Competition Criteria for Junior Competitors

A child may join a SLSC as soon as he/she turns five years of age. No SLSC is to accept membership of a child until they have reached the age of five years to comply with insurance requirements. A child who reaches five years of age after 30th September may join nippers at that time for the remainder of the season; however, this child will be required to stay in the U6 nippers age group again the following season. It is the SLSC’s responsibility to explain this to the parents of the child.

Junior Preliminary Evaluations

For the 2022/23 season an updated Preliminary Skills Evaluation has been introduced nationally. This has been redeveloped to reflect industry standard research in aquatic skills, and there is a greater focus on foundation skills in the water which assist in making rescue ready lifesavers.

Clubs are required to meet the new preliminary skills evaluation which is available in this document and in the SLSA Members Area.

Many activities that will be completed by children as part of Junior Activities will be conducted in the water. To ensure that all children have a suitable swimming ability to allow them to participate in these activities, SLSA has developed a Junior Preliminary Evaluation for each age group. Every junior member is required to participate in this evaluation prior to any water-based activities being undertaken. Clubs can set standards that go over and above the requirements set by SLSA, but not below this standard.

Note: It is not an assessment which if not completed competently precludes the child from becoming a member or continuing with junior surf education or training activities. Any child that does not meet the required evaluation level will require a higher level of supervision when involved in water-based activities at the discretion of the club. Refer to SLSA Water Safety Procedure 1.01A.

A member who is delegated to assess Junior Preliminary Evaluations must:

• Be proficient in SRC (at minimum) and have an understanding at the requirements of the evaluations for juniors
• Be familiar with the process of reasonable adjustment
• Adhere to the program of skills maintenance requested by the SLSC
• Complete any paperwork required accurately and return in a timely manner
• Delegate names must be minuted at a SLSC Management Team meeting annually.

Conducting the Evaluation

Evaluations should be conducted in a low-risk environment, as determined by a completion of a pre-activity risk assessment. All new junior members should be supported by a 1:1 water safety ratio (water safety personnel: activity participant) when completing their evaluation. For all returning junior members, where knowledge of their ability is known by the SLSC, a 1:5 water safety ratio (water safety personnel: activity participants) may be used (Refer to SLSA Water Safety Procedure 1.01A).

The pool evaluation conducted “in a safe constructed pool environment with a water safety ratio as per the SLSA Policy 1.01A – Water Safety – a 1:5 water safety ratio is to be implemented for all members under evaluation.” may now also be conducted in open water (ocean, rock pools and ocean baths) away from surf conditions for both new and returning nippers, effective immediately.

In instances where evaluations cannot be completed, a qualified and accredited swim coach can be endorsed to sign off the preliminary skills pool assessment. Swimming coaches are required to provide their Australian Swimming Teachers and Coaches Associate (ASTCA) number, their name and email address and the name of the children who have successfully completed the swim.

Following the Evaluation

Any child that does not meet the required evaluation level will require a higher level of supervision when involved in water- based activities at the discretion of the club.

Any child that does complete the Preliminary Skills Evaluation competently can progress to water based junior activities noting a 1:5 water safety ratio (water safety personnel: activity participants). For still water / pool activities or low-risk conditions (ascertained after a pre-activity risk assessment) the ratio may be expanded to 1:10 water safety ratio (water safety personnel: activity participants) as per SLSA Water Safety Procedure 1.01A.

A maximum supervision ratio of 1:5 (WSP: participants) applies as per SLSA Water Safety Procedure 1.01A to ensure the evaluations are conducted in a safe aquatic environment. Refer to the SLSA Age Managers Learner Guide and SLSA Water Safety Procedure 1.01A for more information on Junior Preliminary Evaluations.

Junior Competition Evaluations

From the age of 7 (Under 8) juniors can begin to compete in intra-club, inter-club and branch competition, while from the age of 8 (Under 9) juniors can participate in state competition. To ensure that all junior members that wish to compete in any inter-club, branch, state and national events/championships have the required ability, strength and fitness to compete they must be able to complete the junior competition evaluation for their age group.

Note: The definition of ‘Open Water’ is sourced from NSW Maritime and refers to ‘navigable waters’ which includes beaches. It does not include inland and coastal rivers, lakes and enclosed bays, harbours or rock pools.

For more information on SLSA Surf Sport competition eligibility and requirements refer to.

• SLSA Policy 5.04 – Competition Eligibility Policy
• SLSA Surf Sports Manual

Branch and State Competition Requirements

Any competitor wishing to compete at Branch or State carnivals (water and/or beach events) must have successfully completed:

• Junior Preliminary Evaluation
• Junior Competition Evaluation
• Appropriate Surf Education award for their age group by 31 December 2022.Junior Activities members (i.e. members comprising Under 14 and below), are not required to perform patrol hours to compete in junior activities competitions. However, if eligible members wish to compete in Under 15 competitions, they must fulfil their patrol hour obligations as set out in SLSA Policy 5.04 – Competition Eligibility. This Policy can be found in the SLSA Members Area.These three components must be entered into SurfGuard prior to close of entries. For assistance in uploading this information into SurfGuard please contact the SurfGuard helpdesk on 1300 724 006 or ithelp@slsa.asn.au.