When can my child start competing, and what do they need first?

Under 6 and Under 7 Nippers do not compete. The Surf Sports Manual (38th edition) has one-year competition categories from Under 8 to Under 15, and a child's age category is set by their age at midnight on 30 September.

To enter competition a child must complete the relevant Junior Preliminary Skills Evaluation, the Junior Competition Evaluation (open water) and the Junior Education Award for their age group, within the required time frames. SLSA's factsheet (2021/22 edition) adds that juniors can compete in intra-club, inter-club and branch competition from Under 8 and in state competition from Under 9, and that Under 14 and younger members do not have to do patrol hours to compete in junior competitions.

Minimum competition evaluations (SLSA national standard in the 2021/22 factsheet; Surf Life Saving Queensland's 2024/25 update lists the same distances, and says swims must be majority overarm stroke):

• Under 8: no water competition except the wade, held in waist-deep water.
• Under 9 and Under 10: minimum 150 m open water swim.
• Under 11 and older: minimum 200 m open water swim.

Branches may set distances above these minimums.

Sources: https://sls.com.au/wp-content/uploads/sites/13/2026/05/SLSA_SurfSportsManual_38thEdition_Oct2025_web.pdf ; https://www.surflifesaving.com.au/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2021/08/Age-Groups-Preliminary-and-Competitions-Evaluations-Factsheet.pdf ; https://lifesaving.com.au/app/uploads/106.08.2024-2024.2025-Junior-Activities-Update.pdf