RI State 'Dave Hoffer Memorial' Lifeguard Tournament

2026 RI State 'Dave Hoffer Memorial' Lifeguard Tournament Information Packet & Rules

• Every competitor must have worked eight hours before the 4th of July season as a lifeguard to be eligible to compete, and must maintain employment and still be working at that same establishment averaging a minimum of 8 hours a week at the start of the tournament.
• Every competitor must be RI surf certified by June 20th and remain RI surf certified throughout the entire tournament.
• All races must be completed in the correct manner. If a competitor fails to complete a course correctly dur- ing a race, they must go back and correct their mistake. If they don’t and the event is completed the will be disqualified.
• BOATS: No Van Duynes. Only dories are to be used in this competition. Oars cannot exceed 8 feet. There are NO closed oar locks or foot boards allowed in the dories.
• PADDLE BOARDS: The standard issue 12 food rescue boards are the only ones allowed. NO racing boards.
• KAYAKS: The standard issue sit on top ocean rescue kayak is the only kayak allowed.
• RESCUE CANS: No baby cans and the lanyard cannot exceed 6 feet.
• ALL COMPETITORS and members from competing beaches are expected to conduct themselves in a sportsman like way throughout the tournament. Teams may be penalized points and members expelled from the tournament for poor conduct.
• Beaches hosting the tournament for their night are responsible for setting up the courses correctly (by 5:30pm), and for helping start the races off in time. The first event should start at 6:45pm.
• No competitor is allowed to compete more than once in the same relay.
• ALL COMPETITORS MUST complete a waiver of liability form to compete in the tournament. Any com- petitor under the age of 18 years old also needs a parent’s signature. NO ONE will be allowed to compete without this correctly completed form.
• Beach Captains are responsible for providing a team roster and get- ting all waivers turned in by a set deadline. Any competitor found competing without this form will be dis- qualified from any events they were in, team points will be taken away, and they will be banned from the remainder of the tournament.
• CAP COLORS: All teams must wear only their cap colors or NO cap at all. Violation of this rule will result in disqualification. All swimmers and victims and final legs of torp relay runners must wear team cap colors.
• SWIMMING SUITS: Swimmers shall be limited to one suit, which shall be constructed of woven/knit tex- tile material, permeable to water and air, constructed so as not to aid in buoyancy, and shall not contain zip- pers or other fastening systems. In addition, the suit shall be constructed so that the style/shape for males shall not extend above the waist or below the top of the kneecaps and for females shall not extend beyond the shoulders or below the top of the kneecaps and it shall not cover the neck.
• FAIR SPIRITED PLAY: No competitors shall impose physical contact on another competitor with the intent to or that forces that competitor’s course to be altered, restricted or blocked.
• SCORING: 1st = 10 points, 2nd = 8 points, 3rd = 7 points, 4th = 6 points, 5th = 5 points, 6th = 4 points, 7th = 3 points, 8th = 2 points, 9th = 1 point.
• FINAL DECISIONS: All final decisions on judging, safety, conditions, equipment, fair play, sportsmanship,
  scoring and anything related to competition and the tournament will be evaluated by the race committee and recommended to the race director for final decision.

EVENTS Monday, August 3rd: @Narragansett Town Beach

Mile row, Mile kayak Mile paddle, Women’s mile paddle, Men’s mile swim, Woman’s mile swim, Men’s mile run, Woman’s mile run

Tuesday, August 4th: @ Roger Wheeler (ENAM Host)

Men’s Boat rescue , Female Boat Rescue , King, Queen

Wednesday, August 5th: @ Roger Wheeler 

Boat Relay, Female Medley, Men’s Medley

Thursday, August 6th: @ Scarborough

Ocean Rescue, Men’s Swim Relay,  Surf Dash, Women’s Torp Relay, Men’s Torp Relay
 
Friday, August 7th: @ Westerly Town Beach

One Person Rescue, Men’s Paddle Relay, Women’s Paddle Relay, Kayak Relay

Saturday, August 8th: @ Second Beach

Woman’s Swim Relay, Men’s paddle rescue, Woman’s paddle Rescue, Women’s Beach Flags, Men’s Beach Flags

