To Register for Jr. Guard Prep @ Palos Verdes High School: click here.

About Jr. Lifeguard Prep

Jr. Lifeguards is a program offered through the LA County Lifeguards and BeachSports; ZAP is not affiliated with either of these organizations but we offer conditioning classes to help non-club swimmers prepare to take the test required by both LA Co and Beach Sports.

JG Prep is for kids ages 9 and up who already know how to swim but who will benefit from extra conditioning and stroke refinement prior to taking the swim test. Swimmers are expected to be able to swim 4 lengths of the pool freestyle (aka front crawl) without assistance on the first day. JG Prep is NOT Learn-To Swim. If your swimmer needs additional help with basic skills such as proper kicking or breathing to the side, we can arrange for some private instruction with a coach for an additional fee.

Testing

LA County requires swimmers to swim 100 yards of freestyle in the following times:

For 11 and under (C's): 1:50

For 12-13 (B'S): 1:40

For 14 and older (A's): 1:30

LA County 2023 Test Dates:

Swim Test #1 – Saturday, March 25 @ Mira Costa High School

Swim Test #2 – Sunday, April 2 @ Palisades Charter High School

Swim Test #3 – Saturday, April 15 @ Torrance Aquatic Center

Swim Test #4 – Sunday, April 16 @ Greater Whittier Regional Aquatic Center*

*Morning only

BeachSports Jr. Guards has the requirement of 100 yards swum in 1:50 or 2:30 and treading water continually (head up) for 5 minutes regardless of age.

Testing Locations

ZAP is an approved BeachSports testing site. Tests are conducted by appointment only, and are free to members enrolled in a ZAP preparation course. However, for the LA County program, swimmers must pass the test at one of the LA County testing sites on one of the five scheduled days.

For information about LA County junior lifeguards http://www.fire.lacounty.gov/lifeguard/lifeguard-youth-programs/