NOBBYS SURF LIFE SAVING CLUB 2014/15 NIPPERS HANDBOOK
Table of Contents NOBBYS SLSC Nippers Handbook 2014-15 1. Welcome to Nobbys SLSC Nippers...1 2. The Club House...1 3. Communication...1 3.1 Photos...1 4. Nipper Program overview...2 4.2 AGE GROUPS...2 4.2.1 Swim Proficiency Date...3 4.3 SLSA junior preliminary, competition evaluation and development program...3 4.3.1 Preliminary Evaluation...3 4.3.2 Competition Evaluation...3 4.3.3 Junior Development Program (Surf Education)...3 5. AGE MANAGERS...5 6. What Happens Sunday Morning at Nippers?...5 6.1 WEEKLY Encouragement awards...6 6.2 Junior Club Rules...6 6.3 Parental Involvement and Membership...6 6.3.1 BBQ & Beach Set Up and Pull Down...6 6.3.2 Nippers and Parents Behaviour...6 6.4 Club Championship...7 7. Carnivals...7 7.1 How to enter carnivals?...7 7.1.1 Carnival Notes...7 7.1.2 Officials...7 7.1.3 Water Safety...8 7.1.4Carnival Day...8 7.1.5 Team Events...8 7.2 Training...8 8. Start of Nippers...8
8.1 Water Safety...9 8.2 Poor weather and Nippers being called off...9 9. Nobbys Surf Lifesaving Club Privacy Advice...10
1. Welcome to Nobbys SLSC Nippers NOBBYS SLSC Nippers Handbook 2014-15 Nobbys Surf Life Saving Club (SLSC) is structured into an Executive Committee that oversees the functioning and operation of the club. The Director of Junior Activities, Mark Honnery oversees the operation of the Nippers program. He is assisted by Natasha Ryan, Assistant to the Director of Surf Sports and Junior Activities. The Executive are: o President Narelle Blick o Director of Club Services Karl Barclay o Director of Lifesaving Matt Quinn o Director of Surf Sports Phil Lazzari o Director of Education Kath Donnelly o Director of Administration Margaret Bazjath o Director of Finance Tracey Rock o Director of Junior Activities Mark Honnery Other important people at Nippers you may see are: o Assistant to the Director of Surf Sports and Junior Activities Natasha Ryan o Water Safety Co-ordinator Jeff Mewes o Merchandise Officer Tai Bawden o Age Managers and Water Safety If you have any concerns please contact Mark Honnery Junior Activities Co-ordinator on 0405 181242 or chat to Mark or Tash on the beach. 2. The Club House Nobbys SLSC has change rooms and showers for nippers. Hot showers cost 20 cents. We ask that you dry off and dust any sand off before coming into the club house. After nippers is finished for the day Nobbys has a BBQ with a sausage sandwich combo for purchase. Parents are required to assist with BBQ cooking and selling sandwiches on a rotation roster per age group. On the first day of Nippers the U6 kids are taken on an orientation tour of the clubhouse and its facilities. Each Sunday after Nippers Nobbys SLSC opens its Bar for Sunday Coldies. Normally from Noon. Parents if you are keen to become involved in the Surf Club just have a chat to the many members standing around. We welcome new members with open arms. 3. Communication Nobbys SLSC has a new website www.nobbysslsc.org.au we encourage you to book mark this as it is updated regularly with information and events. We also SMS and email you so please when you join up your kids include an email and mobile phone number. If you do not supply these we cannot contact you. We also have a Facebook page and try and keep you informed via social media. We also provide a newsletter every couple of months to celebrate the achievements of our members and our nippers. 3.1 Photos We do not allow parents to take photos of kids at the beach due to a range of reasons relating to Privacy Laws. However Nobbys SLSC may use an official photographer with a Tag to take some shots during nipper days. There will also be a Nippers professional photo day on a date to be announced this year which you will be able to purchase. - 1 -
We have a form that we ask you to fill in to give us permission to take photos of your children and use them in our publicity. If you do not wish to allow your childs photo taken or used please advise us on this form and also Mark and Tash on the beach. The form is attached on the back page. 4. Nipper Program overview There are over 27,000 junior surf lifesavers (nippers) in Australia. Nippers start learning about surf awareness and safety through Surf Life Saving Education Program (Surf Ed). They are also able to participate in board paddling, swimming, running, wading and other activities and games. Practicing these skills allows children to compete in Branch and State Surf Life Saving Carnivals representing their club. Nobbys Beach Surf Life Saving Club offers a program of surf awareness, skills coaching and competition over various levels, similar to the events Australia s Surf Life Savers participate in. While competition is an important element, the surf awareness and education aspect is a primary aim. Children are taught from the youngest ages how to respect the surf, read the surf and use the surf to their advantage. This is done in an environment of fun, healthy lifestyle and camaraderie which is unique to surf life saving. 