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.

Members 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. 

Coaches work with surf sport participants across all of the disciplines of lifesaving. Coaches are fully accredited under the National Coaching Accreditation Scheme (NCAS) and there are several tiers within the coaching pathway:

• Age Manager (nb. not part of the NCAS)
• Foundation Coach
• Development Coach
• Performance Coach
• High Performance Coach
  
  

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:

• Online courses are available through SLSA eLearning

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). 

Prerequisite: COMMUNITY COACHING ESSENTIAL SKILLS

The Australian Sports Commission (ASC) Community Coaching Essential Skills is a prerequisite for the Foundation, Development and Performance Coaching Courses and is free of charge. The CCES online course has been developed to assist coaches to learn the basic skills of coaching, particularly coaches working with children. This course is not sport specific, however you will develop a knowledge and understanding in general coaching.

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. 

Foundation Coach Training Process & FAQs

Development Coach 

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

Development Coach Training Process & FAQs

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.  

Performance Coach Training Process & FAQs

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

OFFICIALS

Officials play an important part within our organisation and are integral to the ongoing delivery of our sport. Officials ensure competitions are run in a safe and secure environment, while maintaining rules and regulations.

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). 

PRE-REQUISITE: COMMUNITY OFFICIATING ESSENTIAL SKILLS

The Australian Sports Commission (ASC) Community Officiating Essential Skills is a prerequisite for the Core, Technical and Senior Official Courses and is free of charge. The COES online course helps officials facilitate safe, inclusive and enjoyable competition environments for all participants. This course is not sport specific, however you will develop a knowledge and understanding in general official topics 

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. 

Core Official Training Process & FAQs

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. 

Technical Official Training Process & FAQs

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.