted personal flotation devices andthe supervisor determines that swimming with PFDS is safeunder the circumstances.

1 : ' 1 3

SAI lTY SAF ETY

4. Response Personnel (Lifuguards)Every swimming activity must be closely and continuouslymonitored by a trained rescue team on the alert for andready to rcspond during emergencies. Professionally trainedIifeSuards satisfy this need when provided by a regulated facilityor tour operator When lifeguards are not provided by others, theadult supervisor must assigD at least two rescue personnel, withadditional numbers to maintain a ratio topaflicipants o[ 1:10. The supervisor mustprovide instruction and rescue equipmentaDd assign a-reas of responsibility asoutlined in the BSA publication Aqualicssuperuisioa. The qualified supervisor, thedesigDated response personnel, and thelookoul work lo8ether ds J safety team.A siorple emcrgc.nry action plan shouldbe formulated by the safety lean andshared with participants as appropriate

5. LookoutThe lookout continuously monitors the conduct ofthe

swim, identifies any departures trom Saie Swim Defenseguidelines. alerts response personnel as needed, and

monitors the weather and environment. The look. out should have a clear view of the entire area

but be close enough for easy verbalcommunication. The lookout must

have a sound ulderstanding ofSa/e Suim Defense but is notrequired to perform rescues.The adult supervisor mayserye simultaneously as thelookout but must assign the

ljf task to someone else ifengaged in activiti$ that

preclude focused observation.

6. Ability GroupsAll youth and adult participants are designated as swrrm-mers, beginners, or nonswimmersbased on swimmingability confirmed by standadized BSA swim classificationtests. Each group is assigned a specific swimming area withdepths consistent with those abilities. The classification testsshould be renewed annually, preferably at the beginning oftne season.

Swimmers pass this test: Jump feetfirst into water over thehead in depth. Level off and swim 75 yards iD a strong mannerusing one or more of the following strokes: sidestroke, breaststroke, trudgen, or crawl; then swim 25 yards using an easyresting backstroke. The 100 yards must be completed in oneswim without stops and must include at least one sltarp turn.After completing the swim, rest by floating.

Beginners pass this test: Jump feetfirst into water over thehead in depth, level off, and swim 25 feet on the surface. StoD.turn shdrtl ly, resume swimming, and relurn to the starting pl;ce.

Anyone who has not completed either the beginner or swimmertests is classified as a nonslvtmtner

The not$&rtmmer area should be no more than waist tochest deep and should be enclosed by physical boundaries suchas the shore, a pier, or lines. The enclosed beglaner area shouldcontain water of standing depth and may extend to depths justover the head. The surirnnter area may be up to 12 feel in depthin clear water and should be defined by floats or other markers.

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W"1 4 1 5

SAFETY 5A F ETY

7. Buddy SystemEvery participant is paired withanother participant. Buddies staytogether, monitor each other, andalert the safety team if either needsassistance or is missing.

Buddies check into and out ofthe area together. Buddies are nor-mally in the same ability Sroup andremain in their assigned area. If theyare not of the same ability group, thenthey swim in the area assigned to thebuddv with the lesser abilitv.

Buddy checks indicate how closely the buddies arc keepingtrack of each other Roughly every l0 minutes, or as needed tokeep the buddies togethet the lookout, or other pe$on desiS-nated by the supervisor, gives an audible signal, such as a singlewhistle blast, and a call for "Buddies." Buddies are expectedto raise each other's hand before completion of a slow, audiblecount to 10. Buddies who take longer to find each other shouldbe reminded of their responsibility for each other's safety.

A buddy check also helps the safety team monitor everyonein the water. If a buddy is missing, a search is begun immediatelyin accordance with a preananged emergency action plan. If every-one has a buddy, a count is made by area and compared withthe total number known to be in the water Once the count isconfirmed, a signdl is given to resume swimming.

8. DisciplineRules are elfective only when followed.All pafticipantsshould know underctand, and respect the rules and proce-dures lor safe swimming provided by Safe Swim Defenseguidelines. Applicable rules should be discussed pfor tothe outing and reviewed for all participants at the water'sedge iust before the swimming activity begins. People aremore likely to follow directions when they know the reasonsfor rules and procedures. Consistent, impartially applied rulessupported by skill and good judgment prcvide stepping-stonesto a safe, enjoyable outing.

Pool and Surf SwimmingSafe Swim Defense applies to swimming at a beach,private or public pool, wildemess pond, stream,lake, or anywhere Scouts swim. Here are someadditional Doints for the Dool and the sud.

#ffiqin a public pool. Even in a crowd, you are alonewithout protection if no one is paying attention toyour cucumstances.

The rule that people swim only in water depths suitedto their ability also applies at pools. Most public pools divideshallow and deep water. This may be enough for definingappropriate swimming areas. If not, the supervisor shouldclearly point out to participaots the appropriate areas of theDublic facilitv.

Surf. The sud environment-with its wave action, currents,tides, backwash, and sea life such as stinging jellyfish-requiresprecautions for safe swimming that aren't necessary in otherenvironments. A swimmer's physical condition atd skill arevery important and should enable the swimmer to recoverfooting in waves, swim for long periods without gettingworn out, and rcmain calm and in control when faced witl]unexpected conditions.

Designated swimming areas are marked by flags or pennantsthat are easy to see. Beginners and flonswimmers should bepositioned inshore from standing lifeguards who are equippedwith rcscue equipmelt. Better swimmers are permitted seawardof the lifeguards but must remain shoreward of anchored markerbuoys. The lifeguard-to-swimmer ratio should always be l-to-10with a rescue team supplied with a rescue tube or other flota-tion aid stationed at the beach area.

[Jnless your unit

is experienced

in ocean

swimming, it

is probably best

to swtm aI a

beach with

professional

l ifeguards.I1 6 SWIMMING 1 7

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SAFETY

Rip CurrentsThe United States Lifesaving Association estimates that most rescues-about 80 percent-at surf beaches involve swimmers caught in rip currenls,More than 100 swimmers die each year from this swimming hazard. Ripcurrents are long, narrow sections of waier that form after waves break andthe water goes back out. Rip currents form a funnel of current that movesmuch faster than the current on either side,The current can be so strongthat it may be difficult or impossible to swim against it. lt can carry anunsuspecting swimmer long distances from shore and even out to sea.

Rip currents occur in oceans and any place where there are waves,including bodies of water such as the Great Lakes.To avoid getting caughtin a rip current, do not swim near piers or.ietties (walls built out into thewater to protect a harbor or beach). Rip currents are often hard to see, butlook for the following clues:

e An area having a noticeable difference in water color

A channel of churning, choppy water

A line of foam, seaweed, or debris moving steadily away from shore

A break in the incoming wave pattern

lf you are caught in a rip current, don't f ight it by swimming towardthe beach. Instead,turn and escape byswimming parallelto the shore. lf thatdoesn't work, float ortread water. Call orwave for help.

First AidFollowirg Safe Swim Defense will eliminate any serious risks inswimming, but be prepared for minor inju es and remember totake proper precautions.

Hypothermia occurs when the body's core temDeraturefalls below rhe normal range and lhe body loses lreal faster thanit can produce it. Early signs of heat loss inciude bluish lips andshivefing. Further cooling will upset the victim's ability to thinkclearly and to do simple tasks. The person may appear groggyand lack coordination. As cooling continues, the pulse rateslows and blood is directed to the critical organs and away fromthe extremities as the body attempts to prevent further heat loss.The heart and lungs keep working at the expeDse of the hands,feet, and brain. Further cooling will lead to unconsciousnessand even death.

The first treatment for hypothermia is to prevent fu herheat loss. Once out of the water, the victim should not be allowedto walk. Move him to warmth and shelter such as a building,tent, or vehicle. As soon as possible, remove wet clothins andput on dry cloLhes or wrap the person in a blJnker or dry row-els. If the victim is unconscious, open the ajrway and check forbreathing. You may apply warm (but not hoo towels or itemssuch as hot water bottles wrapped in a towel to only the trunk,crotch, neck, and head. Do not rub his legs or apply warmingdevices to tlte arms or legs. Tl]ese actions may cause more bloodto flow to tlte surface of the skin and away from vital organs.Finally, since even mild cases of hypothermia place the bodyin a highly stressed condition, closely watch all hypothermiavictims for several hours even if they appear to have recovered.

Heat reactions, including heat exhaustion and heatstroke,result when the body can't keep itself cool enough. Symptomsof heat exhaustton may include dizziness, fainttess, nausea. anda severe lack of energy. A person with heat exhaustion also maydevelop a headache, muscle cramps, and a rapid pulse; lookpale; and be sweating heavily. To treat heat exhaustion, havethe victim lie down in a cool, shady spot with the feet raised.Loosen clothing and cool him with a damp cloth or a fan. Havehim sip water. Recovery should be rapid. If the condition wors-ens, get medical help.

Prevent heat

reactions by

drinking plenty

offluids and

limiting time

out In the 0pen

on h0t days.

1 8 SWIMMING SWIMMING 1 9

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Fi(,.r/-strok.'is the extrem.', life thre.rtL'ning stage oi i Iteatreaction in which {l(try(lratror! (water loss) has caused.l veryhigh body teDrper, l lure. ' fhe vict i In's cool i l lg system has startedto fai l , Jnd t l lc persoD's cofe lenrperature is nl a daog('rouslyhigh levcl. 1D adcl i l ion to any symptons of heal exh.rustion,heatslroke synplonls can iDclLrde hot, swelty, red ski! l , confu-sioD, in( l disofienlJl ion; thc vict i In m.ry b€. unconscious. ' fhevicl ir l n)rrst be coolcd immediately. Looscn t igl l t clothinS, lanhirn, Jr)( l ipply w{] l lowels. I i yclu have ice packs, wr.rp lhem iDa thir) [) .rr r icr {such .]s a

' l ' -slr ir l ) and placc them under the alnr

pi ls JD(l .rg.r iust t l lo neck ani l Sroin area. l f the person is ableto ( lr i l ( , give snr.r l l .rnrounts ol cool watc'r. ' l ' reat lor shock al ld

seek r.nrL'fgency rnotl ic.r l help.Muscle cramps, sometiDros c.r l led n)uscle spasms, occur

when nrtrscles arc not gett ing ( 'rrorrgh oxySen or nutierl ls orwherl l l rc blood i low cnnnot prcvenl the bui l( l-up of waslesin muscles. Vigofous cxercise and sweating cnD cause nlusclecr.rrrps io the l i l r ]bs. Cold walcr or cold wr. i lher incrensL's thel ikel ihootl oi cranrping. Sudden, viSorous r. 'xercise withoLrt proper

warm-up . l lso can increase the r isk of I Iruscle cramps. l f a musclt '

begiDs lo cramp while you nre swinrminE, get out ol thc walerand orissage lhe cranrp- I f coDdil ions are ho(, cool down nDddrink i luids. I f condit ions are cold, t ind w.rrmih and covcr Rubthe crinrping muscles to inlprovc circulnl ion.

.Srr i ibura is i i in) i l i . rr condil ion thal can occur duri l lg swim-ming i lct ivi t ies. RcflL.cted sunl iSht from the water can be asdamaging as direct t 'xposure. lb prevenl sunlrurn, covr. l up, usea walerproof sunscreen, ard l inr i t your t ime in the sLlL l f your

skin bcgins to reddcn or feel p,r inful, get oul of the sun. To treaisunl)urn, apply cle. ln, wet col lpresses (clolhs, towels, or 8auz0pads) dipped iD cool water. Pmlect the burned area fronr furlhersun exposure.

Stings and bites nre Dot .r corlDron hazard when swim-miDB in pools or I .rkes, bnt i s. i l twater s$rimmers lnay suffersevoc st ings from ccrlain types of jel lyf ish or other sal lw.ttercreature.s. Knowil lS the body of w.i ter yoLl a]|e swinl lning in andavoidinu possible corl tnct with d.urgerous sc.r animals is the beststrat..By. l.bfjellv/isir.stinlir^, soil( the arca with vinegar of.rlcohol,or covcr with a plstt ' of baking soda mixc(l with waler Cet Inedical ht lp i f the pain is severe; i f the pain does trot let up in .r sl torl

t ir)re; or if the victin hds .I l i l l lergic re.'tcl ion, feels djzzy, or h.tstfouble bre.ithing. 1tr typ(.11 insed .srit.rl.s and bires, .rpply basiclirst.rid as described in the l loy -Scout H.urdbook or t ltc Fii.sr Airlnrerit []adgc' pamphlet.

Cuts and scrapes rniy occur oll lhe feet whell swimmillgin n.rtural w.i lcfs if the boltoln has nol bccn careiullY clleckedlof hazards. In pool swimDtil lg, suclt i l t j i l f ies a.e |lofe l ikelywhen climbing in Jnd out ol the watL'r '!\/ i lhout boiltg careiuli loDg lough edgcs or cornefs. As in olltL' l situ.tt ions, l l tc woundsiroLlld be clcin.'d, disiniectccl,. iDd cove.ed. Thc pntrol f i l lst. l idkit shoLlld cont.rin appropfiite supplies ior minor woundtrcatnrent. ]rof severe bleediug injurjos, control biccding ivithdlrecl pressure or at pressufe points Until emefgcncy ntedic.tlholI nrrives.

Spinal iniuries can occLrr-from diving into sh.rl lorv oroL)stfucted watcr. Rescuers ntust be vcry careful whcn.r spin.rliDjrrry is suspecled. Spinal injuries c.tn bc fatal or can causepirnlysis. lf the victim is nol handleil pfoperlv, ndditioual sei ious ir1jury coLlld result. Moving a vicli ) is an cxtfom!.1_v delic,ttct. lsk best lefl lo lr. l ined L{rc'fgelrcy pt|sonnel, bllt i f t)o one elsois pfcscnt you miy need lo.lct. ID a s$rintntiDg accident, yountny have to mo\'a'the vicli l l l lo prevent drowniltg or to perfofDtrescue breathing.

Cardiopulmonary resuscitation {CPR) is the importantfirst response in a cardiac emergency. CPR is used innear-drownings when a victim's breathing and heart-beat have stopped. Include individuals trained in CPRat every swimming outing. Complete CPR should beattempted only by persons trained and qualif ied underthe supervision of a trained instructor.The Boy ScoutHandbook and the First Aid meril badge pamphlet fur-ther explain CPR and when it should be used.

Some important techniques are not covered byrequirement 2 of the Swimming merit badge.To receivefull and proper CPR training, contact your American RedCross chapter or the American Hean Association. Seethe resources seclion at the end of this pamphlet.Yourcounselor can help you.

