UNDER 6 (Surf Play 1) and UNDER 7 (Surf Play 2)
- Equal attention to water and beach events
- Water activities that are limited to shallow water near the water's edge
- Beach activities to emphasise games and group participation
- No competition other than that involved in fun games
- Learn beach awareness & water safety
- Learn event rules by the time they are in U/8 (Sprint, flags, wade & relays)
Recommended: 1 - 2 sessions / week (learn to swim squad)
UNDER 8 (Surf Awareness 1), UNDER 9 (Surf Awareness 2) and UNDER 10 (Surf Safe 1)
- Recall surf awareness information and basic emergency care procedures
- Perform introductory self rescue skills
- Has completed run-swim-run
- Equal attention to water & beach events, beginning to specialise by U10s
- Develop basic skills in events & have basic knowledge of rules
- Improve confidence in surf
- Ability to train in a group situation and develop road rules of squad training
- Understanding training terminology
UNDER 8
- Wading, duck-diving, grabbing sand under waves, swim to behind shore break
- Boogie board paddling, catching broken waves, correct position on board, able to change direction
- Understand rules, demonstrate sprint, flags, wade and relay
UNDER 9
- Catch broken waves from standing, swim in surf with head down, swim into gutter
- Board starts with skim, sit/pop, eskimo roll, catching unbroken wave, able to correct board position
- Develop technique in beach events, able to do relay changeovers at speed
UNDER 10
- Catching unbroken waves from swimming, swim to back break
- All above board skills with confidence and speed, slipstream
- Continue to advance skills in all events, knowledge of tactics in flags and wade
Recommended : Start at 2 sessions / week & increase by 1 session each age group
UNDER 11 (Surf Safe 2) and UNDER 12 (Surf Smart 1)
- Apply surf awareness information
- Provide emergency care
- Operate communications systems
- Has completed run-swim-run
- Begin to concentrate more on specific area (beach/water) but still train at both
- Work on intermediate skills and have reasonable knowledge of rules
- Begin moderate endurance training to help with Iron and extra events now available
- Increase confidence in surf and surf awareness
- Promote good training ethics and desire to train to improve
UNDER 11
- Catch unbroken wave, swim in pack with head down, know when to wade/duck-dive
- Introduce board rescue skills, angle across wave, chasing runners
- Beach relay changes at speed, correct sprint starts, correct flags technique and dive
UNDER 12
- Hold body wave using arm, correct wading
- Advanced board rescue skills. Negotiate surf using correct choices, late take offs
- Speed drills introduced, fine tune skills on beach
Recommended : 4 - 6 sessions / week for those wishing to attend carnivals
UNDER 13 (Surf Smart 2) and UNDER 14 (SRC)
- Understand how to regulate training around school, holidays, exams
- Provide serious trainers with log book to monitor training
- Promote training with Senior squad & attend senior carnivals once SRC is obtained
- Understand competitive pathways from Junior to Senior (Branch - State - National)
UNDER 14 Surf Rescue Certificate (U14 compulsory for competition)
- Apply surf awareness information
- Provide emergency care
- Operate communications systems & equipment
- Work in a team
- Communicate in the beach environment
- Has completed run-swim-run
- Participate in an aquatic rescue operation
- Demonstrates resuscitation skills
