Surf Sports Education Pathways 

Surf sports education plays a vital role in the success of surf sports events and athlete development within clubs. For carnivals and larger sporting events to be successful there is the need for volunteer age managers, coaches and officials to ensure safe and fair competition is available in Tasmania for athletes young and old. Member who don't wish to compete or have finished their competitive careers are encouraged to be involved in sport through becoming an Age Manager, Coach or Official. 

CLICK HERE FOR A QUICK GUIDE FOR PATHWAYS TO THE ABOVE ACCREDITATIONS

How to access the online content for the above accreditations:

Working With Vulnerable People Card

1. Visit the Working With Vulnerable People website. 
2. Complete online form and make payment .
3. Send copy of WWVP to club contact (Secretary/ Registrar or whoever handles this at your club) to be added to your Surfguard account. 

Australian Sports Commission (online community coaching or officiating course)

1. Visit the SportAus|AIS website.
2. Select 'Coaches and Officials' from menu items. 
3. Enrol and complete either 'Community Coaching - Essential Skills Course' for Coaches or 'Online Officiating Course' for Officials. 

SLSA Online Modules 

1. Login to SLSA Members Area
2. Select 'eLearning' from the top banner of menu options. 
3. Select 'Login to eLearning'
4. Select 'Training Library' from side banner menu options. 
5. Select 'View Courses' for either: Age Managers, Coaches or Officials. 
6. Enrol and complete the online units for the chosen award.

AGE MANAGERS 

Age managers are responsible for the care, safety, wellbeing and development of junior surf life savers aged 5 to 14. 

Process for becoming an Accredited Age Manager:

1. Complete Working With Vulnerable People Check
2. Complete SLSA Online Modules (SLS - Age Managers + Inclusive Beaches - An Introduction).
3. Complete Child Safe SLS - Child Safe Awareness Module.
4. Download Junior Development Resources.
5. Notify SLST for information relating to award finalisation.

Cost for Age Managers Award: Online content free of charge to SLST members. (plus cost of volunteer WWVP.)

COACHES

Coaches plan and deliver instruction and training in surf sports techniques. There are three types of coaches in the SLSA coaching framework (Foundation Coach, Development Coach and Performance Coach). 

Foundation Coach 

Entry level coach for parents and club members who are new to coaching. The course aims to provide coaches with the knowledge and skills needed to coach in a surf club environment using a games sense approach. It covers the three general principals of surf sports - swim, beach and board. 

Process for becoming a Foundation Coach:

1. Complete Working With Vulnerable People Check
2. Enrol and Complete the free Australian Sports Commission 'Online Coaching Course'
3. Complete SLSA Online Modules (SLS - Foundation Coach). 
4. Plan and deliver at least 2 coaching sessions with mentor coach (Who holds Foundation Coach Award) to fill out the Foundation Coach Assessment Tool.
5. Send WWVP, Online Module Completion Certificate (SLSA + ASC) and Foundation Coach Assessment Tool to SLST for processing.

Cost for Foundation Coach Award: $50.00 (plus cost of volunteer WWVP)

Development Coach 

Experienced coach with knowledge and skills to effectively plan and deliver specific coaching sessions with a particular focus on skill development. 

Process for becoming a Development Coach:

1. Hold the SLSA Foundation Coach Award (detailed above)
2. Complete Working With Vulnerable People Check
3. Must have completed the free Australian Sports Commission 'Online Coaching Course'
4. Complete SLSA Online Modules (SLS - Development Coach). 
5. Plan and deliver at least 2 coaching sessions with mentor coach (Who holds Foundation Coach Award) to complete Development Coach Assessment Tool.
6. Send WWVP, Online Module Completion Certificate (SLSA + ASC) and Development Coach Assessment Tool to SLST for processing.

Cost for Development Coach Award: $90.00 (plus cost of volunteer WWVP)

Performance Coach 

A coach who is a specialist within their discipline, striving for performance based outcomes from their athletes. The performance coach is a mentor to other coaches and can facilitate workshops in their nominated disciplines.  

Process for becoming a Performance Coach:

1. Hold the SLSA Development Coach Award (detailed above)
2. Must have completed Working With Vulnerable People Check
3. Must have completed the free Australian Sports Commission 'Online Coaching Course'
4. Enrol in SLSA Online Modules (SLS - Performance Coach) as expression of interest.
5. Attend face-to-face Performance Coach Course.  

Cost for Performance Coach Award: $90.00 (plus cost of volunteer WWVP)

Coaching Resources are available via the Sports Hub - SLS Members Area

Foundation Coach Assessment Tool

Development Coach Assessment Tool

Foundation and Development Coach Reaccreditation Form 

Performance Surf Coach Reaccreditation Form

OFFICIALS

Officials are responsible for the safe and fair conduct of surf sports events. An official is any person who controls or judges then technical aspects of competition through many roles including: Marshalling, Recording, Judging, Timekeeping. There are three levels of officials in the SLSA officiating framework (Core Officials, Technical Officials and Senior Official). 

Core Official

Core officials work with entry level participants from U8-U14 age categories at junior competitions. They can hold these officiating roles: Marshall, Recorder, Timekeeper or Finish Judge. 

Process for becoming a Core Official:

1. Complete Working With Vulnerable People Check
2. Enrol and Complete the free Australian Sports Commission 'Online Officiating Course'
3. Complete SLSA Online Modules (SLS - Core Official). 
4. Officiate at least 2 SLST Junior Carnivals with mentor official (Who holds Technical Official Award or above) and record in Surf Sports Officials Log Book (available from SLST State Centre). 
5. Send WWVP, Online Module Completion Certificate (SLSA + ASC) and copy of signed Surf Sports Officials Log Book to SLST for processing.

Cost for Core Offical Award: $10 (plus cost of volunteer WWVP)

Technical Official

Technical Officials are permitted to officiate at club and State events. Officiating roles may include: Marshall/Check Marshall, Starter/Check Starter, Timekeeper or Finish Judge. 

Process for becoming a Technical Official:

1. Complete Working With Vulnerable People Check
2. Enrol and Complete the free Australian Sports Commission 'Online Officiating Course'
3. Complete SLSA Online Modules (SLS - Technical Official). 
4. Officiate at least 2 SLST Carnivals with mentor official (Who holds Technical Official Award or above) and record in Surf Sports Officials Log Book (available from SLST State Centre). 
5. Send WWVP, Online Module Completion Certificate (SLSA + ASC) and copy of signed Surf Sports Officials Log Book to SLST for processing.

Cost for Technical Offical Award: $10 (plus cost of volunteer WWVP)

Senior Official 

Senior officials are those who work with athletes competing in State/National Surf Sports competition. Officiating roles may include: Referee, Area Referee, Sectional Referee, Chief Judge and Course Supervisor. 

Process for becoming a Senior Official:

1. Must hold SLSA Technical Official Award. 
2. Must have completed Working With Vulnerable People Check
3. Must have completed the free Australian Sports Commission 'Online Officiating Course' 
4. Enrol in SLSA Online Modules (SLS - Senior Official) as expression of interest.
5. Attend face-to-face Senior Official Course.  

Cost for Senior Offical Award: $25.00 (plus cost of volunteer WWVP: $19.44)

Officials Resources 

Officials Reaccreditation Form