Sport

WHAT IS LIFESAVING SPORT?

A well-rounded sport that develops the four intrinsic qualities of a lifeguard:

  • Skills
  • Judgment
  • Knowledge
  • Physical performance

These qualities are put to the test in three distinct categories of lifesaving sport:

  • Surf
  • Pool
  • Emergency Response

Lifesaving sport is present at all levels of competition. By contacting a local lifesaving sport club, an athlete can begin training and compete in provincial competitions.

This pathway can lead to higher-level competitions such as the Championnats Québécois de Sauvetage (CQS) and the Canadian Championships. Through rigorous training, an athlete can make the national team and advance to the world championships (World Lifesaving Championships and RLSS).

SURF EVENTS

INDIVIDUAL EVENTS

BEACH RUN

At the starting signal, the athlete must run 2000 m. The athlete must run from the left side of the beach to the flag, then around it clockwise and back to the water side. The athlete must complete four 500 m loops before crossing the finish line.

BEACH SPRINT

At the starting signal, the athlete must sprint 90 m. The athlete must run inside the running lane and cross the finish line.

BEACH FLAGS

The athlete lies on the sand on the stomach, back to the flags which are planted on a line parallel to the starting line, at 20 m. There is usually one less flag than the number of athletes. At the starting signal, the athlete must turn around, sprint and try to grab a flag. The athlete without a flag is eliminated.

RUN-SWIM-RUN

At the starting signal, the athlete must run for approximately 100 m, swim approximately 300 m around the buoys, return to the beach and run again for approximately 100 m to cross the finish line.

SURF SWIM

The athlete starts on the beach. At the starting signal, the athlete must run into the water, swim 400 m around the buoys and return to the beach to cross the finish line on the beach.

BOARD RACE

The athlete starts on the beach. At the starting signal, the athlete must run in the water with his board, paddle 600 m around the buoys and return to the beach to cross the finish line on the beach.

SURF SKI RACE

The athlete starts in the water. At the start signal, the athlete must board his surf ski, paddle 800 m around the buoys and return to the beach to cross the finish line in the water.

OCEANMAN/OCEANWOMAN

At the starting signal, the athlete must swim 400 m, paddle 600 m on the board, paddle 700 m in the surf ski and sprint 90 m on the beach. The order of the aquatic events is randomly drawn.

 

RELAY & TEAM EVENTS

BEACH RELAY

This is a four-athlete event. At the starting signal, four athletes take turns in the beach sprint event. Each athlete must sprint 90 m and pass a baton. They must run inside the running lane and cross the finish line before they can pass the baton.

OCEANMAN/OCEANWOMAN RELAY

This is a four-athlete event. At the starting signal, four athletes take turns in the Oceanman/Oceanwoman event. The first athlete must swim 400 m, the second athlete must paddle 600 m on the board, the third athlete must paddle 700 m in the surf ski and the fourth athlete must sprint 90 m on the beach. The order of the aquatic events is randomly drawn.

BOARD RELAY

This is a two-athlete event. At the starting signal, the first athlete must swim approximately 120 m to the assigned buoy. Once there, a signal must be given to the second athlete who must run into the water with the board and pick up the first athlete behind the buoy. Both athletes must paddle back to the beach together on the board to cross the finish line on the beach.

RESCUE TUBE RACE

This is a four-athlete event. At the starting signal, the first athlete must swim approximately 120 m to the assigned buoy. Once there, a signal must be given to the second athlete who must run into the water with fins and a rescue tube and swim to pick up the first athlete behind the buoy. The second athlete ties the tube around the first athlete and tows him to the beach, the first athlete must kick his legs. Once close to the shore, the other two athletes must pick up and drag the first athlete to the finish line on the beach.

POOL EVENTS

INDIVIDUAL EVENTS

OBSTACLE SWIM

At the starting signal, the athlete must dive and swim 200 m. The athlete must pass 8 times under an obstacle positioned at 12.5 m from the starting wall. If this event takes place in a 50 m pool, the obstacles must be positioned 12.5 m and 37.5 m from the starting wall.

MANIKIN CARRY

At the starting signal, the athlete must dive and swim 25 m. The athlete must touch the turn wall, retrieve a full manikin from the bottom of the pool and return to the surface. This must be done within a 10 m transition zone, before the athlete can carry the manikin for 25 m. If this event takes place in a 50 m pool, the manikin must be positioned in the middle of the pool.

MANIKIN CARRY WITH FINS

At the starting signal, the athlete must dive and swim 75 m with fins. The athlete must touch the turn wall, retrieve a full manikin from the bottom of the pool and return to the surface. This must be done within a 10 m transition zone before the athlete can carry the manikin for 25 m. If this event takes place in a 50 m pool, the manikin must be positioned in the middle of the pool.

MANIKIN TOW WITH FINS

At the starting signal, the athlete must dive and swim 50 m with fins and a rescue tube. The athlete must touch the turn wall and tie the rescue tube around a ½ full manikin held in place by a teammate. This must be done within a 10 m transition zone, before the athlete can tow the manikin 50 m.

