Water Skills 1

(Buoyancy aids may be used for water skills 1 only)

This group of skills tests the pupil’s ability:
1. To enter shallow water from the poolside in a safe manner (assistance may be provided, this may be via the steps or from the poolside).
2. To move across the pool with the water surface no lower than shoulder level.
3. To submerge the face in the water and blow bubbles for 3 seconds.
4. To push and glide from the poolside or bottom on the front and change to a resting or standing position.
5. To push and glide from the poolside or bottom on the back and change to a resting or standing position.
6. To travel on the back a minimum distance of 5 metres.
7. To travel on the front a minimum distance of 5 metres.
8. To rotate from the back to the front position and gain a resting/standing position.
9. To propel a floating object (e.g a ball) for 3 metres by any method.
10. To demonstrate a horizontal or vertical stationary floating position for 10 seconds.

Water Skills 2

This group of skills tests the pupil’s ability:

1. To enter shallow water unaided from a standing or sitting position without the use of steps.
2. To submerge the head completely and blow out under water for a minimum of 3 seconds.
3. To hold a tucked floating position for a minimum of 5 seconds (this may be on the front or back with the face submerged or kept out of the water).
4. To swim 1 width on the front using a crawl type front paddle propulsive action.
5. To swim 1 width on the back using a crawl type leg action.
6. To swim 1 width on the front or back using a breaststroke type action.
7. To swim 1 width full stroke on the front or back with arm recovery over the water.
8. To demonstrate a horizontal or vertical floating position for 20 seconds.
9. To demonstrate a 360 degrees turn or roll-from a horizontal or vertical position without making contact with the pool bottom.
10. To swim 2 widths without pausing using any stroke or strokes.

Water Skills 3

The phrase “good style” implies that the stroke is easily recognisable as one of the four major competitive strokes but does not necessarily fully comply with ASA law. The stroke should be co-ordinated, smooth, efficient and completed without undue stress.

This group of skills tests the pupil’s ability:

1. To jump into the water of at least full reach depth.
2. To swim 4 widths without a pause using any stroke or strokes.
3. To submerge in shallow water and retrieve an object from the pool bottom using both hands.
4. To tread water out of standing depth using arms and/or legs for 20 seconds.
5. To swim 2 widths on the front demonstrating good technique.
6. To swim 2 widths on the back demonstrating good technique.
7. To swim a minimum of 10 metres showing three changes of direction without touching the side or bottom of the pool.
8. To scull head first for 5 metres.
9. To swim through a hoop submerged in water of shoulder depth.
10. To swim continuously for 1 minute using 2 different strokes and with good style.

Water Skills 4

The phrase “good technique” implies that the stroke complies with ASA law.

This group of skills tests the pupil’s ability:

1. To jump into water of at least full reach depth and swim 25 metres without touching the side or bottom of the pool.
2. To surface dive in the water of at least full reach depth demonstrating good technique.
3. To perform a forward somersault using a push and glide if necessary.
4. To swim breaststroke or front crawl for 25 metres showing good technique.
5. To swim backstroke for 25 metres showing good technique.
6. To scull head first for 5 metres and return sculling feet first.
7. To swim a minimum of 5 metres using a dolphin leg action.
8. To swim 2 widths of any stroke including a “correct” turn complying with ASA law.
9. To enter water of at least full reach depth and tread water for 20 seconds followed by a 25 metres swim.
10. To swim 5 metres under water.

Water Skills 5

(Buoyancy aids may be used for water skills 1 only)

1. To tread water for 30 seconds followed by a 25 metres swim which includes passing through a submerged hoop.
2. To perform a backward somersault using a push and glide if necessary.
3. To perform a surface dive in water of at least full reach depth followed by an underwater swim of at least 5 metres.
4. To swim 50 metres in 90 seconds.
5. To swim 25 metres using an inverted breaststroke or backstroke. 

