What this water safety skill is
This sequence mirrors what happens when someone falls into deep water by accident. The roll in is a little disorienting on purpose. Treading for one minute shows your child can get their breath back and stay up. The swim of 50 metres shows they can then reach safety. In a home pool, the swim is made up of lengths, counted together.
It comes after your child can go from jumping in to climbing out in one go. It is the final goal of the water survival skills. It is a strong base, but it never replaces supervision, lifejackets where they are needed, or a barrier around the pool.
Why it matters
The biggest test of survival skills.
It brings together a fall-like entry, staying up and a real swim.
Stamina when it counts.
Swimming after treading, when already a little tired, is what real situations ask for.
A meaningful milestone.
Many children, and adults, are especially proud when they reach this goal.
Who it is for
Children, teens and adults who can already roll into deep water, tread water for one minute and swim steadily. Children often reach it after the shorter practice of jumping in and climbing out. If you are learning as an adult, working toward this goal can be one of the most rewarding parts of your lessons.
With the instructor watching
The goal
Your child rolls into deep water from the edge, comes up and treads water calmly for one minute. Then they swim 50 metres at a steady pace and finish in control.
Why it matters
Every part of water survival comes together here. Finishing calmly shows your child can look after themselves in a pool if something goes wrong.
What happens in lessons
Each part on its own.
Your instructor makes sure the roll in, the tread and the swim each feel steady first.
Roll and tread.
Your child rolls in and treads for the full minute, with the instructor in the water throughout.
Adding the swim.
Straight after treading, your child swims lengths toward 50 metres, with the instructor counting.
The full sequence.
When ready, your child does it all in one go, calm from start to finish.
How you can help between lessons
We practise this one in lessons only, with your instructor right there in the water.
What's normal along the way
Common questions
- Our pool is small. How can my child swim 50 metres?
- The distance is made up of lengths of your pool, counted together with your child. Your instructor works out how many lengths your pool needs.
- What stroke should my child use for the swim?
- Any stroke that lets them keep going calmly and breathe easily. Many use front crawl, the usual face-down stroke with the arms taking turns, or breaststroke, or a mix. What matters is finishing steadily.
- Does reaching this goal mean my child is safe in any water?
- No. It means they have strong self-rescue skills in a pool. Lakes, the sea, cold water and currents are very different, and every child still needs supervision.
- What if my child cannot tread for the full minute yet?
- Then treading keeps building on its own. The full sequence is only tried once each part is steady.
