Do you have to swim wthout stopping ont he lifeguard test?

Question

What I mean is that to peass you have to swima certain amount of laps under a certain amount of time. Do you have to do this without stopping or can you go at your own speed and pace and take breathers as long as you meet the requirment under the certain time limit?

Answer 1

Im currently doing the same as you.  I have a few friends that have taken the test, and you can go at your own pace while swimming. Don't worry to much about speed just form, as you will tire less. Also i think depending on the length of the laps you can take like a quick 5 second to 10 second break before turning back and swimming the other way. But this all really depends on the people giving the test.

Answer 2

i'm not quite sure i understand what you mean. you probably have a swim around a 500 right? yea well if you mean stopping as in hanging on the wall......then you can't do that. but of course you can breathe. thats a semi-long swim. if you just go to a local pool and practice, you'll be fine.

Answer 3

if you go red cross to get certified they just dropped the swim test to a 300yd/meter swim (12 lengths). it is untimed, but you can't stop. 100 has to be freestyle i believe and 100 breaststroke and then 100 your choice of the two. i haven't taken the new test yet but i took it when i had to swim the 500 yd test and i get recerted in may where i will do the 300 yd test. then after that you have to go get a 10lb brick from the deep end and swim on your back holding the brick with your arms 1 length (25yds). my friend who guards in cali for the summer says for L.A. county you need to swim a 1000yds in less than 10 min., but for red cross it's 300 at your own pace

Answer 4

when i took the lg test in 2006 our instructor allowed us to stop if we needed too. I am a competitive swimmer so I didn't stop but some of the other lg hopefuls did. the best thing to do would be: 1. ask your instructor what his/her policy is on the swim and  2. Practice~go to your local pool and swim 1-3 times a week. This will help you when you take the test; even if you can't stop. =) Good Luck!