Nippers Program
Activities, age groups, and Sunday sessions — everything you need to know about the Nippers program.
What Happens at Nippers?
Each Sunday session is packed with fun activities:
🌊 Surf awareness and safety games
🏊♂️ Ocean swims (age-appropriate)
🏄 Board paddling
🏃♀️ Beach sprints and flags
🤝 Team challenges and new friends
☀️ Beach education and sun safety
Younger kids focus on fun and confidence. As they grow, skills build step by step.
It's not about being the fastest — it's about trying your best, having fun, and improving each week.
Age Groups & Skills
Kids join groups based on their age (as at 30 September). Everyone builds skills at their own pace.
U6-U8 (Little Nippers)
Fun first! Learning to be confident in shallow water, wading, and having a go.
U9-U11 (Growing Skills)
Building endurance, learning board skills, and developing surf awareness.
U12-U14 (Young Lifesavers)
Stronger swimming, board races, and preparing for future patrol roles.
If a child isn't quite ready for water activities, they can still join in beach games and skill-building. We make sure everyone participates safely.
For carnival water events, U9-U14 members complete the Junior Activities Competition Skills Evaluation. U8 members may take part in wade events under the applicable competition conditions.
Age Groups & Skills Assessments
Nippers at Fingal Beach SLSC is structured by age group so children build confidence and surf skills safely and progressively each season. Age groups are based on your child's age as at 30 September each year.
There are two separate evaluations each season:
1) Junior Activities Preliminary Evaluation
Completed before children take part in water-based Nippers activities. Records a baseline level of ability and helps determine water safety needs.
2) Junior Activities Competition Skills Evaluation
Required for water competition eligibility at carnivals (not for weekly participation).
U6–U8 (Stage One)
| Skill | U6 | U7 | U8 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Flotation | Back or front float 5 sec | Back or front float 10 sec | Back or front float 15 sec |
| Submersion | Submerge to touch the bottom with hands | ||
| Propulsion | Push & glide 1–2m | Push/glide + kick 2–3m | Swim front 20m + underwater 2–3m |
U9–U11 (Stage Two)
| Skill | U9 | U10 | U11 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Flotation | Float 5 sec + tread 1 min | Float 5 sec + tread 2 min | Float 5 sec + tread 2 min |
| Submersion | Touch bottom | Forward/back roll underwater + touch bottom | Forward/back roll underwater + touch bottom |
| Propulsion | Swim 25m + survival 10m | Swim 25m + survival 25m | Swim 25m + survival 50m |
Survival stroke = breaststroke and/or sidestroke and/or back sculling.
U12–U14 (Stage Three)
| Skill | U12 | U13 | U14 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Flotation | Float 5 sec + tread 3 min | ||
| Submersion | Roll/somersault underwater + touch bottom | ||
| Propulsion | Swim 75m + survival 50m | Swim 100m + survival 50m | Swim 100m + survival 100m |
Competition Skills Evaluation (Carnivals)
| Age Group | Requirement |
|---|---|
| U6 & U7 | Nil — no competition |
| U8 | Nil — wade in waist-deep water only |
| U9 & U10 | Minimum 150m open water swim |
| U11–U14 | Minimum 288m open-water competition course swim |
The preliminary evaluation records a child's swimming and self-survival ability and helps determine whether normal or closer water-safety supervision is required. Current requirements should be confirmed in the season's Nippers Guide.
Sunday Sessions
Nippers runs on Sunday mornings during surf season. Here's what to expect:
Before 9:00am – Arrive and sign in with your age group
9:30am – Nippers activities begin
Beach and water activities vary with age, conditions and safety assessments
Around 11:00am – Activities usually conclude, followed by the Nippers BBQ
What to Bring
A responsible parent or guardian must remain at the beach throughout the session. Families can also help with setup, activities and pack-down.