Swimming

• Determine that all equipment is safe for use (for example, no sharp corners, cracks, or splinters). Students must be encouraged to report equipment problems to the coach.

• Protective equipment must not be altered (for example, cutting a portion off the back of mouth guards).

Refer to the First Aid section for first aid equipment requirements.

• The wearing of jewellery during practices and competitions must meet the rules of the governing body of the sport/activity, OFSAA, and local athletic association. Consult the General Safety Standards for Clothing, Footwear, and Jewellery when jewellery is not addressed by the governing body of the sport/activity, OFSAA or the local athletic association.

• Long hair must be secured. Devices (for example, hair pins, elastics and barrettes) used to tie back long hair must not present a safety concern.

• Students must not participate when the length of fingernails poses a safety risk to themselves or others.

• Backyard pools must not be used.

• Determine that all facilities are safe for use. Students must be encouraged to report facility problems to the coach.

• Pool deck must be kept clear of obstacles and excess water.

• Be aware of students whose medical condition (for example, asthma, anaphylaxis, casts, previous concussion, orthopaedic device) may affect participation. Consult Medical Conditions.

• Prior to participation students must receive concussion information through the appropriate Ministry of Education’s Concussion Awareness Resource or the school board approved concussion resources. Students must also receive information on:
  • the Concussion Code of Conduct;
  • concussion prevention strategies specific to the activity and inherent risks of the activity (that is, outline possible risks and ways to minimize the risks);
  • procedures and rules for safe play; and
  • the importance of reporting symptoms related to a suspected concussion.
• Students must confirm their review of the concussion awareness resource and Concussion Code of Conduct prior to participation.

• Refer to school board policies and procedures (i.e., transportation, excursion/field trip) for communication with parents/guardians, the location of an off-site activity, means of transportation, supervision ratios, and parent/guardian permission.

• Previous training, fitness level, and the length of time and intensity of physical activity must be taken into consideration.

• Activities must be based on skills that are taught.

• Skills must be taught in proper progression.

• A proper warm-up and cool-down must be included.

• Fair play and rules of the sport must be taught and strictly enforced.

• Adequate liquid replacement (personal water bottles, water fountains) must be accessible for students before, during, and after physical activity to prevent dehydration.

• Students must be informed that they are not to share water bottles.

• Parents/guardians must be informed of the school board’s policy related to initiation/hazing activities.

• The presence and location of spectators must not present a safety concern. A school is responsible for supervising its own spectators. The ratio of supervisor to spectators must address safety concerns.

• All activities must be supervised.

• The level of supervision must be commensurate with the inherent risk of the activity. The level of risk is related to the number of participants, the skill level of the participants, the type of equipment used, and environmental conditions.

• As a minimum the designated coach liaison will provide in-the-area supervision for all practices, games, and competitions.
• When a school team is travelling outside of their school district, a coach liaison from the same school/school district must accompany the team, must be accessible and at least one of the following criteria must be in place:
  • coach liaison is visible;
  • coach liaison is circulating on the same site;
  • location of coach liaison is at the same location and whereabouts is known;
  • if a coach is a high school student and under the age of 18, the coach liaison must be visible at all times.
• Consult school board and local athletic association rules and regulations with regard to coach and coach liaison duties and adhere to the higher standard of care.

Refer to the Swim Test section for the swim test supervision ratios.

• There must be a minimum of 2 certified aquatic instructors on deck or in the pool.
• Supervision ratio is 2 certified aquatic instructors per 1-50 students, with both instructors also certified as lifeguards or one lifeguard and one assistant lifeguard.
• In situations where there are 51-75 students, an additional certified aquatic instructor is required.
• If assistant lifeguards are used, the number of assistant lifeguards on deck may never exceed the number of lifeguards.

Refer to the definition of Instructional Time.

• According to Ontario Public Pools Regulation 565, during recreational time, a certified lifeguard is required. Aquatic instructor certification and Ontario Teachers Aquatic Standard (OTAS) do not meet the safety requirements of the regulation.

