(a) To be eligible to compete in SLSA Championship competition all members from the U15 age group up to and including Masters must, by the close of normal entries for the relevant Championship:
(i) Be a registered and current financial member of SLSA.
(ii) Be the holder of the appropriate SLSA award relevant to the age category as detailed in the current edition of the Surf Sports Manual or hold the equivalent overseas ILS member country award.
(iii) Be SLSA proficient as prescribed for the relevant SLSA Award required for competition eligibility as at the normal closing date of entries.
(iv) Be eligible under the necessary age category.
(v) Have met their patrol and/or service commitments as detailed in SLSA Policy 5. 04 and required by their Club, Branch, State and SLSA.
(vi) Not be in default with their Club, Branch, State Centre or SLSA (or overseas ILS member associations) in relation to their service, financial or discipline obligations.
(vii) Have met any other competition eligibility qualification requirements for specific events e.g. IRB, Surf Boat (sweep), Champion Patrol, First Aid.
Note 1: Continuing U14 and U15 age proficient award holding members may continue to participate in events with their existing age award and proficiency up until 31 December each year.
Note 2: Masters competitors over the age of 50 years who wish only to compete in Masters championship competition must hold a SLSA Bronze Medallion and a current Bronze Medallion proficiency as detailed in SLSA Policy 5.04 except that these members may have an extended run swim run time of 12 minutes. This extended run swim run time limit for Masters competitors over the age of 50 years will not requalify a member to be eligible to undertake Bronze Medallion patrol duties.
(b) To be eligible to compete in SLSA Non-Championship competitions all award members from the U15 age group up to and including Masters must:
- (i) Be a registered and current financial member of SLSA.
- (ii) Be the holder of the appropriate SLSA award relevant to the age category as detailed in the current edition of the Surf Sports Manual or hold the equivalent overseas ILS member country award.
- (iii) Be SLSA proficient as prescribed for the relevant SLSA Award required for competition.
- (iv) Be eligible under the necessary age category.
- (v) Have met their patrol and/or service commitments as required by their Club.
- (vi) Not be in default with their Club, Branch, State Centre or SLSA (or overseas ILS member associations) in relation to their service, financial or discipline obligations.
- (vii) Have met any other competition eligibility qualification requirements for specific events e.g. IRB, Surf Boat (sweep), Champion Patrol, First Aid.
Note 1: Continuing U14 and U15 age proficient award holding members may continue to participate in events with their existing age award and proficiency up until 31 December each year.
Note 2: Masters competitors over the age of 50 years who wish only to compete in Masters championship competition must hold a SLSA Bronze Medallion and a current Bronze Medallion proficiency as detailed in SLSA Policy 5.04 except that these members may have an extended run swim run time of 12 minutes.
This extended run swim run time limit for Masters competitors over the age of 50 years will not requalify a member to be eligible to undertake Bronze Medallion patrol duties.
(c) Non-Award Members aged U15 to Masters may, for a maximum of 120 days from the date of joining SLSA (SLSA Policies 5.04 and 1.02), be eligible to compete in SLSA nonchampionship competitions (except for IRB or Surf Boat events as a sweep) provided that:
- (i) They are a registered and current financial member of SLSA.
- (ii) Completed the basic assessment for the appropriate SLSA award relevant to the age category (e.g. relevant pool swim and run-swim-run).
- (iii) Be eligible under the necessary age category.
- (iv) Have received instruction from a current accredited SLSA Coach regarding any craft to be used in the event and the event procedure.
- (v) Supervision in the competition by a current accredited SLSA coach.
- (vi) The Non-Award Member’s Club or the organising authority provides water safety for the unqualified participant as per the Water Safety Policy.
- (vii) Should prevailing surf conditions require a change of competition conduct or restriction of starters for safety reasons, non-award holders will not be permitted to participate.
(d) To be eligible to compete in SLSA Junior Activity (U8 to U14 age) championship and nonchampionship competition, members must:
- (i) Be a registered and current financial member of a club affiliated with SLSA.
- (ii) Complete a Junior Competition Evaluation (including the open water evaluation) prior to being eligible to participate at interclub competitions.
- (iii) Complete the appropriate SLSA Age award and Junior Competition Evaluation (including the open water swim evaluation) relevant to the member’s age category by the normal closing date of entry in any championship competition.
- (iv) Be eligible under the necessary age category.
Note 1: Junior Activities members who hold the Surf Rescue Certificate are not required to perform patrol and/or service hours to compete in U13 and U14 individual age competition or championships and U15 team events in SLSA Youth and Pool Championships.
Note 2: U8 members shall not be permitted to compete in water events other than the Wade Relay. The reason for this is that the Junior Competition Evaluation (open water swim evaluation) does not form part of the Junior Preliminary Skills Assessment for U8 members.
(e) Special Circumstances:
- (i) Upon application the SLSA Chairs of Lifesaving and Sport may, in very special circumstances, approve limited competition eligibility for members with a significant medical issue and/or permanent and limiting disability who cannot obtain or maintain a proficient age award, Surf Rescue Certificate or Bronze Medallion to participate in non-water events provided that all other qualification criteria is met. Such approval may be on-going or subject to annual review as advised on a case by case basis by SLSA.
Note: If an on-going approval is provided it is the responsibility of the club and/or member to maintain documentation for production upon request by SLSA. - (ii) SLSA may also make special allowances for requalification that may enable a member to participate in water-based competition e.g. a time concession approved to complete a run swim run proficiency because of mobility issues on land. This would be on the basis that all other eligibility criteria have been met. Such approval may be on-going or subject to annual review as advised on a case by case basis by SLSA.
Note: If an on-going approval is provided it is the responsibility of the club and/or member to maintain documentation for production upon request by SLSA. - (iii) Any such approvals will also enable an eligible member to compete in Championship competition and will include SLSA endorsement, as appropriate, to enter ILS or ILS member competition.
- (iv) SLSA may also conduct designated inclusive/adaptive water based and beach participation events for unqualified and/or qualified members with a disability. In such circumstances water based events will be conducted with water safety assessments and at least the minimum requirement for unqualified participants as detailed in the SLSA Water Safety Policy 1.01. Clubs will be expected to assist with the water safety of their participants. Details of events, rules and particular requirements will be promulgated by way of entry circulars.
Note: This section is not to assist competitors who have suffered an injury. The section is intended to assist members with a significant medical issue or permanent limiting disability to participate in SLSA competition.