At the meeting in Dubrovnik (Croatia) in January 2004 the ILSE Sports Commission discussed some projects on life saving sport for young children.

The current problem is that the rules used for youth are based on those that have been developed for adults. But the youth events should be more fun-based and perhaps concentrate on 25m pools and special beach events. Thorough research should be carried out in order to adjust the rules and/or equipment for youth competition.

At the meeting in Dubrovnik (Croatia) in January 2004 the ILSE Sports Commission discussed some projects on life saving sport for young children.

The current problem is that the rules used for youth are based on those that have been developed for adults. But the youth events should be more fun-based and perhaps concentrate on 25m pools and special beach events. Thorough research should be carried out in order to adjust the rules and/or equipment for youth competition.

This research should be the start of producing new events and rules for youth, rather than looking at present rule books for youth from all over the world and adjust those.

Some research and work in this area was already done by some international sports federations. Information related our of sport should be collected, which could be the start of producing new events and rules for youth.

The commission wants to produce “guidelines for the life saving events for children and young persons under the age of 14 in order to give advice to the national life saving federations.

It is important to encourage the recreational aspect of life saving sport. The aim should be to include life saving sport in an overall program aimed at interesting young people in various sports.

Source : ILSE sports commission minutes (16-18 January 2004).