Why You Fear Lifeguard Tryouts—And Why You Should

The role of a lifeguard is not just a job—it is a responsibility, a duty, and a commitment to public safety. Every lifeguard employer, whether it be a private company, a municipal agency, or a beach patrol, must ensure that their staff members are fully qualified to save lives. This is why tryouts exist. Yet, time and time again, we see individuals balk at the idea of tryouts, claiming they are unnecessary, unfair, or even discriminatory.

If you are someone who dreads the idea of a tryout, you need to ask yourself one very serious question: Why?

The Brutal Truth: If You Complain About Tryouts, You Already Know You’ll Fail

It’s no secret that the American Red Cross and many other lifeguard certification programs have shifted their priorities from skill competency to profit margins. Certification mills exist to push candidates through, often passing individuals who have no business holding a lifeguard certification. Instructors know that as long as they hand out certifications, the money keeps flowing.

The result? Lifeguards who can’t swim, can’t perform a proper rescue, and who put lives at risk rather than save them. The industry is now flooded with unqualified candidates who think that holding a piece of paper means they deserve a job. It does not.

This is why pre-employment tryouts are non-negotiable at Golden State Lifeguards. Anyone who opposes tryouts is essentially admitting that they are unprepared and unqualified.

Tryouts Are the Bare Minimum

Lifeguard tryouts are not a hazing ritual. They are not about filtering people out for arbitrary reasons. They exist to ensure that those entrusted with public safety can actually perform under pressure. A standard tryout typically includes:

  • A swim test to evaluate endurance and stroke efficiency.
  • A timed rescue simulation to gauge response speed and competency.
  • A submersion recovery drill to measure underwater capabilities.
  • A first aid and CPR evaluation to confirm lifesaving knowledge.

If any of these sound daunting to you, then you should not be applying for a lifeguard position. Lifeguards must be strong swimmers, quick thinkers, and physically capable. If you can’t complete a 300-yard swim without stopping, how do you expect to reach a drowning victim in time? If you struggle with retrieving a 10-pound brick from the bottom of a pool, how will you handle a 180-pound unconscious adult in distress?

We Do Not Subscribe to DEI or Lowered Standards

The era of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) hiring quotas in safety-critical jobs is over. This social experiment failed miserably because it prioritized appearances over actual competency. Golden State Lifeguards does not hire based on identity politics—we hire based on skill, professionalism, and the ability to perform under pressure. Lives are at stake, and we refuse to gamble with safety.

If you want to be a lifeguard, you must earn it!

How to Stop Making Excuses and Start Training

If you’re reading this and feeling called out, you have two choices:

  • Continue making excuses and remain unqualified.
  • Put in the work and become a competent lifeguard.

If you choose the latter, here’s how to start preparing for a real tryout:

  • Improve Your Swimming Skills
  • Swim at least five days a week to build endurance.
  • Work on freestyle, breaststroke, and sidestroke techniques.
  • Train with intervals (e.g., sprint for 50 yards, rest 10 seconds, repeat).

Build Strength for Rescues

  • Incorporate strength training (especially core and upper body workouts).
  • Practice towing a partner in the water.
  • Get comfortable retrieving weighted objects from 10+ feet underwater.

Master First Aid and CPR

  • Take a high-quality CPR/AED and first aid course.
  • Practice rescue breathing and compressions until they are second nature.
  • Learn how to respond to spinal injuries, seizures, and other common emergencies.

Develop a Strong Work Ethic

  • Stop looking for shortcuts.
  • Take accountability for your own preparation.
  • Accept that lifeguarding is a job for those who can handle the pressure—not those looking for an easy paycheck.

The Bottom Line: Step Up or Step Aside

Golden State Lifeguards has one of the highest standards in the industry because we take this profession seriously. We are not here to babysit unqualified lifeguards or cater to those who believe participation trophies are acceptable in lifesaving professions.

If you know deep down that you cannot pass a tryout, don’t waste your time—or ours—until you can. If you want to work with us, show up prepared, skilled, and ready to perform.

Lives depend on it. And we will accept nothing less.

Bookmark the permalink.

Comments are closed.