4.2 AGE GROUPS A child may join nippers as soon as he/she turns 5 years of age but not before. Nippers are divided into 9 age groups. Age is determined as at midnight 30th September each year. If a child is 10 years of age on or before 30th September, they will be in the Under 11 age group for the entire season. Participation outside your own age group is not possible as this is against SLSA regulations. o U6 and U7 nippers do not enter the surf but do play age related surf games. They must not enter the surf without the permission of their age manager whilst in their care. This age group does not compete at carnivals. Parents are encouraged to assist the age manager in the coordination of these age groups. o U8 s do not compete in the surf or board races but do the wade event. They are required by Surf Lifesaving Australia to pass a 50 metre pool swim and a survival float prior to commencing junior activities. The swim would preferably be done in freestyle. Surf education lessons are compulsory. All under 8 s are encouraged to attend carnivals, which are just big nipper days with other Hunter clubs. A great place to meet new kids! O U 9 to 13 s compete every club day in both beach and water events and surf education lessons are compulsory. At no time will an age manager force a child to enter the surf; they will encourage them to have a go. Parents are asked to encourage their children only, as scare tactics almost always fail. Friendly bribes as we all know sometimes work. - 2 -
4.2.1 Swim Proficiency Date NOBBYS SLSC Nippers Handbook 2014-15 A swim proficiency is required for children in the U8 U13 nippers age groups. Nobbys have removed the swim requirement for U6-U7 and will hold a swim at the Newcastle Baths in late November as part of nippers events for these children. This year Nobbys SLSC Swim proficiency will be held at Fitness at Viking, Wallsend Road Cardiff / Elermore Vale on SUNDAY 14 September 2014 between 11am and 1pm. Cost will be $2 per child for pool entry, swim cap required, googles are a good idea. Times are: 11am 11:40 am Children with surnames starting with A G 11:40am 12:20 pm Children with surnames starting with H Q 12:20pm 1pm Children with surnames starting with R Z Children MUST have a swim cap to swim at Viking Pool. Googles are also a good idea. 4.3 SLSA junior preliminary, competition evaluation and development program 4.3.1 Preliminary Evaluation Depending on the age group and prerequisites required by Surf Life Saving (SLSA & SLSNSW), all juniors need to be proficient every season with a minimum preliminary swim. This will allow them to contest all events at our beach only. 4.3.2 Competition Evaluation If your child passes a 200 metre timed pool swim and ocean swim in accordance with SLSA rules, their attendance at a carnival would be appreciated. There are many team and individual events to contest. 4.3.3 Junior Development Program (Surf Education) Surf Education is a major component of Surf Lifesaving that every child must complete for their relevant age Surf Education Award. These modules are conducted during Nipper days and must be completed prior to 31 st December. The junior development program is designed to ensure children from ages of 5 to 12 have fun at the beach while participating in lessons that will pathway them to becoming a lifesaver. The specially designed program pathways knowledge and skills with learning outcomes through lessons that are tailored to each of the age groups; ensuring the content is relevant, in line with lifesaving and surf sports and to the most up to date training standards. Each Age Group has its own individual set of lessons between 10 to 16 lessons depending on the age group. The lessons will be coordinated by the Director of Education in conjunction with the Age Managers. - 3 -
PRELIMINARY, COMPETITION & JUNIOR DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM SUMMARY Preliminary Skills Evaluation Timed Pool Swim Competition Skills Evaluation Junior Development Program (Surf Education) Requirements Every junior member is required to participate in this evaluation, conducted by the club, prior to any junior water activity training or competition being undertaken. The timed pool swim and competition evaluation must be achieved before being eligible to compete. This is a minimum standard water proficiency requirement. The relevant age Surf education award must be completed each year prior to 31 December. Assessors JAC personnel inducted and approved by Hunter Branch or Approved SRC/Bronze Assessor Approved SRC/Bronze Assessor (may be assisted by inducted JAC personnel Age Manager, Level 1 Coach or Official, Training Officer SRC Bronze) Age Managers Trainers Patrol Members Under 6* (shallow water activities only) (no competition) (no competition) Surf Play One Under 7* (shallow water activities only) (no competition) (no competition) Surf Play Two Under 8 50 metre swim (freestyle) 1 minute survival float (no competition) (no water competition, except for wade which takes place in waist deep water) Surf Aware One Under 9 100 metre swim (freestyle) 1 minute survival float 200 metre pool swim within 6 minutes Minimum 150m open water swim (competition course as per competition manual) Surf Aware Two Under 10 150 metre swim (freestyle) 1.5 minute survival float 200 metre pool swim within 6 minutes Minimum 150m open water swim (competition course as per competition manual) Surf Safe One Under 11 150 metre swim (freestyle) 2 minute survival float 200 metre pool swim within 5 minutes Minimum 288m open water swim (competition course as per competition manual) Surf Safe Two Under 12 200 metre swim (freestyle) 2 minute survival float 200 metre pool swim within 5 minutes Minimum 288m open water swim (competition course as per competition manual) Surf Smart One Under 13 200 metre swim (freestyle) 3 minute survival float 200 metre pool swim within 5 minutes Minimum 288m open water swim (competition course as per competition manual) Surf Smart Two Under 14 200 metre swim (freestyle, in less than 5 minutes) 3 minute survival float 200 metre pool swim within 5 minutes Minimum 288m open water swim (competition course as per competition manual) Surf Rescue Certificate - 4 -
