SPECIAL OPPORTUNITY

Softball Belt Loop & Pin

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Webelos Scouts that earn the Softball Belt Loop while a Webelos Scout also satisfy part of requirement 4 for the Sportsman Activity Badge.

Belt Loop

Complete these three requirements:

«  Explain the rules of softball to your leader or adult partner.

«  Spend at least 30 minutes practicing softball skills.

«  Participate in a softball game.

Sports Pin

A        Earn the Softball belt loop,
and

B        Complete five of the following requirements:

1.       Compete in a pack or community softball tournament.

2.       Demonstrate skill in the following throwing techniques: overhand, sidearm, underhand, and the relay throw.

3.       Demonstrate skill in the following catching techniques: fielding a ground ball, fielding a pop-up, catching a line drive.

4.       Demonstrate correct pitching techniques and practice for three half-hour sessions.

5.       Demonstrate correct hitting techniques, including bunting. Practice for three half-hour sessions.

6.       Explain the rules of base running and demonstrate skill in the following sliding techniques: the straight-in slide, the hook slide, and the headfirst slide.

7.       Learn and demonstrate base coaching signals.

8.       Learn about one defensive position (shortstop, catcher, etc.) and practice at that position for three half-hour sessions.

9.       Attend a high school, college, or community softball game.

Go to: http://usscouts.org/advance/cubscout/sports/worksheets/Softball.pdf  for a worksheet that may be used while earning these awards.

Swimming Belt Loop & Pin

Webelos Scouts that earn the Swimming Belt Loop while a Webelos Scout also satisfy requirement 8 for the Aquanaut Activity Badge and part of requirement 3 for the Sportsman Activity Badge.

Belt Loop

Complete these three requirements:

«  Explain rules of Safe Swim Defense. Emphasize the buddy system.

«  Play a recreational game in the water with your den, pack, or family.

«  While holding a kick board, propel yourself 25 feet using a flutter kick across the shallow end of the swimming area

Sports Pin

A        Earn the Swimming belt loop,
and

B        Complete five of the following requirements:

1.       Practice the breathing motion of the crawl stroke while standing in shallow water. Take a breath, place your head in the water, exhale, and turn your head to the side to take a breath. Repeat.

2.       Learn 2 of the following strokes: crawl, backstroke, elementary backstroke, sidestroke, or breaststroke.

3.       Learn two of the following floating skills: jellyfish float, turtle float, canoe (prone) float.

4.       Using a kickboard, demonstrate 3 kinds of kicks.

5.       Pass the "beginner" or "swimmer" swim level test.

6.       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.

7.       Explain the four rescue techniques: Reach, Throw, Row, and Go (with support)

8.       Take swimming lessons.

9.       Attend a swim meet at a school or community pool.

10.   Tread water for 30 seconds.

11.   Learn about a U.S. swimmer who has earned a medal in the Olympics

12.   Demonstrate the proper use of a mask and snorkel in a swimming area where your feet can touch the bottom.

Go to http://usscouts.org/advance/cubscout/sports/worksheets/Swimming.pdf for a worksheet that may be used while earning these awards.

NOTE:

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 to Safe Scouting (#34416B) 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.

Swimmer Test
The swimmer test demonstrates the minimum level of swimming ability required for safe deep-water swimming. The various components of the test evaluate the several skills essential to this minimum level of swimming ability:

Jump feet first into water over your head in depth. Swim 75 yards in a strong manner using one or more of the following strokes: sidestroke, breaststroke, trudgen, or crawl; then swim 25 yards using an easy, resting backstroke. The 100 yards must be swum continuously and include at least one sharp turn. After completing the swim, rest by floating.

The test administrator must objectively evaluate the individual performance of the test, and in so doing should keep in mind the purpose of each test element.

"Jump feet first into water over your head in depth,
The swimmer must be able to make an abrupt entry into deep water and begin swimming without any aids. Walking in from shallow water, easing in from the edge or down a ladder, pushing off from side or bottom, and gaining forward momentum by diving do not satisfy this requirement.

"...Swim 75 yards in a strong manner using one or more of the following strokes: sidestroke, breaststroke, trudgen, or crawl..."

The swimmer must be able to cover distance with a strong, confident stroke. The 75 yards must not be the outer limit of the swimmer's ability; completion of the distance should show sufficient stamina to avoid undue risks. Dog-paddling and strokes repeatedly interrupted and restarted are not sufficient; underwater swimming is not permitted. The itemized strokes are inclusive. Any strong side or breaststroke or any strong overarm stroke (including the back crawl) is acceptable.