Speaking of stings

and bites, if you

will be swimming

In tne 0cean,

beware of sharks.

{Althouqh bull

sharks have beer

known to inh a bit

the waterways ot

the Miss iss ipp i l )

The possibil i ty of a

shark bite is p retty

remote, but play

it safe by finding

out what you can

about the area

where you wil l be

swimming before

you dec ide to

dive in.

lfyou have a

cramp while

swimming in deep

water and cannot

swim to salety,

float on your bac k

or survivalfloat

and waitfor help.

/ \ ) ? 1

\ , \ | | r Y

when tendiDg to a suspected spiDal injury victim, movethe victiDr's heacl, ntcl<, .rnd back as l itt le as possible. Thetechnique used lo l irri l lhis moveDent is called in l ire sr{rbil izotion. For infornlirt ioll on this techniclrLe, see the chaplefconcerniDg spinal iDjury managemeDt in the l i lesdriis lneli lbadge pamphlet.

Hyperventilation is the result of overbreathing, eitherdeliber.rtely or. 'rs.r result oI panic. HyperventilatinB decreasesthe level of c.irbon dioxide in the blood and suppresses thebre.rthing feflex. The likr.ly result is dizziness and fainting.HypeNentilatioD ffom panic is not l ikely to occur in swimmiugif all p.lrt icipants st.ry in w.1ter sttited to their individual skil llevels and thc activity is properly supervised and disciplined.If a swinrnrer becornes panicky, he or she should be removedfrom the watef and calmed. Before resuming any watc'r aclivi ly,detenrine aDd resolve 1he callse of the panic. A foolish swim-lner may deliberatc'ly l lyperventilate to suppress lhe bre.rlhingreflex for undef[r.rlef swiInDrinS. l 'his is danSerous and puls lheswin)n'rer at hi8h risk. such conduct is prohibited.rnd slrould i)esharply disciplined.

Survival Skills

Cold WaterWhen a person is i l l coLd water, t l le skin and nearby tissues coolquickly. The body immediately begins producinB heat to rew.rrlrthe skin and to prcvcnt the cooling of vital organs. Hypothefl)i. loccurs when the body loses heat faster than it can produce il,which causes the irlternal body temperature to decrease.

Water or air terrpefalure lower than 70 degrees poses hypo-thermia risks. lf goosc bulnps appear on wet skin sho|1ly altelleavin8 the water, then lhe air leinperature should be consideredcold and swirnmers should take proper precautions. The firslprotection for coid water aclivity is to reduce the lengih of t i lncin or on the w.rter. At 70 dc'grees, maximum sate in-the-w.rterl i r c i - Jpprox i rn , r le ly 20 r ) l inu les . Open wd ler sw imor ing intenper.rtures of 65 degr.'es or lower may pose substanlial risksand sbould be avoided. ln all swilnmiDg activit ies, precautionsshould include procedures and equipment for immediate wnrln'ing of anyont showing syrrptoms of chil l .

Activities AfloatFor all activity afloat on cold water or in cold weather,wear appropriate clothing to keep you warm.Youshould wear a personal f lotation device (PFD) at allt imes, normally on top of the outermost garment. Havea dry change of clothes available in case of a spil l. As lnswimming, preparation and plans for any activity afloatshould include procedures and equipment for warminganyone showing symptoms of chil l . Overboard activ-ity is not recommended in water temperatures of 65degrees or lower, except for closely supervised capsizeskil ls training in preparation for activity afloat.

A properly fitted U.S. Coast Cuard a;rprovecl PFD should beworn for all activit ies afloal iD slnall cf,rf l. The PFD will help keepyou afloat. In addition, it can provide insul.lt ion and significantlyfeduce heat loss in cold water thal corrld leacl to hypothermia.

lf you are alone in colci rv.rtcr lncl more th.r] .1 shortdistaDce from safety, your best strategy is to float motionless.This wil l help you conserve heat. Ke€'p your PFD and allclothing on for insulation. Heat loss is mosl rapid from the headand crotch.

Because water wil l rnove heat awayfrom the body faster than.rir, keepingyour face and head in the water wil lspeed up heat loss. Vigorous swirDrringwill chil l you most rapidly. Treadingwater is t i l ing and wil l produce heatloss almost as rapidly as swimmiDg.Survival f loating, or drown-proofi ng(described later iD this chapter), mi8hlbe somewhat better than swimning ortreading water if your movenlents arcslow and limited, but submer8iDg llrehead and face wil l increase heat Ioss.

Moving water and

wind substantially

increase the loss

of body heat.

Swimming and

treadrnq water

a lso coo l the

l)o(ly fasler than

r ( j n i i l | n r r q s t i l l .

For tleading water, You can use therotary kick, but do so sparingly.Yourbody wil l t i re quickly and lose heatrapidly when treading water.

23

\ ' \ l l { \ : \ r \ l I i )

HELP (heat escape lessening posture) Huddle together with sides touching.

For these reasons, your best cold-water sulvival strategyis to float notionless with your PFD and clothes oD, your headout of the water, and youl leSs drawn up close to your chest.This is calLed the heat ejcape lessentag posture [HELP). lf yotlare stranded in cold water with one or more persons, you shouldhuddle together to reduce the cold water contact and conserveheat. To do this, press together tjghtly and float motionless.

Surviving in Cold Water. Wear a PFD.

. Keep your head out of the water

. Get out of the water onto your boat, a log, a raft, oranything that f loats.

. Remain as sti l l as possible while in the water.

. While afloat in the water, do not attempt to swimunless it is to reach a nearby craft, fellow survivor,or f loating object that you can lean on or climb onto.

. lf there is more than one person in the water, hud-dling is recommended while waiting to be rescued.

. Maintain a positive mental attitude. Never give

up nope"

Survival f loating, or drown-proofing

Survival Floatingwhat if you find yourself ir deep water without flotation support and too far Irom shore to swim? Perhaps you were sweptout to sea by aD uDusually stlong currellt or thrown ovelboaldfiom a boat in strong waves. You must keep yourself afloat unti lhelp arrives. Floating on your back is a good plan if there are l1owaves. Another possibil i ty is survival l loating, or drown-ploofing,which wil l work even if you are being tossed arould by windand waves.

To survival float, begiD by takiDg a breath, putting your facein tl're water, and iloatil]g lacedown in a relaxed position [thejellyfish float). For most people, the back of the neck will bre.rkthe surface of the water After holding your breath for a comfortable length of time, begin to exhale slowly while spreadjng yourlegs and brjnging your arms up near the suface. As you exhale,bring your leSs togethel and push gently down wilh your arms.This movemeDt should Sive you just enough lift to raise yourhead and mouth above the surface for a quick breath. After get-ting youf breath, lower your head and ilnmediately returl toyour relaxed, facedowl position.

Several different arm and le8 moveneDts (such as anoccasional slow scissors kick) may work well when survivalflo.rt ing. ExperimeDt and practice to find what works best foryou. Remember: Less movement is better because you are tryingto coDserve your energy. Slow, rela-red movement is better thanqllick or precise movements that take more energy.

SWIMMING SWIMMING')L

5 A I I I Y S A I r - r Y

As you practice survival floatirg, you may fiDd that youneed to keep your head above water longer than one quickinhalation and that you end up briefly treadil8 water. This wiilquickly tire you. To correct the probleln, be sure to exhale com-pletely while your head is down in the water. Practice suNivalfloating until it becoDres easy for you to make slow movementsand to exhale in the water and lift yonr head just enough forone quick breath. Remember to relax it may be a long wait-

Clothing Inflation

Occasionally, a boater or passenger wil l fall into deep water farfron shore. If tl'ris ever happens to you, being able to inflate [fillwith air) a shi or a pair of pants is a survival skil l that couldsave youi life. Tlrese iterns of clothiDg can help you stay afloatwl)i le you swirn to safety ol unti l you.rre rescued.

TIrere are several skills used to irflate clothing.While i lating your clothes, you nlay have to treadwater by using the scissors kick or whip kick, but thismay soon tire you. lf you become tired before yourclothes can be inflated, you must be able to rest by float-ing on your back as well as in a facedown survival float.

If you fall into the water wearing a button up shifimade of cottor or sone other tiShtly woven fabric, youcan stay afloat by trapping air iD the shirt's back andshoulders. {A shirt without a collar does Dot work wellfor flotation.) Bntton the top collar button or hold thecollar closed with your hand. open a space betweenthe secoDd and third buttons. Position youl head so thatyour mouth is over the opening and then blow air intoit. Hold the collar tight and keep your elbows down toprevelt air leakage.

A pair of pants can provide additional flota-tion. While wearing the inflated shirt, first removeyour shoes, Ietting them sink or float free. You don'tneed to worry about your socks. Then remove youtpants carefully. Do not turn them inside out. Inflatea pocket with a puff of air. The pocket will supportthe parts while you carry out the next steps. It willalso keep them ftom siDking if they slip out of yourhands. Next, use a square knot to tie the pant legstogether as near to the bottom of the pants as youcan. Pull the knot tight and close the fly.

"Splashing" air into the pants is thequickest and easiest means of inflation, butit might take some practice before you master this tecbnique. Hold the wajstband openjust below the surface, cup your hand in theair, and strike tbe water just in front of thepants. Follow through so that the air pusheddown by your hand enters the opening ofthe pants. You should move the air justbelow the surface and then sideways so that itbubbles upward into the pants. The method will not work if youfail to lift your hand clear of the water or if you strike directlydownward. lf you have difficulty with this method, you can fillthe pants by holding the waistband under the water with bothhands, taking a breath, sillkinB so that your lrlouth is lower thdnthe waistband and then blowine air into them from beneath.

when the pants are infiated, grasp the waistwith the fly toward you and place your headtluough the opening between the legs. Rest yourhead on the knot, lie back, and relax. If youIrave a belr, you cdn use ir in severdl wdys. lnone method, you close the belt [if not alreadyclosed), grasp it in ftont of the fly, pull dowDto bunch the belt Ioops, and tigllten thewaist. Inse your leg through the loopformed by the excess io the belt. The otherway is to slide both ends of the belt outof the front belt loops, so that it passestluough the back loops only. Place the frontof the pants next to your chest and fasten thebelt behind you. Doing this ftees up your hands for signalingor slowly swimmirg the elementary backstroke. Air will escapeftom the pants if you allow the material to dry. Splash waterover them ftom time to time to help them stay filled with air.As needed, add air to the pants by loosening the waistband andsplashing iD air.

Step 3-Place the pants aroundyour necK.

Stepl Inl late a pocket.

26 swrMMrNG

Step 2-Splash air into the pants.

21

r$il11iNSWIMMING

Swimming SkillsOne of the most important elements of safety in the water is theability to swim. Strcng swimmers can swim a reasonable dis-tance with a confident, steady stroke. But strcng swimmerc arenot safe swimmers until they can make a safe water entry swima restful stloke, and maintain themselves in the water whenhurt or exhausted.

Every First Class Scout has demonstated that he is a strong,safe swimmer who has mastercd certain in-water skills. The BSAswimmer test-required for First Class advancement-includesthese in-water skills and represents the minimum level of abilityfor safe deepwater swimming. Consider the components ofthe test:

1. "Jump feetfust ilto water over your head in depth, . . ."

You must be able to make an abrupt entry into deep water andbegin swimming without any aids. Walking in from shallowwater, easing in ftom the edge or down a ladder, pushing offftom a pool's side or bottom, and gaining forward momentumby diving do not satisfy this requirement.

2. ". . . swim 75 yards in a stront manner using one or moreof the following strokes: sidestoke, breaststroke, trudgen,o r q a w l ; . . . "

You must be able to cover distance with a strong, confidentstrcke. The 75 yards must not be the outer limit of your ability.You should be able to complete the distance and still haveenough stamina to avoid undue risks. Dog paddling and shokesrepeatedly inte$upted and rcstarted are insufficient, and under-water swimming is not allowed. The strdkes listed above mayinclude vadations. Any strong sidestroke or breaststroke, or anystrong overarm strcke-including the back crawl-is acceptable.

SwIMMINc SK ILLS

S w I M M I N c S K I L L S S w I M M I N C S K I L L S

3. ". . . then swim 25 yards using an easy, resting backsboke. . . ."

You must perform a restful, free-breathing backstroke that can beused to avoid exhaustion during swimming activity. This part ofthe test will need to follow a more strenuous swimmiDg activityto show that you can, in fact, use the backstroke to rest andrecover You must accomplish the change of stroke in deep waterwithout any push-off or other aid. Any vadation of the elemen-tary backstoke is acceptable. An overarm back crawl may beused if it clearly allows you to rcst and catch your breath.

4. ". . . The 100 yards must be swum continuously and includeat least one sharp turn. . . ."

You must cover the total distance without stopping. The sharpturn demorstrates your ability to reverse direction in deep waterwithout assistance or a push-off from the side or bottom.

5. ". . . After completing the swim, rest by floating."

This critically important part of the test evaluates your ability tomaintain youself in the water indefinitely even thoughexhausted or otherwise unable to keep swimming. Tfeadingwater or swimming in place will funher tire you and therefore isunacceptable. The length of the float test is not important,except that it must be long enough for the tester to deteminethat you are resting and likely could continue to do so for a pro-lonSed period. Drown-proofing may be sufficieot if it is clearlyrestful, but it is not preferred. If the test is completed except forthe floating requirement, you may be rctested on the floating(after instruction) only if the tester feels confident that you caninitiate the float when exhausted.

Entering the WaterGet into the habit of entering the water feetfirst whenever youpractice swimming skills. This will protect yoUI head and neckfrom being injured by unseen objects below the surface or whenthe water is shallower than you think. It is always safer to learnand practice entries in water that is over your head in depth.

5 FEET MAXIMUM

Leaping entry {stride iump)

Leaping Entry (Stride Jump)Stand with both feet near the edge of the pier or pool.The water should be at least 5 feet deep. Lean forwardand step far out over the water while pushing off withthe other foot. Keep your arms straight and slightly tothe side. Keep your head up by looking forward. Youshould lean into and move out over the watef not jump up. Limitthe height of the stafiing point to 3 feet above the water As yourfeet and legs enter the watet snap them together as in a scissorskick. Bring your arms straight down in a slapping motion to brcakyour entry iffo the water Timing is key; if you do it fight, youwon't even get your chin wet. In lifesaving, this entry allows youto keep your subject constantly in sight.

