Member Youth Programs

Youth
Programs

Youth programs are a huge part of Surf Life Saving Queensland.

Youth programs are a huge part of Surf Life Saving Queensland (SLSQ), fostering the next generation of lifesavers and community leaders. These programs are designed to engage young people, developing their skills, knowledge, and passion for surf lifesaving.

This webpage is designed to give Members valuable information about our youth programs.

2023-2024 SLSQ JUNIOR ACTIVITIES INFORMATION

JUNIOR
EVALUATIONS

JUNIOR PRELIMINARY SKILLS EVALUATION

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.

PRELIMINARY AWARD PROCESSING PROCEDURE

EXTERNAL SWIM COACH EVALUATION FORM

INTERNAL SURF COACH EVALUATION FORM

Group Competition & Run-Swim-Run Form

GROUP POOL EVALUATION FORM

GROUP RUN-SWIM-RUN EVALUATION FORM

JUNIOR COMPETITION EVALUATION

We ask that all clubs please in the first instance, process their competition evaluations through the SLSA Nipper App. Paper versions (found below) are still available for this season.

From the age of 7 (U8) juniors may begin to compete in inter‐club competition. To ensure all junior members who wish to compete have the ability, strength, and fitness standard to complete the course, they must be able to complete the junior competition evaluation for their age group.

The junior competition evaluation is based on the swim competition distances as set out in the current SLSA Australian Surf Sports Manual for that age group and is a standard in the form of an open water swim. Individual branches may have a higher standard for their competition evaluation. Contact the relevant branch office for confirmation.

Before Junior Activities Members can complete the Junior Competition Evaluation they must complete the Junior Preliminary Skills Evaluation (Pool Swim and Run-Swim-Run).

COMPETITION SKILLS EVALUATION PROCESSING PROCEDURE

SLSQ GROUP COMPETITION EVALUATION FORM

GROUP COMPETITION & RUN-SWIM-RUN FORM

AGE
MANAGERS

The Age Manager has one of the most important jobs in Surf Life Saving – Age Managers are responsible for the caring and nurturing of our future surf lifesavers. The role of an Age Manager is to both develop our Junior Activities members into surf lifesavers and to provide a supportive environment in which they can learn and grow.

Age Managers are:

Responsible for the care, safety, wellbeing and development of the Junior Activities members
Responsible for facilitating the development of surf lifesaving skills (movement skills, surf awareness, etc.) and personal skills (e.g. confidence, teamwork, leadership)
Fundamental in the delivery of a learning program that encourages and develops young surf lifesavers
Responsible to seek out and utilise expertise from within your club for the delivery of programs

Since 31 December 2010 all persons responsible for a Junior Activities age group must hold an Age Managers Accreditation.

Learn More

frequently asked
questions

WHAT AGE GROUP IS MY CHILD IN?

The absolute minimum age for a child to join the organisation and participate in Junior Activities is 5 years old (U6), up to a maximum of 13 years (U14) on a seasonal basis.

The 30th September date will verify which age group you will be registered in for each season. There is no allowance for children to register in any age group they are not eligible for (based on the rule above). The Age Group Quick Reference Guide shall be the sole determination for registration of Junior Activity members.

A child may join as soon as they turn 5 years of age. No club is to accept membership of a child until they have reached the age of 5 years to comply with insurance requirements. A child who reaches 5 years after the 30th of 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 club's responsibility to explain this to the parents of the child. Note: proof of age must be sighted for all new children joining a club.

Age group quick reference guide for the 2023/24 Season

IS IT POSSIBLE TO MOVE AGE GROUPS?

There are various reasons nippers may move down an age group, i.e., competency, ability, and social situations; the same year in school, however, in different age groups due to birthdate.

It is currently approved that nippers may move down one age group. I.e., an u9 child may participate in u8’s should they complete the u8 preliminary evaluations. They will only receive the age award for the lower age group & will be unable to compete.

