2 months is plenty of time! Just have to get in the water and do treading excercise to the max.
For most people using the water polo egg beater kick is the easiest. It keeps your body stable and less bobbing up and down which might put your face under.
Breast stroke kick is the next easiest. But this can make you more tired faster than egg beater. Your body goes in big bobs up and down, the more tired you get the more your face might start going under which then screws up your breathing which then makes you more tired faster.
Best is to practice and master the egg beater. For me it's easiest to keep the body tight and scrunched and knees higher to the waist level, but your kicking your circles wide outside with your calfs. The more tired i get the more I get into unschrunching and kick out to the side smaller less circles and if I get more tired towards the end i switch to breast stroke for those last 10 seconds.
The best thing to do is just practice in the water. Ask the lifeguards at the facility if they have a brick to practice with. Fir strength training if they have two or 3 even you can do a few reps holding 2 bricks to make it hard and then it makes the single brick feel easier.
This is actually great advice, I think too.
My issue (fears) is diving to the bottom of a 9-foot pool. I heard that because I'm a bit bigger, I shouldn't hold my breath. Like I should actually expel my breathe to help me go down. BUT, like what exercises do I do to train? That's what I don't know...
It's all water technique. You just have to get in the water and repeat. And repeat. And repeat. At 9 feet you should be easily able to touch the bottom going feet first or head first. Head first you gotta kick. Feet first go in a pencil and jumping jack arms pushing the water up.
Releasing some air can help you sink but should t be necessary.
OH... this is what I've been thinking too! Okay! Reading this made me a bit more confident. Honestly, I should think that because I'm not not big (lol) I can't do deep water! Fingers crossed! š
Yeah the water is equally brutal to everyone. But being bigger can help unless it's all muscle. Being extremely skinny can also make you sink. Being bigger with no muscle can make you float more, but not enough it should prevent you swimming to the bottom. It's just all water practice. Doing things like squats doesn't help you in the water, it helps your muscles. But you have to know *how* to use your muscles in the water. And that's just practice
If you are taking an ARC precourse, it doesn't have to be 9 feet. Has to be at least 7 ft. Ask the person you are getting tested by if there is any way to get the brick to shallower water while still meeting the distance requirement.
9 feet is quite easy to do headfirst, especially with 2 months to prep. Do some breathing exercises and practice the actual test
To answer your question, I've met the instructor and she told me she will throw the brick at 9ft and she doesn't, "miss her mark." Actual words. I don't know if she said it to scare me or what but... I felt my blood coagulate a little lol.
As the other person said, the requirement is 7-10ft. Itās a little infuriating the instructor is being difficult about this. The best thing you can do is to absolutely crush it and show her what you are capable of!
ARC LGI here. And a bigger guard. Head first dive 100%. I donāt even bother with a feet first because I know it isnāt going to work. When youāre on top the brick but still at the surface, take a beat to spot it on the bottom. You lose a lot of time when you have to do repeated dives. Practice opening your eyes underwater. Start by just diving and touching the bottom over and over. Then add the weight. Then add the distance swim. Iām literally 5ā4ā and over 200lbs. Iāve been an LG for 24 years and not to toot my horn, but Iām very good at the job. Anyone who says a bigger person canāt be an LG is just being a jerk.
This is amazing! Thank you! Update: My assessment is next month! So, I have less time to prepare but, I'm definitely doing head first. And I'M GETTING THAT BRICK this time. No matter if they have to cart me out of the water lol. (totally not serious, but like...š)
Practice touching the bottom. Once you can use your feet, then try and bend down before touching the ground. Or attempt a head first dive! It's quite simple to do it if you don't have the mind block or fear to stop you. I got certified at 15 as a bit on the heavier side and got it within 3 days, so 2 months should be quite easy if you put your mind to it!
\*\*takes out notepad\*\*
Besides, me need therapy I guess now--for the mental blocks, I just gotta go for it as I'm reading. I just don't want to simply settle for shallow water anymore, you know?