Note*: U6 and U7 have no preliminary requirements as they only participate in shallow water activities. We will be having a 25m competency pool swim in late November around at the ocean baths for the U6 & U7s. This will give these kids something to work towards so we encourage the kids to have swimming lessons to be able to complete the 25m swim and get their 25m pool swim award. 5. AGE MANAGERS Your age managers for the season have volunteered their time to help make your child s age group an enjoyable surf learning experience. Please respect their decisions and trust that they have your child s best interest at heart. Many are Surf Lifesavers themselves. If you are interested in being an age manager please contact the Director of Junior Activities Mark Honnery. There is a SLSA Age Managers Course which will provide you with the skills and knowledge to become an age manager. We need one female and one male age group supervisor for each age group but encourage as many people to be involved to allow rotation of supervisors. The only requirements is that the supervisors do the Age Manager Course. This course will be run when required at the Surf Club. Like all sporting clubs we rely on volunteers to help it run smoothly. Even if you are unable to do the course please assist the Age Manager on the day as it makes the kids day more enjoyable and you get to meet more people and have fun in a family activity. Please text Mark Honnery on 0405 181242 or email mhonnery3@bigpond.com to register your interest in becoming an Age Manager. 6. What Happens Sunday Morning at Nippers? In order for nippers to run smoothly on Sunday please take note of the following: Nippers commence at 9.45am. Children are required to be assembled behind the age group signs with sunscreen applied at 9.30am so age managers can mark the roll. Children must wear a club skull cap to participate, sun hat and long sleeve club shirt for sun protection. Please assist your child s age manager by helping with flags, buckets, judging etc Collect your child promptly at end of nippers and sign them out Please assist with BBQ and beach set up when rostered on Depending on the age group, nipper activities include: Surf safety education Beach flags, Volley Ball, Games Board skills, rescues and relays Beach sprint and relays Surf skills and surf teams (swim) SRC for under 14s Lots of fun! 8.45am 9.00am 9.30am 9.45am 10.00am Noon NIPPER SCHEDULE Beach & BBQ Set Up Committee Meeting Age Managers Meeting Nippers Roll Call ON the Beach Sign Out, Beach Pack Up & BBQ - 5 -
6.1 WEEKLY Encouragement awards The Age Manager may award weekly to a child who displayed a positive attitude, who strived for personal development, showed good sportsmanship, are willing to help others and showed respect for their Club and gear. 6.2 Junior Club Rules 1. No child will be able to participate on club days until they are fully registered. Must have PASSED Preliminary Evaluation. 2. All events that are conducted will be in line with the National Surf Sports Manual. 3. To compete in Water Events at Carnivals members must have completed the minimum standard water proficiency requirement (see Preliminary, Competition Evaluation Chart on the page 4). 4. Nobbys competition cap is compulsory for all members and must be worn on Club Days and at Carnivals for identification and safety. 5. The Patrol Captain is responsible for the management of the beach and will determine the most suitable area for nipper activities and has the right to cancel Junior Activities if the conditions are unfavorable. 6.3 Parental Involvement and Membership Parents are invited and encouraged to share the experiences of Junior Activities with their children, especially with the younger age groups. Involvement within other aspects of the Club also welcomed. This may include: the gaining of awards to assist in providing water safety, coaching specific disciplines, officiating and administration along with participating in social and fundraising activities. At least one Parent membership is required and is vital for the operational success of the club. There are many ways you can assist in both the juniors and/or the club in general. Assisting in setting up of beach and carrying down equipment. Washing off boards or helping pack up the beach equipment at the end of training Assist the Age Group Leader during training Assist in fundraising activities Volunteer to help with the BBQ Gain your Surf Rescue Certificate or Bronze Medallion to become a Water Safety Officer. Become an Official. Clubs are required to supply Officials at all carnivals. Short training courses are provided by SLSA. 6.3.1 BBQ & Beach Set Up and Pull Down This year we are trialing a new system of allocating age groups to BBQ and beach set up to ensure the work is shared by all. A roster will be posted on the website. When rostered on BBQ please meet BBQ coordinater at 11.00am to start BBQ and beach set up crew can meet beach coordinater at 8.45am on the beach and also help clean up at the conclusion of activities. The BBQ is part of Junior Activities fundraising and a great way to meet other families. There will be a BBQ every club day. Funds raised through the BBQ go towards gear and equipment for your children to use. 6.3.2 Nippers and Parents Behaviour 1. Members will be required to appear before the Committee for use of bad language or improper behaviour on the beach or at Carnivals. 