Volunteer Guide - Surf Instructor: How We Teach Kids Surf Lessons at Brooklyn Surf Club

Volunteer Guide - Surf Instructor: How We Teach Kids Surf Lessons at Brooklyn Surf Club

Surf Instructors have the highest level of in-water responsibility during a Brooklyn Surf Club surf lesson. You are the person who helps kids safely experience the feeling of catching a wave.

But your role is not just to push kids into waves. Your role is to teach safety, build confidence, read the ocean, choose the right waves, support each child’s comfort level, and help every kid leave the beach proud of what they tried.

At Brooklyn Surf Club, we teach kids using the 3-Wave Method:

Wave 1: Safe Surfer
Kids learn safety, signals, beach awareness, and how to fall.

Wave 2: Board Boss
Kids learn board control, paddling, belly ride position, and how to move through the water safely.

Wave 3: Stand & Smile
Kids try pop-ups, Plan B stand-up methods, or more belly rides based on their readiness.

The big idea:

Every child learns the safety foundation, but every child progresses at their own pace.

Some kids may ride on their belly first. Some returning kids may be ready to stand sooner. Some kids may need a break. All of that is okay.

A great surf lesson is not measured only by who stands up. It is measured by whether kids feel safe, supported, proud, and excited to try again.

Brooklyn Surf Club provides free surf lessons for kids ages 6–15 at Beach 67 in Rockaway Beach, Queens, NYC.

Surf Instructor Requirements

Surf Instructors must be strong surfers and confident in beginner-friendly whitewater conditions.

Minimum requirement:

Surf Instructors must be capable of traversing left and right on unbroken waves and must have water safety and/or lifeguard training.

Surf Instructors should be able to:

  • Read waves and currents
  • Stay calm in changing conditions
  • Communicate clearly with kids
  • Work as part of a water safety team
  • Select safe waves for beginners
  • Stop the lesson if conditions or behavior become unsafe
  • Support nervous kids without pressure

Only designated Surf Instructors select waves and push kids into waves.

Your Main Goal

Your main goal is simple:

Help kids catch waves safely and confidently.

That means:

  • Safety first
  • Clear instructions
  • Simple cues
  • Safe wave selection
  • Positive encouragement
  • One correction at a time
  • Progress based on readiness
  • No pressure to stand before a child is ready

The best Surf Instructors are not the ones who push the most waves.

The best Surf Instructors are the ones who help kids feel safe enough to try.

Quick Lesson Timetable for Surf Instructors

Time Lesson Part What the Surf Instructor Focuses On
0:00–0:10 Welcome + safety briefing Help kids understand water safety, signals, and group rules
0:10–0:20 Warm-up + board basics Watch comfort level and support board handling
0:20–0:35 Land practice Teach or reinforce belly ride, falling, paddling, and pop-up basics
0:35–1:00 First water round Match each child to belly ride or standing attempt based on readiness
1:00–1:15 Reset + coaching Give one win and one next step
1:15–1:45 More surf practice Build confidence through repetition and safe wave choice
1:45–1:55 Cool down + debrief Help kids reflect on what they learned
1:55–2:00 Equipment return Help close safely and share feedback with the team

This timetable is flexible.

Ocean conditions, child comfort, weather, and safety always come first.

Before Entering the Water

Before any child enters the water, Surf Instructors must attend the water safety briefing.

No exceptions.

Confirm:

  • Surf zone boundaries
  • Entry point
  • Exit point
  • Parent Zone
  • Hand-over location
  • Finish area
  • Return-to-start path
  • Emergency signals
  • Communication signals
  • Which volunteers are Surf Instructors
  • Which volunteers are Surf Assistants
  • Which Surf Assistants are experienced enough to ferry kids
  • Any child-specific concerns
  • Current wave size, wind, tide, crowding, and hazards

The final call on ocean conditions and water safety is made by Niels and David, who are certified surf instructors and/or open-water lifeguards.

If conditions change, pause and reassess.

No wave is more important than safety.

The Surf Instructor’s Role in the Surf Lesson Flow

Brooklyn Surf Club uses a structured Surf Lesson Flow, also called the Magic Carpet System:

Practice → Briefing → Walk → Onboard → Ferry → Hand-over → Surf → Finish → Celebrate → Return to start

Surf Assistants help kids move through the early parts of the flow.