SWIMMING 3 l

SWIMMINC SK I LLS

Wheneveryou

are Iloating, try

to keep your

lungs well

inllated with

air. This wil l

help you

remain buoyant

FloatingFloating faceup is the most restful way to maintain yourself indeep water This simple skill requires buoyarcy and balance.Buoyancy is the ability to float. Your body has two balancingpoints known as the ceftter of btnyaftcy ar\d the center of weeht.when you are floating, yotn body's center of buoyancy is inyour chest. The air in your lungs is mainly what keeps youafloat. Your body's center of weight is lower-about the level ofyour hips. Your hips and legs are quite heavy, because they aremade of muscle and bone. In the water, gravity pulls your hipsand legs down, while the air in your lungs makes the upper partof your body more buoyant. When you try to float on your back,your legs and feet sink and your head and chest rise.

To float without moving, you need to adjust your bodyso that the center of buoyancy is directly above the center ofweiSht. For many people, this means floating with the feet wellbelow the surface and only the head or mouth at the water'ssudace, When floating, some swimmers are positioned almostvertically in the water

It is possible to float in a more horizontal position. You can-not chan8e your center of buoyancy, because you cannot changethe position of your lungs. You can, however, change yoir cen-ter of weight. To change your center of weight when floating,move your arms away from your sides and above your head.Bend your legs at the knees and let your feet sink or pull yourfeet up behind and underneath you, This will shift your centerof weight closer to your center of buoyancy.

Practice floating in chest-deep water. Start ftom a stand-ing position. TAke a deep breath and hold it. Bend your kneesslightly and lean backward, arching your back and moving yourneck backward until your ears are in the water and your chinis your highest point. Slowly move your hands and arms awayftom your sides with your palms up. Keep your arms and haldsin the water and move them so they folm a Y above yourshoulders. Do not try to arm stroke or kick into a higher position,because this will thrcw off your balance. Relax and let your bodysettle into its natural floating level and position in the water.

Remember, the natural floatint posidonfor many people is with their legs and feethanging down almost vertically. Others floathigh on t}|e water with their hips and legsnear the sudace. Begin by holding your floatposition as long as you can hold your breath.When you need to breathe, quickly exhale andthen breathe in frcsh air through your nose ormouth to keep your lunSs filled with as muchair as possible. As your floating experienceand confidence increase, you will be able tobreathe in a more relaxed and natural rhlthm.

S w I M M I N C S K I L L S

swtMMtNo

Swimming StrokesB_v conrplet ing thc. Secortd Class and First Chss swint 'ming requirr.nlenls, -vou have shorvrt thnt yoLl h.1\ 'e

sol lre ski l l and endLlr. lrce. To earn the SwiD]lnirtgr p i t b . r . l B , r " r . r | t t . r ' t t t l r ' r . l " r l l u r ' : l _ . l F ! . r ' l

slvinrnring stlength arr(l slroke froiicienc-v b), , i ' j-

***ffiG''Coocl folm" lur ' . ,rrs lhal -vou neecl to , f t l ' i r i t t t .

Ds ,11 , .111 , ' . t s , f n .p \ \ : r | . l ' " ' , ' ' ' ' ' f i ' - i ' t ' l i i i , ' : , , . '

- , r - l , F , r ' r l r i s l ' , , , t , l l r r . l - ' r p r . r r r r l r l , t ' r , . , r \ \ \ \ f t - , 'I ,'

'i:'liliirl,

;i'j:li;::;,li:l'r rl'-:'i:]iri:lr:rlll-, .'\'''')ll;\,'_

-\V!,1vilorous, bol lbiDg st|oke.rs trsed i l l conl l tel i t iol l , i t is r lol

satisf ictory for this reqLrifement. DoiDg the backstroke using

a irog l( icl( fathel th. in.r whip kick also is tur. icccplable ior

this lequiremort.YoLr nlso are requircd to swirr the spc'cif icd strokes i l l .1

' 's l fong lnaDrcr. " This nleans no fcst stops and no g.rsping,p.Irt ing f inishes. Thc stroke sequenct. bcgins wilh the ntol-c

streDlrous strokes and moves thfough lo the more rcstf l l l sl fokes,

with the l .rst strokc beiDS the nrost rest iul. \ 'olr .shol l lLi / i r l lonr l / lc

shDke .\.'.lucn aa rh prrscntcd ir t/tc ra/ui[]inent. If you complete

thr. swirn iu .1 stroo8 mnnnef" in thc spccif ied sequeltcc, thenyou shoLrld be festeLl ancl .rblc lo contir lLle wcl l bcyorld the

150-yard requirenrcnt.oD the fol lowiug p. lgcs, you wil l f ind thc rcquired str(rkes

i l lustr.rted.lnLl txplained as you shoulal s\{r i t l ] theln lo col l lplete

requircnrent 5.

s t ! l A , t M t N ( i

Front Crawlof the eltire leg. 'fhe movement begins nr the hips and -.G-Kick. The ilutter l( ick relies otr rel.rxed ankles and the use

flows to thc'feel. As one foot moves downward, the othercomes up iD i beating, or f luttering, rhylhDl. Kick from

As your fool ntoves upward, keep that leg ind knee straight.The l<icl< should be smooth and sleady, and your feet

should stay just under the water with olt ly your heels breakjngthe surface. The distance betweeD your feel is usualiy oniy about8 to 12 inches. The number ofkicks, oI be.tls, du ng one complelearm cycle can \,.lry. For swimning shon distances, six kicks perarm cycle works well. You can practice the kick by holding theedge of the pool or by supporting yorrrself on a kickboard.

Arm Stroke. Mosi of the forward notion of the front crawlcoDes from thc'afln stroke. After diving or l luslt ing off onyour sto|nach with your arnts oLlt i l ' t iront oi you, begin thearm stroke wil lt your hands just below tlre surface. Keep yourhands relaxed with your fingers straight- The w.ltet. level shoulcibe between your eyebrows and your h.tirlil)e. Look forward aDdslightly down so you can see where you nre going. Avoid lookiogstraigl 'rt down or bobbing your head up nnd down.

The.lrnl stfoke has three phasest c.ltch, power, aDdrecovery or CPR. To begin the catch, slightly bend your rightwrist and ellrow as you move the eDlire nrm downward. Haveyour palm facing aw.ry froll) your body. l(eep your elbow, Itand,and wrist f ixr,. l in this position. Your hand should be directly inIine wilh yoLrr shoulder

For tlre powef phase, straighten your wrist and bend theelborv so your iorearm is about 45 degrees iroln the upper arm.Point yoLlr fingers down and inward. push hard against the water,and sweep your hand and forearm clown .tnd back uDder yourchest. Your h.tnd wil l pass just a few inchc.s from the centel.l ine ofyour body. Yo r p.l lm should be flat and should push backw.rr.dagainst the w.ltc.r. As your hand becomc.s level with youlshor.rl-der, begjr to slraighten out yout afnl as it conlinues to moveback and out lo just beside your righl hip. Your upper body wil lroll, with your Ieft hip turning down .rnd toward the centerline.Tlris turns your rigllt hip up toward the top of the water just asyou. ri8ht hand feaches the end of the power phase.

In competit ion,

the crawlstroke is

called "freestyle."

The front clawl has three parts: the flutter kick, the rotating arrnstroke, and rhythmic breathing. It is the fastest and one oi (hemosl Sr.rceflrl o[ Jll qwimming strokes.

-ffiq-W

#+eh-/N))v a)'

t\

+&--uN\da)

1-h'-'_\-Hrr$-

N)

.,/-)-ffir-ltt<\d

_---'ffg-lf \4)$5

the hip ard thigh, not lrom the knee. During the down --- -- _ -_ =-

['.',[f, i] ;: il"i:'i,1",:::ill:,i::i;,:':LTx,'"'io" u;;'J, u""" ;:ilstraighten your leg and allow your foot to sn.lp downward.

Flutter kick

The catch ph ase

of the arm stroke

is called the

"ca tch" because

it feels l ike your

parm ano upper

arm have grabbed

hold of something.

Front crawl, side and lbnt views

: t /

The "Catch-Up" StyleFor many recreational swimmers the arms are always in opposite posi-taons when they do the front crawl.That is, as the right hand exits thewater at the hip, the left hand enters the water and moves into the catchposition. While one arm is in the power phase, the other arm is in therecovery phase. However, some recreational swimmers leave the forwardarm straight while the recovering arm "catches up." In other words, tnerecovering arm enters the water while the other arm is just beginning thepower phase, instead of when the power phase is nearly complete. Botharms are briefly forward of the head. When swimming at a relaxed place,the "catch-up" style allows a short glide in a streamlined position.

Breathing and Coordination. Swimmers doing the front crawluse a breathing rhythm of one brealh for every one, two, three,or more arm cycles. For the purpose of learning and demolrstrating the front crawl, you should take a breath for everv set of armcycles on the same sicle. During the previous.rrm cycles, slowlyexhale through your nose and mouth.

When you need to take a breath, exhale all of t l le remain-ing air iDto the water duriltg the power phase of the .rrm stroke.As your body rotates during the middle of the power phase, startlLlrnirg your head so that your mouth is out of the water just asyour hand exits by your hip. At the beginning of the recoveryphase, inhale quickly and returD your head to its former posi,tion. Take a breath every arm rycle until you can do it withouthavlng to pause. when the stroke is perfonred correctly, a wavewill fornr arotrnd yorn head as you turn to breathe. your mouthwill be located in the troush of the wave.

Back CrawlThe back crawl, or backstroke, has two parts: a i lutter kick anda coDtlDUous arm stroke. TI]ere is Do l.hythlnic breathjng sincethe face.lnd Douth are.tbovc the waterKick. The back crawl kick is silniiar to thefronl crawl flutter kick but is done cleeper rnthe water The lc'gs alternate, with theupward kick being tlte lnost forcefui. yourankles rertaiD flexible.tnd yoLlr toes pointaw.n frorrr yorrr head ,rt .t l l I irDes. ' lhis

allows your feet to function l ike djvels, f ins.On the downward part oi tlte kick, keep yourIeB nnd knee straight. For the upward part ofthe ldck, bend your knee and kjck fr.om thehip as if you were punting a football wrrnthe top of your foot. When yollr knc,e is justa few inches below the surface, stop theupward l l lotion of the thigh and straiglttenthe lQree .tnd leg. Remc'rnber to keep yourankles relaxed, so your feet will respoud toll le wJter pressltrc ds your legs movc.Arm Stroke. Th€. arm stroke for the backcrawi iuvolves.tlternating tlte arms, muci)like the front crnwi arnt stroke. you cdll sl.ir(the arm stroke by pushjng off on yorrr Dackwith boti l nrms al your.side and then lif l ingone.lrn out of lhe w.lter, keeping it straight.As your arot moves bacl( toward your head,roll .1 l i tt le oDto the sane side and drop yotrrshoulder a bit dc.eper in the water. yourhaDd should enter the water l i tt le f in8erfirst. Your palm sltould face out and yourwrist should be slighrly bent. Allow yourhand to slice down into the w.tter unti l i t isB lo l2 inclles below the surf.tce. your ndnois now in the catch positjolr. At the s.rrletirne, start I i i t ing your otlter afln oul of thewater for its recovery phase so that it willenter the water when thr. f irst alm ltasfinished the power plrase_

Back crawl, side and front views

\ \ \ t M A 1 t N c \ | ( r ) K l \ -

As your hand exits the water, the recovery phase begiDS.Staft by lifting your elbow up and forward. Keep your wrisl andha[d relaxed .t[d trailiDg behind or hanging below your elbow.As youf hand passes the shoulder, it reaches up and forwardto enter the witer again when it is at shorrlder level. When yourfiDgertips are even witlt your eye aDd your arm is straightetredto about three-quarters of its length, allow your fingertips tosmootll ly enter the water Rotate your lra[d so that yorutlrumb enters first as your.lrm slraightetrs under the waterto its full lenglh.

.{\\#.{

tflo/.-&4," \

\ \ V I I , l A 1 I N ( ; S I I I . O K L \

The back crawl

can be used

tor recreational

swimming and

in competit ion.

The key to the power phase of the arm stroke is bendingyour elbow and pushing against the water with yoru handtoward your feet. Do not try to keep your arm straight, whichwill either pull i t to the side of youl body or up tow.lrd thesurface. As your hand nroves from the catch positiou, beginto bend your elbow so that it points loward the botlom of thelake or pool. Keep your elbow bent and pull direclly towardyour feet with your entire arm. ]n the water, keep your handhigher than your elbow. About halfway through the powerphase, your elbow will be bent 90 degrees and yoll| handwill rrove toward the surface of the water

The second half of the power phase involves using yourhand to push the water toward your hip and straightening oulyour afD. At the very end of the power phase, f l ip your handdownwatd as it passes your thigh. Your palm will be iacing thebottom nnd your ann wil l be fully straightened. This downwardmolion of the hand wil l cause your body to roll to lhe oppositeside just as your other hand is entedng the water. 'l'his raises yourshoulder to make it e.-rsier to recover thc arm while the oppositeshoulder goes deepe[ into the water for its catch position.

The recovery phase is intended to give the afln rnuscles arest. BegiD by lifting your arm strai8ht up in the air so your thumband back of your harrd leave the water first. Relax your hand,wrist, arm, and back muscles, but do not bend your elbow. Moveyour arrr ir a half-circle motion. The opposite arn wil l followthe sarne pattern, L'reSinning its pull as your body Iolls towardthat side lo begiD the rccovery of the first arm. Your arms aredirectly opposite each other at all t imes.

Breathing and Coordination. Body position is important forthe back crawl. Be sure to keep youl hips up and avoid a partialsitt inB position. Your head should be back with your ears in thewater Avoid turning your head from side to side, because yourhead position serves to anchor and steady the enlire stroke. Tocoordinate arm and leg movements, count a six-beat kick (eacllupwald leg kick is one beat) and coDrplete one full arln cycle iDsix beats. In other words, one arm should enter the water on tl'recount of one, and the opposite arm should enter the water oDthe coLrnt of four. Although the back crawl is a free-breathingstroke, you should develop a breathing rhythm that ieels comfortable to you. The sirnplest pattern is to inhale when one arnlrccovcfs.l l ld exhale wl]en the other arm recovers.

SidestrokeThe sidestroke is a good long-dist.lnce stroke with a long, restfulglide. It also introduces the scissors kick, which is used in swin)_ming rescues. The scissors kick is nainly respollsible for theforward motioD oi the stroke.

Kick. The scissors kick is a poweriul kick that provides a restiDgperiod be(ween arm strokes. To do the scissors kick, bring yourknees together.lnd then bend tltem as you bring your lowef legsaDd heels toward the buttocks. Witltout pausing, move yourleSs into the catclt position. Move your top leg forward and yourbottom leg back ultt i l your legs and knees are straight,. lb lnovernlo the power plrase, bring both legs back together.witlr a forceful snapping motion Iike closing .r pair of scisso|s. Keep your legstogether during the glide positiol.t with the toes pointed back.