• When certified lifeguards are on the deck, the minimum ratio of lifeguards to swimmers/bathers on deck and in the pool is:
  • 2 lifeguards per 1-125 bathers. If the teacher is a certified lifeguard, they may act as one of the two lifeguards, and therefore a third person is not necessary.
  • 3 lifeguards per 126-250 bathers. If the teacher is a certified lifeguard they may act as one of the three lifeguards, and therefore a fourth person is not necessary.

• When certified lifeguards and assistant lifeguards are on deck the minimum ratio of lifeguards and assistant lifeguards to swimmers/bathers on deck and in the pool is:
  • 2 lifeguards or 1 lifeguard and 1 assistant lifeguard per 1-100 bathers. If the teacher is a certified assistant lifeguard/lifeguard, they may act with a lifeguard, and therefore a third person is not necessary.
  • 3 lifeguards or 2 lifeguards and 1 assistant lifeguard per 101-200 bathers. If the teacher is a certified assistant lifeguard/lifeguard, they may act with two lifeguards, and therefore a fourth person is not necessary.

• The number of assistant lifeguards may never exceed the number of lifeguards on deck.

Refer to the definition of Recreational Time.

Refer to the Swim Test section for the swim test aquatic instructor qualification requirements.

• Game/match official(s) must be certified and/or experienced in officiating the sport.
• The head coach must demonstrate knowledge of the sport, skills, and strategies to the principal or designate.

• All coaches must be familiar with and implement, where applicable, the criteria outlined in Coaches Expectations.

• For more information on sport-specific NCCP training please visit coach.ca.

• A lifeguard must be 16 years of age or older and possess a current (the date on the certificate must not be older than two years) lifeguard certificate issued by one of the following organizations:
  • Lifesaving Society - National Lifeguard – Pool
    • Equivalent certificate approved by Minister of Health and Long Term Care
• A student may not act as a lifeguard if they are participating in the activity.

• Verified copies of certification must be available in the pool area.

Refer to the Swim Test section for the swim test lifeguard qualification requirements.

• A fully stocked first aid kit must be readily accessible. (Consult Sample First Aid Kit)

• A working communication device (for example, cell phone) must be accessible.

• The individual who takes responsibility for providing first aid to injured students must:
  • as a minimum, have a current first aid certification from a recognized first aid provider (for example, St. John Ambulance, Red Cross) that includes CPR B or C and training in head, neck and spinal injury management;
  • be in the area and readily accessible during the entire practice/competition;
  • be aware of the school's first aid emergency action plan and follow their first aid emergency response (consult First Aid Plan and First Aid Emergency Response);
  • follow their school board's concussion protocol for a suspected concussion; and
  • not be a participant in the activity.

• An initial screening/testing of swimming ability must be done in shallow water prior to the activity.

• Schools must adhere to the facility swim test standard regarding the components of the swim test for shallow and deep water. If a facility swim test standard does not exist, the Lifesaving Society Swim to Survive swim standard must be used.

• The test must be administered by a certified aquatic instructor or a certified lifeguard (the test is based on the Lifesaving Society’s Swim to Survive™ Standard).
• The swim test must be completed within the school year in which the activity is taking place.
• In lieu of completing the swim test, students may provide proof of Bronze Star certification or higher.
• Results of the swim test must be documented and communicated as per school board policy (for example, to the student, teacher, principal, parents/guardians, trip guide(s), lifeguards, aquatic instructor, and outside provider [if applicable]).

• Students who do not pass the swim test or who do not have the aforementioned certification must not participate in the activity.

Clothing/Footwear/Jewellery for the Swim Test

• Appropriate swimwear must be worn.

• An aquatic instructor must possess both an aquatic instructor certificate and a lifeguard/assistant lifeguard certificate that are dated not more than two years prior to the date on which they are required to instruct and lifeguard. If the aquatic instructor does not hold a lifeguard certificate or an assistant lifeguard certificate, a certified lifeguard must also be on deck during the swim test.

• Aquatic Instructor Certificates:

  • Lifesaving Society - Instructor Certificate
  • YMCA - Instructor Certificate
  • Ontario Teachers Aquatic Standard (OTAS) - for pool situations only

• Verified copies of certification must be available in the pool area.

