This group of skills tests the pupil’s
ability:The Swimming Challenge Awards are for young people working towards Stages 8-10 of the ASA Learn to Swim Framework, with Bronze, Silver, Gold and Honours Awards available
For the following grades Sections A and B may be completed on two separate occasions, but each section must be completed without pause and in the order listed.
This group of skills tests the pupil’s
ability:
Section A
To jump into water of at least full reach depth.
To swim 10 metres, followed by a surface-dive into water of at least full reach depth and under water swim for a distance of five metres.
To tread water in a vertical position for three minutes.
To scull head-first on the back for 15 metres with the feet at, or near, the surface throughout.
Section B
To swim 400 metres using two strokes. Changes of stroke can only occur at the completion of a length of the pool. A minimum of 100 metres is to be swum on each stroke.
To climb out at the deep end without assistance
This group of skills tests the pupil’s ability
Section A
To plunge dive into water of at least full reach depth.
To swim 100 metres in less than three minutes using any stroke. A change of stroke may only occur at the completion of a length of the pool.
To tread water for two minutes with one hand behind the back.
To swim 10 metres, followed immediately by two surface-dives into water of full reach depth, one head first and one feet first, bringing an object to the surface on each occasion.
To scull head first on the back for 10 metres and return by sculling 10 metres feet first. A horizontal position must be maintained throughout.
Section B
To swim 800 metres: 400 metres on the front and 400 metres on the back. A change of stroke may only occur every 50 metres.
To climb out at the deep end without assistance
This group of skills tests the pupil’s
ability:
Section A
To plunge dive into water of at least full reach depth and swim 100 metres in two minutes, 30 seconds or less, using two different strokes, 50 metres of each.
To tread water for three minutes with one hand remaining above the head throughout. The arm raised may be changed no more than five times
To scull head-first on the back for 10 metres, move into a tucked position and turn through 360° keeping the head above water. Return to the starting point by sculling feet first with the feet at or near the surface throughout and the hands close to the hips.
To swim 10 metres, perform a forward somersault without touching the pool bottom and continue to swim in the same direction for a further 10 metres
Section B
To swim 800 metres using three of the following strokes: front crawl, backstroke, breaststroke, butterfly, English backstroke or sidestroke for a minimum distance of 200 metres per stroke. A change of stroke may only occur every 100 metres. This swim to be completed in 25 minutes.
To climb out at the deep end without assistance
This group of skills tests the pupil’s ability
Section A
To make a straddle entry into water of at least full reach depth, swim five metres into a piked surface dive to retrieve an object weighing approximately 2kg from water of full reach depth; carry the object using a backstroke or sidestroke for a distance of 20 metres, to land it on the poolside
Section B
Tests 3 and 4 are to be completed in a total time of 20 minutes without a pause.
To swim 200 metres front crawl, 200 metres backstroke and either 100 metres breaststroke or 50 metres butterfly. A change of stroke may only occur every 100 metres (except for butterfly).
To swim 500 metres freestyle during which surface-dive twice head first and twice feet first; on each surface-dive, swim through two hoops four metres apart without surfacing. The tops of the hoops are to be at least one metre below the surface of the water