Nippers

Our Nippers program offers engaging activities both in and out of the water to equip children with essential water and surf skills that will benefit them throughout their lives.

ENROLMENTS ARE NOW CLOSED FOR THE 2024/2025 SEASON

About Nippers

Sorrento Nippers is a Junior Development program for children 7-13 years of age. The program aims to educate children about surf and beach safety using games and fun activities to promote awareness. There is a heavy reliance on experienced, skilled water safety personnel to ensure the children are educated appropriately and safely in the aquatic environment. Similarly educated personnel are used to educate in life saving and matters pertinent to the beach environment.

The Sorrento Nippers program prides itself on teaching skills on the back beach with actual surf. This more challenging environment allows the participants to be able to handle all ranges of beach and surf conditions, skills that stay with them for life.

email: nippers@sorrentoslsc.au

ENROL IN NIPPERS

Parent Volunteers

The Sorrento Nippers program is run entirely by volunteers, and therefore it is a requirement that each nipper family MUST take on a participate as volunteer during the season.

There are a number of key roles that need to be filled, such as Age Manager (we need 4 for each age group), Water Safety (must do SRC or Bronze Medallion course), Covid-safe officers and First Aid officers.

Some of these roles have a virtual component so there are a variety of ways you can contribute. You will be asked to nominate for a volunteer role when you enrol your nipper for the 2024/2025 season. Sorrento and Life Saving Victoria does provide the necessary training that will provide you with the requisite skills required to volunteer.

Nipper Parent Roles Become an Age Manager

Nippers Requirements

Children must be 7 years of age by September 30 to join the program. Children older than 13 can join the program in the SRC/U14 age group if they are new to surf lifesaving, using it as a training pathway towards achieving their Bronze Medallion in following years. Age groups are capped at 20 nippers to ensure water and beach management procedures allow effective and safe delivery of the program.

All nippers must pass the necessary swim test each year in order to be allowed to participate in the water based activities in the program.

The Nippers program is not a learn-to-swim program. All participants must competently pass the required swim test each year to participate in the water-based activities. The minimum swim distances are outlined in our Nippers requirement document.

Nipper Requirments

LOCATION:

This season the first 2 sessions will be held at the front beach (details to come) and then remaining sessions and Intra Club carnival held at Sorrento Back Beach. The front beach sessions are designed to focus on technique and inspire confidence in the younger nippers before taking them out to the more challenging back beach environment.

This season we will send updates out Friday night week prior to the session to confirm either front or back beach location. The intention is to avoid any extreme conditions at the back beach and be able to provide safe and positive learning environments for the participants

EQUIPMENT:

Each child must have the Sorrento Nipper Cap (provided to each new nipper upon Registration) and also purchase the Fluro Pink Vest when registering as a member.

It is also highly recommended that each child has a full length wetsuit and brings goggles and a water bottle to each session.