Tacking Point SLSC Nippers

Welcome to the 2023/24 nippers season at Tacking Point SLSC, which will commence on a date to be advised.

We pride ourselves on being a fun and friendly club where everyone is valued and supported regardless of skill level or experience on the beach.

Open to children aged 5-13 years, the primary aim of our Nippers Program is to train young lifesavers of the future.
Your child will learn many skills throughout the program, including surf awareness, how to perform a surf rescue, first aid and CPR, decision-making, problem solving, leadership and teamwork. Plus, they’ll have fun and make some great friends!

 

Our mission

Nippers is not about teaching your child to swim. 

We instead focus on survival and rescue skills that are so valuable to children when enjoying time at the beach.

This means ensuring that our nippers have the decision-making skills to appropriately assess the safety of various aquatic environments for the rest of their lives.

Why join nippers?

Nippers involves learning valuable skills and knowledge about the beach in a safe, stimulating and fun environment.

Additional outcomes of the nipper program include:

Safeguarding Children and young people

Tacking Point Surf Club is committed to providing a safe environment for all children and young people and adheres to the SLSNSW Child Safe Policy.  All adults directly involved in the delivery of the Nippers Program at Tacking Point SLSC have completed a Working with Children Check, plus our Age Managers have been briefed on the SLSA Safeguarding Children and Young People Guidelines. What’s more, we actively promote the sun safe message to all our nippers to ensure sun protection is instilled from a young age.

Age groups

Your child’s age group is determined by their age at midnight on the 30th September 2023.

Born between Age group
1st October 2017 – 30th September 2018 Under 6
1st October 2016 – 30th September 2017 Under 7
1st October 2015 – 30th September 2016 Under 8
1st October 2014 – 30th September 2015 Under 9
1st October 2013 – 30th September 2014 Under 10
1st October 2012 – 30th September 2013 Under 11
1st October 2011 – 30th September 2012 Under 12
1st October 2010 – 30th September 2011 Under 13
1st October 2009 – 30th September 2010 Under 14

Sunday mornings

Nippers line up in their age groups for an 8.30am start each Sunday morning.

If your age group is rostered on for beach set-up, we ask that you be there at 7.30am.

Please note: Parents or carers need to sign their child in and out with their Age Manager, plus a carer must remain on the beach at all times with their child during nippers.

Nipper caps and pink rash vests must be worn for all water activities during nippers.

This is a strict Surf Life Saving Australia (SLSA) requirement to ensure nipper safety.

We encourage everyone to help bring equipment up from the beach after nippers has finished. Each item should be rinsed before storing away to ensure equipment remains in good condition. Many hands make light work!

We do our best to adhere to a time schedule on Sunday mornings, however surf and weather conditions do have an affect sometimes. If surf or weather conditions are poor, we organise alternative activities such as sand events or surf education, or even cancel nippers for that day.