Stage 1
By completing this Award, with or without floatation equipment or support, you will be
able to:
1. Enter the water safely. Ladder/steps & sit and slide entry.
2. Swim for a distance of 5 metres on front.
3. Swim for a distance of 5 metres on back.
4. Blow bubbles confidently with nose & mouth submerged.
5. Be comfortable with water showered from overhead.
6. Move from a flat floating position on the back and return to standing.
7. Move from a flat floating position on the front with face in and return to
standing.
8. Push and glide in a flat position on the front from a wall.
9. Push and glide in a flat position on the back from a wall.
10. Give examples of two pool rules.
11. Exit the water safely.
Stage 2 (and 5m+ badge)
By completing this Award without floatation equipment or support, you will be able
to:
1. Jump in from poolside safely.
2. Blow bubbles a minimum of three times rhythmically, with face submerged.
3. Move from a flat floating position on the back and return to standing without
support.
4. Move from a flat floating position on the front and return to standing without
support.
5. Push from a wall and glide on the back – arms can be by the side or above
the head.
6. Push from a wall and glide on the front with arms extended.
7. Swim using a recognised leg action with feet off the pool floor on the back for
5 metres, without the use of floatation equipment.
8. Swim using a recognised leg action with feet off the pool floor on the front for
5 metres, without the use of floatation equipment.
9. Perform a tuck to rotate from a flat floating position on the front, to a back
floating position, then return to standing.
10. Perform a tuck to rotate from a flat floating position on the back, to a front
floating position, then return to standing.
11. Perform a log roll from the back to the front.
12. Perform a log roll from the front to the back.
13. Exit the water without support.
Stage 3 (and 10m+ badge)
By completing this Award, without floatation equipment or support, you will be able
to:
1. Jump in from poolside and submerge.
2. Sink, push away from wall and maintain a streamlined position.
3. Push and glide on the front with arms extended and log roll onto the back.
4. Push and glide on the back with arms extended and log roll onto the front.
5. Swim 5 metres on the front, perform a tuck to rotate onto the back and return
on the back.
6. Fully submerge to pick up an object.
7. Correctly identify three of the four key water safety messages.*
8. Push and glide and swim 10 metres on the back.
9. Push and glide and swim 10 metres on the front.
10. Perform a tuck float and hold for three seconds.
11. Exit the water without using steps.
*The four key water safety messages include:
1. Stop and Think – Always swim in a safe place.
2. Stay Together – Always swim with an adult.
3. Float – If you fall in, float, breathe and relax.
4. Call 999 – If someone else in trouble, call 999.
Stage 4 (and15m+ badge)
1. Perform a sequence of changing shapes (minimum of three) whilst floating on
the surface and demonstrate an understanding of floating.
2. Push and glide from the wall towards the pool floor.
3. Kick 10 metres backstroke (one item of equipment optional).
4. Kick 10 metres front crawl (one item of equipment optional).
5. Kick 10 metres butterfly on the front or on the back.
6. Kick 10 metres breaststroke on the front (one item of equipment optional).
7. Perform a head first sculling action for 5 metres in a flat position on the back.
8. Swim on back and log roll in one continuous movement onto the front and log
roll in one continuous movement onto back.
9. Push and glide and swim 15 metres front crawl, breast stroke & back stroke.
Stage 5 (and 50m+ badge)
1. Perform a flat stationary scull on the back.
2. Perform a feet first sculling action for 5 metres in a flat position on the back.
3. Tread water for 30 seconds using 2 different kicks.
4. Perform three different shaped jumps into deep water.
5. Push and glide and swim 50 metres backstroke (performed to Swim
England expected standards).
6. Push and glide and swim 50 metres front crawl (performed to Swim
England expected standards).
7. Push and glide and swim 50 metres breaststroke (performed to Swim
England expected standards).
8. Push and glide and swim 10 metres butterfly (performed to Swim England
expected standards).
9. Perform a handstand and hold for a minimum of three seconds.
10. Perform a forward somersault.
11. Demonstrate an action for getting help.
12. Give 2 examples of how to prepare for exercise.
Stage 6 (and 100m+ badge)
1. Sink, push off on side from the wall, glide, kick and rotate into backstroke.
2. Sink, push off on side from the wall, glide, kick and rotate into front crawl.
3. Swim 25 metres wearing clothes and tread water for 30 seconds whilst
signalling for help.
4. Push and glide and swim front crawl 100m to include at least six rhythmical
breaths and correct turns.
5. Push and glide and swim breaststroke 100m to include at least six rhythmical
breaths and correct turns.
6. Push and glide and swim butterfly 25m to include at least three rhythmical
breaths.
7. Push and glide and swim backstroke 100m to include at least six regular
breaths.
8. Perform a head first surface dive to recover an object.
9. Perform a feet first surface dive to recover an object.
10. Perform a sitting dive. (If in pool with full reach depth and diving is allowed)
Stage 7 (and 200m+ badge/bronze award)
1. Push and glide and swim 200 metres backstroke (performed to Swim England
expected standards).
2. Push and glide and swim 200 metres front crawl (performed to Swim England
expected standards).
3. Push and glide and swim 200 metres breaststroke (performed to Swim
England expected standards).
4. Push and glide and swim 25 metres butterfly (performed to Swim England
expected standards).
5. Perform a movement sequence (linking skills with strokes and sculls) of one
minute duration, in a group of three or more, incorporating a number of the
following skills:
Sculling: head first, feet first
Rotation: forward or backward somersault, log roll
Floating: star on the front or on the back, tuck float, create own
Eggbeater: Moving, lifting one or both arms out of the water
6. Perform a kneeling dive or dive. (If diving permitted)
7. Push and glide and swim 400 metres, using a minimum of three different
strokes and include correct turns (performed to Swim England expected
standards).
8. Tread water using eggbeater action for 30 seconds.
