Encouraging healthy behaviours has benefits, not only for participants but for their communities, whether through improved health, or active participation in team activities. The Physical Recreation section therefore specifically aims to improve the health, team skills, self-esteem and confidence of participants. The chosen activity should also be considered alongside other section activities in line with the Award' s guiding principles.

To encourage participation in physical recreation to help improve performance, health and fitness.

The requirements apply equally to all young people, regardless of physical ability. They are just as applicable to elite athletes as to those who are not familiar with sport. Participation, persistence and improvement are the key outcomes.

It is often helpful, where possible, to link in with a club or follow a programme of a sport' s national governing body in order to provide structure to the activity. This is not a requirement, but it can be very helpful for participants and their Leader or Assessor in aiding them to come up with a meaningful and measurable goal.

In the case of a team sport, it is the individual participant' s personal effort and commitment that counts.

The time requirements for this section are broadly the same as the Skills and Service sections. Bronze participants and direct entrants at Silver or Gold level will have to devote some extra time to one section of the Award, and they may choose to make up this time in the Physical Recreation section.

• Bronze - at least 3 months
• Silver - at least 6 months
• Gold - at least 12 months

The list of possible activities is almost unlimited but participants should be careful not to pick activities that are considered, in Award terms, to be a Skills section or a Service section activity. Essentially, the chosen activity should be physically challenging or demanding for the participant. Examples of activities are below.

Ball sports

• Football (of any description, i.e. rugby, soccer, Gaelic, Australian Rules, American)
• Volleyball
• Basketball
• Netball
• Handball
• Cricket
• Golf
• Baseball
• Softball
• Hockey
• Tennis
• Squash
• Table tennis
• Lacrosse

Athletics

• Running
• Jumping (high or long)
• Throwing (hammer, javelin, shot put)
• Biathlon, triathlon, heptathlon or decathlon

Water sports

• Canoeing
• Kayaking
• Swimming
• Water polo
• Sailing
• Surfing
• Windsurfing
• Kite boarding
• Water skiing
• Diving
• Synchronized swimming
• Rowing
• Canoe polo
• Scuba diving

Winter sports

• Skiing
• Snowboarding
• Luge
• Bobsleighing
• Ice skating
• Ice hockey
• Curling

Martial arts

• Karate
• Aikido
• Judo
• Kickboxing
• Boxing
• Taekwondo
• Kung fu
• Fencing
• Kendo

Animal sports

• Horse riding
• Polo

Fitness activities

• Aerobics
• Running
• Skipping
• Walking
• Weight training

Adventure sports

• Rock climbing
• Mountaineering
• Parachuting
• Caving and pot holing
• Hang gliding
• Paragliding
• Kite surfing

Miscellaneous

• Dancing
• Cycling
• Gymnastics
• Weightlifting
• Trampolining
• Wrestling
• Roller skating
• Skateboarding
• BMX
• Orienteering
• Badminton