Surf Life Saving SA defends new judging criteria after backlash from parents

Disgruntled parents have criticised an overhaul of Surf Life Saving’s junior judging criteria, which include “respectful behaviour” and “winning well”.

Disgruntled parents have raised the alarm over new surf life saving competition criteria, which include “respectful behaviour” and participation, saying the competition no longer adequately values sporting prowess.

But Surf Life Saving South Australia has hit back at “disappointing” concerns, saying the organisation’s goal was to allow all children the chance to participate in the sport and “win well”.

The largest event on young nippers’ calendars, the overall ‘best surf life saving club’ in South Australia was named at the end of the Junior State Championships on the weekend.

New criteria for determining the ‘Junior Champion Club’ were introduced for 2023 at the end of last year’s season, following consultation and a vote involving the state’s 22 clubs.

This year, rather than just overall medal tally, five ‘pillars of success’ were used to grade clubs.

These included member retention, carnival participation, ‘respectful behaviour’ from club members, each club’s nipper program success rate and sport performance.

Grange SLSC was named overall Junior Champion Club winner at the weekend, but some parents believe the new grading system has abandoned athleticism as the true pillar of success.

One club member, who did not wish to be named, said their child was left in tears after Glenelg SLSC – which nabbed almost double the number of sporting medals as its closest competitor – finished seventh overall on the Junior Champion Club tally.

They believed Glenelg was unfairly affected by the introduction of the new criteria.

Grange SLSC received 21 ‘grade points’ on sport performance – after winning 78 medals – but Glenelg SLSC, which won 152 medals, received only 22 points.

“Does the new ‘five pillar’ system fairly recognise the efforts the kids themselves put in? Should the traditional sports performance pillar be weighted more?” they said.

Surf Life Saving SA chief executive Damien Marangon. Picture: Supplied

Glenelg SLSC President Mick Billing said the parent’s views were “disappointing” and did not reflect those of the club.

Mr Billing said all clubs had been consulted and agreed to the “holistic” new system and that, while he recognised that some may be upset over Glenelg’s overall result, the club would be looking at how to improve for next season.

Brighton SLSC had a similar result, finishing fourth in sport performance but sixth overall.

Club captain Kevin Whelan said they weren’t disappointed, believing the sport was about building better communities and helping kids enjoy competing, not just athleticism.

“Sometimes I think parents can forget that it’s their children competing, not them … and I think all of the kids at our club had a great time and enjoyed themselves,” Mr Whelan said.

Surf Life Saving SA CEO Damien Marangon admitted the pillar system “might not be perfect” but backed in the decision to include broader community criteria in determining the Junior Club Champion.

Mr Marangon said the pillar system would be reviewed at the end of the season, but had been met with “overwhelming positivity” from most of SLSSA’s 3000 members.

“I’m not sure we’ve got it 100 per cent right with all of the shifts that came in, but I’m really proud that we decided to have a go. At the end of every off-season, we’ll review all of the changes we’ve made,” he said.

“As an organisation, we’ve tried to cater for 3000 nippers – rather than a few competitive parents … and I’m really proud that we’ve got a system that takes more into consideration than who won the most medals.”

The SLSSA CEO said the change was driven and approved by the clubs and intended to promote a “safe, inclusive” environment within the sport.

“The truth right now is, the national high-performance strategy for 2032 includes a pledge from the AOC, CGA and Paralympics Australia that we will ‘win well’,” Mr Marangon said.

“So we’ve got Australia’s highest-performing athletes focusing on winning well, so I think it’s appropriate that, a junior sport, that we’re trying to do the same.

“Sadly, it’s a couple of parents that are causing us to have this conversation. I’m really proud of our sport and proud that we are trying to find a way to still let little people win and lose … but we want to be doing that in a fun, safe and inclusive environment.”