All you Need to Know about Nippers

By: Serina Hajje, ellaslist

So What is a Nipper?

Nippers are as natural to the Australian landscape and culture as the scorched desert, crystal beaches and Vegemite.

From the age of 5 to 13, kids are brought into the Aussie tradition of lifesaving and swimming, where they wake up (early!) on a Sunday morning and head to the classroom: the sandy, salty beaches. With enrolments coming up this August, here's everything you need to know about Nippers, and enrolling your child. 

What will my Nipper learn?

Some of the lessons kids learn are:
• board paddling
• beach sprinting
• dolphin-diving
• spotting a rip
• first aid
• making friends!

This also includes carnivals and competitions as well as friendly BBQs and fun family days. 

Why Is Being A Nipper So Important?

Apart from the fun and memories your kid will be making, it’s also a great way to keep active and healthy! The Nippers program is a perfect introduction into the Surf Life Saving club where members volunteer and go on to become life savers.

Why Do We Need Nippers

According to Royal Life Saving Society, 280 people drowned in NSW between 2015-2016, the most common place this occurring being beaches. Of that 280 victims, 21 children between the ages of 0 and 4 years drowned and 11 children aged 5-14 years died in Australian waterways between 1 July 2015 and 30 June 2016. Most of these deaths occurred in cities and inner regional areas.

There is a gradual decrease in children’s deaths in Australian waters and it’s important to teach your child to be water-safe as early as possible! The best way is through a fun, well-supervised and experienced group like Nippers, who have decades of experience to best support your child.

Kenji Sato, a former Surry Hills nipper, said, “Nippers was great. After three lessons I was able to doggy paddle without floaties. Before Nippers, I was only able to clumsily flail around in the water with the aid of floaties.”

What To Expect

Before you can officially join the nippers program, all kids need to go through a series of swimming tests. This usually includes holding your breath underwater for 30 seconds to basic swimming strokes. The tests vary for each age group.

Most Nipper clubs kick off between September and March, and training is held every Sunday at around 8:15 am. So say goodbye to late Saturday nights and prepare your coffee mugs, you’ll be up early with the kids! Clubs often require a parent to join and help out with club activities, which is a fantastic opportunity to spend more quality time with your little ones.

How Much Will It Cost?

Junior Membership (Nippers): From around $75 per nipper
Junior Activities Associate Membership (parents): from $50 per adult
Family Membership (2 nippers + 2 parents or 3 nippers + 1 parent): from around $200
Club Cap (compulsory) : approx $15
(Note that this is a general framework that fits most clubs. Some clubs have slightly different costs which can be found on their website)

There may also be a $50 board levy for Under-11 -Under-13 nippers who don’t have a board and gives members use of a club-owned board during the season at training sessions and carnivals.

DON’T MISS ENROLMENT

Registration for new Nippers begins in early August for most clubs and the Nipper groups are booked out very quickly. It’s best to find the website or Facebook page of your local club and keep up to date with registration dates. You can search for your local on the Surf Life Saving website.

ENROL ONLINE

Registration is easy and you can enrol online on the Surf Life Saving website.

I Don’t Live Near a Beach. Can I still join Nippers?

Sydney Wet ’n’ Wild Nippers Club
Wet ’n’ Wild has teamed up with Surf Life Savings to create a Nippers club for those in Western Sydney, the leading area for drownings. The new season dates haven’t been finalised yet but it is proposed that they will run from around October 2017 to March 2018. We suggest you join the waiting list and sign up as soon as registration re-opens. You also need to buy a season pass to enter the park for Nippers.

Swim Australia

There are heaps of local swimming programs that you might not know about. Local swimming pools often have great swimming programs for kids. Find yours here!