Awards 

RLSS UK’s Rookie Lifeguard Pool programme enables children to learn valuable water safety skills in a fun, engaging, educational, and social swimming pool environment. The Rookie Lifeguard Pool programme teaches children interchangeable skills that help build their confidence, promote teamwork, and foster leadership skills. Rookie Pool Lifeguards develop the basic survival, rescue and lifesaving skills that will empower them to respond effectively in emergency situations. 

Prerequisites for the Rookie Lifeguard Pool Programme 

Stages of the Rookie Lifeguard Pool Programme 

The Rookie Lifeguard Pool programme involves three core course content stages – Bronze, Silver, and Gold. Each stage of the Rookie Lifeguard Pool programme is divided into three levels, and each stage runs roughly for eight to ten weeks. The programme also includes speciality awards that can be achieved at any stage to add variety and fun. Certificates and badges/stickers are available for each award, and Rookie Pool Lifeguards can also record their achievements in the Rookie Lifeguard Progress Book.  

More details for each stage of the Rookie Lifeguard Pool programme:

Bronze Stage Awards 1-3

• 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

• 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

• 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

Master Pool Lifeguard Award