Nippers October Hi Everyone,

Transcription

1 Nippers October 2017 Hi Everyone, In less than two months we will be gathered on the beach for another season of nippers. A few things need to be organised beforehand to help it run smoothly and to ensure your child can participate safely. CALENDAR The season consists starts with registration day followed by 8 nipper sessions. This program provides all children the opportunity to participate, learn and have fun and focuses on: - Basic First Aid - Awareness of beach hazards such as rips, waves, rocks etc. - Introducing aspects of the surf sport activities such as board paddling, wading, and beach flags. Each age group is taught specific skills and activities. This years program dates are: Nipper Dates Time Info Tides 27/12/2017 Wed Registration/pick up kit day 3-5pm 28/12/2017 Thur # 1 10am-12pm Summer Fling 6.48am high 29/12/2017 Fri # 2 10am-12pm 7.31am high 30/12/2017 Sat Movie Night 31/12/2017 Sun # 3 10am-12pm 9.19am high 1/01/2018 Mon 2/01/2018 Tues # 4 10am-12pm Bronze/SRC Camp begins Jnr Ipod Shuffle night 11.35am high 3/01/2018 Wed # 5 3pm-5pm 12.42pm high 4/01/2018 Thurs # 6 - Apollo Bay Friendly 9am-12pm 7.24am low 5/01/2018 Fri # 7 - Jnr Club Champs 10am-12pm 8.20am low 6/01/2018 Sat 7/01/2018 Sun # 8 - Multi-age relays / Presentation Day 10am-12pm Bronze/SRC Camp Assessment/Presentation Day 10.04am low 8/01/2018 Mon Back up day 10am-12pm 10.53am low

2 MEMBERSHIP If you have not already renewed your membership or are joining for the first time, follow this link to get the ball rolling: The family membership is still $160 and then on top of this, there is an individual nipper fee of $35 for each nipper. At least one parent/guardian has to join up with their child/children as part of the family membership but we recommend the entire family sign up. Your membership fees entitle nippers to use age appropriate club equipment outside of nippers sessions, however nippers must wear their skull caps when using equipment and all equipment needs to be washed and returned after use. REGISTRATION REQUIREMENTS Prior to attending registration day, the following items need to be completed. - Preliminary Swim Sign off - Medical information and media consent form. It is a legal requirement for the club to have copies of these files on hand during the program, your assistance in completing these. Once the forms are completed please scan/photograph and send to anna.lennon@bigpond.com. The original forms MUST also be handed in on registration day. Preliminary Swim Sign-off The Preliminary Swim Form needs to be completed by a qualified swimming teacher/pool life guard. If your child is currently enrolled in swimming lessons then take the form along to your swimming lessons for completion. If your child is not undergoing lessons, you will have to make arrangements at your local swimming pool for the swim sign off to be completed. It is preferred that all nippers have their swim sign off completed prior to registration. If your child cannot meet the minimum swimming guidelines, they may still participate in nippers, however, we will need to ensure a higher level of water safety supervision any time they participate in water activities. Remember the Nippers sessions are not a learn to swim program. We strongly encourage you to enrol your children in classes depending on their current ability. Like previous years, having your Nipper s prelim swim form completed before registration day, not only helps us organise the program, but is also helps them prepare for the season ahead. Sometimes good pool swimmers find ocean swimming a challenge. Be aware of this and realise ocean swimming IS different and for some children, comes with time.

3 Medical and Media Form Please ensure that you record any information on this form that will assist the age managers in looking after your child. This includes not only physical medical issues/allergies but also any special needs that your child s age manager should be aware of. REGISTRATION DAY Where possible, all families should attend registration day so that all children are ready to commence the first session the next day. At registration day the following occurs. - Confirmation that your membership is up to date and your child is enrolled in the nippers program - Lodgement of compulsory forms - First time nippers receive uniform, existing nippers can purchase any new items required. - Parents sign up for volunteer duties. UNIFORM The nippers uniform consists of: - Fluoro Nipper Rash Vest (with name on front) - Club Skull Cap - Broad Brimmed Hat It is compulsory for nippers to be wearing their uniform in order to participate. The club provides first time nippers with a rash vest and broad brimmed hat. If these are lost or once they are outgrown it is your responsibility to purchase new items from our merchandise shop. The club skull cap is available for purchase at a cost of $10 Club swimmers are not compulsory for general nippers sessions but are compulsory for competition events. MERCHANDISE In addition to uniform items, the merchandise shop contains some great items to keep your kids warm and protected on the beach. Merchandise items are available for purchase at registration day as well as during nippers sessions. WHAT TO BRING TO NIPPERS All children should arrive at nippers with sunscreen on, in their bathers, and full nippers uniform. They should also bring a towel and water bottle along. We are a sunsmart club, broad brimmed hats must be worn, they can be removed during activity and placed in the age group tubs and then put back on in between each activity. We appreciate your co-operation with this.

