Awards & badges

Swimming Scheme Criteria

Every swimmer at Get Wet Swim School works towards the recognised award scheme. Below is the full criteria for each badge we provide, from a baby’s very first supported entry through to the Challenge Honours and Water Safety Awards.
OUR SWIMMING SCHEME

Swimming awards & badge criteria

Follow your child's swimming journey from their first confident steps in the water through to advanced swimming, water safety and challenge awards.

Duckling Grades

Early confidence, water movement and safe swimming skills for younger swimmers.

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Water Skills

Progressive swimming, technique, confidence and water-based skills.

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Challenge Awards

Bronze through to Honours for swimmers developing advanced ability and endurance.

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Water Safety

Essential skills for safe, confident behaviour in and around the water.

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BEGINNER AWARDS

Duckling Grades

All 6 components must be passed and may be accumulated over a number of sessions.

01 Duckling Grade 1
  1. Make a supervised safe entry with adult support.
  2. Kick 2 metres on the back with adult support.
  3. Float on the back with adult support behind the head.
  4. Blow bubbles at the water surface.
  5. Wet the head without submersion.
  6. Travel without assistance 2 metres to a floating object. It is recommended that a baby seat or other appropriate buoyancy aid is used.
02 Duckling Grade 2
  1. Make a sitting entry with adult support.
  2. Blow an object for a distance of 2 metres.
  3. Using a baby seat or other buoyancy aid rotate 180 degrees without assistance.
  4. Move 5 metres along the rail or wall without assistance.
  5. Travel 3 metres using arms and/or legs without assistance.
  6. Submerge the face with confidence.
03 Duckling Grade 3
  1. Make a supervised jump to an adult with or without support.
  2. Kick 5 metres on the front holding a float.
  3. Blow bubbles with the mouth under water.
  4. Float on front or back without adult support.
  5. Travel 5 metres on the front to the side of the pool.
  6. Show a torpedo shape on front or back when pushed to a partner.
04 Duckling Grade 4
  1. Jump unaided, but supervised, into the water.
  2. Submerge completely.
  3. Rotate through 360 degrees either horizontally or vertically.
  4. Show a mushroom or a star float.
  5. Travel without assistance 10 metres on the front or back.
  6. Climb out of the water with assistance if required.
05 Duckling Grade 5
This grade must be achieved without the use of buoyancy aids or adult support and assistance.
  1. Jump in the water, turn around, swim back to the point of entry and hold the rail or side.
  2. Submerge completely and blow bubbles under the water.
  3. Push and glide 2 metres on the front or back.
  4. Float on the front or back and regain a standing or vertical position.
  5. Swim 5 metres on the front or back using an over-water arm recovery.
  6. Exit safely showing correct use of the ladder or steps.
DEVELOPING SWIMMERS

Water Skills

Progressive awards designed to develop swimming technique, confidence, control and stamina.

01 Water Skills 1
Buoyancy aids may be used for Water Skills 1 only.
  1. Enter shallow water from the poolside in a safe manner.
  2. Move across the pool with the water surface no lower than shoulder level.
  3. Submerge the face and blow bubbles for 3 seconds.
  4. Push and glide on the front and return to a resting or standing position.
  5. Push and glide on the back and return to a resting or standing position.
  6. Travel on the back for a minimum of 5 metres.
  7. Travel on the front for a minimum of 5 metres.
  8. Rotate from the back to the front and regain a resting or standing position.
  9. Propel a floating object for 3 metres.
  10. Demonstrate a stationary floating position for 10 seconds.
02 Water Skills 2
  1. Enter shallow water unaided from a standing or sitting position.
  2. Submerge the head completely and blow out under water for at least 3 seconds.
  3. Hold a tucked floating position for at least 5 seconds.
  4. Swim 1 width on the front using a crawl-type front paddle action.
  5. Swim 1 width on the back using a crawl-type leg action.
  6. Swim 1 width using a breaststroke-type action.
  7. Swim 1 width full stroke with arm recovery over the water.
  8. Demonstrate a floating position for 20 seconds.
  9. Demonstrate a 360 degree turn or roll.
  10. Swim 2 widths without pausing using any stroke or strokes.
03 Water Skills 3
“Good style” means the stroke should be recognisable as one of the four major competitive strokes and should be coordinated, smooth and efficient.
  1. Jump into water of at least full reach depth.
  2. Swim 4 widths without a pause using any stroke or strokes.
  3. Retrieve an object from the pool bottom using both hands.
  4. Tread water out of standing depth for 20 seconds.
  5. Swim 2 widths on the front demonstrating good technique.
  6. Swim 2 widths on the back demonstrating good technique.
  7. Swim at least 10 metres showing three changes of direction.
  8. Scull head first for 5 metres.
  9. Swim through a submerged hoop.
  10. Swim continuously for 1 minute using 2 different strokes.
04 Water Skills 4
  1. Jump into deep water and swim 25 metres.
  2. Perform a surface dive demonstrating good technique.
  3. Perform a forward somersault.
  4. Swim breaststroke or front crawl for 25 metres with good technique.
  5. Swim backstroke for 25 metres with good technique.
  6. Scull head first for 5 metres and return feet first.
  7. Swim at least 5 metres using a dolphin leg action.
  8. Swim 2 widths including a correct turn.
  9. Tread water for 20 seconds followed by a 25 metre swim.
  10. Swim 5 metres under water.
05 Water Skills 5
  1. Tread water for 30 seconds followed by a 25 metre swim through a submerged hoop.
  2. Perform a backward somersault.
  3. Perform a surface dive followed by an underwater swim of at least 5 metres.
  4. Swim 50 metres in 90 seconds.
  5. Swim 25 metres using inverted breaststroke or backstroke.
  6. Perform a head-first entry and swim 25 metres front crawl.
  7. Swim front crawl finishing with a forward somersault turn.
  8. Swim 1 width of butterfly.
  9. Jump into deep water achieving good height and upright position.
  10. Swim 25 metres while maintaining close control of a ball.
06 Water Skills 6
  1. Swim 75 metres within 2 minutes using three different strokes.
  2. Complete a sequence of sculling, somersaulting and rotation skills.
  3. Swim 3 widths front crawl showing 2 appropriate turns.
  4. Swim 3 widths backstroke showing 2 appropriate turns.
  5. Swim 3 widths breaststroke showing 2 appropriate turns.
  6. Swim 2 widths butterfly.
  7. Perform 2 different jumps into deep water.
  8. Control a ball for at least 25 metres while changing direction.
  9. Plunge dive and hold the glide for 5 metres.
  10. Plunge dive followed by treading water for 1 minute.
ADVANCED SWIMMERS

