What is the 200m SAFETY badge vs the 200m SWIM badge?

1) When the season starts, to take part on the boards at Takapuna weekdays and Piha on Sundays (and enter all races offered to your age group at carnivals) the requirements are your 200m safety badge. Swim 200m in 7 mins, tread water 1 minute

2) To qualify for your surf certificate this season, and know you are on track to reach the goal of becoming a lifeguard – this season you should aim to meet the swim requirements listed below under “200m Swim Badge”.

1: The 200mSAFETYBadge .

This is the important one to start the season with or aim towards!

200m in 7 minutes, plus 1 minute treading water (applies to all ages)

PLEASE NOTE: The 200m junior safety badge must be refreshed each year. (All our lifeguards at Piha are refreshed on their safety requirements each year as they retest their skills for the upcoming season).

We are in the business of saving lives. Swimming skills go hand-in-hand with surf life saving. Therefore we require Junior Surf members to attain 200m safety badge, so they can satisfy the mandatory NZSLS safety requirements which include use foam or fibre-glass paddle boards. This applies at both Piha training and in the Junior Surf Carnivals.It demonstrates their confidence in the water and their capability of returning to shore if separated from their equipment. Always safety first.

It is expected that as children progress through their age groups, their swimming ability increases. Children are not taught to swim at Junior Surf Sunday beach sessions. We strongly recommend that parents arrange regular swimming lessons for their children. Children who swim regularly prove to be the most capable in the surf and ultimately gain the most from participating in a Junior Surf programme.

Age requirements 200m safety badge
The 200m Safety badge is advisable for U9’s but compulsory from age 9 (under 10’s) and older. (1 Sept cut off, that year).

8 minutes for all Junior Surf members 200m safety badge
Swim 200m unaided, and not touching the sides (8 laps of a 25m pool) in 7 mins, tread water 1 minute, for all age groups.

When
We will provide testing dates and the beginning of the season at Kelston pool. It is advisable that in Augst/Sept you enrol your child in lessons if not already, or take them to a local pool (many are free) to prepare them for the season, and test themselves at least once before testing with Piha.

What a 200m safety badge means at Piha and Takapuna.
All under 9 Junior Surf participants who wish to paddle foam boards are required to complete a 200m safety badge test before the start of the season. For those who do not have the badge, they can still partake in other water activities including body boarding. 9 and over will be required to pass the 200m safety badge to use equipment at the beach.

What a 200m safety badge means at Junior Surf Carnivals

No-one needs to “qualify” to attend a carnival. It is very different to a regular Junior Surf club day at Piha with races being run, and a lot more people attending.

Children without a 200m Safety Badge can only participatein Beach Sprint, Beach Flags, Beach Relay, Run Wade Run, Modified Diamond Race, Boogie Board Race and Boogie Board Relay. Once children have their 200m Safety Badge they are able to participate in a greater range of beach and water events.

A Nippers: There is usually only 1 carnival that the A1s can attend during the season. It’s not required for the participants to have their 200m badge to attend this event (The All in Carnival).

2) The 200mSWIMbadge

The times below, per age group are milestones the kids with their coaches help should aim to achieve as the age up. This is an indication your kids are on track to becoming safe in the water and on track for a pathway to becoming alifeguard.

U10/U11/U12 swim 200m in 7 mins, tread water 1 minute
U13 swim in under 5 min 30 sec, tread water 1 minute
U14 swim in under 4 min 30 sec, tread water 1 minute

Summary

1) When the season starts, to take part on the boards at Takapuna weekdays and Piha on Sundays (and enter all races offered to your age group at carnivals) the requirements are:
Swim 200m in 7 mins, tread water 1 minute

2) To qualify for your surf certificate this season, and know you are on track to reach the goal of becoming a lifeguard
This season you should aim to meet the swim requirements listed above under “200m Swim Badge”