Surf Instructors take over at Hand-over.

Your key responsibilities begin when the child reaches you in the water.

At hand-over, clearly accept responsibility before the Surf Assistant lets go or moves away.

Use simple language:

“I’ve got them.”
“Ready.”
“Hand-over complete.”
“I’m taking over.”

Clear hand-over prevents confusion about who is responsible for the child.

The 3-Wave Method for Surf Instructors

Wave 1: Safe Surfer

Goal:
Help kids understand how to stay safe before and during the water session.

Core cue:
Stay close. Listen first. Raise your hand.

As a Surf Instructor, reinforce:

  • Stay with the group
  • Listen before moving
  • Raise one hand if you need help
  • Do not leave the group without telling a coach
  • Never dive headfirst
  • Fall flat when needed
  • Protect your head when coming up
  • Find your board and listen

Wave 2: Board Boss

Goal:
Help kids control the board and feel the wave.

Core cues:
Flat hands. Strong arms. Big scoops.
Chicken wings. Flat hands. Look forward.

As a Surf Instructor, reinforce:

  • Correct body position on the board
  • Natural paddle hands for paddling
  • Flat hands under armpits for belly ride and pop-up setup
  • Do not hold the rails when catching the wave
  • Keep head up
  • Look toward the beach
  • Finish safely

Wave 3: Stand & Smile

Goal:
Help kids stand when they are ready.

Core cue:
Paddle. Push. Stand.

As a Surf Instructor, decide:

  • Is this child ready to stand?
  • Should they do another belly ride?
  • Should they try knees first?
  • Do they need a break?
  • Is the wave safe for this attempt?

Progress is based on readiness, not pressure.

The Most Important Teaching Rule

Every child learns belly ride position. Not every child needs a full belly-only round.

Belly ride position is the safety foundation.

It teaches:

  • Board balance
  • Hand position
  • Looking forward
  • Feeling the wave
  • Finishing safely

For first-time or nervous kids:

Belly ride first. Build confidence. Then try standing.

For returning or confident kids:

Review belly ride position on land. Then decide in the water if they are ready to stand sooner.

Do not slow down ready kids unnecessarily.

Do not rush nervous kids into standing.

Match the child.

Teaching Cue 1: Safety

Teach it in 3 steps

1. Stay close

“We surf together. Stay with the group.”

2. Listen first

“Wait for your instructor before moving.”

3. Raise your hand

“If you need help, raise one hand overhead.”

Surf Instructor note

Safety should be clear, calm, and repeated often.

Do not make kids afraid of the ocean.

Help them respect the ocean and trust the team.

Teaching Cue 2: Paddling

Teach it in 3 steps

1. Lie in the right spot

The child should be centered on the board.

Not too far forward.
Not too far back.

2. Chest up

Keep head and chest slightly up.

3. Flat hands, big scoops

Use a natural paddle hand: mostly flat hands, relaxed fingers, and strong arms.

Reach forward, put the flat hand in the water, then pull past the board.

Kid-friendly cue

Flat hands. Strong arms. Big scoops.

Surf Instructor note

Do not teach kids to “cup your hands like a bowl.”

That can make kids tense up, bend their wrists, and splash more.

Instead, teach a natural paddle hand:

  • Hands mostly flat
  • Fingers close together but relaxed
  • Wrists relaxed
  • Arms reaching forward
  • Big scoops pulling past the board

The hand may naturally curve slightly in the water, but kids do not need to force a cup.

For beginners and kids, flat, relaxed hands are easier to remember and easier to execute.

Teaching Cue 3: Belly Ride Position

Teach it in 3 steps

1. Hands under armpits

Hands should be under the armpits like chicken wings.

2. Flat hands

Hands should be flat on the deck of the board.

3. Look forward

Head up. Eyes toward the beach.

Kid-friendly cue

Chicken wings. Flat hands. Look forward.

Important rule

Do not hold the rails when catching the wave.

Holding the rails can make the board less stable and makes it harder to move into a pop-up.

Surf Instructor note

This position is the bridge between belly rides and standing rides.