Challenge Awards

Bronze, Silver, Gold and Honours awards for swimmers building advanced technique, endurance and water skills.

B Challenge Bronze

Section A

  1. Jump into water of at least full reach depth.
  2. Swim 10 metres followed by a surface dive and 5 metre underwater swim.
  3. Tread water vertically for 3 minutes.
  4. Scull head-first on the back for 15 metres.

Section B

  1. Swim 400 metres using 2 strokes, with at least 100 metres on each stroke.
  2. Climb out at the deep end without assistance.
S Challenge Silver

Section A

  1. Plunge dive into water of at least full reach depth.
  2. Swim 100 metres in less than 3 minutes using any stroke.
  3. Tread water for 2 minutes with one hand behind the back.
  4. Complete head-first and feet-first surface dives to retrieve objects.
  5. Scull head first for 10 metres and return feet first.

Section B

  1. Swim 800 metres, 400 metres on the front and 400 metres on the back.
  2. Climb out at the deep end without assistance.
G Challenge Gold

Section A

  1. Plunge dive and swim 100 metres in 2 minutes 30 seconds or less using two strokes.
  2. Tread water for 3 minutes while keeping one hand above the head.
  3. Complete an advanced sculling and rotation sequence.
  4. Swim 10 metres, perform a forward somersault and swim a further 10 metres.

Section B

  1. Swim 800 metres using three specified swimming strokes.
  2. Climb out at the deep end without assistance.
H Challenge Honours

Section A

  1. Complete a straddle entry, surface dive, weighted object retrieval and 20 metre carry.
  2. Complete an advanced sequence of head-first and feet-first sculling, somersaults, rolls and layout positions.

Section B

Tests 3 and 4 are to be completed in a total time of 20 minutes without a pause.
  1. Swim 200 metres front crawl, 200 metres backstroke and either 100 metres breaststroke or 50 metres butterfly.
  2. Swim 500 metres freestyle while completing four surface dives and swimming through submerged hoops.
ESSENTIAL LIFE SKILLS

Water Safety Awards

Helping swimmers understand how to stay safe, react appropriately and help others in and around the water.

01 Water Safety 1 Award
Outcomes should be performed in shoulder-depth water, without goggles and in regular swimwear.
  1. Perform a swivel entry.
  2. Jump in, rotate 180 degrees and travel back to the side.
  3. Float on the back for 30 seconds.
  4. Fully submerge, exhale and resurface.
  5. Log roll from the front onto the back.
  6. Tread water upright for 10 seconds without flotation equipment.
  7. Perform a signal for help while using flotation equipment.
  8. Exit the water safely without support.
  9. Show an understanding of water safety.
02 Water Safety 2 Award
Outcomes should be performed in water of at least full reach depth, without goggles and wearing light clothing.
  1. Perform a fall-in entry.
  2. Float on the back for 60 seconds without flotation equipment.
  3. Tread water for 30 seconds.
  4. Rotate 360 degrees while treading water.
  5. Signal for help while treading water.
  6. Swim 10 metres, log roll and rest on the back for 60 seconds.
  7. Swim 10 metres front and 10 metres back to a floating object.
  8. Swim 10 metres using long-arm front paddle.
  9. Submerge and rhythmically bounce from the pool floor four times.
  10. Demonstrate the Heat Escape Lessening Position.
  11. Climb out from the side without using steps.
  12. Understand the four key water safety messages.
03 Water Safety 3 Award
Outcomes should be performed in water of at least full reach depth, without goggles and wearing full-length clothing.
  1. Perform a straddle entry.
  2. Complete a submerged obstacle and object retrieval circuit.
  3. Tread water for two minutes while completing a 360 degree rotation.
  4. Float for 90 seconds with minimal movement in simulated rough water.
  5. Swim 200 metres.
  6. Swim 50 metres to a floating object and signal for help.
  7. Perform the HELP position for three minutes while wearing a lifejacket or PFD.
  8. Perform the Huddle Position with at least three other participants.
  9. Climb out without steps, rail or other assistance.
  10. Perform a shout and signal rescue.
  11. Explain at least three facts about cold water shock.
  12. Give two examples of local hazards and ways to minimise their risks.
What comes next?

After completing the Water Safety Awards, swimmers can move onto Rookie Lifeguard Awards and develop further lifesaving skills.

Not sure which stage your swimmer is at?

Tell us their age and what they can already do and we’ll place them in the right class.
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