Nippers (5 – 13 years)
Nippers will return on Sunday, 19th October 2025!
- This year, the season will start with proficiency testing at Aquatic Achievers Warriewood. No children can go into the surf before completing the proficiency.
- Proficiency testing is nothing to be scared of! It just helps our volunteers understand where your child is at with their swimming to determine how much support they need in the surf.
- Please bring your nipper along at the following timeslots according to their Age Group this season.
- 1:30pm: U7, U8, U9
- 1:00pm: U6, U13, U12
- 2:00pm: U11, U10
Nippers will return to the beach on Sunday 26th October.
- Nippers starts promptly at 9am
- Please arrive 15 minutes early and line up behind your age flag where your age manager will mark your name off. It is mandatory for parents to stay at the beach with their children. If a parent is not able to stay with their child, please discuss with your age manager to ensure a responsible adult is there to look after your child.
- DO NOT leave the beach until your name has been marked off for a second time. If you need to leave early, please ensure the Age Manager is notified.
- Make sure you bring a hat, drink bottle and sun cream. All nippers must wear a skull cap and nipper yellow rashie for safety purposes. New Nippers will be given theirs on the first day. These will be found in the Age tubs and given out by your Age Manager. Returning Nippers will have to purchase new ones if they have out grown or lost their uniform from last season.
- The shop is open most Sunday mornings to grab any items that may be needed.
- Comms – all communication during the season is run as follows:
- Email – Weekly email to your registered email address prior to each Sunday confirming what’s happening this weekend, including what age groups are on BBQ duty
- Instagram – please give our page a follow @newport.slsc.nippers and look out for the weekly reminders
- WhatsApp – ask your Age Managers for details of your age group’s Whatsapp page.
- Newport Nippers like to take care of the environment – so please be mindful of not leaving any rubbish on the beach and try to BYO drink bottles etc.
- Nippers is Surf Life Saving for children aged between 5 and 13 years. Children from 5 to 7 years may join on an educational basis, while children from 8 years up may join in competitions representing Newport SLSC. They can compete in Northern Beaches inter-club competitions, Sydney Branch and state carnivals.
- While competition is an important element, surf awareness and education are the primary aim. Children are taught how to respect and read the surf, and to use it to their advantage. As your nipper works through the levels they will learn life skills of CPR and first aid. These are vital skills for life which we hope you will be able to engage with your child.
- We understand that our competitive kids are training lots, but we still expect to see them on Sunday morning to learn all aspects of Surf Life Saving. Being part of Newport Surf Club gives your nippers an opportunity to build new friendships and create bonds to the community.
- On completion of the season, all children will receive a certificate to show they have gained the skills required in their age group. Our award system works on participation. Every child will be awarded for participation with a certificate if they registered before mid-December. Children with an attendance of 80% and above (this includes representing the club at competitions) will receive a medal. This allows for children to miss only four (4) Sunday mornings.
- Nippers is an educational programme so it is important that children try to attend as much of nippers as possible to get the most out of the program. We encourage all children and parents to come to each Sunday morning as the skills learnt will only get stronger with practice, and in turn will allow your child’s confidence to grow when it comes to surf life saving.
Joining Our Nippers’ Programme
Any child can join Nippers, and you DON’T have to be competitive or athletic or even confident in the surf. One of the best things about Nippers is seeing young children who are scared of the water lose their fear during the season. Children with disabilities are welcome but in some cases a Doctor’s letter will be requested stating that the child is capable of undertaking certain events or activities. In all cases, the child would not be expected to participate in any event or activity that might cause danger to the child.
Proficiency
- Before any child is allowed to participate in any water event or activity (i.e. an event where they would be in water out of their depth) they are required to take a proficiency evaluation.
- If your child cannot pass the minimum proficiency this does not mean they cannot join. It means that the ratio to child to water safety is 1:1 as apposed to 1:5.
- For this reason we need as many parents as possible doing their bronze medallion to be able to help with water safety. We are here to help waterproof your kids and the more water safety we have the more time your nipper can spend in the water.
- Children who wish to compete at carnivals in both water and beach events will be required to undertake an open water swim proficiency. Please see our Head Coach for details about this Competition Proficiency Swim. All kids that compete must come to training and flat water is a must!
Nipper Membership Fees
Registration for 2025-26 Season
All new memberships and renewals are completed online.
Nippers Competition Group
Please see our Competition page for details of our competition program and training opportunities.
Parent Involvement
Parents are actively encouraged to participate in their child’s Age Group activities. Many parents are former (or current) members of Life Saving Clubs and assist with the provision of water safety for events. Other parents act as age officials, managers or committee members (bronze not required for these 3 roles). Any parent who is interested in doing their Bronze Medallion please see your child’s Age Manager who will provide you with details.
Member Protection Forms
All adult members need to fill in a Member Protection Form. Once completed and signed the forms can be brought along to Nippers on a Sunday morning.
Purchase of Club Gear and Nipper Caps
- A compulsory safety rash vest and club cap for first-time Nippers is included in the membership fee. The collection method will be advised soon.
- Our clothing shop is available online and will be open (in the Nippers’ shed on the beach side of the club) during Nippers to enable the purchase of club gear and Nipper caps.
More information
Adam Willis
Director of Youth
Email our Nipper Chairman