Rookie Lifeguard Pool program is for all who are interested in lifeguarding and live saving; aimed at 8 – 12 year olds. Once they reach about 12 years old, we look to move them onto National Lifesaving Academy award scheme within the club.
Our Rookies train alongside the National Lifesaving Academy group, at Cygnet LC on a Saturday afternoon, or Cobham Hall School on a Sunday evening. The sessions cost £20 per month, per swimmer and this gives access to all sessions. Check out the information sheet on the website under Joining Details.
More details for each stage of the Rookie Lifeguard Pool programme:
Bronze Stage Awards 1-3
During the Bronze Stages of the Rookie Lifeguard Pool programme, children learn and complete the following skills:
- Enter shallow water safely and confidently and wade
- Tread water and signal for help
- Swim continuously in clothing for 50m
- Swim Lifesaving Backstroke
- Scull head and feet- first
- Hold the ‘HELP’ position
- Demonstrate a non-swimmer, weak swimmer, and an unconscious casualty
- Demonstrate a ‘Shout and Signal’ rescue
- Throw an aid
- Demonstrate a reach rescue
- Enter deep water safely and confidently
- Perform a feet-first surface dive and swim underwater
- Climb out in deep water without using the steps
Silver Stage Awards 1-3
During the Silver Stages of the Rookie Lifeguard Pool programme, children learn and complete the following skills:
- Swim continuously in clothing for 200m on your front and back
- Demonstrate a reaching rescue
- Throw a buoyant aid to a casualty 8m away
- Enter shallow water and wade to a casualty
- Using a throwing aid, instruct the casualty on what to do
- Using a rigid aid, instruct the casualty on what to do
- The support position
- Tread water for 3 minutes
- Swimming, surface dives and object recovery
- Shallow turn and rescue an ‘unconscious casualty’
- Coil and throw a rope to a casualty 10m away and pull it to the side in less than 45 seconds
- Enter deep water using a straddle jump
- Demonstrate a fall-in entry into clear, deep water
- Swim 20m continuously with your head out of the water on your front
Gold Stage Awards 1-3
During the Gold Stages of the Rookie Lifeguard Pool programme, children learn and complete the following skills:
- Coil and throw a rope to a casualty and pull to the side
- Swim 400m continuously in clothing
- Demonstrate Lifesaving Backstroke, Sidestroke, Breaststroke or Front Crawl
- Tread water, remove clothing, then swim 50m
- Climb out of deep water unaided
- Demonstrate fall-in, compact jump or shallow dive
- Demonstrate a Reverse
- Demonstrate a Standoff
- Rescue an unconscious casualty at depth in less than 2 minutes 30 seconds
- Demonstrate supported rescue breathing whilst waiting for help
- Demonstrate the support position
- Demonstrate non-contact rescues
- Treat for shock
- Hand signals
- Using any recognised competitive stroke, swim 400m continuously, in less than 12 minutes
Speciality Awards
The Rookie Lifeguard Pool Speciality Awards can be completed at any stage in the programme, adding variety and fun.
Speciality Awards List:
- Life Support (first aid)
- Water Safety
- Winter Safety
- Communications
- Sport – Bronze, Silver & Gold
- Diving
- Paddleboard
- Beach Running
Rookie Master Pool Lifeguard Award
The Rookie Master Pool Lifeguard Award recognises Rookie Pool Lifeguards who have achieved an outstanding standard through the Rookie Lifeguard Pool programme.
Instructors can present the awards to those who have achieved the following criteria within the Rookie Lifeguard Pool programme:
- Gold Level 3
- Water Safety (Speciality Award)
- Life Support (Speciality Award)
- Plus three other speciality awards