Swim Test Rules & Guidelines
OURCs Rules
It is the responsibility of clubs to ensure that their club has safe practices, including requiring all rowers and coxes to be sufficiently proficient at swimming. The rules laid down by OURCs and COUR are designed to assist clubs in best practice but will be enforced. OURCs insists on all event participants having passed an OURCs swim test.
The rules are summarised as follows (see 2.4.a. for further details):
- Everyone must be tested at the first available opportunity.
- After an athlete's 5th session on the water, they must pass a swim test before conducting further water outings.
- Upon failure of a swim test, that athlete is prohibited from water outings until they subsequently pass a swim test.
- Swim tests remain valid for six years.
Any breach of the latter two rules will be treated as a Major Transgression, and it is the responsibility of the clubs to check the pass/fail lists published by the RowSab after each swim test session. If you have any queries about the above rules, contact the Rowing Sabbatical Officer at sabbatical@ourcs.co.uk.
Swim tests are valid for 6 years. After that, in order to either row or cox, athletes must sign a declaration with their college that they can still swim, though they are encouraged to retake the test if reasonably possible.
In order to race once the initial OURCs swim test has expired, the swim test must be retaken. However, for those who have previously passed an OURCs swim test only, this may be done with an external reputable swimming instructor, who must email the Sabbatical Officer stating their qualification, that the person in question has completed the three elements of the swim test with them, and the date of the test. The Sabbatical Officer can advise on any queries.
Declaration Form
As per COUR advice, clubs should obtain some form of evidence as to swimming competence prior to allowing individuals onto the water.
It is recognised that obliging individuals to undertake a swimming test prior to any taster sessions is impractical and not necessary. Nevertheless, clubs should carefully consider what evidence of swimming competence they ought to obtain before tests can be carried out and what safety provisions they can put in place during that period.
Asking potential athletes to sign a form stating their swimming competence is the reccomended means of obtaining such evidence. A template form is available
here.
COUR Advice to University and College Rowing Clubs
- Advice, received by members of COUR from British Rowing’s Water Safety Advisor and the University’s Legal Services department, makes it clear that clubs are responsible for developing a culture of safety in all activities associated with rowing, and that they should consider and take into account the guidance provided British Rowing's RowSafe document (see http://www.britishrowing.org/row-safe).
- Best practice requires clubs to obtain some form of evidence as to swimming competence prior to allowing individuals onto the open water in rowing boats. However, it is also recognised that obliging individuals to undertake a swimming test prior to any taster sessions is impractical and not necessary. Nevertheless, clubs should carefully consider what evidence of swimming competence they ought to obtain before tests can be carried out and what safety provisions they can put in place during that period.
- The recommendation of COUR is that clubs undertake the following:
- Clubs should obtain written declarations from individual members that they can swim to the standards set out in the RowSafe guidelines.
- Individuals should be encouraged to undertake such swim tests as soon as possible.
- Life-jackets, ideally those designed specifically for rowing, should be available to those who are not sure about their swimming ability.
- Clubs should consider special safety measures for those who have not yet been swim-tested, for example, that they should only go out in eights, in green flag conditions, with an experienced cox and with a bank-rider carrying a throw-line. This should be part of the Club Safety Plan.
- A special risk-assessment be carried out relating to the safety of those who have not yet been swim-tested.
- You may send anyone, irrespective of their declaration, to a swim test; but if it is obvious that they cannot swim, please don't send them.
- Club officers must keep a record of anyone who fails a swim test, and forbid them from rowing.
- Separate guidelines apply for under-18s – please email the OURCs committee for special precautions in this situation. NB: it is the responsibility of clubs to check whether any of their members are under 18, rather than that of under-18s to declare their age to the club.
COUR is the Council for Oxford University Rowing and comprises representatives of the University Sports Department, OUBC, the college clubs, college Finance and Estate Bursars, the British Rowing Thames Regional Rowing Council and OURCs. It exists to oversee the safe practice of rowing within the University, and therefore has the authority to change the OURCs rules in the interests of safety.
Swim Test Booking & Procedure
A brief guide intended for those taking a swim test is avaiable
here.
Location
Swim tests take place in the Rosenblatt Pool at the University's Iffley Road Sports Centre.
Booking
Clubs will be emailed via the OURCs mailing lists once booking for swim tests is open and can book them via SuperSaaS, a guide to which is available
here.
Particularly in Michaelmas Term, there may restrictions on how many tests can be booked per club: follow the advice in the email. Bookings can be amended or cancelled by contacting the RowSab (sabbatical@ourcs.co.uk), up until the cancellation deadline they have set, generally 6pm the day before.
Pricing
Swim tests are charged directly to the boat club. The price is determined by the cost of pool hire multiplied by the proportion of the total tests in a given period, generally a term, which were taken by the club. I.e. if pool hire is £1000 and 500 tests are taken, the unit cost will be £2. If St Digworth's College BC take 50 tests, they will be charged £100 (1000 * 50 / 500).
The Test
You will need to bring with you
- a valid Bodcard if a current student (any photo-ID if not a current student);
- shorts or leggings, and a t-shirt with sleeves (must be loose fitting, no vests or sleeveless tops) to wear during the test;
- a towel, dry change of clothes and bag for the wet clothes after the test.
You may wear a swimming costume underneath the clothing. White clothes tend to go semi-transparent when wet.
You may not wear goggles of any kind for the test.
You must sign in at the OURCs desk opposite the main reception for the result of your test to be recorded.
At present the test consists of
- (wearing a t-shirt, and shorts or leggings as a minimum);
- swimming 50m (any stroke excluding backstroke);
- treading water for 2 minutes: when treading water you are expected to have your full head above the water and have your airways open; and
- a surface dive and swim for 5m fully submerged under water.
All testing is carried out by qualified personnel.
Failing a Swim Test
- If a rower/cox fails, then from that moment onwards they are not permitted to be on the water. This means that any further usage of their 5-session allowance before being tested is not permitted. They are NOT permitted to be on the water even with lifejackets or buoyancy aids.
- Someone will fail if they fail to complete any part of the test above to the satisfaction of the tester. The two most common causes of failure are failing to tread water for 2 minutes with their airways clear and not being completely submerged when performing the 5m underwater swim.
- Treading water: people tend to keep far too little of their head above water to be confident of them doing so on a river; fatigue is a common factor and people may wish to regain some fitness prior to the test.
- Underwater swim: please remember that a surface dive does not allow for pushing off a wall and is conducted in the middle of the pool. Many fail to submerge themselves properly before beginning the 5m swim.