Member HandbookChapter 5.3
The Roster, Sign On/Off & Your Hours
Updated 15 Aug 2026 · Content
The patrol roster for the season is confirmed by 1 October and published in the SLS Members Hub, where you can also check your current patrol hours at any time (Patrols > Patrol Roster). You're responsible for knowing your patrol dates and committing to your schedule.
Your obligation
As an Active Member, your Club patrol obligation is to complete the Club's full patrol roster each season — either by personally attending every rostered patrol, or by arranging an accepted substitute through the SLS Members Hub for any you can't make (see Can't Make a Patrol?). An informal arrangement that isn't recorded in the Hub doesn't satisfy the obligation.
| Membership category | Minimum patrol hours |
|---|---|
| Active (15–18) and Active (18+) | Full patrol roster each season |
| Active Reserve | As set by the Board each season |
| Cadet (U14) | Minimum 16 hours, supervised |
| Cadet (U15) | Full patrol roster |
| Award Member | Full roster if assigned to a team |
Sign on and sign off
Signing on confirms who's on the beach, and it's the only way your hours are counted. Arrive ready for duty before the patrol starts (your Patrol Captain will confirm arrival times), sign on using the club's approved patrol recording system, check your equipment and radio with the Patrol Captain, and sign off before you leave at the end of your shift.
Always sign off
Patrol hours aren't counted unless you're correctly signed on and off — even if your replacement has already arrived. Running late? Let your Patrol Captain know as early as possible so coverage can be managed.
Patrol hours ≠ competition eligibility
Completing your Club roster — including via accepted substitutes — satisfies your Club membership obligation. It does not automatically satisfy SLSA's competition eligibility requirements, which are set independently and can't be waived by the Club. Patrols covered by a substitute count toward your Club obligation, but not toward your own personal patrol hours for competition — see Competition Eligibility & Patrol Requirements in Surf Sports & Competition.