Rules & Regulations

The following is a listing of all lifesaving competition sports regulations.

Lifesaving World Championships & ILS Sanctioned Competitions

In the 2015 update of the ILS Competition Manual, the ILS Sport Commission separated content that addresses the Lifesaving World Championships specifically from content that addresses the rules, procedures and standards for lifesaving sport competition generally.

This resulted in two new publications:
the Lifesaving World Championships Handbook and
the ILS Competition Rule Book.

ILS Competition Rule Book

The ILS Competition Rule Book governs ILS championships and ILS sanctioned competitions. As necessary before the next edition, changes to or clarifications regarding rules, standards or procedures for ILS competition are published as bulletins.

ILS 2019 Competition Rulebook Update – Nov 2021 ReviewDownload

If you have a specific question about the rules that you want answered, you can raise the issue direct with the ILS Sport Commission using this link:

https://forms.gle/H67uLVRJDuPo8DY76

Technical Bulletins

From time to time the ILS will issue Technical Bulletins to clarify rules where required, or to advise of minor changes that are essential to ensure a clear understanding of specific rules. Any relevant and current Bulletins will be shown here:

ILS Competition Rule Book Technical Bulletin #1 – November 2021Download

Lifesaving colleagues from various countries are producing translated versions of the ILS Competition Rulebook in their native language. New versions of the updated document are due to be published in Japanese, Chinese, French and Spanish as soon as they become available.

The ILS is pleased to make these available for download. Note that the official English version remains the source document in the need for any final arbitration of the rules.

Chinese Translation of the ILS Competition Rulebook 20210618A4中文規則Download

Our colleagues in the Chinese Taipei Water Safety Association have kindly provided a Chinese translation of the updated ILS Competition Rulebook

Japan-Lifesaving-Association-2021-Competition-Rulebook-210830Download

Our colleagues in the Japanese Lifesaving Association (JLA) have kindly provided a Japanese translation of the updated ILS Competition Rulebook.


Reglamento Internacional ILS de Salvamento 2020Download

Our colleagues in the Equipo Profesional de Salvamento Acuatico, (EPSA) from Argentina have kindly provided a Spanish translation of the updated ILS Competition Rulebook.

ILS LWC Competition Handbook

For ILS world championships, consult the Lifesaving World Championships Competition Handbook in conjunction with the ILS Competition Rule Book and ILS Sport Commission Bulletins. This has been updated in preparation for LWC 2022

LWC 2022 Handbook Final 22 May 2021Download

Lifesaving colleagues from various countries are producing translated versions of the ILS LWC 2022 Handbook in their native language. New versions of the updated document are due to be published in Japanese, Chinese, French and Spanish as soon as they become available.

The ILS is pleased to make these available for download. Note that the official English version remains the source document in the need for any final arbitration of the rules.

LWC 2022 Handbook Final 22 May 2021 (Chinese Translation)Download

LWC 2022 Entry Guide Times

For the ILS LWC 2022 Championships the Entry Guide Times for Interclub Youth, Interclub Open and Masters Pool individual events are shown in this document.  Competitors entered in these events must be able to demonstrate that they have achieved this guide time before entering.

LWC 2022 Entry Guide Times

SERC Coaches, Competitors and Technical Officials Guide – January 2020

The ILS Sport Commission has provided an updated SERC guide for Coaches, Competitors and Technical Officials (revised January 2020).

SERC Coaches Competitors Judges and Technical Officials Guide January 2020Download

ILS Competition Rule Book Short Course Pool Events 2021 Edition

The ILS Sport Commission has produced a Short Course Pool Events Addendum that modifies the standard competition rules for 25m short course swimming pools. The rules and disqualifications are described in the main ILS 2019 Competition Rule Book unless otherwise specified within the rules in the Addendum.

ILS 2020 Short Course Competition Rulebook September 2021 FinalDownload

File Archive

Records

Most member nations of ILS organise National Lifesaving Championships both pool and beach-surf events. Records can be set if the event organisers comply with the ILS Event Sanctioning rules.

Policies

  • ILS Swim Suit Policy: Dress of Competitors – Costumes, Dress and Style

World Games Rules

ILS publishes specially adapted rules for the World Games.

European Championships Rules

The competition rules of the European Region in ILS are very similar to the ILS Competition rules except for the elements that are typically linked to Regional conditions. The latest rulebook can also be found on the ILS-Europe website.