Saturday On The Beach

Standard Saturday Nippers Session

The Nippers season generally runs from October until March. A standard Nippers session on a fair-weather summers’ day usually looks like the following:

• Arrive 1:45, meet on the beach at your relevant age group flag and prepare for a 2:00 start
• Quick brief from Nippers President/AGM.s/important notices
• Under 7s move off to their area for games and play-based learning
• Under 8s-Under 13s Swim (long swim (maybe 200m) or short swim (maybe 70m))
• Second swim option
• Break into age groups and continue water activities such as wades/boards/board rescue (if all boards used, other groups may work on swim starts/finishes or do beach activities such as sprints, long distance run or flags)
• Swap from water to beach activities
• Other coaching as per age group requirements – could mean talking about signals, learning about rips/safety risks at the beach, first aid strategies or team building activities.

Move to 4pm swim start location for club swim at end of session

What To Bring

Each week Nippers will be required to bring the following:

• Bathers – Preferably BSLSC or Red
• BSLSC Broad Brimmed Hat
• BSLSC Red Nipper skull cap*
• Hi-vis pink rashie*
• Long sleeve shirt – Preferably BSLSC
• Towel
• SPF 50+ Sun Protection
• Goggles
• Warm clothing
• Water bottle
• Wetsuit for cold and/or windy days (recommended)

*NOTE: For safety reasons, it is compulsory for Nippers to wear the pink hi-vis vest or rashie and the Nipper coloured cap. U7’s are provided with a coloured cap each week by their Age Group Manager

Age Group Managers/Leaders (AGM/AGL)

Age Group Managers (AGMs) are generally volunteer parents of nippers from each age group. The AGM role is critical to the sustainability of the nipper season and it’s important that parents appreciate our AGMs are acting in a volunteer capacity and need the support of all parents to be successful.

Our volunteer Surf Rescue Certificate (SRC) holders are qualified lifesavers and provide the technical insight and water cover for our nippers during our Saturday sessions and help to prepare them for carnival competition. SRC's are youth aged club members who have completed the Nipper program and are excellent mentors for Nippers.

AGM’s will:

• Be a current registered member of BSLSC
• Hold a current Working With Children Check
• Have completed the Online Age Manager Course
  AGM’s will:
• Plan, coordinate and implement an activity plan for every Saturday session on the beach. The focus will be to ensure every nipper has fun becomes comfortable with the ocean and is kept safe.
• Maintain a weekly attendance record.
• Monitor proficiency, assess capability, and select our nippers into appropriate groupings for carnival competitions.
• Award the end of season awards.
• Help parents to get the best out of the nipper experience throughout the season.

Age Group Allocation

Your child will be allocated to their correct age group according to the National Surf Lifesaving guidelines, with no exceptions. We do not permit a child to be in another age group just because their friends or siblings are in that age group. The age of your child as of the 30th of September will dictate the age group, for example:

• If your child is 7 years old as of the 30th of September, they will be in under 8’s.
• If your child is 8 years old as of the 30th of September, they will be in under 9’s.

Surf Ed

During the season, each age group from Under 7 through to Under 13 will be given Surf Education lessons by their Age Group Managers.

• The primary purpose of Surf Ed is to develop the children’s ability to recognize a safe beach zone or aquatic environment and to enhance their ability to safely recreate.
• The secondary purpose is to provide opportunities for fun, learning new skills and developing a concept of recreation and sport.

Specific learning outcomes are identified in Surf Ed for each age group, and a variety of resources and activities are provided to achieve these outcomes. The practical aspects of Surf Ed are covered during normal nipper activities on the beach, under the guidance of the Age Group Managers. Surf theory and first aid, etc may be taught in the clubhouse in a ‘classroom’ session or on the beach, depending on weather conditions and the nature of the skills to be taught.

All nippers are expected to participate and complete the Surf Ed program for their age group. Completion of the program is a prerequisite for competing in the State Championship carnivals. Nippers who successfully complete the required activities and demonstrate the required practical surf skills will be presented with a certificate.

After Nippers

The 4 o’clock swim
The club runs a 400 metre swim on Brighton beach at the conclusion of the Saturday afternoon nippers session. The swim is available to all club members including nippers.
While the swim is monitored and supervised by the clubs allocated water cover and surf patrol, parents are responsible for supervising their nipper during the swim and infact some parents choose to swim with their nipper to ensure their safety.
The club records times and applies handicaps based on the results each week.
Please see your AGMs for more information.

Family time at the club
Nippers, parents and friends and family are all welcome to enjoy the volunteer hospitality extended by the Brighton Surf Lifesaving Club (BLSC) at the conclusion of every Saturday nippers’ session.
Enjoy the sunshine on the deck, let the nippers run around together, sip on a cold refreshment, buy a raffle ticket for a traditional meat tray or order a plate of hot chips.
Feel connected with the Brighton surf lifesaving community and everyone is welcome.

Extra training opportunities

As a club member, Nippers have access to coaching and learning beyond regular Saturday Nipper session including specialist run, swim and board training, rescue and resuscitation, pool rescue competitions and more. For details on these opportunities and relevant contacts see Surf Sport Competition Areas.

End Of Season Awards

The club will organize an awards night at the club at the end of the nipper’s season. All awards are determined at AGM's discretion.
The judging criteria used by the AGMs to determine the age groups award winners is as follows:

Most Consistent or Best Club Person

• Attendance at training both Surf Club and Swimming Club
• Team Player
• Behaviour at Training and Carnivals
• Good Role Model for other team members

Most Improved

• Improvement from start of the season and throughout season using carnivals results and performances.
• Improvements in Club Swim, Saturday Swim and BJC Swim.
• Measure and compare results from last States Champs.

Rising Star

Generally awarded to a new member or member who has shown increased potential throughout the season (i.e. Carnivals Results, Club Swim, Saturday Swim and BJC)

Runner Up Club Champ – Female & Male

• Runner Up Club Champion criteria is driven solely by State Championship results.

Club Champ – Female & Male

• Club Champion criteria is driven solely by State Championship results

Other key considerations for AGMs when determining the age group award winners are:

• Attendance on Saturday sessions, carnivals and participations in the Junior State Championships
• Competition results
• Resilience
• Club spirit
• Respect for SRC’s and AGM’s
• Support for the success of the squad