Xian's passed her National Survival Swimming Award (NASSA) Silver Test yesterday!
According to this website, the NASSA is a test which simulates a scenario of a sinking ship loaded with passengers and goods. The objective is to educate and train candidates to possess the knowledge and competence to overcome adversities in a genuine situation.
Pre-requisite:
NASSA Bronze Award (Xian passed this in March 2009)
- Male - Long pants, long-sleeve shirt or T-shirt
- Female - Dress or slacks, long-sleeved blouse or shirt or T-shirt
- Children below 12 years old may use short-sleeve shirt / blouse or pyjamas
Criteria:
- Straddle or tuck jump entry from the side of the pool, and swim 100 meters within 4 minutes
- Demonstrate ability to "drown-proof" for 1 minute
- Tread water using one arm, with one arm at the back of the body for 1 minutes
- Immediately after, tread water for 3 minutes using both arms
- Undress in water, make float with attire and use it to swim 25 meters using legs only
- Swim 200 meters using backstroke, 200 meters using sidestroke, 400 meters using front stroke (breast stroke / freestyle)
- During the course of this swim (front stroke), the candidate must execute 2 dives: 1 head first, and 1 leg first. (each dive must swim submerged for at least 5 meters)
- Climb out from the deep end of the pool without the use of steps or assistance.
Each successful candidate will receive a collar pin, woven badge and a certificate, which can be collected at the test venue approximately one month after the test.
It's a pity I wasn't able to take more pictures towards the end of Xian's test as my youngest rascal Wei was getting sleepy and fussing away. It was also drizzling and not a good idea to carry Wei and take pictures at the same time. Anyway, here are some photos:
If you ask me, it's really not an easy test. I was initially quite apprehensive about registering her for it because I wasn't sure if she'd be able to swim 100m within 4 minutes. Plus it requires stamina and endurance to complete 800m in various strokes. But her coach, Mr Bakar, clearly believed she was ready so I registered her for the test 2 weeks back.
Yesterday morning, I drove Xian together with Wen, Wei, MIL and FIL to Toa Payoh Swimming Complex. It's where she usually attends her swimming lessons and it's also the test venue. MIL wanted to go along to watch Xian swim and also to give her some moral support.
Midway through the test, Wen, Wei and myself went to the side of the pool to clap, wave and cheer Xian on. Towards the end of the test, poor Xian was clearly worn out and she was the last one out of the pool. But this isn't a test of speed and I'm very proud that Xian completed the required assessment rounds. At least she didn't give up midway through (2 kids did) and stuck it out till the very end.
Xian later confided that she was exhausted but she thought of how she would let us down if she didn't complete the test. But she was energised when she saw her sisters and I running along the side of the pool and calling out to her. I'm sure glad we all went down with her :)
Next stop: GOLD! Xian's definitely not ready to take the gold now as the requirements are much tougher and she's got a long way more before she can beat the clock. No pressure and no rush to complete it as I'd rather she does it in her own time.
Anyhow, I just found out that NASSA will be replaced by a new national water safety programme SwimSafer from 5 July 2010. Hence, I'm not sure what the conversion leveling will be and whether she'll be eligible to take the gold award based on her NASSA silver. I'll leave that to her coach to decide and he'll inform us when she's prepared. :)
Xian in her PJs and all ready for the test
MIL helps to tuck stray hairs into the swimming cap as Wei decides to put on a cap too
Cheeky Wei!
Xian (Cap 3, 3rd from right) taking instructions from the tester
Completed: 1st task of swimming 100m with 4 minutes, waiting for next segment
Treading water - she had to undress underwater, make a float out of her PJ pants and swim back
Wen waiting at the side of the pool to cheer Xian on!
Xian's passed her National Survival Swimming Award (NASSA) Silver Test yesterday!
According to this website, the NASSA is a test which simulates a scenario of a sinking ship loaded with passengers and goods. The objective is to educate and train candidates to possess the knowledge and competence to overcome adversities in a genuine situation.
Pre-requisite:
NASSA Bronze Award (Xian passed this in March 2009)
Attire while undergoing Test:
- Male - Long pants, long-sleeve shirt or T-shirt
- Female - Dress or slacks, long-sleeved blouse or shirt or T-shirt
- Children below 12 years old may use short-sleeve shirt / blouse or pyjamas
Criteria:
- Straddle or tuck jump entry from the side of the pool, and swim 100 meters within 4 minutes
- Demonstrate ability to "drown-proof" for 1 minute
- Tread water using one arm, with one arm at the back of the body for 1 minutes
- Immediately after, tread water for 3 minutes using both arms
- Undress in water, make float with attire and use it to swim 25 meters using legs only
- Swim 200 meters using backstroke, 200 meters using sidestroke, 400 meters using front stroke (breast stroke / freestyle)
- During the course of this swim (front stroke), the candidate must execute 2 dives: 1 head first, and 1 leg first. (each dive must swim submerged for at least 5 meters)
- Climb out from the deep end of the pool without the use of steps or assistance.
Each successful candidate will receive a collar pin, woven badge and a certificate, which can be collected at the test venue approximately one month after the test.
It's a pity I wasn't able to take more pictures towards the end of Xian's test as my youngest rascal Wei was getting sleepy and fussing away. It was also drizzling and not a good idea to carry Wei and take pictures at the same time. Anyway, here are some photos:
If you ask me, it's really not an easy test. I was initially quite apprehensive about registering her for it because I wasn't sure if she'd be able to swim 100m within 4 minutes. Plus it requires stamina and endurance to complete 800m in various strokes. But her coach, Mr Bakar, clearly believed she was ready so I registered her for the test 2 weeks back.
Yesterday morning, I drove Xian together with Wen, Wei, MIL and FIL to Toa Payoh Swimming Complex. It's where she usually attends her swimming lessons and it's also the test venue. MIL wanted to go along to watch Xian swim and also to give her some moral support.
Midway through the test, Wen, Wei and myself went to the side of the pool to clap, wave and cheer Xian on. Towards the end of the test, poor Xian was clearly worn out and she was the last one out of the pool. But this isn't a test of speed and I'm very proud that Xian completed the required assessment rounds. At least she didn't give up midway through (2 kids did) and stuck it out till the very end.
Xian later confided that she was exhausted but she thought of how she would let us down if she didn't complete the test. But she was energised when she saw her sisters and I running along the side of the pool and calling out to her. I'm sure glad we all went down with her :)
Next stop: GOLD! Xian's definitely not ready to take the gold now as the requirements are much tougher and she's got a long way more before she can beat the clock. No pressure and no rush to complete it as I'd rather she does it in her own time.
Anyhow, I just found out that NASSA will be replaced by a new national water safety programme SwimSafer from 5 July 2010. Hence, I'm not sure what the conversion leveling will be and whether she'll be eligible to take the gold award based on her NASSA silver. I'll leave that to her coach to decide and he'll inform us when she's prepared. :)
Xian in her PJs and all ready for the test
MIL helps to tuck stray hairs into the swimming cap as Wei decides to put on a cap too
Cheeky Wei!
Xian (Cap 3, 3rd from right) taking instructions from the tester
Completed: 1st task of swimming 100m with 4 minutes, waiting for next segment
Treading water - she had to undress underwater, make a float out of her PJ pants and swim back
Wen waiting at the side of the pool to cheer Xian on!
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