For Participants – the Lifeguard Course Pre-Requisite must be completed, and passed by the individual taking the course, prior to the start of the course.  There is a separate signup for the pre-requisite.  This is required and individuals will not be able to participate in the course if the pre-requisite is not completed.

The Lifeguard Blended Learning Course has 7 hours of online content that will need to be completed prior to the start of the course. More information regarding this will be shared in the registration confirmation email sent after a participant signs up for the course.

Registration fees are non-refundable.  If an individual registers and fails to pass the Pre-Requisite swim test, they may register for another course within 6 months of the original course, once they have passed the pre-requisite swim test.

This Test is the in-person pre-requisite for the Red Cross Lifeguarding Course.  To participate in a Ridgewood YMCA  Red Cross Lifeguarding course, you must be 15 years old by the final day of the course and be able to pass a prerequisite skills evaluation by doing the following: 

A. Complete the Swim-Tread-Swim assessment sequence. This sequence is continuous, and no stopping will be allowed.

1. Swim begins in the water at the deep-end, and starting with a push from the wall, candidates begin a 150 yard swim (6 lengths in our pools).

2. After completing the initial 150 yard swim, candidates will begin a two (2) minute tread at the surface of the water. The candidates hands should be held in their armpits, and the tread uses only the legs to keep oneself at the surface.

3. After completing the tread portion, candidates must complete a final 50 yard swim (2 lengths in our pools) to complete the ability test sequence.

– Stopping at any point, using one’s hands to assist in the tread, being unable to keep mouth and nose out of the water during the tread, and/or walking on the bottom of the pool are all immediate disqualifiers for that attempt at the sequence.

– When swimming, candidates must be continuously demonstrating breath control and rhythmic breathing. You may swim using the front crawl, breaststroke or a combination of both, but swimming on the back or side is not allowed.

– Swim goggles may be used. This is the only point where swim goggles are allowed.

B. Complete a timed event within 1 minute, 40 seconds.

1. Starting in the water, swim 20 yards. Your face may be in or out of the water. Swim goggles are not allowed.

2. Spot the object on the bottom of the pool, and surface dive, to a depth of 7 to 10 feet to retrieve a 10-pound object. The dive may be feet-first or head-first. If the object is missed on the first dive, more attempts at the dive can be made until the object is retrieved or attempt time exceeds 1 minute 40 seconds.

3. Return to the surface and swim 20 yards on your back to return to the starting point with both hands holding the object at all times. Candidates should be keeping their face at or near the surface so they are able to get a breath. Candidates should not swim the return distance under water.

4. Place the weighted object on the deck outside of the pool and exit the water at the side of the pool without using a ladder or stairs.

5. The attempt time must be under 1 minute 40 seconds after the object and candidate are out of the water.

Only two attempts at each of the two skills assessments are allowed at each Prerequisites Session. This is to keep the session within the scheduled time. Candidates may stop their attempt of either assessment at any point at the cost of that attempt on that assessment that day, and candidates may leave before attempting and/or completing both skills assessments, but failure to complete both skills assessments will result in being unable to participate in the Lifeguard Training Course.

The prerequisite skills evaluation will be completed prior to the in-person course.  We do not test for any other facilities or non-Ridgewood YMCA Courses.