SKILLS EVALUATION

Junior Preliminary & Competition 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, Surf Life Saving Australia (SLSA)  has developed a Junior Preliminary Skills Evaluation for each age group.

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. It includes a swim and a float which is progressively increased by age group. Normally this would occur at the very first training session but if not this must be completed before any water activity is undertaken. The intent of this is to conduct an evaluation of each junior member’s own swimming and water survival ability for the information of the member, parent and age manager. 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.  If the child is in the U8 group, or higher, they will need to be accompanied 1:1 in the water by a Water Safety qualified adult (SRC or Bronze).  This may preclude the child from water skills involvement that day if there are not enough suitably qualified adults available to assist.

If a child completes the competency skills required but is fearful in the water and shows signs of panic it may be appropriate for this child to be accompanied 1:1 in the water by a Water Safety qualifed adult while the childs confidence and comfort in the water is developed.  It should be remembered that open water swimming and confidence is very different from pool swimming and confidence.

It is important to remember that nipper programs via Life Saving clubs are not ‘learn to swim’ programs.

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. It is a requirement that these children remain in shallow water and based on a 1:1 ratio until the child is deemed competent in relation to the preliminary skills evaluation guidelines. Any child that does complete the preliminary skills evaluation competently can progress to water based junior activities noting regular water safety 5:1 ratio requirements must be provided as per the junior SLSA water safety policy. As a parent, this will mean that you must actively assist the coach with your child’s training activities within the water until such time that they are competent (i.e. parent must bring their bathers and get in the water if necessary).

Junior Competition Evaluation

From the age of 8 (Under 9) juniors can begin to compete in inter-club competition. To ensure that 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 distances as set out in the Surf Sports Manual for that age group and is a minimum standard guideline in the form of an open water swim. Individual states may have a higher standard for their competition evaluation.

Notes: Every junior member is required to participate in this evaluation, conducted by the club, prior to any junior water activity training or competition. 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 competition evaluation must be achieved before being eligible to compete in inter-club competition.

This is a minimum standard water proficiency requirement.