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