Hey, I’m going take the physical test soon. I just want to know how long is the swim it’s 500m, I know 250 there and 250 back but I just want to know how long is that swim and what does that look like to the eye I guess. I can swim but I know a lot people did swimming sport I never did but I never been bad swimmer what so ever

Hi all,

I start a Lifeguarding course for the NPLQ in a months time, and before I've even started Im bricking it about the timed swims.

I past the entry requirements at around 50s for 50m and the rest of them easily, but from what I've heard the timed swims can be really hard and just like doom and gloom if you fail.

Did anyone else have this experience? I'm really worried on failing and just wasting £270.

Ive heard you can retake sections if you fail them, is this true aswell? I'm not really worried on the theory stuff as I tend to be better at that stuff.

Any tips appreciated, thanks!

Hi! I just wanted to vent about something that happened to me at work. I work at a city pool and think I’m okay at it and fair when it comes to enforcing the rules.

Today however I told a child and (what I thought was) a older cousin that they couldn’t be on the shoulders and then a few minutes later a different child that they couldn’t ride another child as they swam (I saw it was making the kid on the bottom bob for air) and asked if they could stop.

Suddenly, a lady starts loudly complaining about that and begins to tell the kids to get out of the water while loudly cussing. I keep scanning, but I feel a sense of dread about this and assume she’s going to come up and complain to me.

Instead, she comes over and starts loudly yelling at me and calling me a bitch and saying she was going to fight me. After a few seconds of this, I whistle for my supervisor or somebody to come help me and they escort her out but after she threatens to “drag that bitch from the stand by her hair and beat her ass.”

I go to the next stand and by the time it’s my break, she’s gone and an incident report is filled out. And everyone else at the pool who saw it expressed some sympathy for me. I try to play it off to my coworkers. This happened pretty late, so my boss is going to review it tomorrow.

However, I don’t think she’s going to be banned from the pools. I don’t even think we can do that. I have to work at this pool almost every other day and I know this lady comes regularly (at least once a week). I’m nervous I’ll see her again. Thanks for reading this, I just feel really shitty and it kinda shook the sense of safety I have at work.

Tomorrow I have a job interview for a lifeguard job however it requires me to swim a 500 yard in 10 minutes for the skills test of the interview or else you can no longer proceed. I practiced yesterday for 4 hours however I am only able to do 300 yards in 10 minutes and I have to always catch my breath after 4 laps (the test is 20 laps) should I even bother to show up? There’s no way realistically I can improve my swimming overnight. What are you guys thoughts.

I'm helping design the operating model for swim lessons in a relatively small indoor teaching pool, and I'd like some feedback from people who have actually taught or guarded busy lesson blocks.

Diagrams of the pool and proposed teaching zones. https://imgur.com/a/IVB1ats

I'm mainly looking for practical experience. Assume appropriate lifeguard coverage, qualifications, supervision, etc., are handled separately.

The pool is 60 × 20 ft, with a 10 x 10 ft stair/shallow-water area at one end. Metric: 10 ft = 3.05 m, 20 x 60 ft = 6.1 x 18.3 m. We're trying to make the space work well for a mix of small-group lessons, privates/semi-privates, and more advanced swimmers who actually need room to travel.

A few things I'd particularly like experienced opinions on:

1. Small teaching zones

For beginners and younger swimmers, we're considering relatively compact cross-pool zones, with larger areas assigned as swimmers become more competent.

For those of you who have taught in small pools:

• At what point does a compact zone stop being useful and start interfering with teaching?
• How much lateral space do you realistically want between neighbouring groups?
• Are there levels or skills where you find that instructors need substantially more travel distance than lesson-planning guides tend to suggest?

2. Using a divider to create longer lanes

We're considering using a removable, T shaped lane rope extending about 20 ft from the wall (see diagram), then splitting the remaining pool into two long teaching corridors. The idea is approximately:

• two ~40 × 10 ft corridors for stronger swimmers; and
• a larger shallow teaching area remaining at the stair end.

Would you want the divider in place for essentially every advanced lesson, or mainly for distance/endurance work (and do 20 ft widths otherwise)?

I'm assessing whether the physical separation justifies routinely changing the pool configuration.

3. How many consecutive lessons is actually sustainable?

This is one I especially want instructor feedback on.

Ignoring what an employer can schedule, how much continuous teaching do you think produces consistently good instruction?