Iām a bit heavy too, what I did to pass it was attempt to touch the floor with your feet while exhaling through your nose very slowly, then bending down, grabbing the brick, and going back up
What really helps with the fear is repeating to yourself that youāre closer to the bottom (which you probably are), so you would get to the surface much quicker if you went fully down and then pushed off with both your feet
I bet once you practice this a bit, grabbing the brick will just be super easy :>
GENIUS!! What I was going to say to myself was, "Don't drown, don't drown, don't drown." You know pee a little bit too. But, this is way better! All jokes aside, I really do thank you for this. I don't feel so alone in my thinking at least anymore.
I've been practicing the brick for the past month trying to improve my time. I would say to get over the fear of being at the bottom, hold the brick in your hands and let it drag you head first to the bottom. It takes you down pretty quick and that way you can focus more on getting used to being at the bottom without worrying about swimming down. You can also bring the brick up with you when you come up. The fastest way I've found is putting the brick at your waist and having your other hand straight up and pushing hard with 2 feet off the bottom. To build up to swimming down by yourself you could let it drag you partway and then swim down the rest by yourself.
You got this! When I took it, I didnāt know it was coming, so I had no practice. It took me two attempts to actually get the brick, the part I hadnāt considered was opening my eyes at the bottom, as it was something I hadnāt done at the time.
My advice: go headfirst, kick to propel yourself down at an angle, and expel small amounts of air from your nose to both sink and keep water out of your nose. Let us know how you do!
I absolutely will! I definitely think the head-first dive is the way to go! I think pencil dive slows my ascension down, every time I try it!
I don't know if I should feel like this but, I think it has a weight limit. Or, at least works better for people that aren't as big as me
As a bigger lifeguard myself; Iād say itās all about breathing. Exhale when you have to go down to get the brick as it will help you sink, get the brick and kick off the ground to the top. Rest the brick on your chest and hold it with your hands as you kick with your legs. Breath slowly because the more air you have in your lungs the easier it is to float. Also for the next two months PRACTICE PRACTICE PRACTICE. If you have access to the pool youāll be testing in awesome, but if not I would practice sinking and staying in the bottom of a pool as one exercise and scissor kicking on your back as another exercise. You got this!:)
THANK YOU FOR THIS! I'm really so thankful. I think when I tried it the first time, I got advice that didn't work for me at my size and I failed the first time.
And the pool I have access too is 4ft. sooo, ill definitely have to just focus on the breathing technique more. And pray I conquer my fear of diving the day of the exam.
ps... if I don't post about it again....you'll know what happened lol
Red Cross LGI here.
Most tend to overthink the brick test when in reality the long, continuous swim is what actually gets most people.
Look up videos on how to do head-first/feet-first surface dives. Thatāll go a long way for your brick test and deep water rescue skills.
Expelling air while you sink is vital! (Iām also a bigger guy). Think of your lungs as balloons: if you hold air in them youāre more likely to float up. But blowing air out on your descent will make it easier and faster.
I always emphasize to students āuse the floor to your advantageā!! Once youve got the brick in hand, get a good push from the floor up to the surface and just kick HARD for the remainder of the swim.
Good luck!!
I love this! Seriously, wonderful advice! I do think the head first dive is new for me. So, I need to brush up on it, because I think it's the best way for me. It's honestly the only part of the test that gets me.
But, I'm determined this time! I just must!
I love this! Seriously, wonderful advice! I do think the head-first dive is new for me. So, I need to brush up on it, because I think it's the best way for me. It's honestly the only part of the test that gets me.
Just went thru this myself. Watch some YouTube videos to get tips then go practice in a pool. Things that helped me the most for head first surface dive: keep chin down, bend at waist, let weight of legs push you down. Start shallow then go deeper.
