Junior Preliminary Evaluations
Junior preliminary evaluations are a risk-management procedure to assess the swimming capabilities of junior members and must be done as part of your SLSC’s duty of care. They should occur before or during the first week of a Nipper season as every junior member must be evaluated before participating in water-based activities.
The evaluation for age groups U8 to U13 includes a swim and a survival float that progresses in distance and time as the junior members grow older. Your SLSC should conduct this evaluation in a low-risk environment, such as a swimming pool or shallow open water.
SLSNSW recommends that all new junior members be supported by a 1:1 water safety ratio when completing their junior preliminary evaluation. A maximum supervision ratio of 1:5 applies as per SLSA Policy 1.01a Water Safety Procedures to ensure your SLSC conducts the evaluations in a safe aquatic environment for returning members.
Any junior member who does not meet the required evaluation level for their age group will need a higher level of supervision when involved in water-based activities. It is a requirement that junior members remain in a low-risk environment (swimming pool, shallow water) with a supervision ratio of 1:1 until they are deemed competent in relation to the junior preliminary skills evaluation guidelines.
Refer to the SLSNSW Junior Activity Information Bulletin 2024_25 Season for the latest junior preliminary evaluation requirements.
Junior Development Program Resource Kit (JDR Kit)
The SLSA Junior Development Resource Kit (JDR Kit) comprises several resources for the effective delivery of the SLSA Junior Development Program. The resources take the stress out of planning and help reduce preparation time to assist age managers in delivering Nipper sessions each week. SLS members who are also learning and development experts designed the resources while considering how children learn and grow.
The latest SLSA Age Manager’s Learner Guide forms part of and outlines the resources available within the JDR Kit available in the SLS Members Area Document Library. Examples of resources include:
• Age guides containing ‘surf education award’ lesson plans and surf sport coaching tips
• Surf education award passports and worksheets for Nippers
• Surf education award and lesson content summaries
• Session and weekly calendar templates
• Beach layouts
• Surf education award certificates.
Surf Education Awards
The national Junior Development Program includes a series of surf education awards comprised of lessons and resources tailored to different age groups of junior members aged 5 years (U6) to 12 years (U13). The program covers a diverse range of age-appropriate knowledge and skill-based learning outcomes related to surf skills, emergency care and surf awareness.
The program is based on participatory evaluation and not assessed on competence. This means junior members must only be actively involved in each of the lessons to be eligible for their relevant surf education award.
Some competitive juniors may also want to showcase their new lifesaving skills by participating in additional junior surf sports program activities.
Junior Surf Sports
SLSCs are encouraged to establish a Junior Surf Sport Program as competition plays an important role in helping to strengthen and develop the skills of surf lifesavers.
Refer to the Junior Sport Resources section of the Junior Activities page for more information on inter-club competition ages and requirements. The Junior Sport Resources contains information on the Junior Board Guide, mid-week training and a number of resources to assist with coaching juniors and general coaching tips.
Refer to the Surf Sports section of this Club Guide for more information on the types of surf sports, surf sports events and development opportunities for competitive SLS members. This section of the Club Guide also contains information about establishing surf sports programs for SLS members of all ages within your SLSC.