"...swim 25 yards using an easy, resting backstroke..."
The swimmer must perform a restful, free-breathing backstroke that can be used to avoid exhaustion during swimming activity. This element of the test necessarily follows the more strenuous swimming activity to show that the swimmer is, in fact, able to use the backstroke as a relief from exertion. The change of stroke must be accomplished in deep water without any push-off or other aid. Any variation of the elementary backstroke may suffice if it clearly allows the swimmer to rest and regain wind.

"...The 100 yards must be swum continuously and include at least one sharp turn..."

The total distance is to be covered without rest stops. The sharp turn demonstrates the swimmer's ability to reverse direction in deep water without assistance or push-off from side or bottom.

"...After completing the swim, rest by floating."
This critically important part of the test evaluates the swimmer's ability to maintain himself in the water indefinitely even though exhausted or otherwise unable to continue swimming. Treading water or swimming in place will further tire the swimmer and therefore is unacceptable. The duration of the float test is not significant, except that it must be long enough for the test administrator to determine that the swimmer is resting and likely could continue to do so for a prolonged period. Drownproofing may be sufficient if clearly restful, but it is not preferred. If the test is completed except for the floating requirement, the swimmer may be retested on the floating only (after instruction) provided that the test administrator is confident that the swimmer can initiate the float when exhausted.

Boys’ Life Reading Contest for 2008

SAY ‘YES’ TO READING

Enter the 2008 Boys’ Life Reading Contest

Write a one-page report titled “The Best Book I Read This Year” and enter it in the Boys’ Life 2008 “Say Yes to Reading!” contest.

The book can be fiction or nonfiction. But the report has to be in your own words — 500 words tops. Enter in one of these three age categories:

­  8 years old and younger

­  9 and 10 years old

­  11 years old and older

First-place winners in each age category will receive a $100 gift certificate good for any product in the Boy Scouts official retail catalog. Second-place winners will receive a $75 gift certificate and third-place winners a $50 certificate.

Everyone who enters will get a free patch like the one shown above. (And, yes, the patch is a temporary insignia, so it can be worn on your Cub Scout or Boy Scout uniform shirt, on the right pocket. Proudly display it there or anywhere!) In coming years, you’ll have the opportunity to earn different patches.

The contest is open to all Boys’ Life readers. Be sure to include your name, address, age and grade in school on the entry.

Send your report, along with a business-size, self-addressed, stamped envelope, to:

Boys’ Life Reading Contest

S306

P.O. Box 152079

Irving, TX 75015-2079

Entries must be postmarked by Dec. 31, 2008 and must include entry information and a self-addressed, stamped envelope.

For more details go to www.boyslife.org

Knot of the Month

Arrowhead Honor and Commissioner’s Key for Roundtable Commissioners

www.usscouts.org

Arrowhead Honor for Roundtable/Huddle Commissioner

This Award can be earned for service as either:

Cub Scout Roundtable Commissioner,

Boy Scout Roundtable Commissioner, or

Venturing Roundtable Commissioner

Requirements

·         Review all material in the current
Venturing Roundtable Guide,
Boy Scout Roundtable Planning Guide, or
Cub Scout Roundtable Planning Guide

·         Review all material in the
Troop Program Resources and Troop Program Features, or
Cub Scout Program Helps

·         Recruit a roundtable staff.

·         Lead staff in preparing a 1-year roundtable outline.

·         Supervise the staff in conducting these roundtables

·         With the district commissioner and district executive, develop and use an attendance promotion plan.

·         Attend a council commissioner conference, roundtable, or planning conference.

Commissioner’s Key for Roundtable Commissioners

This Award can be earned for service as either:

Cub Scout Roundtable Commissioner,

Boy Scout Roundtable Commissioner, or

Venturing Roundtable Commissioner

Requirements

Training

·         Complete the three session training program outlined in Commissioner Basic Training Manual

·         Complete personal coaching orientation including the orientation projects.

·         Complete Basic Training for Cub Scout or Boy Scout Roundtable Commissioners and staff

Tenure

Complete 3 years as a registered commissioner within a 5-year period.
(Tenure for one award cannot be used for other training awards.)

Performance

·         Earn the Arrowhead Honor Award.

If a Commissioner has already earned a Scouter’s Key in another position, in lieu of sewing a second one of these square knots on the uniform, devices should be attached; a Commissioner’s Device is used for this award.