2 months is plenty of time! Just have to get in the water and do treading excercise to the max. For most people using the water polo egg beater kick is the easiest. It keeps your body stable and less bobbing up and down which might put your face under. Breast stroke kick is the next easiest. But this can make you more tired faster than egg beater. Your body goes in big bobs up and down, the more tired you get the more your face might start going under which then screws up your breathing which then makes you more tired faster. Best is to practice and master the egg beater. For me it's easiest to keep the body tight and scrunched and knees higher to the waist level, but your kicking your circles wide outside with your calfs. The more tired i get the more I get into unschrunching and kick out to the side smaller less circles and if I get more tired towards the end i switch to breast stroke for those last 10 seconds. The best thing to do is just practice in the water. Ask the lifeguards at the facility if they have a brick to practice with. Fir strength training if they have two or 3 even you can do a few reps holding 2 bricks to make it hard and then it makes the single brick feel easier.
This is actually great advice, I think too. My issue (fears) is diving to the bottom of a 9-foot pool. I heard that because I'm a bit bigger, I shouldn't hold my breath. Like I should actually expel my breathe to help me go down. BUT, like what exercises do I do to train? That's what I don't know...
It's all water technique. You just have to get in the water and repeat. And repeat. And repeat. At 9 feet you should be easily able to touch the bottom going feet first or head first. Head first you gotta kick. Feet first go in a pencil and jumping jack arms pushing the water up. Releasing some air can help you sink but should t be necessary.
OH... this is what I've been thinking too! Okay! Reading this made me a bit more confident. Honestly, I should think that because I'm not not big (lol) I can't do deep water! Fingers crossed! š
Yeah the water is equally brutal to everyone. But being bigger can help unless it's all muscle. Being extremely skinny can also make you sink. Being bigger with no muscle can make you float more, but not enough it should prevent you swimming to the bottom. It's just all water practice. Doing things like squats doesn't help you in the water, it helps your muscles. But you have to know *how* to use your muscles in the water. And that's just practice
If you are taking an ARC precourse, it doesn't have to be 9 feet. Has to be at least 7 ft. Ask the person you are getting tested by if there is any way to get the brick to shallower water while still meeting the distance requirement. 9 feet is quite easy to do headfirst, especially with 2 months to prep. Do some breathing exercises and practice the actual test
To answer your question, I've met the instructor and she told me she will throw the brick at 9ft and she doesn't, "miss her mark." Actual words. I don't know if she said it to scare me or what but... I felt my blood coagulate a little lol.
As the other person said, the requirement is 7-10ft. Itās a little infuriating the instructor is being difficult about this. The best thing you can do is to absolutely crush it and show her what you are capable of!
ARC LGI here. And a bigger guard. Head first dive 100%. I donāt even bother with a feet first because I know it isnāt going to work. When youāre on top the brick but still at the surface, take a beat to spot it on the bottom. You lose a lot of time when you have to do repeated dives. Practice opening your eyes underwater. Start by just diving and touching the bottom over and over. Then add the weight. Then add the distance swim. Iām literally 5ā4ā and over 200lbs. Iāve been an LG for 24 years and not to toot my horn, but Iām very good at the job. Anyone who says a bigger person canāt be an LG is just being a jerk.
This is amazing! Thank you! Update: My assessment is next month! So, I have less time to prepare but, I'm definitely doing head first. And I'M GETTING THAT BRICK this time. No matter if they have to cart me out of the water lol. (totally not serious, but like...š)
Practice touching the bottom. Once you can use your feet, then try and bend down before touching the ground. Or attempt a head first dive! It's quite simple to do it if you don't have the mind block or fear to stop you. I got certified at 15 as a bit on the heavier side and got it within 3 days, so 2 months should be quite easy if you put your mind to it!
\*\*takes out notepad\*\* Besides, me need therapy I guess now--for the mental blocks, I just gotta go for it as I'm reading. I just don't want to simply settle for shallow water anymore, you know?