Every child should know it.

Teaching Cue 4: Falling and Wipeout Safety

Kids must learn how to fall before they try standing.

The biggest rule:

Never dive headfirst.

In shallow whitewater, kids should fall flat into the water, not headfirst.

Teach it in 3 steps

1. Fall flat

Fall flat like a starfish into the water.

2. Protect your head

When coming up, cover your head and neck with your arms.

3. Find your board

Look for the board, reconnect if safe, and listen for the instructor.

Kid-friendly cue

Fall flat. Protect your head. Find your board.

Surf Instructor note

Do not tell kids to dive.

Do not let kids jump off headfirst.

Do not let kids throw the board away.

The goal is a calm, safe fall.

Teaching Cue 5: Pop-Up and Standing

Some kids already know how to pop up.

Some kids need a slower method.

Both are fine.

Teach it in 3 steps

1. Hands

Flat hands under armpits.

2. Feet

Push up and bring feet under the body.

3. Look

Stand wide, bend knees, and look toward the beach.

Kid-friendly cues

Hands. Feet. Look.

or

Paddle. Push. Stand.

Surf Instructor note

Common corrections:

Look up.
Feet wider.
Bend knees.
Arms relaxed.
Stay over the stringer.

Give one correction at a time.

Plan B Stand-Up Options

Not every kid will pop up on day one.

That is normal.

Plan B options include:

  • Knee slide
  • Mini pop-up from knees
  • Frog-leg method
  • Push-up method
  • More belly rides

Teach it in 3 steps

1. Normalize it

Say:

“Surfers stand up in different ways when they are learning.”

2. Pick one method

Choose the easiest method for that child.

3. Try it safely

Use small whitewater and keep the goal simple.

Surf Instructor note

Do not force the pop-up.

Confidence matters more than perfect technique.

Wave Selection

Only Surf Instructors select waves.

Choose waves that match:

  • The child’s size
  • The child’s confidence
  • The child’s experience
  • The board size
  • The water depth
  • The wave shape
  • The crowd
  • The current
  • The position of other kids and volunteers
  • The finish area

A good beginner wave is not the biggest wave.

A good beginner wave is the safest wave that gives the child a chance to feel the ride.

Do not choose waves that are:

  • Too steep
  • Too fast
  • Too crowded
  • Too close to another surfer
  • Too close to shore
  • Moving into an unsafe section
  • Too powerful for the child’s comfort

If the child is nervous, choose smaller.

If the finish area is crowded, wait.

If you are unsure, do not push.

First Water Round

The first water round is where kids feel the wave.

Teach it in 3 steps

1. Match the child

Nervous beginners may start with belly rides.

Returning kids may try standing sooner.

2. Keep the wave easy

Choose safe whitewater waves.

3. Finish safely

Watch the child through the ride and finish.

Surf Instructor note

Your responsibility does not end when the child catches the wave.

Keep watching until the child is safe, standing, with a Surf Assistant, or moving back toward the beach.

Feedback Between Waves

Kids do not need a lecture after every wave.

They need one win and one next step.

Teach it in 3 steps

1. Say what worked

“You kept your head up.”

2. Give one adjustment

“Next time, make your feet wider.”

3. Send them back with confidence

“You’ve got this. Try again.”

Surf Instructor note

Too much correction makes kids think they failed.

Keep it short.

Keep it positive.

Keep them excited to try again.

Working with Nervous Kids

Some kids are scared.

That is normal.

Do not force a child into a wave.

A successful lesson might mean:

  • Standing near the water
  • Practicing on land
  • Lying on the board
  • Riding on the belly
  • Trying one small wave
  • Taking a break
  • Coming back later

Helpful phrases:

“We can take our time.”
“You do not have to stand up today.”
“Let’s just try lying on the board.”
“That was brave.”
“You can try again when you are ready.”
“Falling is part of surfing.”

Confidence grows when kids feel respected.

When to Pause or Stop

Pause the flow if safety changes.

Stop or slow down if:

  • Conditions change
  • Current gets stronger
  • Kids are drifting
  • Boards are moving unpredictably
  • Parents or bystanders enter the surf zone
  • Surf Assistants are out of position
  • Communication is unclear
  • A child is scared or overwhelmed
  • The group is too crowded
  • The finish area is unsafe
  • You are unsure who is responsible for a child

It is always better to pause early than react late.

