What Nippers Learn

Under 6 & Under 7

  • Introduction to the club and beach
  • Sun safety
  • Who are Life Savers what do they do
  • Where to swim
  • Identify holes and gutters
  • Marine creatures
  • Introduction to beach flags/sprint and wade
  • Shallow water activities
  • Get your face wet
  • Getting comfortable on a board

Under 8

  • Build on what was learnt in U6/U7s
  • Proficiency 25m swim 1 minute float
  • Beach flags
  • Sprint and wade for competition
  • Start competition within the club and against other clubs
  • Introduction Dolphin diving under waves
  • Introduction to body surfing
  • Build up swimming in the surf
  • Introduction to board paddling

Under 9 & Under 10

  • Build on what was learnt in previous years
  • Proficiency 50m swim 1 ½ minute float
  • Beach flags; sprint; swim and board paddling for competition
  • 150m open water swim prerequisite for competitors
  • Dolphin diving under waves
  • Body surfing
  • Surf swimming
  • Board Paddling
  • Rip awareness and management

Under 11, Under 12 & Under 13

  • Build on what was learnt in previous years
  • Proficiency 200m swim in under 6 minutes
  • 3 minute float
  • 288m open water swim prerequisite for competitors
  • Advance to fiberglass boards
  • U13 eligible to compete in board riding competition
  • Introduction to beach signals
  • Introduction to Resuscitation
  • Introduction to Board rescue skills
  • Introduction to Tube rescue skills
  • Introduction to basic first aid

Under 14

  • Build on what was learnt in previous years
  • Proficiency 200m swim (5 minutes) 3 minute float
  • Surf Rescue Certificate (SRC) which is run over the October Long Weekend
  • 288m open water swim prerequisite for those who wish to compete
  • Advance to fiberglass Long boards
  • Become patrolling members

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