CAP COLORS: East Matunuck State Beach: orange, First Beach: red, Misquamicut State Beach: purple, Narragansett Town Beach: yellow, Roger Wheeler State Beach: silver, Scarborough State Beach: pink, Second Beach: green, Westerly Town Beach: white, Old Timers: black

***Swim/Victim Events: Team Cap Colors Must Be Worn To Enter Events

Most Valuable Lifeguard (if awarded):

RESULTS: each gold medal each silver medal

each bronze medal VERSATILITY:swimming = 1 point
AWARDS

= 3 points = 2 points = 1 point
paddling rowing running kayaking King/Queen
= 1 point
= 1 point
= 1 point
= 1 point
= 2 points
= 7 points total for versatility
CAPTAIN’S VOTE: Each team will receive 1 vote for MVL. Each vote a nominee receives will equal 1 point.

Male and female highest point earners from the combined categories above will awarded MVL.

(does not include launchers and victims)

Unsung Hero (if awarded):

The Unsung Hero will be award to a lifeguard who demonstrates team spirit and passion and commitment to their team and the tournament. This competitor may not necessarily place among the top cinishers in the events they participate in, but is happy to compete for their team.

Each team will be allowed to nominate a competitor and nominees will be voted on, with each team casting one vote.
Course Standardizations
 
• All swim legs for medleys, king, queen will be 250 yards.
• All paddle and kayak legs for medleys, king, queen will be  350 yards. • All run legs for medleys, king, queen will be 100 yards.
• All row legs for medleys, relays, king, queen will be  400 yards.
• Ocean rescue victim distance will be 150 yards.
• Unassisted rescue victim will be 100 yards.
• Paddle and Kayak relay legs will be  350 yards.
• Swim relay legs will be 150 yards.
• Beach Flags course will be 25 yards.

* Lights must be used on Beach Flags course.

EVENT DESCRIPTIONS

MILE SWIM: (M&W) Each team may enter two competitors; one scores points, the second blocks points.

MILE PADDLE: (M&W) Each team may enter one competitor. No launcher for the men’s or woman’s event (exceptions for the woman’s event will be made at the discretion of the moderator based on surf condi- tions).

MILE KAYAK: Each team may enter one competitor and one launcher. MILE ROW: Each team may enter one competitor and two launchers.

MILE RUN (M&W): Each team may enter two competitors; one scores points, the second blocks points.

BOATRESCUE:Eachteammayenteronecompetitor,twolaunchers,andone victim.Thevictimwillline up at their specicic marker. The victim will not be allowed to take any strokes, and cannot leave their marker until the boat reaches them. The victim is allowed to move freely in the boat, but can only take two steps for balance outside the boat. The event is completed when the rower carries the victim

across the cinish line. The launchers can only help launch and land the boat, not carry the victim.

PADDLE RELAY: This event consists of 3 paddlers. Each will paddle a course of
markers, then one paddler will hand the board off to the next, who will run the board around an obstacle on the beach. The event is completed when the cinal paddler carries the nose of the board across the cin- ish line on the beach.

BOAT RELAY: This event consists of three rowers and one launcher. Each rower
rows around a designated set of marker, and then the boat is carried around an obstacle on the beach. All four are allowed to run, launch, and land the boat. The event is completed when the
third and cinal rower completes the course and the nose of the boat crosses the cinish line. No one rows twice. The launcher is the alternate rower.

KING NEPTUNE: Each team may enter one competitor. They will swim around a
designated marker, kayak around designated marker, paddle around a designated marker, row around designated markers, and run across the cinish line on the beach to complete the event. One
launcher is allowed for the kayak portion and two launchers are allowed for the row portion.