6. To perform a head first entry into water of at least full reach depth and swim 25 metres of front crawl.
7. To swim 1 width of front crawl finishing with a forward somersault into the poolside and a push and glide away on the back or front.
8. To swim 1 width of butterfly.
9. To jump into water of at least full reach depth attaining a good height and upright position in flight.
10. To swim 25 metres propelling a ball and maintaining close control throughout.

Water Skills 6

This group of skills tests the pupil’s ability:

1. To swim 75 metres within 2 minutes using three different strokes and demonstrating good technique.
2. To perform the following skills consecutively and without pause: head first scull for 5
metres; somersault; feet first scull for 5 metres and 360 degrees rotation in a
vertical tucked position.
3. To swim 3 widths of front crawl showing 2 appropriate turns and demonstrating good
technique.
4. To swim 3 widths of backstroke showing 2 backstroke turns and demonstrating good
technique.
5. To swim 3 widths of breaststroke showing 2 breaststroke turns and demonstrating good technique.
6. To swim 2 widths butterfly.
7. To perform 2 jumps into water of at least full reach depth gaining height and taking up a different position in flight selected from straight, tuck, pike, turning,
somersault.
8. To propel a ball for a minimum distance of 25 metres controlling it throughout and
demonstrating 2 changes of direction of at least 90 degrees.
9. To plunge dive into water of at least full reach depth, holding the glide for 5 metres.
10. To plunge dive into water of at least full reach depth, and tread water for 1 minute.

Challenge Bronze

Important for the following grades, sections A and B may be completed on two separate occasions, but each section must be completed without pause and in the order listed.

This group of skills tests the pupil’s ability:-

SECTION A

1. To jump into water of at least full reach depth.
2. To swim 10 metres, followed by a surface-dive into water of at least full reach depth and under water swim for a distance of 5 metres.
3. To tread water in a vertical position for 3 minutes.
4. To scull head-first on the back for 15 metres, with the feet at, or near, the surface throughout.

SECTION B

5. To swim 400 metres using 2 strokes. Changes of stroke can only occur at the completion of a length of the pool. A minimum of 100 metres is to be swum on each stroke.
6. To climb out at the deep end without assistance.

Challenge Silver

This group of skills tests the pupils ability:-

SECTION A

1. To plunge dive into water of at least full reach depth.
2. To swim 100 metres in less than 3 minutes using any stroke. A change of stroke may only occur at the completion of a length of the pool.
3. To tread water for 2 minutes with one hand behind the back.
4. To swim 10 metres, followed immediately by 2 surface dives into water of full reach depth, one head first and one feet first bringing an object to the surface on each occasion.
5. To scull head first on the back for 10 metres and return by sculling 10 metres feet first. A horizontal position must be maintained throughout.

SECTION B

6. To swim 800 metres: 400 metres on the front and 400 metres on the back. A change of stroke may only occur every 50 metres.
7. To climb out at the deep end without assistance.

Challenge Gold

This group of skills test the pupil’s ability:-

SECTION A

1. To plunge dive into water of at least full reach depth and swim 100 metres in two minutes, thirty seconds or less, using two different strokes, 50 metres of each.
2. To tread water for 3 minutes with one hand remaining above the head throughout. The arm raised may be changed no more than five times.
3. To scull head first on the back for 10 metres, move into a tucked position and turn through 360 degrees keeping the head above the water. Return to the starting point by sculling feet first with the feet at or near the surface throughout and the hands close to the hips.
4. To swim 10 metres, perform a forward somersault without touching the pool bottom and continue to swim in the same direction for a further 10 metres.

SECTION B

5. To swim 800 metres using three of the following strokes: front crawl, backstroke, breaststroke, butterfly. English backstroke or sidestroke for a minimum distance of 200 metres per stroke. A change of stroke may only occur every 100 metres. This swim to be completed in 25 minutes.
6. To climb out at the deep end without assistance.