Children are permitted to move up 1 age group and they are unable to
compete in the higher age group. The child will need to complete the junior evaluations for the higher age group, and they will gain the age award of the higher age group not their registered age group.

Please note that moving age groups is not supported in the SLSA Nipper App as it is built in to Surfguard.

Age Group Transfer Form

HOW OFTEN DO I BRING MY CHILD TO THE BEACH?

WHAT DOES MY CHILD NEED?

Bathers/togs, a club cap, water bottle, long sleeved t-shirt or long-sleeved rash top, sun hat, a towel and sunscreen. It is also mandatory for all nippers to wear a high visibility rash vest. Most clubs have stocks of club-branded apparel – speak to the relevant club person for prices etc.

Note: For all Surf Life Saving Clubs north of Agnes Water SLSC (Gladstone region), nippers are required to wear a stinger suit.

WHAT ARE JUNIOR AWARDS?

WHAT CAN I DO TO HELP?

Parents can become involved in many areas of club activity. Areas can include helping with training, coaching, being a team manager, officiating, fundraising, providing water safety (if you gain your Surf Rescue Certificate or Bronze Medallion), cooking the club BBQ etc., but most of all supporting your child in their Junior Activities journey

Age Manager Assistants are a vital component on the beach in assisting Age Managers each week. Age Manager Assistants can join from 13 years of age and upon completion of the online component of the Age Manager course prior to taking on the role of Age Manager Assistant.

In order for Junior Activities to exist, the support of volunteers in various roles throughout the season is crucial. Regardless of whether you are a strong swimmer or not, there will always be somewhere you can lend a helping hand. Below you can find a list of some of the more common roles that are available within Surf Life Saving specific to Junior Activities. If any parents or siblings of your Junior Activities members are interested in any of these, pass on this information so they know how to get involved.

Roles that do not require an award:

• Beach set up/pack down

• Fundraising

• Canteen/BBQ

• Gear and equipment maintenance

• Photographer*

• Uniform

• Assistant Age Manager/ Parent Rep. Coordinator

• Member of Junior Activities Committee

Note: Club Photographer requires an SLSQ Photographer Pass. See your club’s Administrator for further details.

Roles that require an award:

•Age Manager

•Water Safety

•Coach

•Official

•Education/Training of Members

•First Aid

•4WD/ATV/Tractor Driver

WHAT HAPPENS WHEN MY CHILD HAS FINISHED ALL THE JUNIOR ACTIVITIES AGE GROUPS AND AWARDS?

The Junior Development Program is designed to gradually introduce your child into the role of a qualified surf lifesaver and assist in patrolling the beaches. They can continue to be involved in a variety of competition events if desired. They will undertake various other awards and learn many facets of community service involvement. They can be taught specialist areas of competition and compete both at a state and national level. Clubs are also encouraged to conduct development and bridging programs to assist with transitioning to the senior club. Contact your club’s Youth Development Officer for more information.

WHAT EQUIPMENT CAN MY CHILD USE?

Nippers have access to a range of age-appropriate equipment, as nippers progress through the age groups the equipment will change to suit the needs of the age group lessons.

U6/7 – Boogie boards
U8/9/10 – Foam Nipper Paddle Boards
U11/12/13 – Fiberglass Nipper Paddle Boards
U14 – Long Mal Paddle Board

For a full breakdown of what boards specs, please refer to the SLSQ Junior Board Guide.

WHERE CAN THE JUNIOR ACTIVITIES PRELIMINARY EVALUATION TAKE PLACE?

WHAT HAPPENS WHEN A CHILD DOES NOT PASS THE JUNIOR ACTIVITIES PRELIMINARY EVALUATION?

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

E.g., if you have a nipper who doesn’t meet the requirements for the propulsion component of the evaluation, you will need to ensure that this child was provided with additional water safety when completing in-water activities. You may also wish to have this child wear a coloured wristband so they can be easily identified. Remember that this is not a Skills Maintenance/Proficiency, but an evaluation of competency.