Daylight's children
One of the most significant changes in the line up in recent years has been the increasing numbers of young children. I am talking 10 and under here. Obviously this occurs in the smaller size range but it is still a change worth considering. To be fair most seem to have some sort of adult supervision though often it is only a parent lounging inattentively on the sand. Even when Dad or Mum have paddled out, the dynamics of surfing make it easy for them to become so widely separated from their child that effective support or supervision is impossible.
To see this development as benign or irrelevant is to miss the fact that children of that age are very vulnerable in ways that the traditional surfing population is not and that when they are not supervised, for better or worse, the rest of us become part of that child's support network. There is no doubt that in the vast majority of cases other surfers will take their responsibilities seriously and act in the best interests of the child, but our capacity and interest in the child are limited so the chance of a serious incident involving injury or abuse is clearly greater than for an adult or older child. Some parents also show poor judgement by pushing young children into waves they could not catch themselves, coaching them loudly while in the water or, even worse, scaring the bejesus out of them with an introductory "lesson" before they are ready for it.
One of the main issues revolves around the development of social skills. At that age kids will usually have an awareness that others have different views to themselves but are likely to have difficulty working out what those views are. In fast moving social situations, such as groups of surfers competing for waves, they are likely to make errors of judgement. The classic example in this context is that they will often drop in without any awareness of the surfer already on the wave. Adults with years of surfing experience can, from time to time, misread the intentions of another surfer in a similar way. Kids are likely to do it frequently and be more or less immune to attempts to teach them otherwise.
Similarly, though they might understand simple rules, many surfing situations will be too complex for them to judge accurately what might be expected of them. In turn, this makes it difficult for other surfers to predict how a child might respond in a critical situation. Younger children are also more likely to make errors of judgement such as failing to observe that there are inconsistent sets much larger than those immediately visible. They are also more likely panic if they experience a difficulty like being caught inside by an unexpectedly larger set.
It is odd that surfing has taken the exact opposite path from other sports. They have simplified their rules, reduced competition and developed specialised light weight and soft equipment for younger participants. The trend in surfing has been in the opposite direction, to decrease the age at which competition begins and move children on to scaled down versions of adult style equipment at ever younger ages. Surfing Australia, to its credit, uses soft boards for their Surf Groms program and there is a wide variety of soft equipment available but it is still common to see young children on adult style equipment when their skills are clearly inadequate.
Bizarrely surfing had precisely the kind of system other sports have been moving towards 20 years ago. The traditional way to learn to surf was to progress from pool to body surfing in between the flags, to soft equipment such as rubber mats or coolites. This ensured that surfers were capable swimmers, had at least a basic understanding of the ocean and some wave riding skills before they took on hard equipment and the greater difficulty involved in standing up. In terms of child development this meant that the vast majority were ready to cope with the complexity of crowd dynamics when they finally paddled into one.
The trend in competition has been particularly pronounced with ever younger divisions despite the fact that most psychologists and sports scientists would see little benefit and considerable risk in these events. Surfing Australia have well developed policies on child protection and emphasise the importance of fun in their events and coaching qualifications but no policy can eliminate the risks completely. For example last year the photo of a very young surfer, accompanied by a hyperbolic comparison to Kelly Slater, appeared on the front page of The Manly Daily, published by News Ltd. No external policy can protect children from exploitation by tabloid media, only their parents can do that.
It is easy to assume that an outstanding 10-year old is likely to go on and succeed as a professional but this can easily be wide of the mark. At age 10 factors other than natural talent are very likely to be the major influence on performance. So a child who has parents who develop their skills at an early age and provide the best possible surfing experiences and equipment is likely to out perform those who have had fewer opportunities. Given time though, the exceptionally talented will come through. There are also the coordination minefields of rapid growth spurts to navigate throughout the teenage years. These can cause rapid decreases in sporting performance as skills need to be relearnt. The discouragement experienced by this causes many young people to drop out of sport. Those who have developed unrealistic ambitions are particularly vulnerable.