2. Any interference to another competitor in any event will mean instant disqualification to the offending party. Final decision on disputes will be adjudicated on by club officials - 6 -
6.4 Club Championship NOBBYS SLSC Nippers Handbook 2014-15 Nobbys Nippers hold a club championship day or days where points are given for placing. At the end of the season the boy and girl who received the highest score wins the Age Club Championship for their age group. The Rules for this will be circulated to parents and uploaded on the website through the season. However safety is the number one priority and on the day a decision may need to be made to limit the events. 7. Carnivals A carnival takes all day to contest with the exception of Branch Championships which takes two days and State Championships takes three days. Assistance is required at carnivals and when we host carnivals. Competitors will be under the control of the Team Manager, assisted by the Age Managers. All competitors are to report to their age manager on arrival at the carnival and must remain with the tent area, unless permission from the age manager to leave the area is approved. Many events, including team events, have been missed as a result of competitors wandering from the area. For carnival dates, please see the club calendar and website, www.nobbysslsc.org.au 7.1 How to enter carnivals? If your child would like to compete in carnivals they are required to advise the Assistant to the Director of Surf Sports, Natasha Ryan, two weeks before the carnival. Hunter Surf Life Saving Carnival entry fees are approximately $11.00 these are to be paid to Natasha Ryan, Assistant to the Director of Surf Sports. Any entries not received on time will incur a late fee. You MUST enter your childs details on the Nobbys Carnival Registration Form on the website for each Carnival. Once you have filled in the entry form and pressed submit you will be expected to pay. If payment is not received you will be invoiced by Nobbys. The entry form sends an email to Natasha Ryan, the Assistant to the Director of Surf Sports, who will compile the team list for the Junior Carnival Co-ordinator (Co-ordinator to be Announced) and arrange carnival entries to be entered by the Registrar via Surfguard. 7.1.1 Carnival Notes Club swimwear is required to be worn at carnivals and in Team Events as all team members must be attired in the same. Competitions caps - must remain on and securely tied under the chin, particularly in competition Jewellery watches, earrings, chains, bracelets etc must not be worn Alcoholic Beverages - SLSA has banned the consumption of alcoholic beverages whilst a carnival is in progress. Licensed areas may be available at the conclusion of the carnival. The Team Manager is the only person from our club eligible to lodge a protest regarding any alleged infringement of the rules No parents are allowed into the competition arena Adverse Conditions if conditions are adverse, the Carnival Referee will cancel or relocate the carnival. The Club Team Manager will notify competitors via a text message from SurfGuard. 7.1.2 Officials For every ten (10) competitors that compete for Nobbys SLSC, the club is required to supply one (1) official. The more officials from Nobbys the less time parents will have to spend officiating, so please participate in officiating and share work load, it is a great experience and you have the best vantage point on the beach to watch events! To become an official you are required to complete a Level 0 or Level 1 Surf Officials Course, which is conducted by Hunter Surf Life Saving. Please let the Junior Services Director know if you are interested in - 7 -
completing an official s course. Please note that if Nobbys has too many children and not enough officials, preference will be given to those children whose parents are officials, water safety or committee members. 7.1.3 Water Safety For every ten (10) competitors that compete for Nobbys SLSC, the club is required to supply one (1) proficient and financial water safety personnel. Water safety are supplied with a fluro orange skull cap and rash vest. 7.1.4Carnival Day Volunteer to assist the Junior Carnival Co-ordinator setting up the shelters, transporting boards etc. Many hands make light work. Allow plenty of time to get there on time, find a park and get down to the beach Parents can assist with carrying carnival gear down to the beach i.e. tent, boards, march past reel and at the end of the carnival assist with carrying back to the trailer When competitors arrive they are to report the Team Manager All competitors must have their name marked off & wrist band applied prior to competition. There will be a designated area. NO WRISTBAND NO MARSHALL. Competitors should remain around the NOBBYS tent, advise your Age Manager or Junior Carnival Co-ordinator if leaving the beach. Events will not be held up while parents try and find children on beach. The program can change on short notice and the Water or Beach areas could move. You will need to listen to the carnival announcements for your child s age group and events. Please advise others if you hear something. Carnivals are lots of fun and require the patience and cooperation from everyone! 