CATHERINE HILL BAY 2016/2017 NIPPERS BOOKLET. First Nippers day of the season is Sunday 16 th October 2016

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1 CATHERINE HILL BAY 2016/2017 NIPPERS BOOKLET First Nippers day of the season is Sunday 16 th October 2016 Nippers is all about learning new skills, gaining confidence and having fun in a safe beach environment. For Nippers, the beach is the classroom where your child will gain confidence by passing the 'tests' of swimming, board paddling, beach sprinting, dolphin-diving, spotting a rip, having fun with new friends and discovering things about themselves. The skills your child will gain at Nippers will stay with them for life. Nippers is a junior activities program that introduces children aged 5 to 13 to surf lifesaving. It is a fun outdoors activity that develops a child s confidence, teaches valuable life skills and safety knowledge. Nippers is a great way for children to make friends, be active and enjoy the beach in a safe environment. First Day of Nippers - Sunday 16 th October 2016 Last Day of Nippers Sunday 11 th December 2016 (fun day with Santa) Nippers resumes Sunday 8 th January 2017 Last Day of Nippers - Sunday 5 th March 2017 Nippers is held on Sundays from 10am, starting on 16 October 2016 up until March. Check the website, Facebook page, or our clubhouse noticeboard for a full calendar or for up-to-date information. What to Expect Arrival: We suggest arriving around 9.45am and assemble on the beach in the age group line ready at 9.55am to be marked off for attendance and their cap to be fitted. Your age managers meet before 10am and assess water conditions, and to plan activities for the day. Water: Wade or Swimming, and board paddling around a pre-set course. Where conditions permit and sufficient Water Safety is there, the inflatable pontoon will be set-up for swim out and swim in with Water Safety. Please note that ages 9-14 must be proficient swimmers (see hereunder ) to enter the water no exceptions Sand: A Running Track, Flags and various other activities are provided for all nippers. Age managers also provide other fun activities for the younger age groups to keep them busy and amused. On Fun Days - an Obstacle course, Dodge-Ball, or Volleyball court will be set-up.

2 SUNDAY ORGANISATION AND ACTIVITIES NIPPERS IS NOT A CHILD MINDING SERVICE. A parent or guardian is required to be at the beach at all times during nippers. What to wear and bring: Swimming costume. Sunscreen applied before Nippers starts. Goggles (recommended for swim events). Compulsory hi-viz pink rash vest for all water events; please make sure it is a snug fitting one. No pink vest no water events Drink bottle Order of Events on the Day The morning s events will be determined according to the day s Age Group roster. Water activities will be decided according to the conditions on the day, and may vary according to conditions throughout the day. Please note Nippers activities will still be conducted on wet days, but may be modified to suit the conditions. The decision to cancel due to electrical storm activity, other adverse weather conditions or unforeseeable events will usually be made on the day and an SMS message sent out to inform parents as soon as practicable. What you can do to help Nippers to run smoothly on Sundays: Have your child/ren assemble behind their age group signs at 9:45am so that the Age Managers can mark the roll. Nippers commences at 10am sharp. Some education sessions, particularly those pertaining to official surf lifesaving awards, may start at 8:00 or 8:30am by arrangement with the parents and the relevant age manager. Nippers normally concludes:- at approx. 11am for the under U6 s - U8 s age groups; and at approx. 11:30am for U9 s and above. At the conclusion of nippers activities for the morning, you or a nominated responsible adult should collect your child from their Age Manager and have their name checked off the roll. Children should then remove their coloured nippers cap, and are then considered to be in the care of their parent or guardian. Following conclusion of normal Nippers, we encourage you to swim with your Children between the Flags to conclude your morning at Catho. Age Championships Our main objective at Nippers is to educate children in surf safety and surf skills. U8 to U14 Nippers will have their places in events tallied through the season towards the Age Championships. Our canteen will be operating from morning to early afternoon for drinks, hot and cold foods, or snacks.

3 JUNIOR AQUATIC EVALUATIONS AND PROFICIENCY SWIMS ALL NIPPERS must complete an aquatic evaluation or proficiency swim (depending on age and ambition). AGE Minimum participation requirements for water activities on Nipper days Branch & State Carnivals Participation requirements. U6 perform a glide, then recover & a float Not competitive U7 perform a glide, 3m kick, then recover & Not competitive a float U8 25m swim + 1 min survival float No additional requirement must complete Preliminary Proficiency U9 25m swim + 1 min survival float 200m pool swim < 6 minutes + 150m open U10 25m swim min survival float 200m pool swim < 6 minutes + 150m open U11 50m swim + 2 min survival float 200m pool swim < 5 minutes + 288m open U12 100m swim + 2 min survival float 200m pool swim < 5 minutes + 288m open U13 150m swim + 3 min survival float 200m pool swim < 5 minutes + 288m open U14 200m swim (in less than 5 minutes) + 3 min survival float SRC (Surf Rescue Certificate) *Note: open water swim is an ocean swim at Catho Where will pool proficiency be held. Where: Swansea Pool When: 1:00pm-4:00pm Saturday 24 and Sunday 25 September 2016 What to bring: Swimmers, towel, goggles and pool entry fee. Entry fee: $3 for participants and $2 for spectators. Note: Your child s swim teacher can sign them off for pool proficiency without the need for them to attend the pool session. Any Nipper can compete at Branch and State carnivals, provided they have completed their Junior Competition Qualification.

