The basic objectives of the USLA Lifeguard Competition are :

(1) to sustain and uplift employee morale;

(2) to stimulate personal interest in rescue skill training; and

(3) to acquaint the general public with water safety procedures and skills used daily by professional lifeguards to advance public safety at the beach.

It is the further objective of the USLA to standardize the rules and regulations governing national and regional championship events, thereby contributing toward more harmonious relationships among the various lifeguard agencies and associated USLA Chapters.

Each individual must be a bona-fide professional member of a USLA chapter affiliated lifeguard service or a retired professional lifeguard receiving a pension from said lifeguard service. Foreign competitors must apply in writing to the USLA National Committee for a waiver of eligibility requirements and will not be eligible for awards or points. A non-professional member may compete if they were a professional member for three seasons/years and maintain their membership in the USLA. Non-professional members must donate 24 hours a season to their USLA Chapter Lifeguard Agency in service not connected to competition. An application for a non-professional member must be submitted to the USLA Competition Chairman. Competitors must have paid their USLA dues to their appropriate Regional Treasurer prior to commencement of USLA Championships.

You can download a complete copy of the USLA competition rules in Adobe PDF format. To view these documents, you need Adobe Acrobat Reader, which is free. Click here to obtain a copy.

2008 USLA National Junior Lifeguard Competition Guidelines (Revised 11-3-2007)
2008 USLA National Lifeguard Competition Rules (Approved 11-3-2007)