4 Nippers operates regardless of the weather, wetsuits are permitted and are recommended (club rash vests need to be worn over the top), if it is cold, have layers ready to pop on to keep the children warm. AGE GROUPS For the purposes of Nippers, age groups are devised by Life Saving Victoria based on your child s age as at 1 October The age groups are as per the following table. Period in which the Nipper was born Age group Award 1 Oct Sept 2011 Under 7 Surf Play 1 Oct Sept 2010 Under 8 Surf Aware 1 1 Oct Sept 2009 Under 9 Surf Aware 2 1 Oct Sept 2008 Under 10 Surf Safe 1 1 Oct Sept 2007 Under 11 Surf Safe 2 1 Oct Sept 2006 Under 12 Surf Smart 1 1 Oct Sept 2005 Under 13 Surf Smart 2 1 Oct Sept 2004 Under 14 Surf Rescue Cert (SRC) U14 SRC During their last year of the Nipper Program, the U14 Nippers obtain the Surf Rescue Certificate (SRC). This award teaches basic first aid, resuscitation and surf rescue skills, enabling members to become supporting lifesavers rostered to beach patrols. These participants will join in the Summer SRC/Bronze Camp. Contact Ben Wilson at wyeslscchief@gmail.com and let him know that you would like to participate in the Summer SRC/Bronze Camp at Wye River and see the attached document for more information. PARENT INVOLVEMENT Nippers is run entirely by volunteers, it is important that parents remain present on the beach during nipper s sessions - injuries, frights and mouth fulls of water can happen very quickly and you need to be on hand to help. We will also be asking parents/guardians again to help out wherever possible around the club: getting the beach prepared for each session; organising boards; raking and setting up the flags and sprint areas, as well as flipping sausages and serving drinks. Registration day will give you a chance to put your hand up. Some ways in which parents can assist the smooth operation of nippers include: - Being on hand to offer encouragement for your child, or with towels, goggles, sunscreen, wetsuits, warm clothes etc. - Assisting Age Managers with marking out courses, setting up an activity or pop on a yellow vest and assist in the shallows.

5 - Keep your age manager informed of any issues affecting your child. We will not force your child to participate if they don t want to, however we are always encouraging children to give everything a go. - If your child is disrupting the group please step in and assist the age manager where required - Carrying equipment such as boards to the beach or back to the club rooms - Those with medical training can assisting with First Aid - If you have your Bronze Medallion you can assist with water safety - Assisting with the flipping sausages on the BBQ and selling food and drinks. - Getting your child in the water outside of nippers sessions to practice their skills. - All help is appreciated. Everyone has different levels of capacity to help and we appreciate even the smallest of assistance. Some helpful ideas - For all the kids, but in particular for those who are less confident in the ocean, try not to rely on nippers sessions only. The more time the kids spend in the water the more comfortable they will become. Playing around on a nipper board, surfing or swimming with a parent or family member will really help with their skills and confidence. - Always keep up swimming lessons and pool squad swimming. Pool swimming is essential for ocean swimming, board paddling and overall fitness STAYING UP TO DATE Sometimes we need to make changes to the program or get up to date information to you. We can do this by and by text message. The nippers also has a closed facebook page which is worthwhile following for real time information: Nipper Extra Training & Junior Carnivals In the past we have run a few extra competition training sessions to get Nippers interested in competing at LSV run carnivals. We will endeavour to do this again; however, it greatly depends on conditions and available water safety volunteers. Dates and times for training will be set closer to the day. They are most likely to be on Nipper session days. Participating in Junior Carnivals is optional and requires a higher minimum skill set than nippers sessions. Participation in Junior Carnivals will also be dependant on sufficient volunteers so if you are interested in your child participating and willing to assist please contact Anna Lennon.

6 Junior Carnival dates are as follows: Date Day Event Location Type 16-Dec-17 Saturday Junior Carnival #1 Altona LSC Junior Carnival 5-Jan-18 Friday Junior Carnival #2 Cosy Corner Junior Carnival 21-Jan-18 Sunday Junior Carnival #3 Chelsea SLSC Junior Qualifying Carnival 27-Jan-18 Saturday Junior Carnival #4 Frankston LSC Junior Carnival 11-Feb-18 Sunday Junior Carnival #5 Mordialloc LSC Junior Carnival 17-Feb-18 Saturday Junior Carnival #6 South Melbourne LSC 25-Feb-18 Sunday Junior Carnival #7 Lorne SLSC 10-Mar Mar-18 Saturday Sunday Junior State Championships (Day 1) Junior State Championships (Day 2) Warrnambool SLSC Warrnambool SLC Junior Carnival Junior Qualifying Carnival Special Event Special Event AGE MANAGERS I am in need of one or two Age Managers for this coming season. If you are interested please contact me asap. There is a quick online course to complete and then I will run you through some training. It is not difficult, very similar to attending a school excursion. You will be well supported by an Age Manager Assistant. BRONZE CAMPS Our Summer Bronze/SRC Camp between the 2 nd and 7 th Jan Register your interest for either course with Ben at chiefinstructer@wyeriverslsc.org.au Attached is the information for the SRC/Bronze Camp. SOCIAL EVENTS Some other dates for your diary. SUMMER FLING 28 th December 2017 Our season launch a family friendly evening with entertainment for young and old. The BBQ will be running and bar will be open.

7 KIDS MOVIE NIGHT 30 th December 2017 We will take over the club in our usual way, bring a comfy cushion and some money to buy donuts and lollies, while we all watch a movie together. This is a great chance for the parents to head to the pub kid free! KIDS IPOD SHUFFLE NIGHT 2 nd January 2017 All attendees pay $5 and nominate a song of their choice prior to the event (to allow for playlist making). On the night, everyone will arrive at the clubroom, the playlist is then placed on shuffle over the loud speakers, with the last three songs getting prizes! There will be heaps of dancing, prizes for best dressed, and other activities throughout the night. More details to come. We are all looking forward to the summer, feel free to contact me if you have any questions. see you soon, Anna Lennon Junior Coordinator anna.lennon@bigpond.com