As the Holiday Season passes us, families are quickly reminded that Spring and Summer are around the corner. And with the change of seasons comes the Newport Beach Junior Lifeguard testing season.
The City of Newport Beach Junior Lifeguard program is one of the best, and for the last 35+ years has taught local children about the ocean, beach safety, and knowledge.
Many local families are starting to prepare for the very challenging test that will be taking place in March of this year.
The time standards are not easy and kids need to be able to pass the swim test before being accepted into the program.
Time Standards are:
9yr olds 100 yards in 1:55
10-11yr olds 100 yards in 1:45
12-13yr olds 100 yards in 1:40
14-15yr olds 100 yards in 1:35
So, the pressing question is why should your children do a Swim Prep Course?
The Time standards set are not easy by any means, and the program is not a beach camp. Kids need to be swim proficient, strong swimmers to be able to do all the activities that the program requires.
Having a strong swim preparation program sets the kids up for success, not only to pass the test, but also in building their confidence for the summer.
It also alleviates the pressure on the parents and kids that they are going to be ready to pass the very challenging test.
My kid plays other sports, shouldn’t he/she be in shape to pass the test?
While playing other sports maintains aerobic capacity, swimming is a completely different sport. We have seen kids do a great 25 to 50 yards perfect swim, but then completely fall apart in the last 50 yards and miss the time.
We do private lessons. Shouldn’t my kid be fine?
Yes, private lessons are great as they work with the individual swimmer, but the prep class builds stamina to complete the class. We recommend a mixture of a class with some private lessons to fix the stroke in an individual setting. A good prep class will swim between 1600 to 2000 yards a day.
How many days should my kids swim to make the time?
Each swimmer is different; we recommend a minimum of 2 days a week depending on the swimmer. The less proficient swimmer will need to train more to get that stamina needed for the test.
What should my child wear?
That’s a great question. Kids need to be ready with the right equipment. Girls would need a one piece bathing suit, preferably one that fits snug and has a cross back style. Girls should also get used to wearing a swim cap and have a good pair of goggles. Boys should wear Jammer style suits or board shorts. Again, make sure they fit properly and that they also have a good fitting pair of goggles. Every year, kids show up with rash guards; we strongly discourage rash guards as they tend to make the kids slower and they don’t provide warmth to the swimmer.
Where are the best training programs?
We strongly recommend the Programs at CMAC at Estancia and Costa Mesa High Schools (6pm time slot being added) (CMACSWIM.COM), and also the programs with OCAC (OCACSWIM.COM) at numerous locations in Newport Coast, Newport Beach Peninsula and Balboa Bay Club.
This post is sponsored by CMAC.