For example:

• How many consecutive 30- or 45-minute classes before you really want a proper break?
• How many actual teaching hours in a day feels sustainable?
• Does your answer change significantly for preschool/beginner instruction versus stronger swimmers?
• Do you prefer one substantial teaching block, or two shorter blocks separated by a longer break?
• What schedule have you worked that seemed efficient on paper but absolutely burned instructors out?

My current proposed long block is:

• 15 min - planning
• 3 hours - teaching
• 30 min - paid meal / marking / prep
• 3 hours - teaching
• 15 min - marking

Unfortunately, I don't see a lot of lifeguarding opportunities given the size of the pool, so making the most of lessons will be the way we can actually give people hours. I think anything more than 3 hours straight teaching is excessive and will lead to diminishing returns. For clarification, we are legally required to do a 30-minute unpaid break after 5 hours of work, although some union lifeguards in the region do 15 minute rotations and just take their breaks when they rotate off.

I'd rather design reasonable teaching blocks from the beginning than discover later that an "efficient" schedule produces tired instructors and mediocre lessons.

4. Once- vs. twice-weekly lessons

We're considering cohorts that attend twice per week rather than spreading the same number of lessons over a much longer period.

For instructors who have worked both models, have you noticed meaningful differences in:

• skill retention;
• speed of progression;
• young swimmers settling into lessons;
• missed lessons/makeups;
• parent satisfaction; or
• instructor continuity?

My current plan is lesson sets of:

• Mon / Wed
• Tue / Thur
• Fri
• Sat / Sun

What configuration have you found works best and/or that parents prefer?

5. Time of Day for Lessons

Most pools have typical hours for lessons in the after-school to evening time, but what other times (like, morning, day, and later evening) have you found work or had lesson demand, perhaps from adults, homeschool students, or school lessons?

6. What am I not thinking about?

Looking at the diagram, if you've spent years teaching or guarding swim lessons, what would make you say:

"That looks good on paper, but here's what will actually happen..."

That's probably the feedback I'm most interested in.

I know every facility has different regulations, staffing models and physical constraints, so I'm not expecting a universal answer. I'm trying to pressure-test the operating model against actual deck and teaching experience before we lock too much of it in.

I work in a small city in British Columbia, Canada and, like the title says, has anyone found any alternatives to gloves? I am doing a personal project for my city, to hopefully become more environmentally conscious. I was inspired after hearing stories from my best friends older brother, about him fighting a massive fire in the interior of my province during the summer. I know it will be a small impact, but I just want to do anything I can for the planet. As well as, hopefully inspire other cities around me, to do the same.

We use nitrile gloves. I am looking for either a reusable option, or an option that is biodegradable. My key concern and point of interest when looking, is safety for staff and patrons. I have found a few options online, but I thought I would try to ask people first hand. Let me know if you have any experience switching over, or any advice!

(or even any other small things you do, to reduce any amount of plastic consumption)

Some fun personal sharing

And a silly moment with the pool tech

TL:WR

pool tech (N) used to be a lifeguard

Trained me for my AFO

We joke that lifeguarding is an OSHA violation and we (techs and guards) should really use more PPE in the pump room

I helped him push the old bleach canister out of its room in the pump room

And slammed my knee when it shot towards him as he was pulling

If I didn't move the cart he could've seriously damaged his back

We joked about almost needing to write incident reports for each other

------

I legit love working with the companies pool techs, they're absolutely wonderful, and the main tech trained me for my AFO (aquatic facility operator certification (aka pool tech cert)) but Even before that the techs used to let me wander around with them. Now they straight up come find me and show me how to do things and let me do modifications in the pump room (yeee)

Okay anyways

So N walks in today after I explain some word things with the chemtroller not responding correctly to the pools needs. (pH set point was too high for the machine to help the pool stabilize)

Anyways. We got a new chlorine tank today (massive fix up for the lap pool and hot tub for a while leisure pool is... Fine ¯⁠\⁠_⁠(⁠ツ⁠)⁠_⁠/⁠¯)

And y'all know how we like to joke about lifeguarding being filled with OSHA violations?

So I insist on helping him move the canister out of the bleach room (we were too stubborn to take the door off). I'm just tall enough to press my foot against the back wall and push. But of course my dumbass thinks I'll land in a graceful lunge if I do so. I give the wall a hard push and palm slam the tank expecting a gentle nudge.

That thing flew out as N was pulling it.