• A lifeguard/assistant lifeguard must be 16 years of age or older and possess a current (the date on the certificate must not be older than two years) lifeguard/assistant lifeguard certificate issued by one of the following organizations:

• Lifeguard Certificates:

  • Lifesaving Society - National Lifeguard - Pool
  • Equivalent certificate approved by Minister of Health and Long Term Care

• Assistant Lifeguard Certificates for Pools:

  • Lifesaving Society - Bronze Cross
  • Equivalent certificate approved by Minister of Health and Long Term Care

• A student may not act as a lifeguard/assistant lifeguard if they are participating in the activity.

• Verified copies of certification must be available in the pool area.

• There must be a minimum of 2 certified aquatic instructors or lifeguards on deck or in the pool.
• Supervision ratio is 2 certified aquatic instructors or lifeguards per 1 to 50 students.
• In situations where there are 51 to 75 students, an additional certified aquatic instructor or lifeguard is required.
• If assistant lifeguards are used, the number of assistant lifeguards on deck may never exceed the number of lifeguards.

• Coach:
  • Any individual approved by the principal or designate (consult Coaches Expectations). All new coaches must go through an approval process by school administrator/designate to determine the coach’s knowledge, experience and, where appropriate, qualifications (for example, higher risk sports) to safely coach the sport.

• Coach Liaison:
  • A teacher, principal, or vice-principal with a current certification from the Ontario College of Teachers and under contract by the school/school board. Consult Coaches Expectations for more information.

• Instructional Time:
  • Instructional time is defined as time during which there are organized activities or instructions. Examples of instructional time are lessons, events, practice, and games.

• Personal Flotation Device (PFD):
  • According to Canadian Red Cross, “A Canadian approved PFD is designed to keep you afloat in the water. PFDs were designed for use in recreational boating and are generally smaller, less bulky and more comfortable than lifejackets. They have less flotation than lifejackets, and have limited turning capacity, but are available in a variety of styles and colours.”

• Recreational Time:
  • Recreational time is defined as time during which there are not any organized activities or instruction.

• Supervision:
  • The vigilant overseeing of a sport for regulation or direction. All facilities, equipment, and sports have inherent risks, but the more effectively they are supervised, the safer they become.
  • The Ontario Physical Activity Safety Standards in Education designate three categories of supervision, Constant visual supervision, On-site supervision, and In-the-area supervision. The categories take into consideration the risk level of the activity, the participants’ skill level and the participants’ maturity. The three levels of supervision described are not hierarchical but represent the type of supervision that an activity requires and the type of supervision that is inherently possible.

• Types of Supervision:
  • Constant visual supervision:
    • The coach is physically present, watching the activity in question. Only one activity requiring “Constant visual” supervision may take place while other activities are going on.
    • For example, during a track and field practice, some students are involved in high jump, some in relay, and others in distance running. For high Jump, the coach is at the event and is observing the activity.
  • In-the-area Supervision:
    • The coach could be in the gymnasium while another activity is taking place in an area adjacent to the gymnasium. In-the-area supervision requires the coach to be readily accessible.
    • For example, In-the-area supervision occurs:
      • in activities in which students may be out of sight for periods of time and the location of the coach is not nearby (for example, alpine skiing, cross-country running). At least one of the following criteria must be in place:
        • The coach is circulating
        • The location of the coach has been communicated to students and volunteers
      • in single activities and those that may be combined (for example, other in- the- area activities such as badminton, table tennis, handball – wall) with the following criteria in place:
        • The coach must be circulating between the activities and readily accessible
        • The coach informs the students of the location of the activities
  • On-site Supervision:
    • Entails coach presence but not necessarily constantly viewing one specific activity. Momentary presence in adjoining rooms (for example, equipment room) to the gym is considered part of “on-site supervision”.
    • For example, during a track and field practice, some students are involved in high jump, some in relay, and others in distance running. For the relay, students are participating on the track/field and can be seen by the coach.