Safe Swim Defense and Safety Afloat guidelines tailor activities to swimming ability. The BSA requires that adults and youth participating in aquatic activities to undergo a Swim Test to evaluate their swimming skills and determine what activities are appropriate.
Swim Classifications
The BSA Swim Test is administered by an Aquatics Instructor, BSA; BSA Lifeguard; BSA Swimming & Water Rescue; or other lifeguard, swimming instructor, etc. Participants start the swim test and are classified based on their ability to complete the following requirements:
- SWIMMER’S TEST:
- Jump feet first into water over the head in depth, level off, and begin swimming.
- Swim 75yards in a strong manner using one or more of the following strokes: side stroke, breaststroke, trudgen, or crawl;
- then swim 25 yards using an easy resting back stroke.
- The 100 yards must be swum continuously and include at least one sharp turn.
- After completing the swim, rest by floating.
- BEGINNER’S TEST:
- Jump feet first into water over the head in depth, level off,
- swim 25 feet on the surface,stop, turn sharply, resume swimming as before, and return to starting place.
- NON SWIMMER: Anyone who has not completed the beginner or swimmer tests is classified as a nonswimmer.
Participants must recertify annually. The Troop typically organizes a swim test in the Spring and June for Scouts to complete the Swim Test requirements prior to Summer Camp. Scouts who do not complete the test before arriving at camp can complete it at camp.
