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Lifesaving is the competitive sport of the Royal Dutch Lifeguard Federation. It is a sport practiced both in the swimming pool and in open water or the sea, with individual events and relays. As a trainer, you teach children of all ages the various events they are allowed to participate in competitively at their age. In the swimming pool, you teach them to:
- Swim well with and without fins.
- Retrieve rings or manikins from the bottom of the pool.
- Transport manikins while tightly sealed in a torpedo.
- Swim under obstacles.
- In relay races, you teach athletes to pass rings or manikins to each other.
Outside, there are several events:
- on the beach, such as beach sprints and beach flags (see photo),
- as well as a large number of events in the surf or at the water's edge.
- You teach children how to navigate boards,
- as they get older, how to use a ski (unsinkable kayak).
- You also teach children how to swim in the waves.
In short, it's a very diverse and challenging program. As a trainer 2, you primarily focus on the basic techniques of swimming, boarding, and technical skills such as securing a manikin in a torpedo. You teach children the components of the competitive sport that they are allowed to participate in at their age. As a trainer, you teach them to prioritize safety for themselves and others, as well as teamwork, because even in individual events, assistance is often required.