What to expect when competing for North Avoca SLSC
At North Avoca Surf Life Saving Club, we encourage all our Nippers to take part in carnivals as a way to have fun, build skills, and grow friendships. Carnivals are about more than competition – they’re an opportunity for our Nipper to be part of team North Avoca, challenge themselves and celebrate their progress. Our focus is on creating a positive environment where our Nippers are proud to represent North Avoca.
The events included with the Nipper Carnivals vary based on age groups. They include:
Age Group Events Available
U8 – Beach Sprint, Beach Flags, Wade Race, Sprint Relay, Wade Relay
U9, U10 -Beach Sprint, Beach Flags, Sprint Relay, Surf Swim (150m), Board Race, Swim Teams, Board Relay
U11+ Beach Sprint, Beach Flags, Sprint Relay, Surf Swim (280m), Board Race, Swim Teams, Board Relay Board Rescue, Iron-person, Cameron Relay.
Prior to each carnival, our Age Managers notify parents of the upcoming carnival.
Parents will need to complete carnival entries for their child via LiveHeats.
Age Managers will coordinate entries for all team events, and the necessary parent
support.
Training sessions are available for parents to use the LiveHeats entry system. If you missed one of the online sessions, you can view a recording here:
https://sites.google.com/liveheats.com/liveheats-entries/home?authuser=0
The number of Officials and Water Safety is dependent on entrants. If we do not supply the correct ratio our club will be disqualified. The numbers are to keep our kids safe and provide a structure to ensure the carnivals run smoothly. You will be asked to nominate as a Water Safety person or Official for at least two carnivals. Without these roles filled, our Nippers are not allowed to compete in the carnival.
The cost of the Training & Competition Levy for the 2025/26 season is:
U9 to U14s
Note: If you are purchasing a board hire contract, then you don’t need to pay the training levy, it is included in the board hire fee.
To enroll in the training program & follow these steps:
- Visit our online store and purchase the training levy for those nippers with their own board only.
- Please fill out the Carnival Helpers Form and select the carnivals where you can help out.
- Advise your age manager of your child’s attendance at least 2 weeks prior to the carnival.
For further details, please contact us nippers@naslsc.com.au
In each age group (with exception of U6 and U7) the Club Championships will be run for both genders. There will be an overall Male and Female Club Age Champion for each age group. There will also be a Junior (11, 12 yrs combined) and Senior (13, 14 yrs combined) Male and Female Iron Person. The combined points awarded from Beach, Water and Iron Person will count towards the overall champion for each Age Group.
To be eligible to be a Club Champion, a Member must have attended and participated in:
- At least 60% of available Nipper days at North Avoca Beach throughout the season and this includes all carnivals, surf club camps, surf club representative teams or duties . Rounded down to the days.
- Attended the North Avoca Club Championship Day; plus
- Completed the Surf Education Award prior to 31st December of the Nipper Season; and
- Completed the proficiency prior to the event for which they receive points.
- U8 age group. Must make a genuine attempt in all three of the events to be eligible to be club champion
- U9-U10 age groups. Must make a genuine attempt in all events to be eligible to be club champion.
- U11-U14. Age groups Must make a genuine attempt in all of the events to be eligible to be club champion. Including both legs of the iron person.
- If the person has the most points but has not made the required genuine attempts in their age group then the club champion will be awarded to the person with the next highest points that has met the requirement.
- If the competitor is the only one in their age group gender then they will be exempt from competing in the flag event.
Age Champion Points System
Each eligible nipper will be awarded points for their placing achieved at Club Champs. This will include points for;
Beach Sprint
Flags
Swim
Board
Iron Person (U11 years and over, awarded for place in individual age category)
Junior and Senior Iron Person
The Junior and Senior Iron Person will be allocated based on the following;
Junior – first nipper over the line in the 11 and 12 year age categories combined.
Senior – First nipper over the line in the 13 and 14 year age category combined.
