Red Cross Lifeguard Certification is available through the Costick Center and includes Lifeguarding/CPR/AED/First Aid. Certifications are valid for two years. Classes consist of online and classroom coursework. Class participants must be on time for all class sessions. Employment opportunities are available with the City of Farmington Hills for Lifeguards/Swim Instructors with outstanding course completion. Please check your email for updates from the instructors ([email protected]) after registering and leading up to your class start date. The instructors will send you the link and instructions for the online coursework that will be completed before the start of class.

Meeting time and days:

-Friday 3:30pm-9:00pm
-Saturday 10:00am-6:30pm
-Sunday 10:00am-6:30pm

New Certification - Participants:
Must be a minimum of 15 years of age by the class completion date.
Must complete the online course prior to the in-person session.
Must attend and participate in all scheduled class dates and times.
Must pass all course prerequisite skills, including Swim and Brick retrieval.
Must pass the final timed scenario, team scenario, and final written exam.

Red Cross Lifeguard Certification is available through the Costick Center and includes Lifeguarding/CPR/AED/First Aid. Certifications are valid for two years. Classes consist of online and classroom coursework. Class participants must be on time for all class sessions. Employment opportunities are available with the City of Farmington Hills for Lifeguards/Swim Instructors with outstanding course completion. Please check your email for updates from the instructors ([email protected]) after registering and leading up to your class start date. The instructors will send you the link and instructions for the online course work that will be completed before the start of class.
Friday 4pm-8:30pm
Sunday 10:00am-6:30pm

Re-Certification - Discounted $100 less than a new certification. Review and test out to renew your current certification. To qualify for re-certification lifeguards must present their current certification on the first day of class. Certification must not be expired more than 30 days.

Lifeguarding Instructor Candidate:

Course Purpose:
The purpose of the American Red Cross Lifeguarding Instructor course is to train instructor candidates
to teach the basic-level courses and modules in the American Red Cross Lifeguarding program.

Course Objectives:
It is your responsibility as an instructor trainer to see that instructor candidates meet the objectives
listed at the beginning of each lesson in the Lifeguarding Instructor Trainer’s Guide. The following are
high-level program objectives.

Course Eligibility Requirements:
Instructor candidates must:
■ Be at least 17 years old on or before the final scheduled session of the Lifeguarding Instructor course.
■ Possess a current basic-level certification in American Red Cross Lifeguarding (Including Deep Water) with CPR/AED for Professional Rescuers and First Aid.
■ Obtain all required instructor and participant course materials before starting the course.
■ Successfully complete the online session of the Lifeguarding Instructor course prior to the precourse session.
■ Successfully complete the prerequisite skill assessment scenario to continue in the course.
■ Failure to meet any of the prerequisites prohibits an instructor candidate from continuing in the instructor course. The candidate must take the full Lifeguarding Instructor course at a later date after they are able to meet all of the prerequisites.
Course Completion:
To successfully complete the course and receive certification, you must:
■ Complete the Lifeguarding Instructor Recertification course online session.
■ Complete the basic-level Lifeguarding Blended Learning course online session.
■ Attend the entire course and participate in the in-person session.
■ Complete the skill practice and polish session, demonstrating skills to the standard.
■ Conduct one teaching assignment as part of the skill practice and polish session.
■ Pass the Lifeguarding Instructor Recertification Course written exam with a minimum score of 80 percent

Lifeguarding Instructor Recertification Candidate:

Course Purpose:
The purpose of the Lifeguarding Instructor/Instructor Trainer Recertification course is to give instructors
and instructor trainers the opportunity to review the course knowledge and skills within a formal course
setting in order to maintain their American Red Cross Lifeguarding Instructor or Instructor Trainer
certification. Successfully completing this course is the only method for maintaining certification as an
American Red Cross Lifeguarding instructor or instructor trainer.

Candidate Eligibility Requirements:
To participate in the Lifeguarding Instructor/Instructor Trainer Recertification course, candidates must
provide proof of a current (or expired by no more than 1 year) American Red Cross Lifeguarding
Instructor or Lifeguarding Instructor Trainer certification. Instructors and instructor trainers whose
certification was revoked or withdrawn for any reason you are not eligible to participate.


Course Objectives:
During the in-person session of the Lifeguarding Instructor Recertification course, you will be required to complete a skill practice and polish session. You will be assigned one skill or category of skills to teach to your peers. In addition, you will practice and demonstrate instructor-level proficiency in selected skills and two scenarios. This means you should be able to perform the skills at the standard (or near the standard and can correct quickly to the standard with minimal remediation) during the skill practice and polish. Prior to attending the in-person session, you should prepare for the skill practice and polish by reviewing the appropriate videos, skill sheets and Skill Chart and Skill Assessment Tools from the basic-level Lifeguarding program (r. 24).

Course Completion:
To successfully complete the course and receive certification, you must:
■ Complete the Lifeguarding Instructor Recertification course online session.
■ Complete the basic-level Lifeguarding Blended Learning course online session.
■ Attend the entire course and participate in the in-person session.
■ Complete the skill practice and polish session, demonstrating skills to the standard.
■ Conduct one teaching assignment as part of the skill practice and polish session.
■ Pass the Lifeguarding Instructor Recertification Course written exam with a minimum score of 80 percent

Option to Recertify Basic Lifeguarding Certification.

Parent Infant (3m-12m)
Adult participation is required. This class is intended for ages 3 months to 12 months. with an adult present. The class is designed to be a fun and interactive way to introduce your child to the aquatic environment with the use of songs and activities. Participating adults will learn holding positions, cues, floating, scooping and arm/leg coordination techniques. This class will include brief water safety lessons and tips for parents and grandparents. Swim diapers are required in order to participate in this class.

