1. Warm Welcome & Icebreaker
β’ Introduce yourself and get their names.
β’ Quick game or fun question to make them feel comfortable and excited.
βΈ»
2. Safety Talk (Kid-Friendly)
β’ Explain βsurfing rulesβ in simple terms:
β’ Never turn your back to the ocean.
β’ Hold the board on the side.
β’ What to do if you fall off (cover your head, look around).
β’ Show rip currents with drawings or hand signals.
βΈ»
3. Beach Warm-Up
β’ Fun, playful warm-up: animal walks, beach tag, light stretches.
β’ Get them moving and laughing.
βΈ»
4. Surfboard Basics
β’ Show the board parts: nose, tail, rails, fins, deck.
β’ Teach how to carry it safely (especially with wind).
β’ Show how the leash works and connect it to their ankle.
βΈ»
5. Lying on the Board & Paddling (on sand)
β’ Demonstrate where to lie down (not too far forward or back).
β’ Practice paddling on landβturn it into a game or race.
βΈ»
6. Pop-Up Technique (on sand)
β’ Use simple steps:
β’ βHands under your chestβ
β’ βPush up like a sealβ
β’ βFeet jump to the middleβ
β’ Keep it playfulβimagine theyβre ninjas or surfers on a mission.
βΈ»
7. Practice Stance
β’ Teach the surf stance:
β’ Feet shoulder-width
β’ Knees bent
β’ Arms out like airplane wings
β’ Use a line in the sand to help them line up.
βΈ»
8. Water Entry & Practice in Whitewater
β’ Walk out with them (you or another instructor holding the board).
β’ Start with them lying down, pushing them into small waves.
β’ Help with timing and stability.
β’ Celebrate small wins (just catching a wave = success!).
βΈ»
9. Pop-Up in the Water
β’ Once theyβre comfortable, encourage them to try standing.
β’ Assist with balance or guide the board if needed.
β’ Keep it funβlaugh through the wipeouts.
βΈ»
10. Short Break & Encouragement
β’ Let them rest and hydrate.
β’ Talk about what they did well (βYou caught that wave like a pro!β)
β’ Let them share how it felt.
βΈ»
11. Wrap-Up & High-Fives
β’ Recap what they learned: βToday you learned how to surf!β
β’ Give a sticker, certificate, or βsurf nameβ as a reward.
β’ Invite them back and talk about what comes next.
1. Build Rapport & Set Expectations
β’ Start with names, surfing goals, and an icebreaker (e.g. βWhatβs the coolest thing youβve seen at the beach?β).
β’ Talk about what theyβll learn and how the session works.
β’ Keep the vibe casual but respectfulβthey respond well to being treated like adults.
βΈ»
2. Surf Safety & Ocean Awareness
β’ Cover essential safety:
β’ Rip currents and how to escape
β’ Board control (donβt ditch it)
β’ Surf etiquette (donβt snake, right of way)
β’ Use visuals or real-time examples from the beach.
βΈ»
3. Warm-Up
β’ Dynamic stretches: shoulder rolls, squats, lunges.
β’ Add surf-specific movement: pop-up drills, paddling motions.
βΈ»
4. Surfboard Orientation
β’ Explain board types, fins, wax, and leash use.
β’ Let them handle the board, wax it, and leash upβbuild ownership.
βΈ»
5. Paddling & Positioning (on the sand)
β’ Practice lying correctly (not too far forward/back).
β’ Teach efficient paddlingβelbows high, deep strokes.
β’ Demo turtle rolls or duck dives if applicable.
βΈ»
6. Pop-Up Technique
β’ Teach the 1-step or 2-step pop-up, depending on athleticism.
β’ Focus on:
β’ Hands under chest
β’ Explosive push-up
β’ Front foot under center
β’ Let them choose regular or goofy stance.
βΈ»
7. In-Water Session: Whitewater First
β’ Start with whitewater waves to master:
β’ Paddling with timing
β’ Catching waves
β’ Standing up and riding straight
β’ Give live feedback after every wave.
βΈ»
8. Progress to Green Waves (If Ready)
β’ Teach positioning outside the break and timing takeoffs.
β’ Encourage reading the wave, turning, and trimming.
β’ Introduce bottom turns and riding down the line for more confident surfers.
βΈ»
9. Video Coaching (Optional but Powerful)
β’ Record clips and review with them on the beach or afterward.
β’ Point out technique improvements and celebrate their best waves.
βΈ»
10. Cool Down & Recap
β’ Easy stretch and breathing to wind down.
β’ Go over what they learned, what they nailed, and what to work on next.
βΈ»
11. Stoke & Next Steps
β’ Offer encouragement and praise improvement.
β’ Invite them back for the next session: βNow we can work on turns or catching bigger waves!β
β’ Bonus: give a shoutout on social media if theyβre comfortable with itβteens love that.