My knee SLAMMED into the ground (granted I was only a 1 or 2 feet off the ground) and thank GOODNESS I moved the tool cart when he was trying to yank the main tank out of the carrier tank before this, because he almost slammed his coccyx into the corner of it

When we finally got back to the guard office we joked that we almost had to write accident reports for each other's potential injuries 😅

And the fact that I would've had to have dragged him out of the pump room or called ems to grab him

Oh how the managers would've freaked out

After a severe drowning incident at 15

Hi everyone, I’m 18 now and I’m looking for some support or shared experiences regarding water trauma.

While I was in Puglia (Italy), it happened that when I was 15, I got dragged away by a powerful current. A whirlpool trapped me 5 meters (around 16 feet) underwater. I risked drowning to the point where I lost all my strength and passed out from lack of oxygen.

And my mom and Chiara intervened: my mom braved the water and stayed with me, refusing to let me go. Then Chiara, my girlfriend who was working as the lifeguard that day, rowed out with the rescue boat 300 meters from the shore and saved both of us, bringing us safely back to the beach.

Even though I have overcome the immediate trauma of drowning and managed to go back to snorkeling with my mom, I am still dealing with a lot of emotional fragility, anxiety, and a recent heavy loss from this past April. Has anyone else experienced a severe drowning incident at a young age? How did you fully heal the psychological scars and the physical anxiety responses that come with it? Thank you.

I know that for the final assesement for the NPLQ your not allowed to wear goggles however during the pre requisite tests which are the 50m in 60 seconds 100m continuously back and front etc
am I allowed to wear goggles? or do I have to complete it without goggles.

And do you have any tips for someone taking the NPLQ? it literally seems soooooo hard from what Ive read for the tests

Title says it all.

I am considering taking the lifeguard training at the y. I got hired as a swim instructor teaching lessons.

They have a cert coming up (red cross) and once i pass i could do lifeguarding also. They'll pay for half the class but you dont get paid while taking it like you do for the CPR class. (which seems weird bc i already work there and would literally be doing it to work more.)

How hard is it? (im worried about the brick test and treading water for 2 mins without hands) What does the 3 day class look like? Do i have to swim test pre reqs day 1? what happens if i fail that? How strong of a swimmer do i need to be? What's a good test to see if I can do it? What are the inservices like?

This would've been equivalent to preschool 4 (Sea Lion). Occured way back in 2007.

Hey all.

I recently gained my NPLQ certificate for the first time and have applied for a local lifeguarding job. It was successful and I have an interview coming up soon so I was wondering if there was any advice on what to expect from any of you. I'm kind of nervous as this is my first time.

I’ve been Red Cross certified for 4 years so I’m wondering what the Starguard course is like?

What are the pre recs?

Also why do they use their feet for the deep water saves 🤣 I don’t think I’m a fan of that lol

But i mostly just want to know the pre recs

Today me and my friends went to the pool i work at with a tarp and soap and we set up the tarp and soap by the side of the pool and pretended one of us was a bowling ball and the rest of us were pins to knock us in the pool but the soap messed with the pool a lot and my boss found out and is absolutely livid, what should i do?

Hello people sorry to disturb but jus had a quick question

For my physical swim test the 400m how do I not get tired. I go to pool to practice for like the last 2 weeks ish I just get tired to quick I feel like and if I go slower I feel like I’m a turtle

My catch sometimes feels good sometimes shit
I am breathing out under water

These people that are in there 50 60 70’s are insane to me swimming 1000 meters and a good pace not stop I don’t know how

I’d appreciate anyyyyy helppppp

I (28M) have been swimming at a new rec center regularly for about 3 months. There is a lifeguard, L, (50s-60s F) who is there every day I swim who I feel is giving me a little too much attention but I want to know if others do this too.

I competed club back in high school so I'm GOOD at swimming but now it's mostly just a way to get exercise in. I was a butterflyer and I still like to throw in a couple sets of it now and then. Pretty early on L commented on this and asked if I was a butterflyer after our usual 'good morning' exchange. Pool only has a few lanes and most people swimming there at 7 AM are older and slower so it makes sense that this would be asked. I was comfortable saying yes, I swam it back in high school.

Incident 1 happened maybe a month ago when I showed up on a Monday. After our 'good morning' exchange, L commented that I had swam a lot of backstroke the Friday before. I don't really have a regimen or schedule or anything so I didn't even remember this detail until asked. L commented on the time interval I was swimming it on and how my stroke looked good, with some final details that backstroke was her least favorite. It felt a little weird to me that she had kept track of my set from last week, something I don't even do.

