The RLSS has developed a number of training and assessing qualifications for their wide range of awards. There are also a few newer awards to introduce leadership and teaching skills to youth members. If more information on an award is available, the award name will be underlined – click on the award name to access the extra information.
Young Leader – This programme is for those aged 12+ and contains a number of practical and theory sessions that give the candidate the opportunity to develop their leadership skills. The programme can be taken in lifesaving clubs or within schools. After the practical and theory sessions, the candidates then contribute to the planning and delivery of a practical event e.g. a Rookie Festival.
Assistant Lifesaving Instructor – This award is for those aged 14+ who are interested in helping out teaching lifesaving and life support within their club. The award covers how to run a training session and how to use games to facilitate learning. This award is not a pre-requisite for obtaining Trainer Assessor status.
Rookie Instructor – This award is open to those aged 16+. The award allows those who hold it to deliver the Rookie Lifeguard programme and order supplies required for it. The award is open to a wide range of people from different teaching backgrounds and for those with little or no teaching experience; there is a short training course.
Trainer Assessor (Lifesaving, Pool & Beach) – The Trainer Assessor (TA) qualification for those aged 18+ and allows them to teach and assess a number of different awards and qualifications. There are a number of different types of TA’s: a Lifesaving TA covers most of the lifesaving awards with an option to become an open water TA, a Pool TA covers NPLQ training and assessment and a Beach TA covers NBLQ training and assessment. It is possible to hold more than one TA discipline.
Mentor (Lifesaving, Pool & Beach) – The Mentor qualification is for those who are experienced TA’s in their discipline(s), who want to help new probationary TA’s. All new TA’s are assigned a mentor to help them learn more about training and assessing and to receive personal guidance to becoming a TA and beyond.
National Trainer Assessor (Lifesaving, Pool & Beach) – A National Trainer Assessor or NTA is responsible for training new candidates in becoming a TA in their chosen discipline. NTA’s are highly experienced TA’s and Mentors with recognised teaching and assessing qualifications.