Subject to a Member being eligible, points shall be awarded as follows:
Overall Place in FINAL Points (Beach and Water, including the Iron Person)
| Place | Points |
| 1st | 10 Points |
| 2nd | 9 Points |
| 3rd | 8 Points |
| 4th | 7 Points |
| 5th | 6 Points |
| 6th | 5 Points |
| 7th
8th 9th 10th onwards |
4 Points
3 Points 2 Points 1 Point |
Did Not Finish (DNF): if a GENUINE attempt to complete the course has been made than the participant/s will be allocated 1 point. Examples of a Genuine Attempt is: Swimming to the buoy but unable to return to shore; in the board attempting to get out through the shore break multiple times but unable to do so or exceeds reasonable time limit. Swimming the swim leg of the iron and attempting to get through shore break and exceeding a reasonable time limit or requiring water safety assistance coming through the shore break. Putting any part of your body into the surf and/or losing board on first attempt and returning directly back to shore DOES NOT constitute a genuine attempt.
Genuine attempts and point allocation will be decided by the Referee or allocated official of the event.
NON-Genuine attempts will have no points recorded for Club Champions. Disqualified (DSQ) and Did Not Start (DNS) will have NIL points and will not be eligible to be Club Champion.
Water Safety
In the event a nipper requires assistance from water safety during a Club Championship event. The nipper must request assistance (3) times prior to water safety intervening (in the event of an emergency, water safety will make a discretionary call based on the well being and safety of the nipper).
Water safety or any other by-stander, Age Manager or parent may not intervene with the race, board or any other element.
SLSA Australia, NSW and Central Coast rules will be applied for this Club Championship event. Please refer to the Surf Sports Manual for details.
To be eligible to enter the pre-branch Interclub Carnivals, all competitors (beach and water) must;
- Be a current financial member of NASLSC
- Achieved a competition proficiency (before Branch closes in December, 2024)
- Have a minimum of one parent qualified or undertaking an Age Manager, parent helper, Water Safety or Carnival Official role during the season.
TEAM SELECTIONS
- Refer to the Carnival Team Selection Policy for 2024-25 (above)
- All competitors for team events must have met the above criteria
- Team compositions will be selected on a rotational basis to enhance completion and team inclusion
- The *Selection Panel will coordinate team selections for each carnival
- Nippers selected on teams must attend the relevant training sessions i.e. beach/water for the majority of the sessions available.
* The Selection Panel consists of coaches and JAC
- Be a current financial member of NASLSC
- Achieve competition proficiency
- Have a minimum of one parent qualified as an Age Manager, parent helper, Water Safety or Carnival
- Official appointed at least once during the season
- Have attended the majority of Inter Club carnivals.
TEAM SELECTIONS
- Refer to the Carnival Team Selection Policy for 2024-25 (above).
- All competitors for team events must have met the above criteria.
- Team compositions will be selected by the * Selection Panel.
- Priority will be given to competitors who have the achieved the highest individual result/s in any of the Inter Club carnivals during the season.
Club Championships result will be also be considered. - Competitors selected on teams must attend the relevant training sessions i.e. beach/water for the majority of the sessions available.
* The Selection Panel consists of coaches and JAC
To be eligible to enter State Championships, all competitors (beach and water) must;
- Be a current financial member of NASLSC
- Achieve competition proficiency
- Have a minimum of one parent qualified as an Age Manager, Water Safety or Carnival
Official appointed at State Championships or multiple carnivals during the season.
- Have attended the majority of Inter Club carnivals.
TEAM SELECTIONS
- Refer to the Carnival Team Selection Policy for 2024-25 (above)
- All competitors for team events must have met the above criteria.
- Team compositions will be selected by the Selection Panel
- Priority will be given to competitors who have achieved the highest individual result/s at club championships and, Inter club carnivals during the season, including Branch Championships.
- Competitors selected on teams must attend the relevant training sessions i.e. beach/water for the majority of the sessions available.
* The Selection Panel consists of Coaches and JAC
North Avoca SLSC Snapshot of 2025/26
Some of the key duties carried out by the volunteer life savers throughout the 2025/26 season
Want more info on North Avoca SLSC, subscribe to our newsletter
See the possibilities and become part of the North Avoca SLSC