Junior Surf

What is Junior Surf?

From the age of 5 years, children can join their local Surf Life Saving Club to participate in Junior Surf.

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

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

Omanu Beach SLSC has one of the biggest programmes in New Zealand

The Junior Surf season runs from November through to March.

We encourage children to have fun and develop their skills.

It is easy to join, and you are welcome to come along on a Sunday morning where Junior Surf sessions start at 10am.

Age Categories

Junior Surf (Nippers) starts at the age of 5 years (children must be 5 on or after 1 October) and goes through to 13 years old.

Children are grouped together in age category.

They are required to wear a beanie if they are to enter the water.

The colour of the beanie indicates the Junior Surf group the child belongs with (age taken as at 1 October):

  • Pink – 5 years
  • Orange – 6 years
  • Red – 7 years
  • Green – 8 years
  • Yellow – 9 years
  • Blue – 10 & 11 years
  • Black – 12 &13 years

Registration for Junior Surf

Usually the Sunday before Labour weekend, but you can also register at any time during the season on a Sunday morning.

Uniforms, togs etc can be purchased when you register or on Sunday morning.

Leaders of Junior Surf

All leaders have attended a Junior Surf training course and run activities from beach to water activities.

The goal is to develop and foster the child’s confidence and skill levels in Junior Surf.

As children move through the age groups they will develop a greater confidence in the surf environment.

Our Leaders are parent volunteers and if you wish to assist we are always looking for new Leaders.

The club policy is that each child will have a parents / guardian on the beach while their child is involved in Junior Surf.

This is important to ensure the safety of the children.

 

Cancellation

We are using Sportcheck to notify of cancellation or last minute changes to Junior Surf for Sunday sessions.

Two options to register:

  1. Text “jsurf” to 3080
  2. or go to www.sportcheck.co.nz. Enter
    • sport: surf lifesaving
    • region: Bay of Plenty
    • club: Omanu Surf Life Saving
    • then press go

You have the option to enter your mobile number in the slot under Team: Nippers.

You will now receive notification of cancellation or last minute changes by text at a cost of .50c per text.

Junior Surf Academy

We also run a Junior Surf Academy which is held each Tuesday and Friday evenings between 5.00 to 6.00pm at the Club.

This programme is targeted at 9, 10 and 11 year old Junior Surf members to teach the skills of surf life saving i.e. boards, surf and beach skills.

This is a great opportunity gain more confidence on the use of surf life saving equipment.

Rookie (Junior) Lifeguard

Targeted at 13 years olds with the aim to develop a transition from Junior Surf members into active lifeguards.

Rookie lifeguards go through a training programme and assist lifeguards on patrol until they are old enough to sit and pass their bronze and become a lifeguard.

Ocean Athletes

Targeted at those Junior Surf members who want to represent the Club at Ocean Athletes at Mt Maunganui main beach at the end of February each year.

Training is done under the guidance of our Club Coach Scott Bartlett. See surf sport section for training details.

Omanu Beach Surf Life Saving Club is a great family environment and we hope you enjoy your time.

Contact

If you want more information please contact Jonathan York Director of Junior Surf on 07 5748783 or 021 446 124

Download the Code of Conduct (210Kb .pdf)