What are Distance Awards, and does one mean my child is safe in deep water?
Rule- England
- Swim England
- Learn to Swim
- Swimming lessons
- Stages 1-7
- 2026
- Parents
- Ages 4-11
Distance Awards (Rainbow Distance Awards) sit alongside the stages and can be gained at the same time as a stage or in between stages. They show that a child can swim from A to B without stopping and without stress.
- Distances run from 5m up to 1500m (for example 5m, 10m, 20m, 25m, 50m, 100m, 200m and longer).
- Swimmers may touch the side and end of the pool to turn, but not the bottom.
- Stage 7 links to Rainbow Distance awards for 50m and 100m, and 25m of each stroke.
No. A Distance Award is not an indication that a swimmer is safe in deep water.
Added 21 Oct 2026