Quick Coaching Guide: Do This, Not That

Skill Do not do this Do this instead
Safety briefing Give a long lecture Use: “Stay close. Listen first. Raise your hand.”
Water entry Let kids drift into the water randomly Use the Surf Lesson Flow and assigned entry area
Paddling Tell kids to cup their hands like a bowl Use: “Flat hands. Strong arms. Big scoops.”
Paddling Let kids slap the water with tense hands Teach relaxed flat hands pulling past the board
Belly ride Let kids hold the rails Hands flat under armpits: “Chicken wings.”
Pop-up setup Let hands go too far forward or hold rails Flat hands under armpits
Falling Let kids dive headfirst or jump off the board Fall flat like a starfish
After falling Let kids panic or ignore the board Protect your head, find your board, listen
Coaching Give five corrections at once Give one win and one next step
Progression Force every kid to stand Match the child’s comfort and readiness
Nervous kids Push them into a wave too soon Slow down, practice, or take a break
Wave selection Push any wave that comes Choose the safest wave for that child
Hand-over Let responsibility be unclear Say: “I’ve got them” before the assistant leaves

The 5 Things Kids Should Remember

If kids remember only five things, make it these:

Remember Why it matters
Stay close We surf as a group
Nose to the wave Keeps the board safer in whitewater
Flat hands. Big scoops. Helps kids paddle without tense wrists
Chicken wings Hands under armpits, not rails
Fall flat Never dive headfirst
Paddle. Push. Stand. Simple cue for catching a wave

Surf Instructor Checklist

Before the session

  • Arrive 30 minutes early
  • Check in with the safety leads
  • Attend the water safety briefing
  • Confirm surf zone boundaries
  • Confirm entry and exit points
  • Confirm hand-over location
  • Confirm finish area
  • Confirm Parent Zone
  • Confirm emergency signals
  • Confirm which volunteers are Surf Instructors and Surf Assistants
  • Confirm child-to-instructor ratio
  • Review any child-specific concerns

During the session

  • Receive kids from Surf Assistants
  • Clearly acknowledge hand-over
  • Brief kids calmly
  • Match each child to their readiness level
  • Select appropriate whitewater waves
  • Push kids into waves only when safe
  • Watch each child through the ride and finish
  • Communicate with Surf Assistants
  • Give one win and one next step
  • Pause the flow if safety requires it

After the session

  • Help return boards
  • Share safety observations
  • Report equipment issues
  • Join the debrief
  • Note kids who may need extra support next time
  • Suggest improvements for the next lesson

Outcome Checklist for Surf Instructors

By the end of the lesson, we want to know:

Skill Area Question
Safety Does the child understand basic water safety rules?
Group awareness Does the child know how to signal for help?
Paddling Can the child lie centered and paddle with basic control?
Belly ride Can the child hold belly ride position safely?
Wipeout safety Can the child explain: fall flat, protect your head, find your board?
Pop-up Can the child try one method to move from lying down to standing?
Surf flow Can the child finish safely and return to start?
Confidence Did the child feel supported enough to try again?
Reflection Can the child say one thing they learned or want to try next time?

Not every child will complete every outcome in one session.

That is okay.

Surfing is a progression.

Debrief Questions for Surf Instructors

After the lesson, share what you observed.

Helpful questions:

  • Did the hand-over work well?
  • Were the waves appropriate?
  • Did kids understand the instructions?
  • Did the Surf Assistants know where to be?
  • Did kids finish safely?
  • Did the Parent Zone work?
  • Were there any safety concerns?
  • Did any child need extra support?
  • What should we adjust next time?

The debrief helps Brooklyn Surf Club improve every surf lesson day.

Final Reminder for Surf Instructors

As a Surf Instructor, you create one of the most memorable parts of the day.

For some kids, it may be their first wave.

For others, it may be their first time feeling safe in the ocean.

The goal is not perfection.

The goal is safety, confidence, and joy.

Keep it calm.
Keep it safe.
Keep it encouraging.

That is what makes a great Brooklyn Surf Club surf lesson.

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