Latest Nipper News
THE 2011 / 2012 NIPPER PROGRAM IS NOW FULL
Group lists are available below:
Surf Play 5 - 7 year olds
Under 8
Under 9
Under 10
Under 11
Under 12
Under 13
With New Years Day falling on the first Sunday in January next year we’re starting the season a little later again on January 7th and will again be running from 10am through until 1pm on Saturday and Sunday. The program will finish with the intra-club carnival on the 22nd.
Again, we will be capping numbers at 150 due to water safety, so make sure you register early.
This year, each nipper needs an adult registered as a member of the club (either as an associate member or an active member), with a Working With Children’s Check (WWCC). This is not new – we have been encouraging members to get their WWCC for the past few seasons. This is not our rule – it comes from SLSA, and all other clubs in the state are in the same position. WWCC forms are free, and can be found at all Australian Post Offices.
Our nippers will once again be forming a competition team, thanks to Leanne and Richard Grills who have once again offered to manage this program. Those interested should return the green form titled “Nipper Carnival Training and Competition Programme” available on the membership page.
Finally if there are any keen parents interested in getting involved in the Nippers program, particularly as age group leaders, please contact Mark Kebbell at nippers@13thbeachslsc.asn.au. There will be an “adult” bronze medallion course run through November and December as the water warms up.
Introduction to Nippers
Nippers start learning about surf awareness and safety through the SurfEd program. They are also able to participate in board paddling, surfing, swimming, running, wading and other fun activities and games. Practising these skills allows children to compete in Club, Regional and State Surf Life Saving Carnivals representing their Clubs. Surf Life Saving Australia also conducts development camps in every state.
Children can join Nippers at any age from U/8 (7yrs) to U/14 (13yrs). Age groups in Surf Life Saving are determined by the age you are on 1st October each year. Please note that children must be a minimum age of 7 years, as of midnight , 30 th September to join Nippers.
The Nipper program is not a learn to swim program and your child(ren) should be confident in swimming in ocean conditions. To give you an idea of the swimming capabilities expected, each child should be able to swim the following distances without stopping and complete a survival float for the time specified.
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Age Group
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Preliminary Evaluation
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Under 8
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25 metre swim, (any stroke). 1 minute survival float.
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Under 9
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25 metre swim, (any stroke). 1 minute survival float.
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Under 10
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25 metre swim, (freestyle). 1½ minute survival float.
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Under 11
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50 metre swim, (freestyle). 2 minute survival float.
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Under 12
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100 metre swim, (freestyle). 2 minute survival float.
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Under 13
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150 metre swim, (freestyle). 3 minute survival float.
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Under 14 (SRC)
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200 metre swim, (freestyle, in less than 5 minutes). 3 minute survival float.
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When a person turns 15, they are eligible to attempt the bronze medallion qualification .
We do ask that the parents help out during the nipper program by helping to run the activities, sausage sizzle (via a roster) or even better - by training for your bronze and becoming a leader.
Should you have any queries regarding enrolments / membership or the waiting list please contact the membeship secretary at membership@13thbeachslsc.asn.au
BACKGROUND AND UNDERSTANDINGS:
- Thirteenth Beach SLSC is a small club with growing membership within a constantly growing community.
- Management recognises the importance of “Youth Development” and the growing importance of a Nippers Program to provide children with an understanding of water and surf safety, team work/competition, rescue techniques, first aid and patient revival and an understanding of basic OH&S.
- The Nipper Program is often the starting point for many life long members of Surf Lifesaving Australia and as such the protection of Australian beach goers.
- Management recognises the commitment of its members and formally trained instructors.
- The Nipper Program is supported by volunteers and includes an instructor/nipper ratio of 1:5 during water based activities.
- Management also recognises the vital role parents/carers play in supporting the program and ask that parents be in attendance while their children are in the care of instructors.
- Management requests that parents declare the swimming proficiency of their children as deemed necessary for each particular age group, prior to enrolment.
- Management requests that parents inform program leaders of any relevant medical or behavioural condition which their children may have at the time.
- The club will supply a “Working with Children” check for volunteers.
- The community will be encouraged to undertake training in order to facilitate the Nipper program thereby increasing the overall program.
PROGRAM REGISTRATION:
While every effort will be made to include children into the program, the following entry guidelines shall be observed when considering the inclusion of children.
- Publication and announcement of the next season’s Nipper Program will commence at least one month prior to the club’s AGM.
- Notices will be placed on the club’s web site, the club’s “Marrum” newsletter, and the local primary schools’ newsletters, on community noticeboards and in “Talking Heads”- the local community newspaper.
- Payment and completed forms will be accepted on the day of the AGM.
- Given the required 1:5 ratio, each age group will be initially capped at 25.[Five qualified Bronze Medallion leaders per group, six groups, therefore thirty leaders and one hundred and fifty Nippers in total]
Acceptance of registration will be based upon the following hierarchical process:
1. Children or siblings of actively involved Nipper leaders during that season. [Green form] To be received by 31st August in order to be accepted.
2. Children of existing members. [Yellow form] To be received by 31st August in order to be accepted.
3. Children paid for and signed on the day of the AGM selected from ballot until ceiling of 25 is reached. [Blue form]
4. Children whose registration and payment is received after the AGM until the ceiling of 25 is reached.
5. Parent confirmation forms must be returned by December 1st to secure a position in the program or those on the waiting list will replace them.
6. The waiting list will be determined from balloted draws in order after the initial 25.
7. If there are additional qualified leaders available after the ceiling of 25 has been reached or not been met, group sizes will be increased in multiples of five where there is a perceived need according to the waiting list.
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