NEW BAND TEST RULES FOR THE 2024 SEASON:
The Club has established a Color Band System to enable instant identification of swimming qualifications of children under 13 years of age. It has been proven to be an effective measure to help ensure the safety of our children while they are at the Club. The band test must be taken every year.
The Club supplies colored bands at no charge according to the following rules:
- NON-SWIMMER (No Band) – Any child who has not qualified for a swim band must be accompanied by an adult or approved babysitter. While the child is in the pool, the adult or Approved Babysitter must be physically present on the immediate deck area or in the water to supervise the NON-SWIMMER. This includes the 2ft. section of the pool.
- NOVICE (yellow band) – Any child who can swim one lap of the pool (25 yards) in 1 minute or less and tread water for one minute will be allowed to use the pool without being accompanied by an adult. He/She will only be permitted to use the shallow area of the main pool except when under the direct supervision of a parent, adult, or Approved Babysitter.
- SWIMMER (blue band) – Any child who can swim two laps of the pool (50 yards), in 2 minutes or less, tread water for two minutes, and jump or dive from the diving board will be permitted to use any area of the pool without being accompanied by an adult.
Strokes allowed for the band test:
– Freestyle – the swimmers’ arms and legs should be moving simultaneously and in sync with one another. Their arms and legs should be fully extended and stretched the whole lap. Their body must be at an equal level in the water and not dragged downward. The face does not have to be in the water.
– Breaststroke – the swimmer leans on the chest, arms breaking the surface of the water slightly, legs always underwater, and arms (not hands) moving in a circular motion under the water. The kick is sometimes referred to as a “frog kick” because of the resemblance to the movement of a frog’s hind legs.
NOT ALLOWED – backstroke, doggie paddle, swimming underwater, feet touching the ground/stopping at any time. If you have any questions or doubts about the strokes, a lifeguard will show you how to properly swim the stroke before the test to avoid any confusion.
The Pool Manager, Assistant Manager, or appointed Lifeguard, will have the final decision as to the qualifications and classification of any child. They can also require any person to take a rest period if they judge it to be necessary. Anyone above the age of 13 may also be restricted from certain areas of the pool by the Manager or his/her representative if he/she feels the swimmer lacks the proficiency to continue safely.
The Pool Manager, Assistant Manager, or Head Lifeguard may ask a swimmer to retake the band test at any time if they feel the swimmer is a safety risk. The Pool Manager, Assistant Manager, Head Lifeguard, and appointed lifeguards will administer the swimming test. The decision of the number of times a child can take the test in a 24-hour period is up to the Manager, Assistant Manager, and/or the Head Guard on duty.