Beach safety talk and board carrying
Ready when: Swim, float and the rip rule (b1) started.
What you are learning
The beach routine before every surf: finding the safe area between the flags, the recall signal and hand signals, carrying the board with a buddy, fitting the leash to the back foot, and spotting hazards such as rips, rocks and crowds.
Words on this card Leash, Nose, Rip, Flags
- Leash
- The cord joining the board to the back ankle.
- Nose
- The front of the board, the back, and its side edges.
- Rip
- A strong current flowing out to sea.
- Flags
- The flags mark the safest area to swim and surf, watched by a lifeguard.
Show it first for the one teaching
- Point to the two flags: surf only between them.
- Show the recall signal your group uses (for example, a whistle or both arms waving) and two hand signals ("I am OK", "I need help").
- Carry the board with a buddy, one at the nose and one at the tail, and fit the leash on the back ankle.
Your part while they practise
Choose the safe area between the flags with the child.
Step by step
- Name the flags.
- Learn the recall signal and two hand signals.
- Carry the board with a buddy.
- Fit the leash on the back foot.
How much: 4 tasks 10 min a session before each beach visit
Say one thing Pick one line from "What you will see" for today and say only that.
The game: Hazard spotting
Look at the beach and the sea together and name the hazards.
Who plays: the child against you, taking turns.
How to play, turn by turn
- Turns
- Stand together facing the sea
- Take turns naming one hazard and pointing to it: a rip, rocks, a crowd, a strong wind, a big set of waves
- The turn passes when someone cannot name a new one
- Fair play
- A grown-up may only name hazards in the water.
- Points
- 1 point for each hazard named and pointed to.
- Fouls
- No point
- Naming a hazard already named
- Pointing to the wrong place
- Walking off from the group to look
- Winning
- The most hazards named.
- 2 hazards for 1 star
- 4 hazards for 2 stars
- 6 hazards for 3 stars
Easier or harder
One hazard.
Name five.
What you will see, and what to say
- the child walks off
Stay together, look back
Always in sight. - the leash is loose
Back foot, strap, then check
Tug it.
Self-check
The child states the safe area, the recall signal and the leash foot, 3 of 3.
Stop and get a coach when
The lifeguard flags a hazard.
Fitness for this
Warm up first: how to warm up, at workonfitness.com. For strength and stretching, its exercise library shows each exercise step by step, with an easier version.
This card trains beach safety, group habits.
awiseathlete.com/sports/surfing/surfing-b4