----_,-6>--=_=_--__{FSidestroke, side and top views

S w I M M I N C S T R O K [ S S w r M M 1 N C S r R o K E s

Am Stroke, Start in the glide position on your side with one earin the water and the nose, mouth, and other ear out of the waterWith your body on its side, straiShten the leading fbottom) armto its full length with your ear resting on your shoulder and yourpalm facedown. The trailing (top) arm should rest comfortablyalongside your body with the hand above the thigh. Tirm the palmof the leading arm from facing down until it is vertical with thethumb on top. Begin moving the leading arm into a catch positionby moving the hard in a downward direction toward the feet.

The power phase is a pull with the hand iust below the topof the water and the elbow bent. Move your leading arm until itreaches the middle of your chest, while you move your trailingarm up the side of your body. Both hands should arrive at thesame time in front of the upper chest. The trailing arm beginsits catch and power phases while the leading arm rccovers bymoving back into the glide position. Reach out straight out fromyour shoulder with the trailinS arm. Use your hand and arm topush the water toward your feet while they move to the side ofyour body. Keep both arms straiEht during the 8lide, or restingnh, .p ^ f rha < t r6La

Breathing and Coordination. In the sidestroke, the ann strokesand scissors kick are combined so that the legs are drawn up asthe leadirg and trailing arms move toward the chest- To helpcoordinate your arms and legs in the sidestroke, remember thephrase, "pull, kick, glide." Start by moving your legs into thecatch position. with your trailinS arm straight and your legsapart for the scissors kick, the power phases for both the trailingarm and kick begin and end at the same time. During this timethe leading arm recovers to the glide position. When you havefinished both the kick and trailing arm stroke, rest and relaxyour muscles. Hold the glide position for three or fout countsand then repeat the stroke. Breathing is easy with the sidestrokesince the mouth is out of the water Breathe in during the powerphase of the leading arm and breathe out during the powerphase of the trailing arm.

TrudgenTherc are several variations of the trudgen,including the trudten crawl and the doubletrudgen. Swimmers use the trudgen ard itsvadations, because they take less energythan the front crawl.

Kick. The trudgen uses the scissors kick.Between kicks, the legs rest and uail in tltewater. The scissors kick usually is shorterin the trudgen than in the sidestroke.

Am Stroke. The arm strckes are thesame as those for the front crawl.

Breathing and Coordination. Coordinatethe arm movements and scissors kickas in the sidestroke. If you are doing thetrudgen crawl, do two or three flutterkicks betweer scissors kicks. In the doubletrudgen, tlrere are two scissors kicks foreach arm cycle but no flutter kicks. Rollonto your side to breathe. As the arm onyour breathin8 side completes the powerphase and begins the recovery phase, turnon your side and take a breath.

This interesting stroke was namedfor English swimmer JohnTrudgen,who introduced the stroke in compe-tit ion in 1875.

Trudgen, side view

SWIMMING

SwIN{N1 INC; STRoKE S5 \ \ , rN1^ .1 tN ( ; S I l l ( ) } . t s

whipping motion, pushing outward and backward until your legsand feet are touching in a glide position. At the end of the powerphase, your toes should be pointed back and away ftom yourbody. As in the scissors kick, the speed of the whip kick shouldincrcase rapidly and continue until the end of the kick.

Arm Stroke. Start fuom a prone float with your arms out straight.Slightly bend your wrists and point your fingers downward. Turnyour hands to a slightly palms-out position. Then bend yourarms a little at the elbows as the palms and arms push out anddown until your hands are farther apan than the width of yourshoulders. This is the catch position. Begin the power phase bypressing your arms and palms downward until your elbowsform a 90-degree ang1e, with your forearms pointing towardthe bottom. During the power phase, your hands and forearmsshould always be below the elbows and your elbows shouldalways be below your shoulders. The arm pull should feel asthough you are grabbing the water ahead of you and pullingyourself forward until your head passes your hands. Begin therecovery phase by bringing your hands in together under the chinand your elbows to the sides of your body. Finish the recoveryby pushing your hands forward just under the su ace, fingersleading, until your arms are at their full length in a glide position.

Breathing and Coordination. While doing the breaststroke, youshould exhale slowly in the water between breaths. Between thecatch and the power phase, lift your chin out of the water, finisl'lexhaling, and quickly take a breath. As your arms begiD therecovery phase, place your chin and face back in the water. Thewater level should be between your eyebrows and hairline. Avoidlifting your head and shouldels too far out of the water to preventbobbing and losing forward monentum.

The breaststroke begins in the pro[e g]ide position withboth the arms and legs straight. To coordinate the kick, the arrnstokes, and the breathinB, think oi the phrase, "pull, breathe,kick, glide. As your arms complete the power phase, take abreath, and then draw your feet toward the hips. when youranns are about halfway through the recovery phase, begin thewhip kick. Time the arm strokes and kick so that the arms andlegs are both at their full leDgth as the kick finishes. Rest in theprone position as your body glides through the water. when theglide begins slow dowD, it is tiDle to start another stroke.

The pattern

the hands

trace In the

breaststroke

ts somettmes

described as

an ups ide-

down heart.

ffi ,s-<k114Bleaststroke, side and frcnt views

BreaststrokeVariations of the breaststroke range from a restful distancestroke to a competitive racing stroke. With a longer Slide as\taught in Scouting, the breaststroke is a powerful, long distancestroke that conserves energy .1nd has applications in lifesavinSThe stroke uses a whip kick and a shallow arm pull.

Kick. The breaststroke kick, or whip kick, starts in the glideposition. BrinS your heels toward the hips as far as possible just

lleDeath the water's surface. Keeping your knees bent, spreadyour knees until they are no fartber apart than hip widtll. Yourfeet nust be fadher apart than your knees. Keep your ankles fullyflexed and your toes poirtted outward. Tbis is the catcll position.To be8in the power phase, move your feet and lower legs in a

--@-=-/,'-rvr\

(; l-\

- 7 -:<-''\-

a9-zr@\-"rasi-__s=-ffi"\,/\r

_s=_ffi

The breaststroke

is one of the

oldest strokes

used in Scouting.

SWIMMING4 t '

S\v I , \ 1N1 INC ST I IOKE s r : . s w r N l N l r N c s r t t o K [ 5

Elementary BackstrokeThe elemeltary backstroke is the resting stroke for tire last50 yards of your test. Use this stroke for loDg distance swinningor whefl you are tiring and want to rest while continuing to makeforward progress.

Kick. The elementary backstroke uses the whip kick. Floating onyour back, spread your knees no fanher apan dran hip width.Drop your heels by bending your knees. Keep your knees justbelow the surface. Turn your feet so your toes are pointing outand your ankles are fully flexed up. This is the catch positioo.To begin the power phase, move your feet and lower legs in awhipping motion to trace an oval shape. Your feet Dust moveoutward wider than the position of your knees. Eod the ldck withyour legs straight and feet touching. Youl toes should be pojntedand just below the water's surface. Llrop your heels down toheq in i l r c fp .nvpn/ nh ,qa

Arm Stroke. Tlle arm stroke for the eleDentary backstroke issinlple. Start on your back ilr the glide position. Keep yorll legsstraight with your toes poiDted and have your anns at your sideswith your haDds on your thigbs. Slowly move your hands eitherup tbe centerline of your chest or up the sides of your body wilhyour elbows tucked iu until your hands reach the shoulders.Without pausing, straighten out your arms with your palmsfacing your feet. In a single motion, sweep your arms quicldytoward your feet, bending your elbows alrd wrists throughout tbestroke to push water backward. Recover the arms by bringingyour hands back up toward your shouldels.

Breathing and Coordination. Ir the elementary baclGtroke,the arms and the legs provide power at the satne time. The kicktakes less time than the alms because the legs move a shorterdistaDce than the arms, and they are stronger. For these reasons,you should begin the recovery of the ams before the legs. Don'tbegin the kick until your arns have begul their power phase.With some practice, you should be able to time it so that youfinish botl't the kick and arm stroke together. Strive to make youlmovements coDtinuoris. At the conclusion of the stroke, relaxand allow your body to glide through the water for three or fourcoults. Don't be in a hurry. Remember, t]ris is a.esting stroke.As you finish your glide, repeat the process.

To avoid qetl ing

water In your

mouth and

n0se, Keep your

forehead slightly

higher than your

ch in as your

arms push

toward yourfeet.

Elementary backstloke, side and top views

SWIMMINGI6 4 /

Surface DivesIf you want to swim underwater to retrieve an obiect or explorethe bottom, a surface dive is an easy way of going down. Thisswimming skill is commonly used in snorkeling ard lifesaving.There are two ways to do a surface dive: feetfirst from an uprightposition or headfirst from a forward swirnming position.

Feetfirst Surface DiveWhile treading water in an upright position, raise you$elf partlyout of the water by snapping your legs together in a scissonkick and pressing your hands down on the water. Then letyourself sink. As your face goes undet turn your palms outand press upward with your arms and hands. Doing this willsend you down fast. Be sure to keep your hands in the waterwhile pushing up. Keep your feet to8ether and toes pointed tostreamlile your body. When you near the bottom, change toa swimming position by pulling your knees in until you aretucked. DroD vour head and start an underwater breaststroke.

SURFACE D IVES

\'l

Feetfirst surface dive

SWIMMING

S U R I A C I ] D I V I . S

Headfirst Surface DivesThe easiest way to do the headfirst pike surface dive is whilemoving forward with a breaststroke. As you begin a new armstroke, keep your legs in the glide position and bend sharyly atthe waist with your head down so that the upper portion of yourbody is anSled toward the bottom. Then reverse the direction ofyour arm stroke while lifting your legs out of the water and intothe air When you complete the reverse arm motion and leg lift,you will be in a vertical handstand position with your bodystraight and your arms straight and pointing toward the bottom.In this streamlined position, the weight of your legs above thewater will drive you downward. It all should happen quickly inone smooth motion. Once your feet are underwater, you canbegin to swim. If you want to go deeper or faster after you arecompletely beneath the surface, use the breaststroke, which youalso can use to swim alollg the bottom.

:' .,\.-.-ff$" \ '.riifY?

5()

Headlirst surface dive in pike position

SURFACE D IV [S

A tuck surface dive is another option you can use to fulfillfcquilement 7b. Instead of lifting your legs as you would for apike surface dive, pull your knees toward your chest and pushthem upward as you point your head and arms toward the bot-toin. The tuck might be a bit easier than the pike to learn atlirst, but you will not dive as deep or as quicldy.

Remember thal it is the weight of your legs above youthat pushes you down into the water. lt is importantto get them up into € vertical position in all headfirstsurface dives.

5 N O I { I . E L I N G A N D S C U I l A

Snorkeling and ScubaSnorkeling, or skin diving, is a sport that a swimmer of any age,size, or stren8th can enjoy. The sport basically has two activi-(ies: (1) the relatively passive activity of floating or swimmingon the surface using a breathing tube and eye cover to viewunderwater scenes, and (2) breath-hold diving to swim andexplore underwater environments or recover submerged items.

The Selection and Fit of Equipmentthere dre four basic pieces of snorkeling equipment:Dlask, snorkel, fins, and vest.

The Mask

The most imponant piece ofsnorkeling equipment is thenask. Because human eyesare designed to see throughair the mask provides thenecessary ailspace throughwhich the eyes can focusclearly. Additionally, themask keeps water out ofyour nose so that you canuse the breathing tubemore comfortably.

Masks come in a variety of designs, but the most commonare the one piece and two-piece faceplate vaieties. Cenerally, thetwo-piece design is better It has less air between the glass andthe face, which makes it easier to adjust the pressure withinthe mask to prevent "mask squeeze." It is very important thatthe mask have a tempered glass lens. A tempered lens is stron-ger and if broken will shatter into pieces with no sharp edgesor sDlinters.

Avoid masks

made of polyvinyl

chloride (PVC)or

other plastics.

S N I ] I I K I ] I I N C A N D S C U R A

To preventfog-

ginq, keepthe

inside ofyour

lens c lean and

use a commercial

no-log spray.

other substances,

such as saliva,

can reduce

fogqing, but none

works as well as

the no-tog spray.

The part of the mask that fits against the face is calledthe skin. Most mask skins are made of either clear or coloredsilicone or black neoprene. The neoprene is generally lessexpensive and is acceptable, but silicone usually lasts longerSilicone also is a bit softer and more pliable and will more easilyfit the coDtours of the face. A double ski( will provide a betterfit for more comfon and less leakage.

Be sure the mask covers the nose but does not cover otinterfere with the mouth. The mask should have an exposed nosepiece ("nose pocket") or pilch holes for tie nose. This allowsyou to equalize pressure in your ears easily with one hand. Somemasks feature a purge valve on the nose pocket or faceplate forclearing water from the mask. However, such valves tend to leakand easily malfurction. They are flot needed, because a diver caneasily remove water from the mask without these. A Sood maskalso needs a noncorrodible band that holds the lens securely inthe skirt and a split, adjustable head strap, which prevents slip-ping and is much more comfortable.

If the mask has all the features recommended above, thenthe deciding factor on selectio! is fit. To check the fit of themask, place it against your face without using the strap andinhale lightly through your nose (be sure no hair is trappedbetween skin and skirt). The mask should seal against your faceand feel secure with no air leakage. If air leaks into the mask,try other styles and sizes until you have a noieak fit. If a maskleaks air, it will leak water.

Before putting on the mask, adjust the strap. Undo the straplocks, or "keepers," and move the strap a notch at a time withyour finger Do not grab the loose end or middle of the strapand try to pull it tighter or looser If the mask fits properly, thestrap's only job wilt be to hold the mask in place. Tightening thestrap is not recommended to stop leaks. Doing so will furtherdistort the skifi and cause additional leakase.

! r1 '

With the strap properly adjusted, there are a couple of waysto put on the mask. One way is to put the mask over your face,inhale lightly to hold it, and then use both hands to slip the strap

Sently over your hedd and ilrto place. You also may reverse theprocess by putting the strap in place and then, while holding thestrap in place with one haDd, pulling the mask forwardaDd down into position over your face. Have yourtruddy examine the mask to be sure no hair isunder the skirt, the straps aren't twisted, andthe skirt is properly fitted.

