Who pays fines if my child breaks a contest rule?

Q: Who pays fines if my child breaks a contest rule?

Under the SSA Rulebook 2025 (Sections 2.4 and 8): At national team events, fines are the responsibility of the surfer's district, and must be paid to Surfing SA immediately. If not, the surfer loses the points they would have earned for the team and is eliminated from the contest (the district must still pay). At non-team events, fines are paid by the surfer or, if 18 or under, by their parent or guardian, immediately (to Surfing SA at national events, or to the district at district events). A surfer who doesn't pay and has qualified for the next round is withdrawn from that round, and can't surf any contest until the fine is paid. Fines range from R200 to R6,000 (up to R10,000 for assault) and double each time another is imposed on the same person. The Contest Director may give a yellow card warning first. Common junior fines: no-show R1,500, surfing in the contest area during heats R1,500 and/or disqualification, removing the contest vest before returning it R200, and wearing it incorrectly R250.

Question

Accepted Answer

Under the SSA Rulebook 2025 (Sections 2.4 and 8):

At national team events, fines are the responsibility of the surfer's district, and must be paid to Surfing SA immediately. If not, the surfer loses the points they would have earned for the team and is eliminated from the contest (the district must still pay).
At non-team events, fines are paid by the surfer or, if 18 or under, by their parent or guardian, immediately (to Surfing SA at national events, or to the district at district events).
A surfer who doesn't pay and has qualified for the next round is withdrawn from that round, and can't surf any contest until the fine is paid.
Fines range from R200 to R6,000 (up to R10,000 for assault) and double each time another is imposed on the same person. The Contest Director may give a yellow card warning first.

Common junior fines: no-show R1,500, surfing in the contest area during heats R1,500 and/or disqualification, removing the contest vest before returning it R200, and wearing it incorrectly R250.