The ASA/ISRM Pool Swimming Standard Award

This Award is designed to complement and support the ISRM's advice on risk assessment for child admissions during un-programmed swimming sessions. It relates specifically to those situations when children are able to swim or when a responsible person is seeking to accompany more than 2 children between the ages of 4-7, or more than one child aged 3 and under.

By formally assessing a child's water confidence and their ability to reach a minimum swimming standard, it allows pools to be reasonably assured of their need not to be closely supervised by an adult. Children achieving the standard will receive an award in the form of a photo ID card, this can be used as a 'passport' for swimming.

The 2005 edition of ISRM’s risk assessment guidance on child admissions places great emphasis on flexibility of implementation – making sure that no unnecessary barriers are placed in the way of families swimming together. the ASA/ISRM Pool Swimming Standard Award can play a key role in enabling this flexibility at your pool.

For full details of how to implement the Award in your pool, please click here.