The Sno*elSnorkels come in many designs, but all fea-ture an oblong. curved rubber mouthpiecewith a T-shaped tab molded on each side ofthe air hole. The longest part of theJ-shaped tube is l0 to 14 ilches long andmay have a slight bend toward the head.The tube should be about % inch toI inch in diameter. A snorkel should flot bemore than 14 inches long or less than 7ninch in diameter You can use your thumb todetermine if the snorkel is the proper diame-ter for you. lnsert your thumb into the openend of the snorkel. If your tltumb fits, the snor-kel is the correct diameter for you. If your tllumbis too big to fit inside, choose a snorkel witll aLarger diameter. The mouthpiece of your snorkel alsomay contain a purge valve, a one-way valve that allowswater to drain out of the snorkel at its lowest point.

S NOR| . I ' L INC AND sc t 'BA

S N O R K I ] I , I N C A N I ) S C t ] B A

S imply s l ipp ing

the tube under

the strap may

change the

mask fit and put

the snorkelat

an uncomfortable

a ng le .

There are several ways to attach the snorkel to the maskstrap. A snorkel holdet or keeper, usually comes with thesnolkel. Two common types of keepers are a rigid tube clipthat attaches to the mask strap and a ibber strip that ioopsaround the snorkel tube and under the mask strap. Securingthe snorkel to the mask strap prevents loss and adds comfort.

With the snorkel attached to the mask, place the curved flareof the nouthpiece between your lips and gums while you bitegently on the tabs to hold it in place and keep it wateflight. Whilefloating or swimning facedown on the surface, breathiDg tlrroughthe snorkel's mouthpiece should be easy and natural. When youare ready to dive, inhale deeply and hold your breath until youhave coNpleted your dive and have returned to your facedownposition at the su ace. Of course, the snorkel tube will fill withwater du ng your dive. You cannot rcsume breathing until it is

cleared. This is why you need to hold your breath untilyour dive is completed. Once your snorkel tube is abovethe surface, simply exhale sharply to "blast" the waterfioln the tube.

An alternative method for clearing the snorkel is thedisplacement method. While coning up from your dive,look up so that the sDorkel points down. As your face-plate breal$ the su ace, exhale aDd roll forward to thefacedown position. This should clear the snorkel witlt alittle less effort than the "blast" and avoids the surfacing"blowhole" effect.

ffifiSnorkeling KicksThe kicks used in snorkelingare the flutter kick and thedolphin kick.You may usethe flutter kick both on thesurface and underwater.The kick should flowsmoothly and slowly from the hips to the toes of the fins. The dolphin kickis useful for short bursts of speed while swimming underwater or comingup from a dive.To do the dolphin kick, hold your legs together and movethem in an up-and-down motion with your toes pointed as in the flutterkick.The leg action helps propel you through the water.

SWIMMING

S N O I i K F L I N C A N t ) S C L J I ] A

The Finsswiln fins arc wedge-shaped, fiexible devicesrvorn on the feet to add mole power to the kick.when wearing fins while swimming and divingwith a sDorkel, you usually won't need to do.rD arm stroke.

when choosing a pair of fins, comfortis very important. Confon is a function ofiit, blade [the paddlelike front of the fin),length, and blade tension. The footpoclet should hold the foot comfonably,rnd snugly. For the beginner or casualsnorkeler, a relatively flexible blade ofnroderate length [24 inches maximum)is recommended.

A full foot fin has a soft rubber foot pocket.lr I l" lrke J slroe ovef t lre L.re fool. open-heelrdjustable fins also are available, but you mayneed to buy neoprene boots for a comfortable fit.

TheVest'lhe vest is a flotatioD safety device that is not required forsnorkeling in confined areas of clear water with a 12 footrnaximum depth, such as a swimnling pool. However, youshould use a properly fitted vest ior open-water snorkelingor when snorkeling in watel deeper than 12 feet. It should fitover your head and have a back strap or crotch strap to holdit in place. A snorkeling vest also must have a way to add ardfelease air to adjust the buoyancy.

The most conlmon inllatio0 feature is a shod tube attachedto the upper portion of the vest that you can reach easily withyour mouth. A valve in the tube allows you to inflate the vestby blowing into the tube or to deflate it by nanually triSSeringa valve release. Some vests also have a compressed air cart dgetor emergency use.

The vest is not simply an emergency device. By paftiallyinflatinS the vest, you can adjust your floating or swimminglJosil ion on rhe surface, gain extra buovancv. and rnakeswimming easier for longer periods or distalces.

It is bestto put

on the fins while

sitt ing on the dive

platform of a boat

or atthe waters

e0ge, wnere you

can slide into the

waterwrthout

having to stand up

or walk. Walking

in fins is a good

way to fall and

hurt yourself.

\ N ( ) t i l . l L t N ( i

BSA Snorkeling SafetyBSA Snorkeling Safety is the recommended procedure forconducting BSA swimming activit ies using masks, f ins,and snorkels. Since snorkeling is a swimming activity,Safe Swim Defense guidelines apply.The BSA SnorkelingSafetv clarif ies and builds upon Safe Swim Defenseconcepts to situations encountered during training andopen-water snorkeling.

1. Oualit ied Supervision. All swimming activity, includingsnorkeling, must be supervised by a mature and con-scientious adult age 21 or older who understands andknowingly accepts responsibil i ty for the well-being andsafety of the youth members in his or her care; who isexperienced in the water and confident of his or herabil ity to respond in the event of an emergency; andwho is trained in and committed to compliance with theeight points of BSA Safe Swim Defense.

An experienced snorkeler must supervise snorkel-ing instruction and open-water snorkeling activit ies.At a minimum, the supervisor must possess skil ls andknowledge matching the Snorkeling BSA Award, andhave experience with environments similar to those ofthe planned activity.The supervisor is responsible forcompliance with each point of BSA Snorkeling Safety.

Unit leaders may rely on the expertise of other adultsto supplement their knowledge and training.They maydelegate the task of supervision, for example, when theunit is panicipating in a snorkeling activity conducted bya tour operator, provided they are satis{ied that the oper-ator's training and experience wil l provide a safe activitywith appropriate safeguards.

2. Physical Health Review. A complete health historyfrom physician, parent, or legal guardian is requiredof all participants as evidence of f itness for snorkelingactivit ies. Panicipants should be asked to relate anyrecent incidents of i l lness or injury just prior to theactivity. Supervision and protection should be adjusted

- S N O t i t ( l , t t N ( , ' \ N t ) \ | l r t J \

to anticipate any potential risks associated with indi-vidual health conditions. Recent sinus or ear infectionsmay temporarily preclude surface dives while snor-keling.Those with known adverse reactions to stingsfrom marine l ife. or with chronic conditions such asdiabetes or asthma, may need special medications athand. Adults with known risk factors for cardiovascu-lar disease should not undertake strenuous activit ieswithout the advice of their physician. In the event of anysignificant health conditions, a medical evaluation by aphysician should be required by the adult leader.

SafeArea. Training in the use of snorkeling equipmentshall be performed in clear water in a confined areathat conforms to Safe Swim Defense guidelines. "Clearwater" implies pool-l ike visibil i ty. At a minimum, anf-inch disk wilh white and black quadrants at a depthof I feet should be recognizable from above the surface."Confined area" denotes either a pool or an establishedsummer camp swimming area with direct access fromthe shore or a dock.

Safe conditions for open-water swimming and snor-keling depend on water clarity, area definit ion, depth,access, and other environmental factors. Snorkeling islimited to clear water. "Open water" denotes a tempo-rary swimming area of f lexible extent in a nalural bodyof water that mav not be close to shore.

An open-water snorkeling area need not havephysical boundary markers, but the activity shouldbe restricted within a specified distance of a point onshore, an anchored vessel, a moving rescue craft, ora float with a dive flag attached. Generally, a so-footradius is recommended, and may be dictated by localregulations concerning the use of a dive flag.The areacovered by the snorkeling group should be smallenough to allow rapid assislance from rescue personnel,

Emergency response places l imitations on safe waterdepth as well as water clarity and area. Response per-sonnel should be able to quickly and easily reach the

bottom, and locate, recover. and transport a submergedvictim to shore or vessel. At the start of the activity, andperiodically if the group moves along a reef or otherfeature, the response personnel should check their abil-

ity both to see and to reach the bottom.The groupshould be directed toward shallower water when-

ever the responders experience any diff iculty.(Twelve feet is designated as a reasonable

maximum depth in Safe Swim Defense.In practice, slightly shallower or deeperdepths may be appropriate. Differentpersonnel wil l be able to easily recoverobl'ects from different depths, pafticu-larly if wearing fins.The practical way toconfirm a safe depth is to test that thebottom is within comfortable reach of all

designated rescue personnel.)Limited or distant access to the

snorke l ing area may requ i re add i t iona l-t

consideration. Underwater features close toa sloping beach or near an anchored vessel are

ideal. lf the snorkeling site is a considerable distancefrom a beach or permitted anchoring location, the abil ityto rest becomes important and may restrict the activityclose to shallow water or dictate the use of inflatablevests and/or small response craft,Tide tables should beconsulled in areas with large tidal changes, especiallywhen beach access is at the base of a cliff. Snorkelingin a river may require an exit point downstream ofthe entrv.

Snorkeling should not be done if water depth, clarity,or temperature, boat traffic, waves, current, weather,marine l ife, or bottom conditions, including vegetation,are deemed unsafe by the qualif ied supervisor.Time inthe water should be adjusted based on water tempera-ture and sun exposure. Snorkeling at night is l imited tolighted pools unless the activity is conducted at a BSAnationally accredited high-adventure base.

l i ( )

i \ N l ) l l i \ l l l N ( , , \ N l r \ ( t r t i \

4. Proper Equipmenta. All snorkeling equipment shall be properly fitted

and in good repair.The use of inflatable snorkeling vests and personalflotation devices is at the discretion of the ouali-f ied supervisor based on local conditions and theabil it ies of the participants and responders. Useof individual f lotation devices is reouired in oDenwater whenever there is a noticeable current orswells, when the bottom is not visible from the sur-face (due to vegetation or l imited visibil i ty beyond8 feet), or when the activity is an extended distance(more than 50 yards) from shore or craft.A dive flag should be used at all open water sites.It may be displayed from a dive boat or attached toa float and towed with the snorkeling party. Localrules and regulations may specify the type of f lagand how close snorkelers must stay to it.Protective clothing may be worn. Gloves areappropriate in areas with sharp rocks or encrustedstructures. A shirt or a diver's bodv suit wil l Drovidelimited protection from sun, abrasion, or coral burnsand minor insulation in warm water. ln temDeratewater, a partial or full wet suit may be worn. Weightbelts mav not be used.

e. Lifesaving equipment in good repair shall be readyfor immediate use by response personnel. A flota-tion device is recommended, such as a rescue tube,bodyboard, or PFD, supplemented, as appropriate,by reaching and throwing devices, and small craft.Dive boats should be equipped with radios andfirst-aid kits, and should deploy a safety l ine.

5. Response Personnel. lt is the responsibil i ty of the quali-f ied supervisor to designate personnel for emergencyresponse whenever l ifeguards are not provided by afacil i ty or tour operator,The snorkeling party should bedivided into groups of two to eight swimmers with tworesponders, paired as buddies, assigned to each group.

SWIMMING

\ \ ( ) l i l . l \ ( \ \ t ) \ a L L r \

(Units may be divided by patrols or crews.)The respond-ers should be competent swimmers with basic waterrescue skil ls. Emergency procedures, including entries,exits, and the role of everyone in the group, should bereviewed and practiced prior to the activity using rescueaids at the site.

The responders should be stationed either afloator ashore where they can see and hear all those intheir group. Neither the responders nor the swimmersshould face into the sun to see the other. Snorkelers ina group should remain off the same side of a vessel.Inflatable or rigid dinghies with oars are approprialeresDonse craft.The responders and snorkelers shouldremain close enough for rapid rescue, generally within50 feet of one another In some situations, the qualif iedsupervisor may deem it appropriate for the respondersto tow rescue aids while accompanying their group inthe water.

Responders are responsible for surveil lance aswell as rescue. lf there is more than one group. thena separate lookout, who may be the qualif ied supervi-sot should coordinate the entire activity and monitorchanging conditions.The lookout should have audibleor visible means, such as an air horn or f lag, to recallall groups. lf a boat is used to transpod snorkelers tothe site, then at least one person should remain aboardwho knows how to drive the boat and use the radio. Aleast one person in the party must be trained in CPR.

It is the combined responsibil i ty of the adult super-visor, the lookout, and the responders to know thenumber of oeople in the water at all t imes and to makefrequent visible confirmations of that number. Buddyboards and tags, or their equivalent, must be used toaccount for everyone in the water

Abil ity. Only those who have completed the SnorkelingBSA requirements may participate in open-water snor-keling. Scouts classified as beginners or nonswimmers

t ; )

) N ( ) l l I l ] t - ! ( i . \ N t ) \ ( | t j \

may use snorkeling equipment in clear, confinedwater of appropriate depth, as specified in Safe SwimDefense (points 3 and 6). during rnstructronat swimsor during closely supervised recreational activity.Training for the Snorkeling BSA Award is l imited toScouts and adults classified as swtmmers.

7 Buddy System. All participants in snorkeling activi_taes are paired as buddies. Buddies should check eachother's equipment prior to the activity and reviewhand signals. During the activity. they should remainctose enough that they are constantly aware of theirbuddy's location and condition. GenerallV, buddiesshou ld take tu rns mak ing brea th-ho ld ing d ives .Thatrs, one buddy remains at the surface. f loating with hismask in the water while breathing through the snor_kel, and keeps an eye on the buddy who is down.When the diver surfaces, both buddies check theirposition relative to the group before moving on orlefting the other buddv dive.

The adult supervisor, lookout, or responders maycall buddy checks as needed to keep the buddiestogether. Buddy checks may also be called to aidcommunication. Buddy pairs should be instructed toroutinely watch for predetermined audible and visualsignals of a buddv check.

8. Discipline. Be sure everyone understands and agreesthat snorkeling is allowed only with proper supervi_sion and use of the complete Safe Swim Defenseand BSA Snorkeling Safety standards.The applicablerules should be presented and learned prior to theouting, and should be reviewed for all participantsat the beginning of the snorkeling activity. Scoutsshould respect and follow all directions and rulesof the adult supervisor. When p6ople know the rea-son for rules and procedures they are more l ikelvto follow them.Treatment should be strict and fair.without favorit ism.

Earn the

Snorke i ing BSA

swimsuit patch

by completing the

requirements found

inyour Boy Scout

Requirements

book (current

year) or the

Snorkeiing BSA

app l ica t ion ,

No. l9 -176.

