Cub Scout Sports

Swimming Belt Loop 

Swimming


The information below was effective through May 31, 2015, when the Cub Scout advancement program was completely revised.

As part of the program changes, the Cub Scout Academics and Sports programs, including the Belt Loop and Pin mentioned here, was discontinued as of June 1, 2015.


The requirements listed below were taken from the
Cub Scout Academics and Sports Program Guide (34299 - 1999 Edition).

These requirements have been superseded by those in 34299A - 2002 Revision.
Click here to see the current requirements.


Requirements

Tiger Cubs, Cub Scouts, and Webelos Scouts may complete requirements in a family, den, pack, school, or community environment. Tiger Cubs must work with their parents or adult partners. Parents and partners do not earn loops or pins.

Belt Loop

Complete these three requirements:

  1. Explain basic rules of safety for swimming. Emphasize the buddy system.
  2. Pass the "beginner" swim level test.
  3. Demonstrate the ability to float on your back.

Sports Pin

Earn the Swimming belt loop, and complete five of the following requirements:

  1. Learn two of the following strokes: crawl, backstroke, elementary backstroke, sidestroke, or breaststroke.
  2. Learn two of the following floating skills: jellyfish float, turtle float, canoe (prone) float.
  3. Using a kickboard, demonstrate three kinds of kicks.
  4. Play a water game with your den or family.
  5. Visit with a lifeguard and talk about swimming safety in various situations (pool, lake, river, ocean). Learn about the training a lifeguard needs for his or her job.
  6. Explain the three rescue techniques of Reach, Throw, and Go.
  7. Take swimming lessons.
  8. Attend a swim meet at a school or community pool.
  9. Tread water for 30 seconds.
  10. Learn about a U.S. swimmer who has earned a medal in the Olympics.

All swimming activities done by Cub Scout Packs must be done in accordance with the rules in the "Safe Swim Defense", described in the Guide to Safe Scouting (#34416B). That program is available for viewing by Clicking Here. Those rules are not mandatory for individuals or families, of course, swimming in private or public pools, lakes, or beaches, although families are encouraged to use as much of them as appropriate. They ARE mandatory for all Cub Scout aquatic activities, trips to swimming pools arranged as Den or Pack meetings or outings.

Included in the Guide is a procedure and standards for classifying swimming ability. Requirement 2 for the Swimming Belt Loop, listed above, refers to the following, taken from the Guide.

Beginner Test

Jump feet first into water over the head in depth, level off, swim 25 feet on the surface, stop, turn sharply, resume swimming as before, and return to starting place.

The entry and turn serve the same purpose as in the swimmer test. The swimming can be done with any stroke, but no underwater swimming is permitted. The stop assures that the swimmer can regain a stroke if it is interrupted. The test demonstrates that the beginning swimmer is ready to learn deepwater skills and has the minimum ability required for safe swimming in a confined area in which shallow water, sides, or other support is less than 25 feet from any point in the water.

Worksheets for use in working on these requirements: DOC FilePDF File

Blanks in this worksheets table appear when we do not have a worksheet for the loop and pin that includes these requirements.


Page updated on: April 19, 2015



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