Life Saving Sport

At Surf Life Saving GB, Life Saving Sport is both a celebration of skill and a development pathway that builds real-world water safety capability. Drawing on skills used in rescues and coastal operations, life saving sport challenges athletes across a range of disciplines, from the controlled power of the pool to the dynamic unpredictability of the ocean.

Sport Disciplines Overview

Below is a snapshot of the competitive disciplines within SLSGB life saving sport. Click to explore the key elements of each discipline.

Pool

Ocean

Beach

IRB (Inshore Rescue Boat)

Surf Boat

See it in action

Watch the video below to see the Surf Boats in action at the National Championships.

Age Groups & Competition Structure

Life saving sport at SLSGB is structured across defined age categories, each with tailored competition opportunities:

  • Nippers (7–13) – introductory engagement, fun-focused racing
  • Youth (13–18/19) – growing competitive engagement, pathway into senior sport
  • Open – peak performance, including qualification for Team GB
  • Masters (30+) – competitive opportunities for experienced athletes

Each age group competes in events structured to be safe, inclusive and appropriate for physical development. Athletes accumulate points for individual and team performance at club, regional and national events.

People cheering on a beach

“We know from our insight into the social value of sport that we prevent 3.2 million cases of disease every year because of people being active, and we have 27% fewer sick days.”

Tim Hollingsworth, Sport England

Results & Past Competitions

View recent competition outcomes, standings and historical performance data across formats.

View Results

Become a Trainer

Interested in taking a training role within sport pathways? Explore coaching awards that support athlete development and competition readiness.

Become a Trainer

Be an Official

Support fair and safe competition as an official, learn about officiating roles and how to get involved.

Being an Official

Pool Discipline

Competition in a pool environment translates lifesaving principles into structured, measurable events. Athletes race against the clock and each other using swimming and rescue skills.

With a dive entry the competitor swims the course passing under the immersed obstacles to touch the finish wall of the pool.

Each competitor completes a dive entry followed by swimming the course passing under immersed obstacles, on touching the turn wall the remaining 3 competitors complete the course until the final competitor touches the finish wall of the pool.

With a dive start the competitor swims 25m freestyle then dives to recover a submerged manikin to the surface within 5m of the pick-up line, the competitor then carries the manikin to touch the finish wall of the pool.

With a dive start the competitor swims 50m freestyle wearing fins and then dives to recover a submerged manikin to the surface within 10m of the turn wall, the competitor then carries the manikin to touch the finish wall of the pool.

With a dive start competitors swim 50m freestyle with fins and a rescue tube. After touching the turn wall and within the 5m pick-up zone the competitor fixes the rescue tube correctly around the manikin and tows it to the finish where the competitor touches the finish wall of the pool.

With a dive start, the competitors swim 50m freestyle to turn, dive, and swim underwater to a submerged manikin located 17.5m from the turn wall. The competitor surfaces the manikin within the 5m pick-up line, and then carries it the remaining distance to touch the finish wall. Competitors may breathe during the turn, but not after their feet leave the turn wall until they surface with the manikin.

With a dive start on an acoustic signal, the competitor swims 75m freestyle and then dives to recover a submerged manikin. The competitor surfaces the manikin within the 5m pick-up zone and carries it to the turn wall. After touching the wall, the competitor releases the manikin. In the water, the competitor dons fins and rescue tube and swims 50m freestyle. After touching the wall, and within the 5m pick-up zone, the competitor fixes the rescue tube correctly around a manikin and tows it to the finish to touch the finish wall of the pool.

One competitor throws a weighted line to a fellow team member located in the water on the near side of a rigid crossbar located at a 12m distance. The competitor pulls the team member back to the finish wall of the pool.

The 1st team member has a dive start on an acoustic signal and completes 50m freestyle without fins, when they touch the wall the 2nd team member with a dive start completes 50m freestyle with fins, when they touch the wall the 3rd team member with a dive start swims 50m freestyle towing a rescue tube, when they touch the turn wall the 4th competitor already in the water wearing fins (with at least one hand on the turn wall) dons the rescue tube harness and tows the 3rd team member 50m to complete the race.

Four competitors in turn carry a manikin approximately 25m each.

The Simulated Emergency Response Competition tests the initiative, judgement, knowledge, and abilities of four lifesavers who, acting as a team (under the direction of a team leader) apply lifesaving skills in a simulated emergency situation unknown to them prior to the start. This competition is judged within a 2-minute time limit.

Ocean Discipline

Ocean competition brings surf skills, timing and strategy into open water. Conditions vary with tide, swell and wind, demanding a blend of tactical skill and physical power.

From the start line on the beach competitors run into the surf (sea) and swim around a course marked by buoys, returning to shore to cross the finish line marked by flags on the beach.