S N O R K I L I N C A N D S C U B A

When you surface

from a dive. have

one hand over

your head to

protect Yourself

from objects on

the surface.

an excellent safety record.This record comes mainlyfrcm the quality trainingprograms developed bYthe scuba-diving industry.Scouting relieson such traininSto provide safescuba oppor-tunities forits members.

64 SWIMMING 65

S N O R K T L I N c A N D S C U I I A

Search and RecoverYA team of snorkelers can systematically search an area by slowly

moving forward, side by side on the suface, while looking at the

bottom. When one snorkeler sees the search object or an area

that needs closer inspection, that snorkeler dives while the others

stay at their surface position so the diver can return to the search

Line. A single snorkeler should search across the area ald then

return on a close parallel course, continuin8 back and fonh until

the entire search area has been covered.If a search area has been covered by a search team or indi-

vidual without rccovery, it should be covered again with a line

of search at a dght angle to the firct search. If the Srid-patternsearch is unsuccessful, an alternative search-and-tecoverymethod should be considered.

Scuba in ScoutingSwimming underwater using aSelf-Contained UnderwaterBreathing Apparatus (scuba) canbe great fun, but it also can bedangerous and even fatal. However,when proper safety precautions aretaken, scuba divinS as a sport has

Introductory Scuba'lllere are several levels of scuba training. Basic inhoductory expe-fieDces are conducted in pools with a small Broup supervised by.r certified instructor. If you complete one of these couFes, youwill get a taste of the sport under controlled conditions, althoughsuch a couFe will not prcpare or cenify you to dive on your own.Scuba BSA for qualified Scouts, Scouters, and Venture$ is oneof those programs. Requirements are found in the Scuba BSAbrochure, No. 19-515. Slightly more advanced introductorycourses conclude with an open-water dive under close supervi-sion. ODen-water dives are not an oDtion for Scuba BSA.

Open-Water Certif icationOpen-water certification courses provide the training neededfor independent diving with a buddy and are normally requiredbefore a person is allowed to fill or rent tarks. Numerous touroperators and dive shops arrange group dive trips for people socenified. Standard open-water certification is offered only tothose over a ceftain age. Junior diver certification is availablefor those below that age, Scouts and Venturers age 14 or olderare approved to enroll in either standard or junior certificationprograms as a Scouting activity.

S N ( ) r U \ r I t \ t ( , A N t ) S C t T B A

Get your paren ts

permtssl0n

before exploring

sc uba on l ine .

After obtai ng open-waler certification a diver maypursue a number of underwater activities including under-water photography, wreck diving, cave diving, cold water divinS,and diver rescue. Llivers with a sufficient number of loggeddives and additional training may qualify for a divemasterrating. Divernaster is the minimum qualification needed bythe dive sripervisor wheo certified divers engage in unit dives/ l , , r i n o q . ^ , , r i n o r . r i v i r i p c

All scuba instruction must be conducted by certifiedscuba instructors. Units that are interested in scuba trainillgcan find Scout camps that offer training programs under thehiglr adventure listing oIr the BSA Web sile (http://www.scout-lng.org). The Nationai High Adventure Florida Sea Base(http://wwtll.seabase. orgJ offers scuba training and diveprograms. Traini[8 also may bc arranged through theagencies identified in the BSA Scuba Policy.

BSA Scuba PolicyAny person possessing, displaying, or using scuba(self-contained underwater breathing apparatus) inconnection with any Scouting-related activity must

either be currently certif ied by, or enrolled in. atraining course authorized by the National

Association of U nderwater lnstructors(NAUI), the Professional Association

of Diving Instructors (PADI), orScuba Schools International (SSl).

These agencies are recognizedby the Boy Scouts of America fotscuba training and instruction.Alternatively, if PADI, NAUI, or SSI

training and instruction is not avail-able, certif ication may be accepted

from other agencies that comply withRecreational ScubaTraining Council

(RSTC) guidelines. provided that suchacceptance has been expressly approved by the

BSA local council in consultation with the national BSAHealth and Safetv Service.

SWIMMING

5 N ( ) l l l \ l l l N ( , r \ i \ l ) \ t L

Cub Scouts.Youth members in Cub Scouting are notauthorized to use scuba in any activity.

Boy Scouts and Varsity Scouts. The use of scuba is notauthorized for a BSA unit, except that registered BoyScout youth and leaders may participate in the ScubaBSA program conducted by a certif ied dive instructorin compliance with this policy. Scuba BSA is not a divercertif ication program.

Scuba training programs may be a part oftroop/team activit ies for participants who are 14 years of ageor older. Members who meet the age requirement andare properly certif ied may participate in group divesunder the suDervision of a resDonsible adult who is cur-rently certif ied as a dive master, assistant instructor,or any higher rating from NAUI, PADI, or SSl. Studentdivers must be under the supervision of a currently certi-f ied NAUI, PADI, or SSI instructor. (Leaders trained byother RSTC agencies may be uti l ized with localcouncil and National Council approval.) Noexceptions to the BSA age requirementare permitted. Scouts with a juniordiver certif ication may dive onlywhen accompanied by a buddywho is a certif ied open-waterdiver at least 18 years old.

Venturers. Scuba programsmay be a part ofventuring activi-t ies for participants who are 14 years ofage or older. l\4embers who meet the agerequirement and are properly certif ied maypadicipate in group dives under the supervi-sion of a responsible adult who is currentlycertif ied as a dive mastet assistant instructor, or anyhigher rating from NAUI, PADI, or" SSl. Student diversmust be under the supervision of a currently certif iedNAUI, PADI. or SSI instructor. No exceptions to the BSAage requiremenl are permitted.

SWIMMING 6 /

DIV l NG

Divingl)iving is tun. Springboard divhg is a good muscle builder andteaches you to make your whole body work gracefully. Beforeyou try board diving, you will need to have mastered elementary(iiving skills. And remember, always check the water before.uy dive to make sure it is deep enough and there is nothingin the way.

Elementary Diving'lhe steps in learning elementary diving are the kneeling stan,the bent-knee start, and the standing dive.

Kneeling Start. Kneel on one knee and hook the toes of yourother foot over the edge of the pool. Bend forward with yourchin down toward your chest. Keeping your alms straight, placethem against your eals wit}r your hands together. Lean forward.ind slide into the water, always leading with your hands and thetop of your head. Push with your foot against the edge of thepool. Straighten your body and legs and bdng your feet togetheras you go into the water. To return to the surface, point yourhands uD and you.r bodv will follow.

SWIMMING 69

DlV INC]

Bent-knee start

After you have practiced the kneeling start a few times,raise up frcm the kneeling position so that both krees are offthe deck. KeepinS the formerly bent knee behind the edge of thepool and the other foot near the edge, assume a running posi-tion. With yoUI arms and head in the same position as for thekneeling start, bend toward the water As you begin to fallforward, push off toward the water Bring your feet togetheras you enter the water.

Bent-Knee Start. Stand with your knees slightlybent and your feet about 5 to 10 inches apart. Yourtoes should be gripping the edge. Bend forwad atthe waist with your chin towad your chest. Keepyour arms straight and placed against your ears. Fallforward and enter the water 3 to 4 feet from the side.As you fall forward, keep your chin down and pushup with your feet.

Standing Dive. Stand with your legsstraight and your feet together. Bendforward with your chin towardyour chest. Keep your armsstraight and place them againstyour ears. Fall forward andpush upward to lift your hipsand give height to your dive.Be sure to keep yourhead down until afteryou have entered thewater Straighten yourlegs and keep themtogether until you arebeneath the surface.Practice to improveyour form.

SWIMMING SWIMMING 7 1

D I V I N C

Long Shallow Divel he long shallow dive is performed with your body in aslreamlined, arrowlike position that allows you to enter tltewater with great forward speed at a shallow angle. The dive isLrsually pedormed from a standing positiorl. It can be used forlLr[ and for informal racing starts. As in all diving, rememberlhat the water should be clear, of proper depth, and ftee of(langerous obstacles.

Once you have learnedrhe standing dive, it is easyto learn the long shallow(iive. Start with your feet in.r comfortable position onthe edge of the deck. Theyshould be 6 to 8 inches,rpart with your toes grip-l)ing the edge. Your knees.rnd hips should be flexed and your back almost parailel to thedeck. Let your arms ltang down in a relaxed, Ioose fashion withvour head up and eyes focused on a point in the water aboutllvo body lengths from the edge. Start the forward motion byswinging your arms backward and up toward your hips. Allowlour heels to se and your body to lean forward. Then immedi-.rtely swing your arms down and forward, and straightel yourleSs with a powerful thrust. Doing this will drive your body outover the water in a position almost parallel to the surface.

During this flight, drop your head slightly to a pointl)ctween your outstretched arms, which should be angledslightly toward the water You should enter the water at a sligltt,rngle. Do not allow your body to land flat on the water It will\low you down, and you could hurt yourself. Keep your armsstraight and your toes pointed, with your body in an arrowliket)osition durinS the underwater glide. As the glide slows, startlicking. This will bring you to the surface, where you can begin,r swimming stroke.

The lon8 shallow dive is a recreational dive that also canl)c used for lifesaving approaches and when you are racing fortr n. When you have learned this dive, you might be ready to be, o.rched for a racing dive. Racing dives should only be taughtI'y and practiced in the presence of an experienced swimming, t).rch. Never dive from racing start blocks unless you have been,r()perly trained and are supervised.

l fyou have never

been on a board

before, your

instru ctor may

have you first

practice with

a slmple

feetfirst entry.

Plain Frontspringboard diving involves a proper starting position andapproach to the end of the board, a hurdle or jump, a takeolffrom the boad, flight in the air, and the entry. Practice divingfrom a board about 3 feet or I meter above the water First, getused to the extra height above the water by practicing a simplestanding dive from the end of the board the same way you didat the edge of the pool.

The next step is to leam the approach and hurdle. Most div-ers use three steps before the hurdle. Your instructor may haveyou first learn the approach on dry land before moving to theboard. Practice on land with a line to represent the end of theboard. This exercise also will allow you to judge how far fromthe erd of the board vou should start.

Take the first step with your jumping leg-tbe leg that givesyou the most power when you jump from it. Keep your head upand focus your eyes on the line on the deck or the end of theboard. Your secold step follows your first. Let your arms swingnaturally at your sides as if you were walking down the street.Take the third step with your jumping leg. This step should beabout a foot longer than the first two. The lengthened stride willhelp chanSe your forward motion into upward motion.

As your weight moves over your jumping leg, start yourhurdle. Swing your arms forward, lifting the opposite knee at thesame time. Then drive up ftom the board with your jumping leg.Bring both arms over your head, keeping the toes of both feetpointing down. when you reach the peak of your hurdle, moveyour arms out to the side and straighten both legs together withyour toes pointed as you drop to the end of the board. Let yourtoes hit just before your heels so you will land softly. Allow yourarms to sweep down slightly behind you, pass next to your hips,and start forward. At the same time, bend your knees a little andIift your head until you are looking across the pool.

SWIMMING SWIMMING 73

D I V ] N C

As the board starts to spring up, push high into your dive,rJrrl lift your arms over your head. Use your whole body to diveL)\'L'r an imaginary crossbar located at eye level about a foot intront of the board. Clasp your hands and duck your head, readyl()f the entry Aim straight for the bottom, with legs together andlocs pointed until you are entirely beneath the surface.

Diving SafetyScouting has specific guidelines for safe diving and elevated\,.iter entry "Diving" refers to any water entry in which the feet(io not make first contact with the water "Elevated entry" referslo any water entry ftom a height more than 18 inches above the\v.rter. BSA Safe Swim Defense guidelines do not permit divingof swimming activity of any kind in water deeper than 12 feet.No elevated entry is permitted where the pe$on must clear anyol)stacle, including jumping or diving over land.

h water with less than 7 feet of unobstructed depth, div-irg is not permitted and water entry must be feetfirst. A leaping

i'|rtry is recommended where water is at or above head level. Aslep-down or jump-down entry from a sitting position is recom-drended for shallower water Never attempt to plunge headfirstbelow waves at a beach.

Diving is permitted in clear water more than 7 feet deepion a dock, pier, or platfom that is no more than 18 inches.rbove the water surface. For elevated diving from a heightLJetween 18 and 40 inches, the water must be unobstructed.rDd at least 10 feet deep. The water must be clear enough totnable supervisory and lifeguard personnel to see the diver atlhe deepest part of the plunge.

Board diving is permitted only from boards that are mountedon a fixed fnot floating) p]atform or deck, no more than 40 inches(approximately 1 meter) above the water surface. Clear waterdepth below the boad should be 10 to 12 feet. A lifeguard orsupervisor should be positioned where the diver can be seell at.rll times beneath the surface. Therc should be no other surfaceor underwater activity or obstruction for at least 15 feet on eitherside of the board and 25 feet in ftont of the board.

Any elevated entry from a height greater than 40 inchesnust be feetfirst and only from a fixed platform or solid footingno hiSher than the person is tall. Clear water depth should be 101o 12 feet. Other protective measures aIId distances arc the samels for board divine.

Diving always

should be done

straiqht ahead

from the board,

neverto the sides.

Ev, i . *

Bil, r.rl'

'{r'

tr-.)

Competitive Swimming. swintl tr ing strokcs 1,ou h 'c learned in ScoLrt ing Stress

rr.rsy corts( 'r 'v.rt ion, s. l i r . ly,.rnd fuDclion r i lhcr lhaD speed.ir coDlpcti t ive swinrnri l l i . l , howc.i 'er, speed is l(L'y. ' lb swilrr. t l

. (1)I l) l )( . l i t iVe lcvel, inrp|ovc youI phl 'sicnl col]dit iol t ing and,.rv closL. nttention to sl( i l ls.

)ompetitive Strokesrr conl) lcte lcquirement Ub, you nusl dc|]roDStf. Ie good iornlrr onr. conrpeti t ive swil ] ] | ] l i g stfol(e. l f you solccl lhe irool

' r ,rwl, L).rcl( crawl, or brc.rststrol{e, yoLr nlfc.r( ly hive a strong,.rsic slrol(e iol lndatioo.rtd wil l nccr. l to ntrkc onl1, a feit

During very short

races , su cn as

a 50-meter

race, Treestyle

swimmers might

take only three

breaths duringlr.rngts kJr r. lcing fornr. l l you enjov the ch.l l lcogc of Learning.t the entire race.r\v slfokc, you can nr,rslcr lhL'unique LruttoI i l1,stIoke, i{hich iss|( l nr i l inly lor competi l ior nnd vigoroLrs cx(..cist.