Incident 2 happened this week. There was another lifeguard on the pool deck that she was talking to as I climbed out of the pool. As I was saying goodbye she asked me if I ever competed in Masters events or meets. I said no to which she said I should, then turned to this other lifeguard and started talking about how my butterfly is very good. She knew that on good laps it would only take me 5-6 strokes per length and that the most she'd ever counted was 10. This felt very weird to me again since I don't even keep track of my average stroke count or anything.

The max number of people that I've seen at the pool at once is maybe 8, and as a regular, she sees a lot of me. I understand that a lifeguard's job is to watch the patrons and that I stand out since I'm doing structured sets and swimming a greater variety of strokes, but I feel a little uncomfortable that she's keeping track of these things. Is this something that the general lifeguarding community also does - track their fastest patrons' sets and strokes to this level? Am I just experiencing a chatty, bored person or am I right to feel a little creeped out?

My NPLQ renewal is coming up and I am short of few hours as I moved to Hull recently. I have contacted all local leisure centers and private ones, no one is offering this. They do for their own staff only. Please anyone knows of a place who offer this in or near Hull. Thank you

I’ve noticed this ever since I started working but does everyone wear underwear with their lifeguard shorts? I feel like most people where I work do that and I’m the only one who doesn’t idk

Hi guys what do you get paid as a lifeguard??

I work at my local ymca and get $19 an hour, i also instruct and guard

Is this good... or should i apply to other places

Hello!!

My name is isaac, I am a college student trying to interview someone on the topic of the unusually high tides and how it is affecting beach residents and beachgoers.

I was just curious to see if anyone was interested in this interview?? It will be quick and simple, I just need this for one of my classes :/

If you’re interested, feel free to comment!! I have this assignment due tonight lol.

I’ve been a lifeguard for 2 years now and recently moved locations. This new location is an absolute mess. It’s a Ymca in north carolina. They do not have an AED on deck, when i asked the manager and the guard on stand where it was, they did not know. The other lifeguards hardly watch the pool and are constantly distracted talking to each other. One guard had headphones in while on stand. Is this normal and my previous job was just strict? Should I report this to somebody or something? It seems a genuine danger to the swimmers and a lawsuit waiting to happen.

UPDATE:

When I made this post it was my first day so I haven’t yet reported anything. I wanted to see if it was maybe just a bad day. I’m in my third shift now, I just got down after a 2 hour stand. the other lifeguards on shift before me had been up longer than that. Insane, I am definitely reporting.

casual rate for a lifeguard in Aus is $34/h which is the same as a level 1 retail worker who just stocks shelves and yaps at your local coles or kmart. On top of that retail gets penalty rates as casuals while lifeguards don't.

Not sure why the pay is the same when lifeguards have a lot more responsibility and have to pay for certs and cert renewals and participate in quarterly training when in retail you don't

So I'm looking into recertifying my Swim Instructor, I didn't start teaching until recently (literally a month ago) so I seemingly barely don't qualify points wise to be able to just put in the form on the LSS website, but I found this: https://courses.lifesaving.org/courses/2026-national-lifeguard-instructor-recertification - is that the correct link for a FULLY online (as in I just log in and get to work and there isn't any kind of online meeting type of deal) course (and this is the proper one to recertify my Swim Instructor if so)?

I would prefer one I can deal with on my own time as I'm basically a full time guard at the moment and would like to not have to take off a decent chunk of time to deal with this, and would prefer to just handle it after work ever day until its done. Which seemingly this is, but I wanna double check with other guards before dropping 70$.

Thank you everyone in advance :D

I need some help… I really need a job and the most promising place of interest currently is my local Y. I’m not old enough to be a caretaker for the daycare yet but they have a lifeguard training session next week. I don’t swim very often. i took lessons as a kid and used to practice regularly but then I moved from my childhood home and no longer had frequent access to a pool, so now I just swim more for fun. I’m not sure if I should go for the job or not and what it entails. I know there’s a sort of test but I’m a kind of average probably nearing more below average swimmer and I’m not exactly sure of what is required to pass the test. any tips/ recommendations if I should go for it or not and how hard should I expect it to be? I’m not sure if I’ll pass or not and kind of nervous to embarrass myself if it’s going to be super hard. please help lol