This is the same event as the surf race, but is completed in teams of 3 with the overall positions of each swimmer being added together to determine the finishing position of the team.

At the start signal, competitors enter the water, launch their boards, and paddle the course marked by buoys, returning to the beach to run across the finish line.

Following the same approach as the board race teams of 3 take part running and tagging the next team member until the 3rd completes the course and crosses the finish line.

Competitors enter the water and steady their skis in line in knee-deep water about 1.5 m apart. (Competitors must obey directions from the starter or check starter concerning ski alignment at the start). On the starting signal, competitors paddle their skis around the course marked by buoys and return to finish when any part of the ski (ridden, gripped or carried) crosses the in-water finish line.

Following the same approach as the ski race the teams consist of 3 members who must complete the course tagging the next team member until the 3rd completes the course and crosses the finish line.

Competitors cover a 1400m (approx) course that includes a swim leg, a board leg and a ski leg. Each individual discipline follows its own set rules and governing components (surf races, board races and surf ski races).

This relay sees teams of 3 (1 swimmer, 1 board paddler and 1surf ski paddler) cover the course in a sequence of legs determined by a draw at the start of each competition.

This is a pairs event with 1 competitor being the ‘victim’ and the other a rescue tube swimmer. To start the victim swims to a designated buoy and then signals to the 2nd team member (tube swimmer) who then rescues them. The event finishes when the first pair crosses the finish line.

This is a paris event with 1 competitor being the ‘victim’ and the other having a rescue board. To start the victim swims to a designated buoy and then signals the 2nd team member (with rescue board) who then picks them up. They then both paddle to shore and cross the finish line on the beach with the board.

From the start line, competitors run to pass around the turning flag and enter the water to swim out to and around the buoys. Competitors swim back to the beach to again run around the turning flag before running to the finish line.

Beach Discipline

Beach sport translates lifesaving skills ashore. Athletes sprint, flag, jump and team up to master competitive formats that demand speed, agility and teamwork.

Competitors take positions in their allotted lanes. At the starting signal, competitors race the 90m course to the finish line. The finish is judged on the chest crossing the finish line. Competitors must finish the event on their feet and in an upright position.

In this event teams of 4 runners (3 in Masters) compete in baton relay fashion over a 90m course. To start, competitors take positions in their allotted lane at each end of the course. After the start each competitor completes a leg of the course passing the baton to the next runner. All competitors must finish their leg of the event on their feet and in an upright position.

The Beach Run is a distance event run over 500m – 2000m depending on the age of the competitor.

This event carries some detailed regulations, it is a highly competitive, tactical and very physical event where every advantage possible is taken and the outcome is based on split seconds where tiny details can make the win or lose difference.

From a prone starting position competitors rise, turn and race to grab a baton (beach flag) buried upright in the sand approximately 20m away. With fewer batons than competitors, those who fail to grab a baton are eliminated. This continues until there is a winner.

Competitors take their allotted positions, a minimum of 1.5m apart at the start line, face down with their toes on the start line with heels together, hands on top of each other with fingertips to wrists and head up. Elbows should be 90 degrees to the body’s midline and hips and stomach must be in contact with the sand. The body’s midline should be 90 degrees to the start line. Competitors may level, flatten, and compress their starting area but no scooping of the sand or digging, or digging in of the feet is permitted.

IRB (Inshore Rescue Boat) Discipline

The IRB discipline combines team coordination with boat handling under pressure. Crews race over course markers, negotiate turns and execute precision skills.

At the start of this event the IRB leaves the beach and proceeds to a designated buoy, when it reaches the buoy the crew dives into the water with a rescue tube, swimming to the patient who they then tow back to the waiting IRB. The IRB then returns to shore where the driver leaves the boat and sprints to the finish line.

At the start of this event the IRB leaves the beach and proceeds to a designated buoy where they pick up a patient. The IRB then returns to shore where the driver leaves the boat and sprints to the finish line.

This follows the same approach as the single rescue event, but when crossing the finish line the driver returns to the IRB and makes a second pick up before returning to cross the finish line.

This follows the same approach as the mass rescue event but this time on crossing the finish line the driver tags a second driver and crew who then return to the IRB and makes a second pick up before returning to cross the finish line.

Surf Boat Discipline

Surf boat racing is a powerful team discipline rooted in surf tradition. Crews of rowers and sweep work in unison to tackle waves, negotiate breakers and race to the line.

The surf boat discipline covers a single event. A boat crew consisting of 5 competitors is needed, 4 of the members are rowers and the 5th (referred to as the sweep) is responsible for controlling the boat by a sweep oar. A crew must start each race with all 5 competitors but at the finish only 3 crew members are required to be in control of the boat.

See it in action: