Objectives

• To learn the skills required to gain the Surf Lifeguard Award.

• To provide the best possible life saving experience for all juniors with the view to encouraging long-term active participation.

• To provide opportunities for juniors to actively participate in and enjoy life saving and competition in an aquatic environment.

• To ensure our junior member are safe on New Zealand's beaches through building knowledge and experiences in the Junior Surf Programme.

• To develop a team based philosophy encompassing leadership, camaraderie, teamwork, and fun.

• To promote social, emotional and physical growth and development in a healthy and safe environment. 

 

From the age of 7 years children can join the Club to participate in Junior Surf.  

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We encourage children to have fun and develop their skills, so they can enjoy the beach and one day might be able to save someone else too. 

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It's about developing tomorrow's lifeguards and opening up a whole new world to children.

There are seven achievement levels within the Junior Surf programme providing a managed pathway for children to gain confidence in the surf.

 

Level 1 (7 year olds)

• Pool Swim 25 metres

• Open water swim 25 metres

• Survival Float for 20 seconds

• Wading and negotiating the waves in and out

• Demonstrate being confident in the waves

• Diving under a wave

• Gliding onto a wave from standing position

• Run Wade Run 25m x 50m x 25m

• Body board using leash, catching a wave, paddling

• Six theory questions

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Level 2 (8 year olds)

• Pool Swim 50 metres

• Open water swim 50 metres

• Wading with correct technique

• Negotiating waves in and out

• Survival Float for 30 seconds

• Body surfing catching a wave, stroke on wave

• Tread water 30 seconds

• Run Swim or Dolphin Dive Run 30m x 50m x 30m

• Paddling lying down, negotiating waves in and out

• Six theory questions

 

Level 3 (9 year olds)

• Pool swim 100 metres

• Open water swim up to 100 metres

• Diving under a wave

• Wade, dolphin diving to waist depth, swim

• Body surfing, on a wave, stroking on wave

• Tread water 1 minute

• Run Swim Run 50m x 75m x 50m

• Achieving three of the following on a board: Surfing along a wave with fins, going over the top of a wave on the way out, going under a wave, Eskimo Roll

• Six theory questions

 

Level 4 (10 year olds)

• Pool swim 200 metres in 7 minutes

• Ocean water swim 200 metres

• Swim with a tube, fins and patient

• Diving under wave, pushing off the bottom

• Body surfing, swimming to catch a wave

• Tread water 1 minute

• Run Swim Run 50m x 100m x 50m

• Board paddling, kneeling, negotiating surf, turning, catching a wave, and holding on, paddling with a patient

• Paddling with two on board

• Five theory questions

 

Level 5 (11 year olds)

• Pool swim 200 metres in 5 minutes (and / or)

• Ocean water swim 200 metres

• Diving under wave, 5 dolphin dives

• Body surfing, swimming to catch a wave

• Hand up for 30 seconds to signal for help - notify Patrol Captain before doing

• Swim with tube, fins and patient following a patient pick up

• Tread water 2 minutes, assistance required

• Run Swim Run 100m x 200m x 100m

• Board catching unbroken wave, turning around buoy, punching through white water, recovering from falling off your board.

• Controlling your board and changing direction

• Paddle two to a board

• Pick up a patient on a board

• Four theory questions

 

Level 6 (12 year olds)

• Pre requisite - Level 5 Award

• 200 metre pool swim in 4.5 minutes

• Run Swim Run in the ocean (100m run including the wade,  200m swim, 100m run) in 7 minutes

• Tow a patient in a rescue tube a minimum distance of 30  metres. The rescuer must wear flippers. 

• Six theory questions

• Level 7 (13 year olds)

• Rookie Lifeguard Programme

• Contact the Club Captain for information on this programme

 

Photo credit: Andrew McArthur