Given that the universally agreed aim of physical activity at that age is for the child to have fun, the role of formal competition seems dubious. Children may very well "want" to compete but it is very easy for that to arise from a desire to please a parent. It can also arise from a narrowing of the child's world of possibilities. If the circumstances appear to point towards a surfing career they can easily make the assumption that it is their only option when, of course, we would like to think that a child of that age has a myriad of possibilities to choose from as they develop.
There is also universal agreement amongst sports medicine specialists that children need a variety of activities and to have the total load monitored. Surfing culture has never been strong on moderation or variety so children growing up within that culture are particularly vulnerable to over specialisation with its heightened risk of injury and developmental abnormalities. This risk is further increased by the natural pattern of swells which can lead to intense repeated efforts over several days. Finally there is the issue of sun exposure. At worst childhood sunburn significantly increases the risk of later cancers but even if this is avoided the total exposure, which is also a risk factor, starts to climb at an early age leading to a higher total through out life.
While surfing can provide fun for young children it presents different kinds of risks for them than most other sports. Many of these arise from the informal nature of participation. The surf zone is a public space in which adults are competing for waves. It is unwise to assume that young children will cope happily with this. Even when no physical harm arises from an intimidating situation the child may permanently lose interest and miss out on the long term benefits of participation. The fact that the responsibility ultimately comes back to the parents shouldn't obscure the role the wider culture plays in shaping the behaviour of both the parents and the child. We all need to think a bit more about that. //blindboy
Comments
Interesting story. I am a parent of a 11 year old surfer. He has been surfing for 5 years and unassisted since he was 8. He competes in various surf comps around Australia and is never forced to surf in conditions that he isn't comfortable with. As for his age, his behaviour in the water is better than 50% of the people in the water. There does seem to be a lot of aggression from adults out there that struggle to see a kid rip so they think that entitles them to constantly drop in on them. So who is teaching who not to drop in when the kids are constantly being faded by adults. YES I agree pecking order does come in to it a bit.Yes I agree with your comment that talent eventually shines through whether the kid is sponsored or not. As for crowds in the water he surfed Snapper all last week with like age mates that handled the conditions better than 70% off the others out there. Kids will get sun burnt in any outdoors sport they participate in e.g. cricket standing the sun all day.After observing what goes on in the water with groms I think some people need to take a chill pill! If Julian Wilson calls the local groms on what is wrong with some people out there?
"Kids will get sun burnt in any outdoors sport they participate in e.g. cricket standing the sun all day."
My own experiene is that not many kids play cricket every day while many do surf everyday. Where I surf the vast majority of adults try very hard to do the right thng by kids but things could be different at Snapper. Thanks for the comment
I'm curious to hear what parents of young surfing children have to say, there must be some out there reading. I don't have any kids, but will soon, and have never even considered some of the things that Blindboy mentions (such as overspecialisation???)
Yes my experience can be that could happen with overspecialisation. Every kid is different, but if you were talking about my young fella we have tried soccer and footy but soon loses interest in these sports as he just froths on surfing!! As a parent still make an effort to kick a footy and enjoy other sports with his friends so he isn't so one dimensional. As for the kids that are pushed by their parents they soon fall out of love with surfing!!
My kids surf for fun. No competition and don't seem to have any interest in it. Older one comes out the back with me a bit.
I appreciate the article but it doesn't seem to really apply to my family situation.
We all just surf for fun and enjoyment.
But I do see a lot of what BB is talking about.
I've got 3 boys, teenager through to 7 yr old. They all surf but sporadically depending on the other hundred things they are up to. I took the eldest when he was about 5 to a kid friendly (wave wise) Goldy wave but a bloke on a mal clipped him in the shorey and put him off not only the surf but the beach for awhile. The altercation i had with the mal rider didn't help I think.
Now I take then to quiet beachies as they aren't highly skilled (and maybe never will be if they take after me) and just they just like a paddle and hanging out with me bullshitting on and such. When we go to a certain very quiet spot in Nthn NSW they get even keener - they say they dont like the crowds and are scared of getting hit by a board.
No competition except for hanging shit on each other. Maybe thats because they play team sports.
