Nipper FAQ’s

My son turns 5 in October 2021. Can he join then?

Yes, if your child is born between 1st October and 2nd December and only after they turn 5 they can join as an U6, however he will need to participate in U6 the following year.

My child is currently 11 (12 in January 2022), what age group will he be in?

The age group that your child will enter, is the age they at on September 30. As your child was 11 on the 30th Sept 2021 (turning 12 in January) they are therefore classed as being in the Under 12 age group and remain in the same age group for the whole season (even though they turn 12 during the season).

Can I drop my children at Nippers and leave?

No, it is compulsory that a parent or designated guardian is at the beach during the entire duration of Nippers.

I have 3 children and can't be with all groups at the same time?

That is fine. Parents of U6 & U7 children need to be with their group at all times. Parents of U8-14s just need to inform the Age Manager where they will be if they are not going to be with the group.

Her friend's birthday puts them in different age groups.. can't they be together?

Sorry we need to obey the policies set by SLSA that children are put into groups where their birthday falls – they will be able to make new friends and still be able to socialize before & after.

How often should I bring my child to the beach?

Our Nipper Days are held each Sunday, November-March. We understand that families are busy so the program doesn’t require 100% participation but your child will benefit from regular attendance. We also have mid-week specialized training sessions available along with camps for those who wish to improve their skills and fitness. Check the Training page, facebook and newsletters for more information.

What does my child need?

Club cap and high visibility rash shirts are compulsory and can be purchased from our Merchandise store.

Bathers, water bottle, towel, goggles, sunscreen are a given.
Check out our Club Swimwear and Merchandise at the clubrooms.

What do children do in Surf Life Saving?

Depending on their age group, Children will cover sprints and flags, swimming, board paddling, wading, basic CPR/ first aid skills, junior development and lots of FUN activities. They will also learn surf lifesaving skills, surf awareness, and intrinsically develop personal and emotional skills.

Junior Awards... What are these for my child?

Each age group award has sessions that they participate in to acquire relevant skills and knowledge. They will need to attend and participate in all of the compulsory sessions to attain the award.

They must also complete the pool and Beach Evaluation to obtain the award.

Does my child have to be able to swim?

Yes for U8-U14 age groups as they need to complete their Pool Evaluation including a swim and a float. This is carried out before participating in any Junior Activities session to assess their swimming and self survival ability in the water and will determine whether they can progress to Junior Activities. The next step is for them to complete their Competition Evaluation which allows them to compete at carnivals. Only those who wish to compete are required to complete the Competition Evaluation. U6 & U7s need to be competent in the water.

Is this a learn to swim program?

No. Although your child will benefit enormously and increase their confidence from exposure to open water based activities including swimming and board paddling. We do not provide specific learn to swim training or stroke correction. This is strongly encouraged to be taken up externally.

What can I do to help?

Parents can become involved in many areas of Club activity. Areas can include – helping at Sunday nipper days (Beach setup/pack down, helping run activities, being an age observer) carnival officiating, first aid officer, fundraising, providing water safety at Sunday nippers, training and carnivals (if you gain your Bronze Medallion), most of all supporting your child in their Junior Activities.

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