The Surf Coach Safety Award is the essential water safety qualification for surf coaches and instructors working in low-risk coastal environments.
- Designed for surf coaches, instructors and surfboard hiring organisations operating in primarily wading-depth water
- Establishes a vocational minimum standard for participant safety during coached surf activity sessions
- Combines theory and practical land and water-based training
- Course units can be completed over a number of weeks or condensed into 3 days
Who is this award for?
Surf coaches and instructors aged 16 or over who are responsible for the safety of participants during coached surf sessions in low-risk locations close to the beach, primarily in wading-depth water. It is also applicable to surfboard hiring organisations. The award is valid for 24 months and holders should always take account of local conditions and location-specific guidance when coaching.
What is covered during the award?
The Surf Coach Safety Award equips coaches to prevent incidents and, when called upon, provide an effective basic rescue response and life support for those in their session. At its core is a focus on:
- Your roles and responsibilities as a Coach/Lifesaver in a public beach and water environment
- Understanding the surf and water environment, including tides, rips, water flow and weather, and the impact these have on participants and the coaching team
- Applying preventative and reactive safety protocols throughout the in-water session
- Aquatic risk management and safe working practices, including the use of PPE
- Rescue skills using no equipment, a rescue tube, surf board or other flotation device used during the teaching process
- Managing a suspected spinal casualty in an aquatic environment
- Basic and paediatric life support and first aid in an aquatic environment
- Patient aftercare, handover to emergency services and post-event reporting
- Understanding beach patrol resources including the RNLI, Coastguard and inshore rescue services
How is the assessment completed?
You will be assessed by your SLSGB Trainer Assessor using a variety of methods across both theory and practical elements, including observation, online testing, oral questioning and practical demonstration. Topics assessed include:
- Aquatic Risk Management
- Safeguarding
- Roles and Responsibilities of a Lifesaver
- The Surf & Water Environment
- Basic Life Support and First Aid (Levels 1 & 2)
- Paediatric Life Support
- Coach Safety and Rescue Techniques
- Aquatic First Aid including suspected spinal injury management
- Casualty rescue and care in an aquatic environment
Is prior experience required for this award?
To complete the Surf Coach Safety Award you will need to:
- Swim 200 metres in a pool in under 5 minutes, witnessed by a lifeguard, swim teacher or coach
- Demonstrate open water swimming competency, confidence and fitness sufficient to support basic lifesaving activity