Challenge Honours

This group of skills tests the pupil’s ability:-

SECTION A

1. To make a straddle entry into water of at least full reach depth, swim 5 metres into a piked surface-dive to retrieve an object weighing approximately 2 kg from water of full reach depth; carry the object using backstroke or sidestroke for a distance of 20 metres to land it on the poolside.
2. To scull 10 metres head-first on the back; complete a back somersault finishing in a back layout position ; perform a roll to take up a front layout in a fully extended prone position; carry out a front somersault finishing in a front layout position; tuck and rotate backwards into a back layout position and continue to scull feet first for 15 metres (throughout all sculling and layout positions, the hands must remain close to the hips and the feet must be kept together on or near the surface of the water).

SECTION B

Note: Tests 3 and 4 are to be completed in a total time of 20 minutes without a pause.
3. To swim 200 metres front crawl, 200 metres backstroke, and either 100 metres breaststroke or 50 metres butterfly. A change of stroke may only occur every 100 metres (except for butterfly).
4. To swim 500 metres freestyle, during which, surface-dive twice head-first and twice feet first; on each surface-dive, swim through 2 hoops 4 metres apart without surfacing;(the tops of the hoops are to be at least 1 metre below the surface of the water).

Water Safety 1 Award 

This group of skills tests the pupil’s ability:-

The outcomes of this Award should be performed in shoulder-depth water, without goggles and in regular swimwear.

1. Perform a swivel entry.

2. Jump in and immediately rotate 180 degrees to travel back to the side.

3. Float on the back for 30 seconds.

4. Fully submerge, exhale and resurface.

5. Log roll from floating on the front to floating on the back.

6. Tread water in an upright position for 10 seconds without floatation equipment.

7. Perform a signal for help on the back, whilst holding onto floatation equipment.

8. Exit the water safely without support.

9. Show an understanding of water safety.

Water Safety 2 Award

This group of skills tests the pupil’s ability:-

The outcomes of this Award should be performed in water of at least full reach depth, without goggles and light clothing (shorts and t-shirt).

1. Perform a fall in entry.

2. Float on the back for 60 seconds without floatation equipment and explain why this is important.

3. Tread water for 30 seconds without floatation equipment.

4. Perform a rotation of 360 degrees whilst treading water without floatation equipment.

5. Signal for help whilst treading water without floatation equipment.

6. Swim on the front for 10 metres, log roll onto the back and then rest for 60 seconds; return to an upright position to tread water.

7. Swim 10 metres on the front, log roll and swim 10 metres on the back to a floating object.

8. Swim for 10 metres towards the side of the pool using long arm front paddle (survival stroke).

9. Fully submerge to the pool floor; rhythmically bounce from the pool floor to the surface to take a breath; re-submerge. Repeat four times.

10. Demonstrate the Heat Escape Lessening Position (HELP) with a floating object.

11. Climb out from the side, without using the steps.

12. Recite and show understanding of the four key water safety messages.

Water Safety 3 Award 

This group of skills tests the pupil’s ability:-

The outcomes of this Award should be performed in water of at least full reach depth, without goggles and in full length clothing (trousers/long sleeved top).

1. Perform a straddle entry.

2. Complete a circuit of submerging and resurfacing under or through objects and collecting an object from floor. The circuit must include at least one head first and one feet first surface dive.

3. Tread water for two minutes without floatation equipment rotating 360 degrees once.

4. Float for 90 seconds, without floatation equipment with minimal movement in simulated rough/moving water.

5. Swim a distance of 200 metres.

6. Swim 50 metres using a recognisable stroke to a floating object then stop in deep water and signal for help.

7. Perform the Heat Escape Lessening Position (HELP) for three minutes with a lifejacket/Personal Floatation Device (PFD).

8. Perform the Huddle Position with at least three other participants without floatation equipment; rotate and signal for help.

9. Climb out from the side, without using the steps or rail or any other assistance.

10. Perform a shout and signal rescue.

11. Share at least three facts about the effects of cold water shock and show understanding of how to manage its effects.

12. Give two examples of local hazards and how to minimise risks when around them.

What comes next? 

After completing the Water Safety Awards, your child could move onto the Rookie Lifeguard Awards where they will develop lifesaving skills needed to become a lifeguard.