The Seven Major Components of Fitness

The BSA Physical Fitness Award's core requirements are the following seven major components. They are used to measure an individual's improvement over time, not to establish an arbitrary minimum level of activity.

Posture
Posture is evaluated with a posture-rating chart. The Scout or Scouter is compared to a photo of his or her starting posture, noting 13 different body segments. Each body segment is scored as a five, three, or one, making a possible range of scores from 13 to 65. Higher scores over time reflect improving posture.
Accuracy
The target throw is used to measure accuracy. The Scout or Scouter makes 20 throws with a softball at a circular target and is scored on the number of times the target is hit.
Strength
The sit-up is used to measure strength. The Scout or Scouter lies on his or her back with knees bent and feet on the floor. The arms are crossed on the chest with the hands on the opposite shoulders. The feet are held by a partner to keep them on the floor. Curl to the sitting position until the elbows touch the thighs. Arms must remain on the chest and chin tucked on the chest. Return to the starting position, shoulder blades touching the floor. The score is the number of sit-ups made in a given time.
Agility
The side step is used to measure agility. Starting from a center line, the Scout or Scouter sidesteps alternately left and right between two lines 8 feet apart. He or she is scored on the number of lines crossed in 10 seconds.
Speed
The dash is used to measure speed. The score is the amount of time to the nearest half-second running a set distance that can be increased each year.
Balance
The squat stand is used to measure balance. The Scout or Scouter squats with hands on the floor and elbows against the inner knee. He or she leans forward until the feet are raised off the floor. The score is the number of seconds held in that position.
Endurance
The squat thrust is used to measure endurance. The Scout or Scouter starts from the standing position. He or she performs the usual four-position exercise. The score is the number of completed squat thrusts made in a given time.

Some of these tests measure more than the components they represent. For example, the sit-ups, a measure of strength, also reflect some endurance because of their repetition. The squat stand requires balance, its major component, but also requires strength and endurance to support the weight of the body on the arms.

The following physical fitness activities are included in the Cub Scout, Boy Scout, and Venturing programs. These suggested advancement requirements could be a resource for youth in earning the BSA Physical Fitness Award.

Cub Scouting

Tiger Cub Handbook

  • Elective 37: Take a bike ride
  • Elective 40: Swimming-related activity

Wolf Cub Scout Book

  • Achievement 1: All of them
  • Achievement 9: Ride a bike
  • Achievement 10b: Walk
  • Elective 7: Walk on stilts/puddle jumpers
  • Elective 20: Sports—boating, skiing, ice-skating, roller-skating, sprint start, standing long jump, soccer, baseball, basketball

Bear Cub Scout Book

  • Achievement 14, 15: Bike riding, games
  • Achievement 16, 23: Building muscles, sports
  • Elective 5, 19: Boats, rowing, swimming
  • Elective 20: Sports—plus long and high jump

Webelos Scout Book

  • Aquanaut: Swimming, boating
  • Athlete: Push- and pull-ups, curl-ups, standing long and vertical jump, 50- and 600-yard dash
  • Sportsman: Two team sports, two individual sports

Boy Scouting

Boy Scout Handbook

  • Tenderfoot: requirements 10a and 10b
  • First Class: requirement 9b—Swim test
  • Chapter 15: "Physically Strong"

Merit Badge Pamphlets

  • Athletics merit badge pamphlet
  • Cycling merit badge pamphlet
  • Swimming merit badge pamphlet
  • Personal Fitness merit badge pamphlet
  • Sports merit badge pamphlet

Troop Program Features Vol. I

  • Athletics program feature

Troop Program Features Vol. III

  • Sports program feature
  • Physical Fitness program feature

Venturing

Venturer Handbook

  • Gold Award requirement 4—Set and accomplish one goal related to total fitness.
  • Sports Bronze Award requirement 3—Take part as a member of an organized team sport.
  • Arts and Hobbies Bronze Award requirement 6—Develop a plan to assess the physical skill level of each member of a group and a physical training improvement plan to re-evaluate in 90 days.

Venturing Leader Manual

  • Olympic Day for Youth, pages 95-113
  • Cycling program, pages 166-171
  • Cooperative games, page 242

Ranger Guidebook

  • Physical fitness elective, page 45
  • Cycling/mountain biking elective, pages 28-29

Nature of Leadership treks at Philmont and in Alaska

The BSA Physical Fitness Award
Seven Major Components of Fitness | Award Requirements & Application | Note to Mentors

The Boy Scouts of America http://www.scouting.org