Saturday, October 10, 2026
Location: Steve Lundquist Aquatic Center at the Jim Huie Recreation Center
Address: 9045 Tara Boulevard, Jonesboro, GA
Time: Bus will be leaving Community at 8:30am to arrive at 9am
Who May Attend: All registered Trailmen and any adults that wish to be present.
On October 10, our troop will visit the Steve Lundquist Aquatic Center to complete the official Trail Life USA Swimming Competency Test, sometimes called the Swimming Qualification Test.
The purpose of this test is to determine each Trailman’s current swimming ability so troop leaders can safely plan swimming, boating, fishing, and other water-related activities.
This is not a race or swimming competition. Each Trailman will be assigned the highest qualification level he can safely complete: Swimmer, Beginner, or Non-Swimmer.
Why Is the Swimming Test Important?
Trail Life requires a Trailman’s swimming ability to be evaluated before he participates in many aquatic activities. The result may be recorded by the troop and on the Trailman’s Swimming Competency Card for use at future water events.
A Trailman’s classification helps leaders determine:
- Where he may swim
- Whether he may enter deep water
- Which boating activities he may participate in
- What supervision or flotation equipment he may need
- Whether additional restrictions are necessary for a particular activity
A lower classification is not a failure. It simply tells leaders what level of water activity is currently appropriate for that Trailman.
Swimming Qualification Levels
Swimmer
To qualify as a Swimmer, a Trailman must:
- Jump feet-first into water over his head.
- Level off and begin swimming.
- Swim 75 yards in a strong manner using one or more of the following strokes:
- Front crawl
- Breaststroke
- Sidestroke
- Trudgen stroke
- Swim another 25 yards using an easy, resting backstroke.
- Complete the full 100 yards continuously, without stopping, and include at least one sharp turn.
- Float on his back long enough to demonstrate that he can rest when tired.
What the Swimmer Level Means
A qualified Swimmer may swim in all designated swimming areas, including deep-water areas, as permitted by the facility and supervising leaders.
Swimmer qualification also provides the greatest access to boating, tubing, and other water activities. Some higher-risk water activities may specifically require the Swimmer classification.
Beginner
To qualify as a Beginner, a Trailman must:
- Enter water in which he can touch the bottom.
- Fully submerge his head.
- Swim 25 feet on the surface without:
- Considerable strain
- Touching the bottom
- Holding onto the wall
- Holding onto lane lines or another object
What the Beginner Level Means
A Beginner may swim only in shallow areas or in water where he can comfortably touch the bottom. He may not enter designated deep-water swimming areas.
A Beginner can generally participate in properly supervised rowboating, canoeing, or kayaking, provided he wears an approved life jacket and follows all activity-specific requirements. Some water activities may still require the higher Swimmer classification.
Non-Swimmer
A Trailman is classified as a Non-Swimmer when he cannot safely complete either the Swimmer or Beginner test without considerable strain, touching the bottom, or holding onto a wall, lane line, or other support.
What the Non-Swimmer Level Means
A Non-Swimmer:
- Must remain in designated shallow-water areas
- Must wear a properly fitted, U.S. Coast Guard-approved personal flotation device when required
- May be restricted from certain boating or open-water activities
- Requires additional supervision around the water
For rowboating and similar activities, a participant who cannot complete the Beginner test may need to ride in a boat with an adult who is a certified lifeguard or trained in water-rescue techniques.
How the Qualification Affects Water Activities
Recreational Swimming
Swimmer: May swim in all designated swimming areas, including deep water.
Beginner: May swim only in shallow water or areas where he can comfortably touch the bottom.
Non-Swimmer: Must remain in designated shallow-water areas and may be required to wear an approved life jacket.
Facility rules and leader judgment may place additional restrictions on any participant.
Boating, Canoeing, and Kayaking
All participants must wear a properly fitted, U.S. Coast Guard-approved life jacket during boating and other open-water activities, regardless of their swimming classification.
In general:
- Swimmers may participate when they meet the age, skill, and supervision requirements of the activity.
- Beginners may generally participate in basic boating activities while wearing a life jacket and remaining under proper supervision.
- Non-Swimmers require additional supervision and may need to ride in the same boat as a certified lifeguard or adult trained in water rescue.
- Certain activities may require every participant to qualify as a Swimmer.
The troop may impose stricter requirements based on the type of boat, current, weather, water depth, participant age, or available supervision.
Fishing
The effect of the swimming classification depends on how the fishing activity is conducted.
Fishing From the Bank or Shore
A swimming qualification normally does not prevent a Trailman from fishing while safely remaining on land.
Leaders may still require life jackets near docks, steep banks, moving water, or other areas where someone could easily fall into the water.
Wading While Fishing
Once a Trailman enters the water, his swimming classification becomes important.
- Swimmers may enter approved areas under supervision.
- Beginners must remain where they can safely touch the bottom.
- Non-Swimmers may be required to wear a life jacket or may not be permitted to wade.
Fishing From a Boat
When fishing from a boat, all boating requirements apply.
Every participant must wear an approved life jacket, regardless of swimming ability. Non-Swimmers may require a rescue-qualified adult in the same boat and may be restricted from participating when adequate supervision is unavailable.
How the Test Will Be Conducted
The test must be administered and verified by a qualified individual, such as a:
- Certified lifeguard
- Water Safety Instructor
- Aquatics instructor
- Swim coach
Each Trailman will be recorded at only his highest successfully completed level.
For example, a Trailman who begins the Swimmer test but cannot complete the full 100 yards may still qualify as a Beginner if he successfully completes the Beginner requirements.
No Trailman should continue a test when he is exhausted, distressed, or unable to swim safely.
What Parents Should Know
Parents should encourage their sons to do their best without feeling pressured to earn a particular classification.
The test is designed to provide leaders with an honest assessment of each Trailman’s current ability.
Please notify troop leadership before the event if your son:
- Has a medical condition that may affect swimming
- Is uncomfortable entering deep water
- Has recently experienced an injury
- Uses special equipment or requires additional assistance
- Has previously completed an official Trail Life Swimming Competency Test
What to Bring
Each Trailman should bring:
- Appropriate swimsuit
- Towel
- Dry change of clothes
- Water bottle
- Bag for wet clothing
- Trail Life Swimming Competency Card, if he already has one
- Any additional items listed in the troop event announcement
Facility Information
The Steve Lundquist Aquatic Center is located inside the Jim Huie Recreation Center at:
9045 Tara Boulevard
Jonesboro, Georgia
Parents should follow the arrival and departure times provided in the troop’s official event announcement.
