Does my child have to pass a swim test before rowing?

Question

Accepted Answer

USRowing's Safety Guidelines say all athletes, rowers and coxswains alike, must pass a supervised swim test or complete the club's swim test verification form before rowing. At minimum, athletes should be able to float and/or tread water for 10 minutes and put on a life jacket while floating. A lifeguard should run the test, not the coach. The coach watches and notes weak swimmers. An athlete who can't swim must wear a PFD (life jacket) in the shell at all times. Single scullers should also pass a flip test: launch, turn, capsize the boat, climb back in, and return to the dock. The guidelines also ask families to: See their doctor before their child starts or returns to rowing Tell the coach about any medical condition, with a note from the doctor describing any limits Make sure any needed medication, such as an inhaler, goes in the boat with the coxswain The exact test is set by each club, so it may ask for more than the minimum.