Parent-Tot (12m-24m):
Adult participation is required for this class. This class is intended for ages 12 months to 2 years with an adult present. This course is similar to Swimfants with added skills to challenge older children. The class is designed to be a fun and interactive way to introduce your child to the aquatic environment with the use of songs and activities. Participating adults will learn holding positions, cues, floating, scooping and arm/leg coordination techniques. This class will include brief water safety lessons and tips for parents and grandparents. Swim diapers are required in order to participate in this class.

Parent-Child (2yr-4yr):
Adult participation is required. This class is intended for ages 2 years to 4 years, with an adult present. This class is designed for preschool-age students who are not ready to independently participate in an instructor-led class. Parents and preschoolers will work on water adjustment, breath holding, front/back floats, combined stroke movements, waiting their turn on the wall, and introduction to instructional floatation devices. Students must either be fully potty-trained or wear a swim diaper in order to participate in this class.

Preschool students ages 3 to 5 years will work on water adjustment, breath holding, front/back floats and combined stroke movements. Students must either be potty-trained or wear a swim diaper while participating in this class.

Preschool students age 3 to 5 years will work on water adjustment, breath holding, front/back floats, and combined stroke movements. This class builds upon Preschool Level 1 with added skills to challenge advanced students.

Preschool students age 3 to 5 years will work on water adjustment, breath holding, front/back floats, and combined stroke movements. This class builds upon Preschool Level 2 with added skills to challenge advanced students.

Preschool students ages 3 to 5 years will work on advanced skills, front crawl and back crawl. Diving, treading water, breaststroke kick and rotary breathing are introduced in this course. Students must be able to jump in without goggles, swim at least 15 feet and tread water for 15 seconds in 5 ft or greater depths independently!

*Prerequisite: Students are required to pass a shallow water swim competency test in order to register for this class. Please contact pool office to schedule an in-person assessment before registering.

Youth Level 1 students learn swim basics including; pool safety, water adjustment, breath holding, floats, glides and jumps. Instructors will focus on introducing elementary backstroke, front crawl and back crawl. This class will be similar to Youth Beginner with added skills for more advanced students.

Youth Level 2 students focus on the catch, pull and recovery phases of front crawl and back crawl. Diving, treading water, streamline, breaststroke kick and bilateral breathing are introduced. Students must be able to perform Front Float, Back Float, Tread water for 10-15 seconds and Swim 15 ft Front Crawl, Backstroke and Elementary Backstroke independently before registering for this class.

Youth 3 students focus on improving core strokes for 25yards of the pool. Students will learn advanced treading and stroke techniques including: breaststroke and butterfly. In addition, students will be introduced to flip turns, stroke counting, rotary breathing, and competitive starts.

*Students must be able to swim 12yards of front crawl, backstroke, elementary backstroke, perform breaststroke kick with flexed feet, and tread water in the deep end for 1 minute independently before registering for this class level. (Note: Goggles are required for this level and must not cover the nose.)

Youth Level 4 students focuses on mastering all strokes including full Butterfly, flip turns on wall, and starts. Teachers will reinforce proper technique for all phases of each competitive stroke. Students will also learn circle swimming, using pace clock for timing and distance.

*Student must be able to tread water 1min, Front Crawl 25yd with rotary breathing, Backstroke 25yd with straight arms and shoulder rotation, Breaststroke 25yd with flex feet and glide, do a Kneeling dive into a glide, swim into a flip on front, and be able to perform the deep water competency test. (Note: Goggles are required for this level and must not cover the nose.)

Coaching sessions focus on stroke performance, conditioning, and preparation for a swim team atmosphere. Swimmers must be have successfully completed Youth-4 stroke performance to be eligible or be able to swim 50 yards of Front crawl with Bilateral breathing, 50 yards Backstroke with rolling shoulders and proper timing and placement of the arms, 50 yard Breaststroke with 3 sec. glide and flex feet, 25 yard Butterfly with proper timing of breath and 2 kicks, flip turn into wall and glide into streamline, tread water for 1 min without hands, and complete a shallow-angle dive into streamline dolphin kick. (Note: A water bottle, 2 low profile pairs of competitive goggles, swim cap for hair, and competitive swimsuit are required, One-piece thin strap cross back for girls and jammer for boys. All swimmers must be on time, attentive and follow all instructions.)

Coaching sessions focus on competitive skills and working towards Swim Team proficiency and endurance. Swimmers must have previously participated in the Crocs program and receive a personal invitation after evaluation form the Head Coach 248-473-1834. Evaluation includes successfully swimming 75 yards of Front crawl with Bilateral breathing flip turns, 75 yards of Backstroke with rolling shoulder and proper time and arms and placement with flip turn, 75 yards of Breaststroke with 2 sec. glide and open turns, 50 yards of Butterfly with proper timing of (breath every other stroke) and 2 kicks, tread water for 2 min without hands, brick retrieval for deep, and complete a competitive dive. (Note: A water bottle, 2 low profile pairs of competitive goggles, swim cap for hair, and competitive swimsuit is required, One-piece thin strap cross back for girls and jammer for boys.) All swimmers must be on time, be attentive and follow instructions.

Coaching sessions focus on advanced competitive skills and perform at Swim Team proficiency. *Must be able to continuously swim 100 yards of each competitive stroke using proper starts and turns. Swimmers must have previously participated in the Crocs program and/or receive a personal invitation for the Head Coach 248-473-1811.