Capsize and Swim Test

Clothing required:

Swimming Costume
Tracksuit Bottoms
Leggings
Long-sleeved t-shirt

Procedure:

1. Demonstrate the ability to tread water for two minutes.
    
2. Demonstrate the ability to swim 100 meters of the pool wearing swimming costume, leggings or tracksuit bottoms, and a long-sleeved shirt. The first 5 meters of this swim MUST be underwater.
    
3. Be shown the procedure of capsizing a sculling boat in the pool, firstly without the blades in situ and then with the blades in situ. (This process is to demonstrate to the athlete how easy it is to capsize a boat without blades in situ and thereafter how almost impossible it is to capsize with blades in situ so long as a basic set of rules is adhered to!)
    
4. Be shown the procedure required, after a capsize, to get back into the boat.
    
5. Be shown the procedure called "Buddy Rescue" where another person in a sculling boat can help an athlete in the water back to safety

Steps 1, 2 and 3 are mandatory and require a 'pass'. However there is no time limit or set number of attempts, so athletes can complete the swim test in their own time and attempt the capsize drill as many times as they would like to.

When the athlete moves to the water it is in Hinksey Park on the boating lake which is 3ft average in depth. This means we do not ask athletes of any age to wear life jackets or buoyancy aids. However they may, if they wish. It is a Club requirement to reach a specific skill level before athletes move away from the Boating Lake.