Swimming season

Parents cheered and clenched their fists, kids shot forward in the water, and lifeguards kept time — and order — as 9- to 15-year-olds tried out for a spot in the summer Newport Beach Junior Lifeguards program.

The Newport Harbor High School pool teemed with kids from Newport and surrounding cities Sunday morning for the timed swim test that is required before signing up for the summer squad.

And with 339 kids passing the test last Sunday and 230 passing on Tuesday, the numbers are right on track for the cap of 1200 overall, said Reenie Boyer, program director.

Time requirements have been shaved five seconds this year, Boyer explained, to make it a little harder to qualify. This way, all of the kids who pass the speed test will actually get to participate in junior lifeguards — a program so popular that many kids have spent time on a waiting list in past years.

On one half of the pool, those who swam the laps under the time requirement were rewarded with a little more exertion.

“Are you guys excited?” asked lifeguard Spencer Pirdy.

“Yeah!” yelled a couple dozen children, who had only to tread water for three minutes to finish qualifying for the program.

“I’ve never seen anyone not tread water after passing,” Boyer said. “But it’s an important skill, and it also gives us a chance to do our paperwork.”

As the kids completed the part of the test Pirdy called a “victory lap,” he and lifeguard Bryan Auer made jokes, challenged them to games of rock-paper-scissors and did push-ups for their amusement.

Those who don’t make it the first time aren’t out for good, Boyer said. They have five chances to pass, and lifeguards give them encouragement and tips on how to become stronger swimmers. Still, the lifeguards suggest kids wait till the next test so they have plenty of energy.

One such girl was 8-year-old Emily Spain, who will be 9 when the program starts. Finishing up her second try, she squealed when a lifeguard told her she’d squeezed in at 1 minute 54 seconds—one second under her age group’s requirement.

“I did it!” she said. “I’m excited.”

Father Mike Spain hugged his daughter and let out a sigh of relief.

“It’s such a psychological thing,” he said. “I don’t know what I’m going to do when she takes her SAT.”

Swim tests for the Newport Beach Junior Lifeguards are being held 9 a.m. to noon Sundays through March 4 , and 7 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. Tuesdays through Feb. 27, at the Newport Harbor High School pool. Those taking the test must bring a birth certificate as proof of age. Those with more questions can call (949) 675-8420.