[:ront Grawl orTrudgen'lrort

.r lo only a few dif fc 'rcrrces betweenrhe irc|] l cf iwl strokc anrl cor] lpel i t ive crnwl,rr " ireL'style, stroke. Depending on thc.ngth of lhe race, a conl l)ot i t ivc freestJ' le;rvinrnror n.ry use differcnl be,rts for thcIrr l t ! . f I( ick. I .(rr short r.rccs, sprinters

l)refer lhc six beat kick. l lowever, forLoD€i dist inces you rD.iy f i l t ( l t l t . t t . ll rvo trc.rt l ( icl( or the tfud8cn scissorsl i ick is nrore energy-r ' f f ic icl t t . You alsorr.1D chnDgc t l lc breathing rhylhm so thatl l rslead oi bfealhiog evcry ot)c, two, three,or ntotc strokcs on the sanrc. side, youhfeathc on one side arld thcr) t l rc other

' l his

.r l tcnr.rt i rg brc' . l thing sty[ ' .r l lows for a brc. l t l tonce evefy one and-a-h.,r l f .rrnt c),clcs

SWIMMING

I ( ) \ 1 i ' t | | i \ ' t \ \ \ t r l l \ 1 l N ( ,

Backstroke (Back CrawllIn backstroke competit ion, swimmels push off oo lheir backs andcontinue swinrming on their backs throughout the race. The fonrlfor the r.lcing backstroke is the same as for the iornr used whennot in conrpctit ion. However, the start requires the use of a start-ing block so that you can lift yourself ort oi th€. w.ltL'r whileleaviDg your toes underwalef.

Opportunities for a Career in SwimmingPeople who enjoy swimming-related activit ies and who have a passion

for swimming might be surprised at the career opportunities this sporthas to offer. In addition to coaching (swimming, diving. water polo, and soon) and private instruction at the recreational, amateur, and professional

levels, there are opportunities as swim trainers; waler aerobics instructors;in management as aquatics directors and coordinators; in sports science,and in many other aquatics-related fields.You might begin to explorethe possibil i t ies through your merit badge counselor or career counselorat school.

16 SWIMMING 11

tlreaststroker , ( lr. lr)gc the basic breaststroke from an easy, rcstful, distance-i\ r rning stroke to a high energy racing stroke, you leave out

r LL' long glit le and sho en thc recovery ph.tse. l,( ' . lving out thelLrri l Ulide i l l lows lhe strok.' to be swum continLlously. TheL rt rt ist irt the number oi strokes per ninute .tnd tltc shortened,,rrrVcly plrasc. make tirc racing breaststrokc. nluch more pltysi-

, ,rLlv de'nr.rnding than the bisic stroke. At the beginning of th.',r 'rn,cry phase (when youl hands are urrder your chin), shool

t rr,m krrw.rrd with Sreat fofce and out over lhe witer. Dive yourlrr '.[ i under the water (to rtcluce drag and resist.ince) as yourr nrs reach forward and yoLrf legs do a whip l(ick.

t :

: : - ( . ( ) t v 1 t ' r r I l t V I 5 \ ! t M N . 1 t N . ,

"1,

!\\:#:I . . '

,. i ')

C O ' 1 P E T I T I V I , 5 \ , \ ' I ^ 4 M I N C C O M P F f I I I V I S W I M M I N C

llutterflylrL' I)utterfly is the second fastest of the competitive strokes and. LrsL{ only in racilg and for high energy exercise. The stroke is, ) r.rrred because both arms recover at the same time and givelrt, .rppearance of a butterfly winging tluough the air. The stroker :rr is unique because it is the only stroke to use the dolphin kick,L l i ick that looks l ike the powerful motion of a dolphin's tail.

Kick. For the dolphin kick, you hold your legs together andrrrrrve both of them in an up-afld-down motion at the same time.ir,r11 by straightening your legs and bringing them together witlt

r lrf toes pointed as in the flutter kick. Bend your knees as you,riDg your feet forward and upward and drop the hips slightly inlrc water When your lower leg is at a 4s-deSree angle with

r r rrrr body, begin the downbeat of the kick. Straighten your legss you would for the downbeat of the flutter kick. As your legs

I ck down, your hips will lift. Your heels and feet should just)r( 'ak the water's surface.

Arm Stroke. Durjng the arm stroke of the butterfly, both annsrove to8ether at the same time. Begin the ann pull with your

.r ms straighteDed amd ill frolt of your body and your palms fac-ng outward. Your alms should be about shoulder widtb apart.his is the calch position. Start the power phase by turning your

).rll]rs inward as your hands press downward. Bend your elbows!vith the dowrward hand motion afld bend the neck back,l)f ingiog your head upward. CoDtinue bendiDg your elbows aslou bring your hands inward toward your body. As your armsreach a 9O-degree angle to your body, raise your head out of the\\,.ltet Your hands will be halfway tltrough the pull.

Butterllv stroke, side and front views

78 SWIMMING

i | ) i , 1 t ' i

The path that the

arms follow in

the butterfly

stroke is called

a keyhole or

hourglass pattern.

Allow your hands to colrtinue their path backward as youstraighten your elbows. ContiDue unti l your arms are iullystrai8htened and youf hands.lre alongsicle your uppel legs. For't l 're recovcly phase, bling your arns back to the front of you.body in a seiricircular arc just above the water's surface. Youfh.rnds, with tl l€ palms orltwaid, wil l enter the \,vatef as yoristraighten your elbows to retu.n to tl ie starti l1g positioD.

Breathing and Coordination. In the butterfly snoke, yoLr per-fol]n two dolphin kicks with each arm-pull cycle. Begi| thc tirstkick by lowerirg your hips and sta irg the downbeat of the legsas your h.lnds aDd afrrs enter the water Begin the second kick atL l e l rJ l 'w . rv JU i , r r L , t t l l c a l j l p r . l l ,1 ,1e . As yor r r l r , r r rds pus l rtoward youl feet, sta the downbeat of the second kick aDd finisl'ras you lifi your anns out of thc water tbr the recover-y.

Youl borly reruaiDs flat arld lacedown i]r the w.rler, withyour hips stayin8 withjD a few irrchcs of the water's snrface. Asyou olovc forw.irLl, keep youl he.rd in alignrnent with yoLrr bodyand youf face in ihe !\raler with your chin tucked agaiDst yout-chest. Slowly cxhalc unclerwater-du ng the stroke so that youcan quickly inhale when your head Daturally riscs du ltg thefirst hall of thc power phase. Inhale by iaisinB youf chin out ofthe water-. Llo not l i i t your shoulders or.trch your b.1ck to rais.'your hea|.l. I(c.c.p your heaci elevated just unti l youl Inouth clearcthL'water, but always keep the lower half of yolrr chiD itr thcwaler. Take a breath whilc yonl.lr ' lns are in the rear positjon. nssooD as you inhale, r-etLlrn your head lo the water.

Typically, a swimmer takes a breath every other strokebecause breathing every stroke often slows down thestroke. Some swimmers use the "two up, one down"method of breathing.To try out this method, take abreath for two successive strokes and then keep yourhead in the water on the next stroke. Swimmers withgood lung capacity sometimes use a variation of thismethod during sprints or toward the finish of a racein which they breathe every third stroke. World-classswimmers breathe so effortlessly that there is no realdifference in their speed between when they take abreath and when they don't.

-_--:.

't-he Racing Dive

lhe racinS start for freestylc, breaststroke, and butterfly must ber Llivc from a standiDg position. Several tc.chDiques arc'used in, r)npetit ive swimning. For the raciDg sta known as the 'grab

i.rrl," you grasp the flont edge of the pooi or startiDg block. Inllr is positioD, your cer)ter of gravity is as far forward as possible.'his sllortcrs the tine iequired for your body to movc forward

lfom a stationary position to a positiol of forward motior]. The.r rrs provide stabil ity and help you keep you. b.rl.rncc.

Altel eDtering the watef, a bricf glir l ing phase follows. Inreestyle arrcl blltterfly, you .rre allowed to do an u|derwalcr

r utter kick or butierJly kick. After swimmintj Do more thanl5 tneters underwater, you mr-lst surface Jnd begin tire arm:tfoke. In the bfeaststroke, you can takc one stroke uDderwater,l l ld allow both arnrs to pull down all the way to the legs. You,rlso are permitted to do a single clowlwald dolphin kick followedlry a breaststrol(e l<ick befole youl head must surface and youlrcgin the bieaststroke.

( r ) \ l l ' l l l l i \ ' l \ l V L l i r ! 1 1 : l r j

SWIMMING80 B1

C o M I E T I T I \ E I w I M M I N C

On the signal to take your mark, bendover and grasp the edge ol the deckwith yourtoes and with your fingerson either side ol yourleet. Bend yourknees slightly to set your hips highwith youl weight directly over theballs of your feet. Hang your headcomfortably between vour shouldersand look at your toes. Straighten upslightly until your arms lock.

On the "go" signal, bring your headup sharply forward to begin the shortupward arc of your dive.

Ouickly bring your hands foiward,keeping them below shoulder leveland reaching forwald until your almsare at their full length. Push off withyour legs and fuet.

As quickly as possible, your head andhands .each the highest point andyou begin to drive yourcelf out ovelthe water with a powerful leg push.

- /-;:-

8? SwlMMING 83

CoM P ET IT IVE SwIM,M INC

As your feet leave the deck, keep the angle of your body neadyhorizontalto the water by keeping the hips in a high position.

Raise your legs up before your entry into the water. Drop youjhead down between your airns so your ears are squeezedbetween your upper ams. Keep your legs and fuet together

Slice cleanly into the water whh your hands.The rest of yourbody should slip through the "hole" opened by your hands,Keep your head tucked low to avoid slapping your fuce on thewater Even the feet should slip through the "hole" without asplash. Glide iust below the sudace until you slow to swim-ming speed. and then begin your stroke.

-- /-=.---- \--,/ -:--^'r)--.>\:--

__\=---

( O M I ' I : I I I I V I : S W l M M I N C

The crawl stroke

fl ip turn also is

reterred to as

the tumble turn.

Racing TurnsCompetitive swimming events frequently invoive two or morelaps, or pool lengths, so turns are an importaDt racing skill.Indeed, learning and practicing quick racing turns can be asimportant to winning as mastering stroke skills. Tuming methodsvary depending on the stroke. Most competitive swimming poolshave boltom a[d overhead markings, or turll targets, that let youknow when to begin your turn. However, these are not helpful ifyou are not watching for them! Always practice swimming inclear water and with your eyes open. A comfortable, well fittedpair of swim goggles is recommended for seious competitors.

Front or Crawl Stroke FlipTum

The preparatiol for this flip turn begins when you are about onestroke away from the side of the pool. When you reach thispoint, do not rccover your arln from the last stroke but let it trailat your side. Take one more stroke and leave that arm trailing atyour side when the stroke is finished. Both palms will be facingdown alongside your legs. Bend at the waist and tuck your chinto your chest. 'nrck up your legs and, leadjng with your head,do a half somersault while pulling your palms toward your iace.

Be sure to exhale air tluough your fiose throughout the flipturn to avoid getting water in your nose. You will flip over oDyour back underwater fslightly on one side) with your feet againstthe wall. Your toes will be pointing up or to the side. Your handsshould be above your head. Push off with your feet from the wall.As you leave the wall, roll to a prone position, reach forward withbotb anns, and glide underwater. As you surface and your glideslows to swimming speed, begin stroking. Do not take a breathuntil the second or third arm stroke.

SWIMMING SwlMMING 85

: . L ( i N i l I I r I t V E \ W t M N . l I N C

Swim unti l the headpasses over theturn target.

Pull through, stoppingthe hands at the thighs.

Reverse the arm motionwith palms down; bendat the waist.

Tuck the legs, turn thehead, and somersault.

Roll to the Droneposition, push off,and glide underwater.

C O M f I J f I T I V E S W I M M I N C

\ :\

Backstroke FlipTurnThe backstroke flip turn is now used for allserious competition. Since swimme$ can-nor see the wall behind lhem while doinBthe backstroke, competitive pools have flagshangin8 5 yards ftom the end of the pool towdrn rhe backslrokers. Prdclice firsL lo fi8-ure out how many strckes it takes you toswim frcm the flags to the wall.

Start the flip one stroke from the wallby turning your head and looking towardyour pulling arm as it does the catch. Asyou pull, roLdle onto vour stomach. driveyour head downward, and stop your pullinShand at your hips. At the same time, yourother arm recovers across your body, eniersthe water in the same position as in thet ro r r c rawl . and then pu l l s lo the h ips .

Start the somersault while tuckingyour knees tightly to your chest. Tum bothpalms toward your body and sweep themtoward your head to complete the flip.Exhale air through your nose thrcughoutthe flip turn to avoid Setting water in yournose. Keep your legs tucked until your feetcontact the wall, toes pointed upward. Ifyou have done the flip correctly, you willbe on your back. Push off forcefully and 8etinto a streamlined position as you leave thewall. After you are clear of the wall but stillunderwatet do several quick dolphin kicks.You are permitted to go as far as 15 metersbefore having to surface and take a stroke.

\ "-

f -\ \-

SwlMMING

\ .-

SWIMMING

C O M P I : I ] T I V E S w I M A , I I N C

Breaststroke and ButterflyTurnsWhen your head passes the turn target (about 5 feet out),complete the stroke in progress and glide with your armsoutstretched until both hands touch the wall. If the pool edgeprovides a hardhold, grab it and pull into the wall. pull inquickly, tucking your knees tightly under you as you switchdirections and turn sideways.

If the wall has no handhold, tuck yourlegs under you and switch directions whileturning sideways. Your knees will remau tna tucked-up position as you plant your feeton the wall. As your feet come under youtoward the wall, your head will lift out ofthe water Take a quick brcath before yourhead goes back in the watel

As you turn sideways, your top armwill be pointing away from the wall. youmay bring this arm in close to the bodyas you reverce directions by bending theelbow and bringing in the hand or you mayleave it out in front. When your feet aremoving under your body and your head isswitching directions, bring your hand andarm away frcm the wall, out of the watetdnd over rhe Lop oi your head. Submergeyourself and push off the wall with yourhands and arms out in ftont of you. As youleave rhe wall on your side, lurn to a idce-down position.