RESCUE MEDLEY

At the starting signal, the athlete must dive and swim 50 m, touch the turn wall and swim 17.5 m underwater. The athlete must retrieve a full manikin from the bottom of the pool, surface and carry it 32.5 m.

SUPER LIFESAVER

At the starting signal, the athlete must dive and swim 75 m, touch the turn wall, retrieve a full manikin from the bottom of the pool and return to the surface. This must be done within a 10 m transition zone, before the athlete can carry the manikin for 25 m. Then the athlete must touch the turn wall, release the manikin, and put on fins and a rescue tube. The athlete must swim 50 m, touch the turn wall and tie the buoy around a ½ full manikin held in place by a teammate. This must be done within a 10 m transition zone, before the athlete can tow the manikin 50 m.

 

 RELAY & TEAM EVENTS

LINE THROW

This is a two-athlete event. At the starting signal, the first athlete must throw an unweighted rope to reach the second athlete, holding an obstaclepositioned at 12.5 m from the starting wall. The aim is to tow the second athlete to the starting wall in less than 45 seconds.

OBSTACLE RELAY

This is a four-athlete event.At the starting signal, four athletes complete a 200 m relay. They must dive, swim 50 m and pass twice under an obstacle positioned 12.5 m from the starting wall. If this event takes place in a 50 m pool, the obstacles must be positioned at 12.5 m and 37.5 m from the starting wall.

MANIKIN RELAY

This is a four-athlete event.At the starting signal, four athletes complete a 100 m relay. They must carry a full manikin for 25 m and hand it to the next athlete. This must be done within a 10 m transition zone, before the next athlete can carry the manikin.

MEDLEY RELAY

This is a four-athlete event.At the starting signal, four athletes must complete a 200 m relay. The first athlete must swim 50 m, the second athlete must swim 50 m with fins and the third athlete must swim 50 m with a rescue tube. The fourth athlete must take the rescue tube sling from the third athlete and swim 50 m while towing the third athlete, who can kick.

EMERGENCY RESPONSE EVENTS

At Emergency Response competitions, athletes are evaluated using grids that are based on the Canadian Lifesaving Program manuals, i.e.:

  • Canadian First Aid Manual
  • Canadian Lifesaving Manual
  • Aquatic Emergency Care Manual
  • Alert: Lifeguarding in Action

Every type of incident should be included in these instructional manuals. The grids assign a certain number of points per action the athlete makes and penalties for errors.

SENIOR EVENTS

WATER RESCUE

The team has between 30 and 60 seconds to set up on the pool deck. No emergency will occur during the set-up time. The team has between 5 and 8 minutes to respond to a situation that involves multiple incidents including public relations and EMS calls for major or super-major victims.

 

PRIORITY ASSESSMENT

Under the leadership of a team captain, the team has between 90 and 120 seconds to rescue as many victims as possible and move them to a safe location. The situations are realistic, and the victims wear little or no makeup. Manikins can simulate unconscious victims with changes such as airway obstruction (AO) or cardiac arrest (CA). A plan of action must be established to control the situation and preserve as many lives as possible. The victim priorities are in the following order:

Priority 1: Tired swimmer or able to move alone

Priority 2: Injured or non-swimming victim

Priority 3: Victims who are unconscious or not breathing

                    Victims with suspected spinal injury

Priority 4: Submerged victims

 

FIRST AID

The team has between 5 and 8 minutes to respond to realistic incidents that may occur during a lifeguard’s work. For example, incidents could include bleeding, respiratory arrest (RA), and cardiac arrest (CA).

JUNIOR EVENTS

WATER RESCUE

Category 10 years old and under

The athlete has between 3 and 5 minutes to respond to a situation that involves 1 victim needing treatment.

Category 11–12 years old

The athlete has between 3 and 5 minutes to respond to a situation that involves 1 to 3 victims (maximum of one major or super-major victim) that need to be addressed in order of priority.

Category Duo 13-14-15 years old

The duo has between 30 and 60 seconds to set up on the pool deck. No emergencies will occur during set-up time. The duo has 3 to 5 minutes to respond to a situation that involves 4 to 7 victims including public relations and EMS calls for major or super-major victims.

 

PRIORITY ASSESSMENT

Category 10 years old and under

The athlete has 90 seconds to rescue the maximum number of victims in a situation that involves 3 to 5 victims.

Category 11–12 years old

The athlete has 90 seconds to rescue the maximum number of victims in a situation involving 4 to 7 victims.

Category Duo 13-14-15 years old

The athlete has 90 seconds to rescue the maximum number of victims in a situation involving 5 to 9 victims.

 

FIRST AID

Category 10 years old and under

The athlete has between 4 and 5 minutes to respond to a situation that involves 1 or 2 victims to be dealt with, including public relations cases and EMS calls for major or super-major victims.

Category 11–12 years old

The athlete has 4 to 5 minutes to respond to a situation that involves 1 to 3 victims in order of priority, including public relations and EMS calls for major or super-major victims.

Category Duo 13-14-15 years old

The athlete has 4 to 5 minutes to respond to a situation that involves 4 to 6 victims in order of priority, including public relations and EMS calls for major or super-major victims.