7.1.5 Team Events Teams will be selected based on results of recent club days, and in consultation with Age Managers. We also have the option if teams are short or because of injury, to run children up an age group in some events, you cannot go down. Teams will be selected prior to each carnival and parents will be notified of your child s selection. If your child is selected and unable to attend please notify the Nippers Administrator and Junior Carnival Coordinator so that another child may have the opportunity to compete. Nobbys usually only have a small contingent but are hoping more children attend to enable entries in all age team events. 7.2 Training Nobbys is hoping to provide training for kids eager to improve surf skills and also to compete at carnivals. Check the website for details. 8. Start of Nippers Nippers starts Sunday 21 September 2014 Marshalling at 9:30am on the Beach for a 9:45am start. Nippers will be finished by noon each Sunday. Nippers season starts Sunday 21 September 2014. Please ensure that each child has their nippers cap. These will be available for purchase each morning before nippers. Children will not be allowed to attend nippers without a cap. Children that have not done their proficiency swim before Nippers start will be sent to Newcastle Baths with an assessor and water safety to do their swim and float. Please advise your kids that the water will be cold at the ocean baths so they are encouraged to make the day of proficiencies at the Viking in the indoor - 8 -
heated pool.. Nippers cannot go in the surf at the beach until they are proficient. If your kids do not pass their proficiency you can opt for sand only activities or you can request a refund. 8.1 Water Safety Nobbys has water safety who enter the water with the children and swim around the cans. We have Nobbys members on surf rescue boards, in the IRB and swimming with Rescue Tubes. These water safety members wear orange rash vests and caps and have completed SRC or Bronze Medallion. No parents without these awards can swim around the cans with the children. If you have your SRC or Bronze Medallion please consider assisting with Water Safety. Register your interest by texting Mark Honnery on 0405 181242 or emailing mhonnery3@bigpond.com or turn up at 9:30 at the beach. Members who do water safety will receive a voucher for a free sausage sandwich combo deal. You must sign on and off and return your rash vest and cap to obtain your voucher. 8.2 Poor weather and Nippers being called off Mark will check out the beach conditions and weather each Sunday Morning. If Nippers is called off we will update our Web Site and FACEBOOK Page and send out a Text Message (assuming computers are working). Some days nippers Sand Only Events may operate. This will be when the Beach is Closed or when Risk Assessments during Nippers require the children to be removed from the surf zone. If the Beach is Closed and the day is miserable Nippers will be called off. There are a couple of days when Nippers will not be run. These include the weekend of Fat as Butter and the Sparke Helmore Triathlon. This will be communicated to you by Facebook or SMS or in the newsletter with a reminder the week before at Nippers. Mark Honnery, Junior Activities Co-ordinator Mhonnery3@bigpond.com 0405181242 ATTENDANCE & SAFETY AT THE BEACH Each morning parents must sign the kids on before nippers start and off at the end of nippers. These folders will be in front of the surf club. Each child must also be signed on and off by the Age Managers before they start nippers and before they leave nippers for the day. Children will be counted numerous times during the day, please do not take your kids without having their names marked off by the age managers. Nobbys has a special marshalling area for the children for all water events. Children will start and finish each event in this area. All nippers must take their nippers cap off after nippers. Children must attend a minimum of 70% of nippers days to be eligible for Hunter Branch Certificates at the presentation day. There is a limit of 40 children per age group. - 9 -
9. Nobbys Surf Lifesaving Club Privacy Advice NOBBYS SLSC Nippers Handbook 2014-15 I give permission for my child to be photographed or filmed in an individual or group situation by an official member of Nobbys SLSC. I understand that these photographs or film may be displayed on the Nobbys SLSC web page, Face Book page or in a Nobbys Newsletter, Annual Report or another piece of correspondence for Nobbys SLSC. Name of Child / Children Age Group I understand that Nobbys SLSC will not display inappropriate or degrading photos of my child. Signed Parent Name: Signature: - 10 -