Would never take them to the Alley or Snapper. Maybe that's more me than them. I would rather push a rusty nail up the end of my cock than surf those joints these days.
Apologies for the imagery but the point had to made!
I'm like you PM, got three boys though they're a bit younger than yours. The eldest is just starting to show interest, grabs my surfboards and stands on them, wants to come down the beach all the time. I've said since the beginning I'm not gonna take any of them surfing unless they ask, which, I guess, is my way of not pushing them into anything they're not happy doing. I'm extremely aware of that road and where it can lead.
To be honest I'd like it if they did surf, and while I'm in the confession box I'll admit that's 'cos it'll allow me to spend more time in the water. However, if they don't surf I'm happy to let them pursue whatever sings to them.
When I was growing up I saw kids whose whole identity became wrapped up in surfing and I think that's a surefire way to stifle emotional progress and self-discovery. I even think it stunts curiousity and wonderment. I'd rather they had many different experiences than just what a surfing life can offer.
Surfing certainly turned into a dead end for some Stu but for others it opened doors to experiences they would never otherwise have had. The travel alone was a huge influence on many, then there were all the opportunities it created in the board business, the media and, of course, the clothing business. Surfing used to create a common identity in a way I'm not sure exists to the same extent anymore. Those who got stuck in a rut were probably just looking for a rut!
Im always stocked (STOKED) to see kids out in the surf (as long as it's not to big) and afford them the same rules and respect as anyone else in the line up. In my opinion the kids have better manners in the line up than the adults.
Any learner (or any surfer for that matter) who gets out of their depth is at risk to themselves, not just the youngsters.
True mk1 but my point is at the younger end of the spectrum they are more likely to get out of their depth and more likely to panic when they do.
Yes but,,,
Yes but anecdotally that is not what I witness in the surf. I see adult learners in more trouble than the kids. Just my own observations.
On a related point, it seems to me that the bodyboard seems to have almost disappeared outside the flags.
Tis' true, Wally. At one end of the age spectrum, I know a lot of guys who lidded through their teens and early-20s and moved to stand up. I think it's a matter of environment. BBs are great in slabs but if you live on the East Coast and hang out to ride those waves, well, you're not gonna get much time in the water.
At the other end of the age spectrum, soft boards and Surfing Australia seem to be the greatest influences. SA has really thrown its hand into junior surfing (Vegemite Groms, junior series etc) and as far as I know none of their programs include bodyboards.
Perhaps they were a fad?
Brilliant article BB, fantastic!! you've really covered so many important aspects of the issue, like others, many that I certainly hadnt considered.
In general I find surfing to be supportive and protective of younger surfers, the exception tends to be on the more crowded breaks. Where I surf week to week is pretty secluded and the guys that surf there are totally supportive of the few younger kids that come down, they groom them through the boardriders club and take a fairly casual approach to competitions they hold. Although we do have one guy who constantly coaches his kid about, "dominating the break", and he surfs the same - paddles all over like a nutjob snaking people whenever he can.
The point you made of specialisation is quite important, id love to get my daughter onto a board eventually as I think that surfing is an activity of enormous value in terms of health, confidence, appreciation for environment etc, but I will not do so until she has sufficient water skills and general fitness. As a successful junior triathlete and swimmer I had experience in my 20's with surf club comps after a knee injury put me out of running/riding. I think that its sad that there has been such a division between surf club and boardriders because putting kids through nippers is a great way to develop water skills, fitness, surf awareness and to avoid the problem of specialisation having the chance to run, sprint, paddle ski's, paddle boards and swim with an emphasis on participation and enjoyment at those early stages.
Its great to hear of the accounts of guys here with their children and allowing their kids to make the decisions of wether or not they will be involved and avoiding the parent driven competition realm. For kids this age it really isnt healthy IMO and more important to foster ideals of looking out for each other in the water and sharing waves ie etiquette along with general surf knowledge and water awareness. Also on this point, melanoma is nothing to take a chill pill over, protecting your kids from the sun and instilling sensible practices to sunburn is like protecting your kids from smoking cigarettes, the rates of melanoma in Aus is no joke. As a youngen my parents would not let us stay on the beach between 10am and 2pm, we always were smothered in suncream and zinc and learnt to be aware of the dangers of sun exposure, in my later life its something that I really appreciate, rashys, hats, providing shade on the beach etc all great things to do for your kids and easy enough to do.