4 AGE GROUPS AND CAPS Your child/ren s participation is aged based and s/he will be assigned to an age group as follows Age Group Cap Colour DOB: Under 6 TBA 1 st October 2010 to 30 th September 2011 Under 7 TBA 1 st October 2009 to 30 th September 2010 Under 8 TBA 1 st October 2008 to 30 th September 2009 Under 9 TBA 1 st October 2007 to 30 th September 2008 Under 10 TBA 1 st October 2006 to 30 th September 2007 Under 11 TBA 1 st October 2005 to 30 th September 2006 Under 12 TBA 1 st October 2004 to 30 th September 2005 Under 13 TBA 1 st October 2003 to 30 th September 2004 Under 14 TBA 1 st October 2002 to 30 th September 2003 SAFETY FIRST Surf Conditions Prior to any water activity, the surf conditions are assessed and a Risk Assessment is conducted by the Patrol Captain, J.A. Chairman and Water Superintendent. At all times the safety of our members is the highest priority. If at any time the surf conditions are considered a risk, water events will be cancelled. Child Protection The Surf Life Saving Australia policy on Child Protection is available in the Library section of our website. All adult members of Catherine Hill Bay SLSC are required to complete a Working with Children declaration. This is Compulsory!!! A Working With Children Check can be completed online at If at any time you witness any activity that may endanger any child or member, please contact a club member and report to our Member Protection Officer, Richard Black. Surf lifesaving Parent/Guardian Code of Conduct A Parent/Guardian of an SLSA member will 1. remember that their child participate in surf lifesaving for their own 2. enjoyment. 3. focus on their child s efforts and performance rather than winning and losing. 4. show appreciation for good performance by all participants. 5. never ridicule or yell at their child or other children for making a mistake. 6. respect officials decisions and teach their children to do likewise. 7. not physically or verbally abuse or harass anyone associated with the 8. activities (eg. coach, official, age manager, etc.). 9. be a positive role model for others

5 GET INVOLVED Kids love it when their parents get involved. They love the support and the attention. We do appreciate, strongly encourage and need parents to become involved. Not only does it help Nippers to run smoothly and safely but it enhances the experience for both your child/ren and yourself. There is a range of opportunities to get involved. All you need is a current working with children clearance. See your child s Age Manager or Age Assistant or our Junior Activities Chairman before, during or at the end of Nippers. Age Managers These volunteers take care and guide their age groups on a Sunday morning, most being Nippers parents themselves. They are responsible for encouraging the children of their age group to participate, enjoy and cooperate in all activities at the club. Age Managers must complete the SLSA Age Manager Award. This course is run annually or part 1 can be completed on-line. There are strict guidelines on the ratio of qualified Age Managers required on the beach to run Nippers. To become a qualified Age Manager all you need to do is: Attend an SLSA Age Managers Course Workshop (or complete online if available) Have the SLSA Age Managers Participant Workbook completed and assessed by the course presenter. Undertake an On-The-Beach practical session to gain an introductory understanding of surf skills (at branch/state discretion, this may be waived if the participant has a surf background such as proficient Bronze Medallion). Water Safety These volunteers hold either a Bronze Medallion or Surf Rescue Certificate. They are recognisable as they wear the orange rash vest and cap. There are strict guidelines on the ratio of water safety to children in the water, so it is very important that we have a large number of parents who take on this challenge. Catho Surf club facilitates this by running a number of Bronze Medallion courses over the season and we encourage parents to have a go. If you are interested, please talk to your Age Manage or a committee member for more information. Completing the Bronze Medallion not only gives a lot of personal satisfaction but also opens up the door to further involvement and awards within the Surf Club. Please note that only Bronze medallion or SRC holders can enter the water with the children during Nippers activities. There can be no exceptions to this rule. Surf Sports Official As part of the surf carnival entry requirements, our club must provide an official for every 10 competitors registered for a carnival. Becoming an official is a great way of becoming involved as a parent. By doing so you will also have front row seats to see the competition and you can even nominate to be an official in the area for your child s age group. If you are interested in becoming an official please inform your child s age manager or contact our Junior Activities Chairman.

6 Complaints In a perfect world, we would not have any complaints. However, if something should come up, please direct them in the following manner: 1. Verbally to the JA Chairman or Deputy Chairman 2. In written form presented to the JA Chairman or Deputy Chairman 3. In written form, presented in person at the monthly club meeting. NOTE: Please keep in mind we are all volunteers, trying to do the best for all on the beach. Abuse in any form will not be tolerated. Junior Activities Contacts Junior Activities Chairperson Dom Nash Deputy JA Chairperson Craig Williams Water Safety Coordinator TBA Non-Competitive Co-Ordinator Andrew Adamson JA Secretary Catherine Leist Junior Carnival Co-Ordinator Josh Simpson Water Superintendent TBA JA Gear Steward Ken Siegers Beach Superintendent TBA Member Protection Officer Richard Black U14 Age Manager TBA U13 Age Manager Caitlin Williams U12 Age Manager Kate McPeak U11 Age Manager Kelly Elasi U10 Age Manager Ken Siegers U9 Age Manager Adam McCulloch U8 Age Manager Dave Brockwell U7 Age Manager Andrew Adamson U6 Age Manager Craig Williams Junior Team Manager Josh Simpson Please direct questions to Dom Nash or your Age manager in first instance.