It is vitally important for TBSLSC to ensure their enrolled Nippers are proficient in the surf, to ensure they are:
SURF COMPETENT, SURF CONFIDENT, SURF SAFE
Each year your child/Children must successfully complete their Age Groups Proficiency Level, as outlined below, to allow them to be a Nipper.
| Age Group | Preliminary Evaluation | Competition Evaluation | Age Group |
|---|---|---|---|
| Under 6 | Back or front float for a minimum 5 seconds, recover to stand.
Submerge to touch the bottom with hands. From a standing position in waist-deep water, perform a front glide (1-2 metres) and recover to stand |
n/a | Surf Play 1 |
| Under 7 | Back or front float for a minimum 10 seconds, recover to stand.
Submerge to touch the bottom with hands. From standing position in waist deep water, perform a front glide (2-3 metres) and recover to stand |
n/a | Surf Play 2 |
| Under 8 | Back or front float for a minimum 15 seconds, recover to stand.
Submerge to touch the bottom with hands. Swim on front any stroke (distance 20 metres) followed by swim underwater (distance 2-3 metres) |
Nil (no water competition, except for wade which takes place in waist-deep water) | Surf Aware 1 |
| Under 9 | Front to back float or back to front float – 5 seconds each side. Tread water and/or any stroke sculling for minimum of 1 minute.
Submerge to touch the bottom with hands. Swim on front through water any stroke for 25 metres followed by survival stroke/s breaststroke and/or sidestroke and/or back sculling for a minimum 10 metres. |
Minimum 150m open water swim (any recognised stoke) |
Surf Aware 2 |
| Under 10 | Front to back float or back to front float – 5 seconds each side. Tread water and/or any stroke sculling for minimum of 1 minute.
Submerge to touch the bottom with hands. Swim on front through water any stroke for 25 metres followed by survival stroke/s breaststroke and/or sidestroke and/or back sculling for a minimum 25 metres. |
Minimum 150m open water swim (any recognised stoke) |
Surf Safe 1 |
| Under 11 | Front to back float or back to front float – 5 seconds each side. Tread water and/or sculling for minimum 2 minutes.
Submerge to perform forward or backward roll/somersault underwater, recover to surface, submerge to touch the bottom with hands. Swim on front through water any stroke for 25 metres followed by survival stroke(s) breaststroke and/or sidestroke and/or back sculling for minimum 50m. |
Minimum 200m open water swim (any recognised stoke) |
Surf Safe 2 |
| Under 12 | Front to back float or back to front float – 5 seconds each side. Tread water and/or any stroke sculling for minimum 3 minutes.
Submerge to perform forward or backward roll/somersault underwater, recover to surface, submerge to touch the bottom with hands. Swim on front any stroke for 75 metres followed by survival stroke/s breaststroke and/or sidestroke for minimum 50 metres. |
Minimum 200m open water swim (any recognised stoke) |
Surf Smart 1 |
| Under 13 | Front to back float or back to front float – 5 seconds each side. Tread water and/or any stroke sculling for minimum 3 minutes.
Submerge to perform forward or backward roll/somersault underwater, recover to surface, submerge to touch the bottom with hands. Swim on front any stroke for 100m followed by survival stroke/s breaststroke and/or sidestroke for minimum 50metres. |
Minimum 200m open water swim (any recognised stoke) |
Surf Smart 2 |
| Under 14 (SRC) | Front to back float or back to front float – 5 seconds each side. Tread water and/or any stroke sculling for minimum 3 minutes.
Submerge to perform forward or backward roll/somersault underwater, do not recover to surface, submerge to touch bottom with hands. Swim on front any stroke for 100 meters followed by survival stroke(s) breaststroke and/or sidestroke for minimum 100 metres. |
Minimum 200m open water swim (any recognised stoke) |
Surf Rescue Certificate |
* Age group determined by age of Nipper at 30th September
** Every junior member is required to participate in this evaluation, conducted by the club, prior to any junior water activity training or competition being undertaken.
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.
*** The open water competition evaluation must also be achieved before any members are eligible to compete. Every junior member must achieve the relevant Surf Education Award appropriate to the age group to compete in championships.
**** Every junior member should achieve the relevant Surf Education Award appropriate to their age group.
Recognised (Swim) Stroke Definition: Recognised swimming/survival strokes (i.e. front crawl, breast stroke, back stroke, side stroke, survival back scull, butterfly) may be demonstrated using one or more combination of strokes. Both the preliminary and competition evaluations should be undertaken in a continuous fashion.