A young person riding a bike through a forest with tall trees and the sun shining through.

Physical

Physical is about improving your fitness and getting a healthy lifestyle through activity.

You can choose any sport, dance or fitness activity for your Physical section. Anything that requires a sustained level of energy and physical activity works.

Learning to coach the sport you’re doing for your Physical would be a Skills activity, and volunteering as a coach counts for the Volunteering section.

Talk to your DofE leader before you start your activity so they can check it’s suitable. They can also help you with any preparation and training you need.

Find inspiration in our Opportunity Finder and programme ideas.

Take a look at timescales to find out how long you need to do the Physical section for.

General fitness

You can use general fitness instead of a specific sport for your Physical section. You can choose a specific activity like jogging or going to the gym, or do a mix.

Non-strenuous activity

If your doctor says you should not be doing strenuous activity, you can still do your Physical. For example, you can try yoga, Alexander technique, Tai Chi, bowling, archery or walking.

A physiotherapy course could count as an activity, depending on your needs and abilities. If you normally do a sport but are out with an injury, your recovery journey can count. If you have a condition that requires regular physiotherapy, this can also be your Physical section activity.

Physical or skill

You need skills to play any sport, but that does not mean you can use them for your Skills section.

For example, sailing requires physical exertion and is a Physical activity. But motorsport and learning to drive counts as a Skills activity.

Many Skills activities has a physical element, like a car mechanic course or brick laying. Because the learning is in focus, not the activity, it makes them Skills activities.

Talk to your DofE Leader if you’re unsure whether your activity counts as a Physical or Skills activity.

Take me to..

Physical

Opportunity Finder