BB you do have a point here, the fact being when you are young you have so many different variables regards to sport etc apart from being a surfer. Younger people in this day and age have more tendency towards X Box and computer gaming etc, well computers at the most.....?
Hey which is not a bad thing, it is what drives this world now...
I grew up playing rugby, cricket, skin diving, water skiing and hunting till the age of 14, until I discovered surfing. Wow I thought to myself what a great thing to do, but I had no time to do it, rugby, cricket, school work, a girl friend...? (Young then).
Wasn't until I had freedom, my drivers license, no home work, smoking that horrible stuff and to say the least coming out of pubity.
Mind of my own and not my parents which you have touched on.
Team sports gave me an awesome drive to be confident with my being, but when I realised that i could be free and look after myself without having other people looking after me (as a team sport like rugby), I became to realise that surfing or a solo sport was more me.
Thats when I started and focused on the surfing side and have never looked back.
I had freedom and no-one to worry about in the playing feild except myself.
I love that realm........ :)
Maybe I am selfish because I have the snip and have no children...........
One thing though I do not like, are parents who force and expect things of you or their siblings.
When you expect things in life is not good good in my eyes, its more so appreciating things in life :)
A deep and meaningful article for parents BB, Nice.
Silicun, took me awhile to write my little blah, then I read yours, funny how you say about the accounts of fathers or mothers with children, but look at old Welly san, no children at all, just my positive up bringing. Thanks to my Dad (RIP) he was the legand (I say legand cause its bad spelling but he was a leg and some more haha.) , he did everything with me but never forced anything on me at all. Which was a great thing now I look back.
;P
Welly, you and me both mate, my old man (RIP) was a tremendous influence, I was a mad keen sportsman and while he was supportive of my obsessions with sport he never turned up to a training or and event in my entire life. He introduced me to the beach and to a bunch of sports that he'd play with me and my brothers and sisters cricket, basketball, cycling, soccer, tennis you name it, he was a hands on dad in that respect, always bought me gear and always showed me the other important features of life beyond competition and sport.
I had a little girl in an unplanned way and are estranged from her. Although it pains me to say it, I havent managed to be half the dad my old man was. I hope with time I can spend more precious moments with her.
:)
You will spend good times with ya little girl Silicun
Just think and it will happen.
Easy as Pie, thats what you say to her hahahah.
interesting article, thanks. I think we can happily accommodate kids in the lineup. What I hate is when Dad stands there in the shallows or sits on his board bellowing orders at the poor kid, as if this child will be the answer to all of Dad's unfulfilled surfing aspirations. Shut up and let them have fun!
by age 10 we had our local posse, were surfing out the back to our limit, say 5'-6', and competing with the adults for waves, we'd ride our pushies over to Lacies, up to our buddies at 19th ave, down to choogs, or catch the Surfside bus with board up to Burleigh, or down to Greenmount/ Rainbow.
I had a converted golf cart which would hook on the back of my dragster to cart my board down the point.
Team sports were pointless, cos they couldn't keep us outa the water, we wouldn't turn up to training, or even the games if their was surf. Eg: footy got the flick in the under 8s.
Some did competitve swimming (me), or nippers. But basicly we surfed till our noses flaked off our faces.
We found our own level, and to get better or bigger waves, you had to cut with the big guys and take off further round the point or deeper inside. They gave you no charity. We had punch ups with older guys, and Brissos, especially if they dropped in on you just cos you were a grom.
The way it should be, you gotta fight for your right to party.
oh yeah, had older guys try to drown me on more than one occasion, but that's part of life's education of learning to judge people and situations.
some kids need packing in cottonwool, some don't.
you'll hear a similar discussion in footy circles when say a 17 year old plays first grade AFL/NRL, as they say, if you're good enough, you're old enough.
Just gotta look back at some of the things Butto was doing as a 12 year old.