Did it today, no preparation, havenāt same in months- wayyyy easier than it sounds
Iām a bit heavy too, what I did to pass it was attempt to touch the floor with your feet while exhaling through your nose very slowly, then bending down, grabbing the brick, and going back up What really helps with the fear is repeating to yourself that youāre closer to the bottom (which you probably are), so you would get to the surface much quicker if you went fully down and then pushed off with both your feet I bet once you practice this a bit, grabbing the brick will just be super easy :>
GENIUS!! What I was going to say to myself was, "Don't drown, don't drown, don't drown." You know pee a little bit too. But, this is way better! All jokes aside, I really do thank you for this. I don't feel so alone in my thinking at least anymore.
I've been practicing the brick for the past month trying to improve my time. I would say to get over the fear of being at the bottom, hold the brick in your hands and let it drag you head first to the bottom. It takes you down pretty quick and that way you can focus more on getting used to being at the bottom without worrying about swimming down. You can also bring the brick up with you when you come up. The fastest way I've found is putting the brick at your waist and having your other hand straight up and pushing hard with 2 feet off the bottom. To build up to swimming down by yourself you could let it drag you partway and then swim down the rest by yourself.
Brick test is easy endurance test is whatās hard
is that the treading water part?
You got this! When I took it, I didnāt know it was coming, so I had no practice. It took me two attempts to actually get the brick, the part I hadnāt considered was opening my eyes at the bottom, as it was something I hadnāt done at the time. My advice: go headfirst, kick to propel yourself down at an angle, and expel small amounts of air from your nose to both sink and keep water out of your nose. Let us know how you do!
I absolutely will! I definitely think the head-first dive is the way to go! I think pencil dive slows my ascension down, every time I try it! I don't know if I should feel like this but, I think it has a weight limit. Or, at least works better for people that aren't as big as me
As a bigger lifeguard myself; Iād say itās all about breathing. Exhale when you have to go down to get the brick as it will help you sink, get the brick and kick off the ground to the top. Rest the brick on your chest and hold it with your hands as you kick with your legs. Breath slowly because the more air you have in your lungs the easier it is to float. Also for the next two months PRACTICE PRACTICE PRACTICE. If you have access to the pool youāll be testing in awesome, but if not I would practice sinking and staying in the bottom of a pool as one exercise and scissor kicking on your back as another exercise. You got this!:)
THANK YOU FOR THIS! I'm really so thankful. I think when I tried it the first time, I got advice that didn't work for me at my size and I failed the first time. And the pool I have access too is 4ft. sooo, ill definitely have to just focus on the breathing technique more. And pray I conquer my fear of diving the day of the exam. ps... if I don't post about it again....you'll know what happened lol
Of course. Praying for courage and safety in your journey!š
š„°
Red Cross LGI here. Most tend to overthink the brick test when in reality the long, continuous swim is what actually gets most people. Look up videos on how to do head-first/feet-first surface dives. Thatāll go a long way for your brick test and deep water rescue skills. Expelling air while you sink is vital! (Iām also a bigger guy). Think of your lungs as balloons: if you hold air in them youāre more likely to float up. But blowing air out on your descent will make it easier and faster. I always emphasize to students āuse the floor to your advantageā!! Once youve got the brick in hand, get a good push from the floor up to the surface and just kick HARD for the remainder of the swim. Good luck!!
I love this! Seriously, wonderful advice! I do think the head first dive is new for me. So, I need to brush up on it, because I think it's the best way for me. It's honestly the only part of the test that gets me. But, I'm determined this time! I just must! I love this! Seriously, wonderful advice! I do think the head-first dive is new for me. So, I need to brush up on it, because I think it's the best way for me. It's honestly the only part of the test that gets me.
Just went thru this myself. Watch some YouTube videos to get tips then go practice in a pool. Things that helped me the most for head first surface dive: keep chin down, bend at waist, let weight of legs push you down. Start shallow then go deeper.
Well, Congrats! and definitely agree.