Aquatics

This is the Full Waterfront lifeguard class

The purpose of the Waterfront Skills module is to teach lifeguards the skills and knowledge needed to prevent and respond to emergencies in nonsurf, open-water areas found at public parks, resorts, summer camps and campgrounds.

You must also have valid American Red Cross lifeguard certification to enroll in this course.  

 

Look up your certificate here: https://www.redcross.org/take-a-class/digital-certificate

COST:  $65

LOCATION: Alumni Arena or Clark Hall

COURSE TEXTBOOK:

Course Manual Link & Access Code

PARTICIPANT LIMIT: 6-10 MAX

Prerequisites

• Candidates must have a current American Red Cross certificate for Lifeguarding/First Aid/CPR/AED.
• Be at least 15 years old on or before the last day of the instructor course.
• Swim 550 yards continuously demonstrating breath control and rhythmic breathing. Candidates may swim using the front crawl, breaststroke or a combination of both but swimming on the back or side is not allowed. Swim goggles are allowed.
• Tread water for 2 minutes using only the legs. Candidates should place their hands under their armpits.
• Complete a timed event within 1 minute, 40 seconds:
  • Starting in the water, swim 20 yards. The face may be in or out of the water. Swim goggles are not allowed.
  • Surface dive, feet-first or head-first, to a depth of 7 to 10 feet to retrieve a 10-pound object.
  • Return to the surface and swim 20 yards to return to the starting point with both hands holding the object and keeping the face at or near the surface so they are able to get a breath. Candidates should not swim the distance underwater.
  • Exit the water without using a ladder or steps.
• Swim 5 yards, submerge and retrieve three dive rings places 5 yards apart in 4 to 7 feet of water, resurface and continue to swim another 5 yards to complete the skill sequence.



Requirements

• All participants must attend every class. (Any participant that misses a class will not receive certification. No exceptions, no refunds.).
• All participants must achieve 80% or better on all written exams.
• All participants must successfully complete all physical requirements with respect to lifeguarding skills.
• All participants must exhibit professionalism at all times during the course. (Inappropriate behavior will result in dismissal of the course. No exceptions, no refunds.)
• Participants will need an American Red Cross Lifeguarding Manual.
  
  If you have any questions please Click here​ our Aquatics Program.
  
  

  There are no available Waterfront Lifeguard Courses, please check back.

Waterfront Skills Recertification Course R. 2024

This is a REVIEW course (3 hours). 

Full Waterfront lifeguard classes in the 2024 curriculum are 8 hours in length. 

The primary purpose of a recertification course is to give participants who are currently certified American Red Cross Lifeguarding (Including Deep Water) and Waterfront Skills the opportunity to review the course knowledge and skills within a formal course setting to maintain their American Red Cross Waterfront Skills certification.

 

Look up your certificate here: https://www.redcross.org/take-a-class/digital-certificate

COST:  $65

LOCATION: Alumni Arena Natatorium, North Campus

COURSE TEXTBOOK:

http://www.redcross.org/participantmaterials

PARTICIPANT LIMIT: 12 MAX

• To participate in the Waterfront Skills Recertification course, participants must:
  ▪ Have a current American Red Cross certificate for Lifeguarding (that included training in deep water 7 feet or deeper).
  ▪ Be at least 16 years old (anticipating that you took the initial course at age 15 or older)on or before the final scheduled session of the Waterfront Skills Recertification course
  ▪ Successfully complete the three prerequisite swimming skills evaluations:
  
  

  Prerequisite 1: Complete a swim-tread-swim sequence without stopping to rest.

  • ▪ Jump into the water and totally submerge, resurface then swim 350 yards using the front crawl, breaststroke or a combination of both. (Swimming on the back or side is not permitted. Swim goggles are allowed).
  • ▪ Maintain position at the surface of the water for 2 minutes by treading water using only the legs.
  • ▪ Swim 200 yards using the front crawl, breaststroke or a combination of both.
  
  

  Prerequisite 2: Complete a timed event within 1 minute, 40 seconds.

  • ▪ Starting in the water, swim 20 yards. (The face may be in or out of the water. Swim goggles are not allowed).
  • ▪ Submerge to a depth of 7 - 10 feet to retrieve a 10-pound object.
  • ▪ Return to the surface and swim 20 yards on the back to return to the starting point, holding the object at the surface with both hands and keeping the face out at or near the surface.
  • ▪ Exit the water without using a ladder or steps.
  
  

  Prerequisite 3: Complete an underwater swim.

  • ▪ Swim 5 yards, submerge and retrieve three dive rings placed 5 yards apart in 4 – 7 feet of water.
  • ▪ Resurface and continue to swim another 5 yards
  
  

  Certification

  Participants who successfully complete the Waterfront Skills Recertification course will be issued the following American Red Cross certificate: Waterfront Skills Module, valid for 2 years and only valid when accompanied by a current Lifeguarding (that included training in water 7 feet or deeper) with CPR/AED for the Professional Rescuer and First Aid certificate.

  
  

  Lifeguards certified in Waterfront Skills (accompanied by a current Lifeguarding certificate) are certified to lifeguard in water up to 7 feet and deeper in non-surf, open water environments.

  To maintain the Waterfront Skills Module certification, a currently certified lifeguard must successfully complete the American Red Cross Waterfront Skills Recertification course or the full Waterfront Skills Module again prior to certificate expiration. A 30-day grace period may apply but it does not extend the certification beyond the 2 years. The Waterfront Skills Module certificate is not valid without a current Lifeguarding (that included training in 7 feet or deeper) certificate.

  
  

  Once the Waterfront Skills Module certification is expired, a participant must successfully complete the American Red Cross Waterfront Skills Module.

  
  If you have any questions please Click here​ our Aquatics Program.
  
  

  There are no Waterfront Skills Recertification Courses currently scheduled. Please check back.

For those who are building upon their skills with an Instructor to Swimmer ratio of 1:6.

The UB Aquatics program we will be offering small group lessons for UB student and adults only: adult beginner and adult intermediate.

These lessons will take place at the Alumni Arena Natatorium on North Campus.

**These small group swim lessons are for UB students and adults only.**

PLEASE NOTE: We do not have a family changing room. Alumni Arena, built as a Division 1 athletics training facility in 1983, and was not designed for children.  The pool water is kept at 77 degrees which is ideal training temperature for Division 1 athletics swimming. Our swim lessons generally cater to our adult UB student population. Most pediatricians would probably recommend pools kept between 83 and 86 degrees.

Make up lessons are not available this session.

If you have any questions please Click here​ to email the UB Learn to Swim Program

There are no available small group swim lessons at this time. Please check back.