QUEEN NEPTUNE: Each team may enter one competitor. They will swim around a
designated marker, paddle around a designated marker, row around designated markers, and run across the cinish line on the beach to complete the event. One launcher is allowed for the paddle portion
and two launchers are allowed for the row portion.
 
BEACH FLAGS: (M&W) Each team may enter two competitors; one scores points, the second blocks points. Competitors will lay clat with their chests and stomachs clat on the ground. Their legs and feet must be together and their hands will be palms down, hand over hand, tucked directly under the chin. The command of “heads up”, “heads down” will be given before a whistle blast, indicating when to go. Hit- ting off the line is prohibited and the competitors may only go for the clag, not one another. Once a com- petitor has made possession of the clag, the result is cinal. Tearing a clag out of a competitor’s hand will not be allowed. When the cield narrows to eight, the heats will be combined. Competitors can only pos- sess one clag.

OCEAN RESCUE:This event consists of a torp swimmer, a line swimmer, two pullers, and one victim. The victim will lime up at their specicic marker. The victim will not be allowed to take any strokes, and
cannot leave their marker until the cirst swimmer has reached them. After the person swimming the torp reaches the victim, they may swim, towing the victim, to reach the line swimmer. Only the

two pullers are allowed to work the line and reel. A spotter is allowed. The victim is not allowed to take any strokes on the way back to shore, but can kick. The victim is allowed only two steps
for balance once standing. The event is completed when the two swimmers carry the victim across the cinish line. No pre loops or knots are allowed on the line.

KAYAK RELAY: This event consists of three competitors. All three can run, launch, and land the kayak together. The event is completed after each competitor completes the course and the nose of kayak crosses the cinish line.

SWIM RELAY: This event consists of four swimmers. Each will swim around a designated course and back to shore to tag the next swimmer. The event will be completed when the cinal swimmer crosses the cinish line up the beach.

MEDLEY RELAY: This event consists of one swimmer, one kayaker, one paddler, one
rower, and one runner from each team. Each competitor will complete a designated course. Competitors cannot start their portion of the race until the teammate competing before them tags
them, or piece of equipment they will be using. One launcher is allowed for the kayak portion and two launchers are allowed for the row portion. The event is completed when the runner crosses
the cinish line.

MERMAID RELAY: Same as the medley relay, except without the kayak portion. Also, the women are allowed one launcher for the paddle portion.

UNASSISTED This event consists of one swimmer and one victim. The victim RESCUE: will line up at their specicic marker. The victim will not be allowed to take any strokes, and cannot leave their marker until the swimmer reaches them. Once the swimmer reaches the victim, the
swimmer will tow the victim back to shore. The victim is not allowed to take any strokes, but can kick when being towed back to shore. Once the victim is standing, they may take only two steps

for balance. The event is completed when the swimmer carries the victim across the cinish line.

PADDLE RESCUE: This event consists of one paddler and one victim. The victim will (M&W)
line up at their specicic marker. The victim will not be allowed to take any strokes, and cannot leave their marker until the paddler reaches them. Once the paddler reaches the victim, the victim can
climb onto the board, but cannot take any strokes. Once standing, the victim can take only two steps for balance. The event is completed when the victim is carried across the cinish line by the
paddler. No launcher for the men’s or woman’s event (exceptions for the woman’s event will be made at the discretion of the moderator based on surf conditions).
WOMAN’S SWIM This event consist of three female swimmers. Each will swim RELAY:
around a designated set of markers, return to shore, and tag the next swimmer. The event is completed when the cinal swimmer crosses the cinish line on the beach.

RESUCIATOR This event consists of four runners. Each will run about 100 yards RELAY:and hand a rescue can off to the next runner in a transition zone. (M&W)The hand-off must be completed in that zone. The event will be completed when the cinal runner crosses the cinish line with the
rescue can. They lanyard must be attached to the rescue can and cannot be taped down.