If you are doing the breaststroke, youcan take one stroke under-water after push-ing off the wall, using both arms to pulldown all the way to the legs. You also arepermitted to do a single downward dolphinkick followed by a breaststroke kick beforeyour head must break the surface and youbegin the arm stroke. If you are doing thebutterfly, you are allowed to do dolphinkicks ior a maximum of l5 melers uoder-waler Then you musl surfdce and begintne arm stroke.

f-=--\- --

( ( ) \ 1 t , t | | \ ' t \ \ \ r \ 1 t 1 t N a

\1

Crawl Stroke Open Turn

]'he crawl stroke open tufn is useful for swinning laps or forcompetit ive swiDrirers who h.1ve not yet learned a fl ip turn. It isvery similar to the turD for the []re.tststroke and butterfly.However, it is not used in serioLrs competit ion.

when about 5 feet from the walL, or when positionedover a turn target, pulL through to the end of an arm

stroke, roll onlo yoLrr side, and glide with yourlower.rrrD fully straightened. As your forward

hand touclres the wall, absorb tlre momentum by placing the palm flat a8ainst the

\ ,a l l . A l low your e lbow Io be d . keep i l l8your iorearnl betweeD your head andlhc wJ l l . As t l re e lbow bet tds , te t t ta inor yo l r s rde and l l ck bo th Inees l rp

revelsc'clirections whiie sti l l on your side.As your feet coore under you toward the

w.ll l . yor hc.rd wil l l i ft out of the water.Take i quick breath before your head goes

bnck in the w.rter. As you Slide into the wall,your top .rrrn wil l be pointing away from the wall.when you lurn lo reverse direction, you can

tuck the top aflD close to the body by beDding tl le elbowancl b nging in the hand o| yott cnn leave it out in froDt of yotr.As your feet move to make contact with the wall and your l leadarrd upper body move away fLom thc wail, bring the arm on thewalL out of the water ard over l l 're top of your head. Submergeyourself and push off the wall with both feet and the hands .rndafns extended out in lront of you. ' lLlrl to a facedown positionand move into a shallow utrderwater prone glide. Clide untiLyour speed slows to swimrrinS speed, then begin stroking.

, b -irr:;,":

t

88

( ( ) \ 1 l l l l l l \ | \ \ \ l \ l \ 1 l N u

Begin ina gl ide,

Touch thewall and tuck.

Pivot the bodyand inhale.

Arm ovetin tuck.

Push oftand gl ide.

r : : : ! \ l ' I | \ 1 n i l . 1 i ; l ( ) l i i i i N l \ \ ^ . . 1 { l l l l \ 1 1 , /

il.tlrq;

, ;

' ' , \. _ ,r.{ - a

Swimming for Fitnessand Healthliegular exercise may be the siJrgle most important

r r rB . r l , ( rco l , r r r do ro I ve a lo rB drd l l "d l t l l \ilL.. Studies of people who iive to great ages-rlto their 90s.1nd beyond indicate that these

i)cople have.lt le.lst one thing in comDon::L'Bular, consistent exercise. While exercise has,r wide v.lriety of benefits, the most renarkable.rfe the prevention of hean clisease atrd thestrengtheniDg of Lrones.

Exercise and Healthl he relationship lletween excrcisc anLl heart disease has beenI)\,estigated extensively. l 'he results arc always the same: thellhysicaliy active have less hea clisease. The impact of exerciseoo heart disease is, in pa , due to its beneiicial eifects o1r theother sk factors of heart disease.

People who exercise regularly ale iluch less likely to beoverweight because excrcise burDs calories. Exercise feducesblood pressure, too. In fact, the corrbination of excrcise aDd losingweight often allows people with hype|1ension (hi8h blood pressure) to coutrol it without taking medicines. This colltrol nay bebcttcr than w.rs possible nrith nredicines. Ilesear-ch has shown thatactive lnale joggeN have lower totai cholesterol tha0 meD of thesame.lge who don t run. There is no substitute for exercise whenit comes to pl'otccling yoru heart.

without enoLlgh exercise, bones become denineralized. Thatis, they iose thcif c.rlciu|]r ind becone britt le. If a persou is putto complete bed fL'sl, this l)rocL.ss starts almost inmediately andprogresses lapidlt,. l lr is is onc ('.rson why doctors recommendthat people who h.rvt' lr,rrl ,r rir,r ior oIcf.rl ion of .1 hcart attacl(resume ac t iv i t y i t s s r l r r r , r : l l xs i l r lL '

5 \ V I N \ N l I N ( , I o I ( I I I N I S S A N D H I A L - I F I

The demineralization

ol bones has been

documented in

astronauts returning

from space, where

lack of gravity robs

physical activity of

its exercise value.

Weak and britt le

bones-a result of

a lack of exercise-

are also common

in the aged.

Exercise is an excellent cardiovascular colditioner and isimportant to iiving better as well as longer. People who exer-cise re8ularly feel and look yourger tban those who do not.lmprovenents in muscle tone and circulatioD undoubtediy helpphysically fit people feel more energetic and give them a feelingof well-being. Moreovet research shows that healthy people aremore productive at work.

lf the iDportance of exercise is so well known and obvious,then why do people often neglect to exercise and protect theirhealth? The main reason is choicel Remember your Scout train-ing and Scout Oath-what will be your choice?

Making Exercise Part of Your LifeHow, wheD, and where you choose to exercise will depend olrsuch things as where you live; what facilities and equipment areavailable to you; and your bealth, physical abilities, ard trainiDg.But these things should detemine only the type, place, arld tim-ing of your exercise, not your basic decision to exe.cise- Sornepeople may go rock climbing. Others n]ay take daily walks. Forsome people the choices are almost limitless. For others thechoices may be fewer, but everyone can choose to exercise and. i n o i i n l r m d ^ i n o i r

For those who are lirnited by choice or circumstances toone fotm of exercise, a full-body exercise is strongly recommended. In full-body exercise, all the muscies and joints aremoved and flexed. Examples of full-body exercise include briskwalking, running, cyclinS, rowing, and swimning.

Swimming for ExerciseIn many respects, swimning is superior to other forms of exercise because it involves all the muscles and joints, is highiyaerobic, and has a very low injury rate. I[ addition, swimmingpromotes coordination, and the buoyancy effect of water limitsstress to the joirts. You can improve upper body strength byworking on overarm strokes, and focus on leg development withkick drills and swiln sprints using the flutter kick. It's not sur-prising that swimming is often prescribed and used as physicaltherapy for paralysis, stroke, and injury victims. A regular swim-ning exercise program will help you increase stamina, polislryour swimming skills, and develop an exercise prcgram that youcal keep using as you grcw older

$ : l

Why not enjoy your favorite activity-swimming-.rrd get that ever-so-important exercise at the same

ffrFt*i*fficd; F""p*&warm up with a slow'paced so-yard swim using the ;;YVl\ l ,*il:iif ,;:"'i:11':lllii,.1"T""1l,ii'tif.Hi5i"T' d { I lvEs s

- " /

S W I N 4 N l l N C ] O R F I T N E S S A N D H I j A I T H

Planning a Swimming Exercise Program

or almost every swimlr ing dcl iviry. add,l iew

I:::xiT,i:"'J:xTliili,*.T1",1,""i'"' : v-*"* d' t-NEss.rrl aggressive butterfly or crawl stroke with a "

Yrri€69{

,".,#l ffild,i?ffi"4#stretching//flexibility exercises to your warm-upand cool-down routines before or after youl timeln tne water. For more information

The key to a successful exercise program is commit- on planning an exercisemert and consistency. If you regulally coirplele your fuLt B19l1Tj:f:'l -t:

th'

swimmingfitnessroutinethreeiiruesevery''""ri,yo'r [fi"r'J;1i1'Jr1:i.-**will get the most from it. Panjcjp, ing pve once a weekwill make a significant differ€nce. Less than once a weekis still better than being a full-time couch potato.

To help yourself make the commitment and deveiop self-discipline, keep a detailed record of your exercise-how far youswam, rinre in tl le walet, stfokes you used. compdrdrjve times,and number of repetitions. These records will chart your progressafld show the improvement iD your stamina and strength. Seeingyour own success will provide even greater incentive.

Swimming ls a Lifetime SkillLearning to swim a variety of strokes will provide relaxation,fun , and p l rys i ra lcond i t ion ing t l raL w i l l benef i t you the resr o lyour life. When the sl(ills acquired through proper instructionand practice are.rdaIled to l ifesaving techniques, they can savethe l ives of swintntcrs l ltt ' tsclvi.s, is well as otlters. And, ofcourse , sw imming, r t J .o r r l ) ( ' l i l i vo lL .v r . l i s . l lwnys cha l leng ing .Best of all, learDil lg t lt is l i tf l i t( 'sl(i l l r,,, i l l l t ' .rvo yotr i{ i l lr .t sr.ns0of accompl ishmerr l . t t t r l . r l r r r r r r ' , r f t r ) r r ' l , l \ \ v t l l y ( ) l t l f i o l t ( i s .

*r

rj!'t!!'lL

ffiri

Swimming ResourcesScouting Literaturellrl,.S.oul /ldi r.lbook: Decl< ol ltirsl1r.l; [/iicrgl'n.y 1;r'.\1 Aa.l pocl(ct guide;i1/rk'lir.s, t//icr.!.jr?.J, l)it?,1n1rr.ss, Iri.slir.1, lr/Dr.lluirs, P{'f.so7kl1 Fit/rr.J.s, .Sl)r)fls.

,rnd i4/.rll .s-po/ Is rrr.rit Lr.tLlge p. rl)hlets

Visit the Boy Scouts of America'sofficial retailWeb site ar hftpl/wwwscoutstuff.org for a com-plete l isting of all merit badgepamph lets and other helpfulScout ing mater ia ls and su pp l ies .

Books

ll. l fsky, StcvcD M thd Sin/1. (;uil l . t.r.Snork.l i is fuli. Bcst PLlblishinBConrp.1D,v, 1999

Colwin, L-ecil M. E/11iktl iroilgh.Su.,i//rrri ig. l lLrmaD Kinetics, 21102.

Cf,rvef, Dennis l(. .S.rtl]r l l lrr irs. HumdnI ( inc t i cs ,20U3.

IIines, EnrnretL \ l l i tr ir ' .s.s .Surlmrlrrl8.I IL l lD . rn I ( ine t ics , 1999.

l . , . r . , l l l . l ; , t \ . f . t . , " l t . t \ r . t l . l t 1 : .

l in l tuL'\ t l lo. ly. lbtnl lnrnreNioISw i Inn r i ng ,200 ( r .

. 'litul

l'7rnu?$ion: Tlrcllcuolulio/rdry l4trl, 1.r .Surrn li€llcil/r . i - !1clt drrr l 11isi. / : l j i feside, 2i l t l4

Leir ih. iD, D.Ir iel .L lJn(leJu\ttr ! Wotul(15al I l\' liti l[(n tu L PL] rks. Conp.rssAlDf f ic.r Cuides. I997.

Ofr, Dnn, nnd Eric Douglas. .S.ul)d|)n,trE .sdl i i l , . HLrDrin I{ inct ics, 2007.

' l homas, t)avid G. -Srir i / i r / i r i rrsr Sl4rs ld

-Si?..r ' r- .s. I Iul l lan Kinetics, . l t l05.

Organizations andWeb SitesAmerican Red Cross'lbll-[]-ce tclcphone: 800 731 27(r7\,Vcb sitL.: htl|;/u,Lf!r. r11l( /r).\.\.o/.q

USA Swimming\ /cLr sile: ll l tI r,,7ul tr u.,. us.t.{uri/rrrlii/iS. or.!,i

YMCA of the USA'lr. lL.phone: i I 2-977-il03lWr.b sitc: / lf lpr,/ i lrLnlr.\]r lr '1r. /ral

' * - **

.,1

u

95

S W I A ' i , \ ' 1 I N G R E s O U R C I ] S

AcknowledgmentsThe Boy Scouts of America is grateful to Richard Thomas (BSA AquaticsInstructor; director, Aquatics section,National CampiDg School, WesternRegion; chair, Aquatics Committee,crnnd Cdnyon Council) ior his leddership in coordinating the revision of thesarimmr4S rneri( badge pamplrleL anrfor developing this manusc pt. Thanksto BSA Health and Safety CoDnitteemembers David Bell, Ph.D., for hisindispensable assistance with thevisuals and text; and to Calvin Banningand Patrick Noack for their input onvisuals and text. These devoted volunteers dedicated countless hours to thisproject. We also appreciate the inputand cortributions of the following: LytuBrennard, Albert cahill, Jay Fox, BillHall, Matt Vande Sande, Ceorge Tfoxler,and Steve Terrell.

We thank the Quicklist ConsultingCommittee of the Association for LibraryService to Children, a division of theAmerican Library Association, lor itsassistance with updating the resourcessection of this me t badge pamphlet.

The Boy Scouts of America isgrateful to the following individualsfrom the American Red Cross NationalHeadquarters for their assistance: JohnE. Hendrickson, Program Managementand Field Support, Health and SafetySeNices (and also a member of the BSAI'Iealth and Safety Committee), and MikeCspiIo, D)ana8er. Aqudlics, TechnicaDevelopment and Research andProduct Developnlent.

Photo and ll lustration Credits

@Jupiterimages.com-cover lmdsk,snorkel, ftils, goggLes, stopwqtch,butterf [y swimmer in beckgrcund) :pages 6-8 falr; 10,11 (pool), 14(Lifeluqrd shock), 65, 67 68, 77,81, and 94

Wikipedia.org,courtesy pagesT5-76

Wikipedia.orgilMattias Wennstriim,courtesy-page 79

All other photos and illustrations notmentioned above are the property ofor are protected by the Boy Scoutsof ADerica.

John McDeannon cover (diuingillusfr"ationJ; all iilustrations onpages 12, 14, 15-16,18,23 27,31.,33 , 36-37 , 39 , 41 , 43 44,46,49-50,56, 69-72, 78, 82-B3, 85-87, and 89

Brian Payne-pages 52 and 91

96

MERIT BADGE LIBRARYThough intended as an aid 1o Boy Scouls, Varsity Scolts, and qualified Venturers inmeeling merit badge requiremenis, these pamphlets are of general interest and are madeavailable by many schools and public libraries. The latest revision date ol each pamphletmight not correspond with the copyright date shown below, because this list is cofiectedonly once a year, in January. Any number of merit badge pamphlets may be revisedthroughoul the year; olhers are simply reprinled unli a revision becomes necessary.

ll a Scoul has already slarted working on a merit badge when a new edition for thatpamphlet is inkoduced, he should continue to use the same merit badge pamphlet toearn the badge. He should fulfill the requirements listed in the pamphlet he was usingwhen he began. In other words, ihe Scout need not start all over again with the newpamphlet and possibly revised requirements.

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www.scoutstutf.org

DIRECT MAIL CENTERPO. Box 909

Pinevi l le, NC 28134-0909For fasl credit card orders-

VISA, N,4astercard, American Express. : l l R q A ^ . a f a r ^ r c t ^ l l - l r a 6

1-AOO-323-0732