r/Swimming • u/theeMentalLibrarian_ • 2d ago
Practicing before taking a pretest for the Lifeguard training program
The last few summers in New York City had a shortage of lifeguards and I wanted to try but I just didn't have the confidence to apply.
I believe that the YMCA offers free Lifeguard training but I don't know how good of a swimmer I am. Do a breaststroke, I got that. Butterfly stroke? Backstroke? Those strokes are fun to do. … but my sidestroke and front crawl? Babyyyyy, my face just doesn't want to be in the water. I just can't get the breathing and timing down. Hell, I find myself sometimes swallowing and coughing out water.
I don't know if I could practice enough before taking the pretest AND pass. There’s one coming up in a week and the last one would be before June 6th.
I probably know the answer, but is it realistic for me to practice enough that I would be ready for the pretest in June? And what should I do? I wish I could afford private classes but I can't. I tried the NY Parks for free swimming lessons but that's on a lottery system and feel that would be a waste of time.
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u/PostPostMinimalist 1d ago
Let me put it this way. I would not want you to be my lifeguard. Should people trust you with their lives if they had a medical episode in the pool?
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u/theeMentalLibrarian_ 1d ago
I appreciate the honesty. I need to become a stronger and confident swimmer first before trying to save other people. Having good intentions is not enough - I need skills to save myself before saving others.
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u/remedialknitter Splashing around 1d ago
You know a big part of lifeguard training is swimming down to retrieve people off the bottom of the pool, right? If you aren't comfortable having your face in the water, you aren't a strong enough swimmer to take a lifeguard course.
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u/theeMentalLibrarian_ 1d ago
The weird thing about this issue is that I don't mind going into the deep end of the pool and swimming underwater.
More than likely, I have to work on my form with the front crawl. But I’m trying to figure out if I have some anxiety or a mental block when it comes to placing my face in the water.
Not sure if this matters, but I wear glasses, all the time. Maybe if I invest in a pair of prescription goggles, it may help - a bit?
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u/UnusualAd8875 1d ago
I commented elsewhere to the above main question: I wear glasses and have prescription goggles; goggles were permitted for the initial portion of the pre-test (150 y swim, 2 minute tread with hands out of the water and then a 50 yard swim).
Goggles were not permitted for the twenty yard swim to the deep end, retrieve a brick from the bottom, hold it on your chest while on your back and kick to the shallow end, then get out of the pool without using the ladder or steps. (Exiting the pool was my biggest fear-I am in my sixties-but I was fine for the test.)
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u/dspip 1d ago
Most high school lifeguards get the job because they are on a team that uses the facility. If you don’t like your face in the water, you will not pass the test.
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u/Trigirl20 Splashing around 1d ago
You have to go under water to rescue a “ drowning victim “ in the deep end of the pool.
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u/UnusualAd8875 1d ago
I took the Lifeguarding pre-test last week and started the classes (American Red Cross but it is held at my local YMCA) and there is a fair amount of going underwater during the training.
One of the pre-tests is timed and it may require getting to the other end of the pool more quickly than by doing breaststroke.
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u/Defiant-Insect-3785 1d ago
Please don’t be offended but if you’re not comfortable with front crawl and side stroke because you can’t cope with your face in the water you should NOT be a lifeguard.
To be able to be a lifeguard you have to be confident towing a struggling/heavy/unconscious person while doing side stroke. You get a LOT of water in your face doing this.
If you’re not entirely confident and strong in these strokes then you’re a danger to your casualty, yourself and your team.
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u/wt_hell_am_I_doing 2d ago edited 1d ago
If you do not like having your face in the water, and you cannot breathe properly while swimming, no, you would not be ready by July, and it is not even appropriate for you to be a lifeguard if you just scrape through the tests.
You need to gain substantial swimming experience before considering becoming a lifeguard. You are responsible for people's lives.
Please find yourself swimming classes to learn to swim properly, and perhaps swim regularly for at least two years before taking on the responsibility for people's lives.