Welcome to the 2023/2024 Nippers Season
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Surf Life Saving is an amazing activity for growing a child’s confidence, knowledge and skills in the beach environment. Your MSH Nipper will have fun, meet new friends and be part of an awesome club where everyone is valued and supported.
Open to children aged 5-13 years, the aim of our Nippers Program is to build confidence and encourage young lifesavers of the future. Nippers will develop many skills including surf awareness, learn all about beach events, surf rescues, first aid, problem solving, teamwork and most importantly, have a bucket load of fun!
When does Nippers happen?
Nippers starts at 9.30am on every second Sunday.
Nippers line up in their age groups for a 9.30 start every second Sunday morning.
If you arrive late, please ensure the Age Manager records your child’s attendance. Nippers must also inform their Age Manager before leaving or to continue swimming at the beach.
Please note: A carer must remain on the beach at all times with their child during nippers.
What do we wear?
Nipper caps and pink rash vests must be worn for all water activities during nippers.
Green cap for U6s and U7s – Blue/white/red cap for U8s and up.
This is a strict Surf Life Saving Australia (SLSA) requirement to ensure nipper safety.
We are all about being sun safe so please bring them beach ready and make sure sunscreen is on and you have water bottles.
And at the end?
The age manager will ask all Nippers to remove their caps.
Parents/guardians collect their child from the age manager so names can be marked off.
It is important that all children have their name signed on and off by a parent and you take them in to your care. This ensures a safe environment for all.
Also, if you can spare a moment to help us pack up that would be fantastic…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 via Facebook post.
Age Groups
Listed below are the age groups members will be in for the 2023/2024 season. These age groups are determined as at midnight on 30 September 2023.
| Birthdate between these dates | Age group |
| 1st October 2014 to 30th September 2015 | U/6 / (Surf Play One) |
| 1st October 2013 to 30th September 2014 | U/7 / (Surf Play Two) |
| 1st October 2012 to 30th September 2013 | U/8 / (Surf Aware One) |
| 1st October 2011 to 30th September 2012 | U/9 / (Surf Aware Two) |
| 1st October 2010 to 30th September 2011 | U/10 / (Surf Safe One) |
| 1st October 2009 to 30th September 2010 | U/11 / (Surf Safe Two) |
| 1st October 2008 to 30th September 2009 | U/12 / (Surf Smart One) |
| 1st October 2007 to 30th September 2006 | U/13 / (Surf Smart Two) |
| 1st October 2006 to 30th September 2007 | U/14 / (SRC) |
Proof of age/birth certificate must be sighted for all new children joining a SLSC.
A child may join a SLSC as soon as he/she turns five years of age. No SLSC is to accept membership of a child until they have reached the age of five years to comply with insurance requirements. A child who reaches five years of age after 30th September 2020 may join Nippers at that time; however, this child will be required to stay in the U/6 Nippers age group again the following season.
It is MANDATORY that at one parent/guardian from each family join MSH SLSC either as a Nipper Parent member or an Active member.
During the season we encourage all parents/guardians to get involved either as an Age Manager, helping with Water Safety (must be a proficient SLS Bronze medallion holder) or as an ‘extra set of hands’ to help out as needed.
Click here to find out more about Nippers from Surf Life Saving NSW