We run nippers with two things in mind – beach safety and fun! We would rather that the kids enjoy themselves, learn how to be safe in and around the water, while developing beach skills, than be the fastest or the strongest.

Peter Thomas – Junior Club President

We are a small, friendly, family orientated club that meets on every second Sunday from 9.45am.

Children must be 5 years of age as at 30 September to join.

2024/25 Season Dates

The dates for the season are :

Pool party & proficiency swims

Sep 21 at Corrimal Heated Pool from 10am-12pm.

Pre-Christmas Season

Oct 13, 27
Nov 10, 24
Dec 8, 22 (Christmas party)

Post-Christmas Season

Feb 2, 16
Mar 2, 16, 30 (presentation and end of season party)

Registration

Nippers registrations are now open. Registration for the 2024/25 season is FREE if you resister before the end of October.

If you wish to join Nippers in 2024/25 you will need to register your child and at least one parent. If both parents would like access to the Club, then both should register.

If you are new to registration or your membership has lapsed, please make sure a separate form is completed for each child and parent (these can be linked as a family later – instructions are provided as part of the registration).

If you are renewing your membership you can access your family group and re-register everyone.

You can access a guide to help with the registration or if you are still having trouble with your registration you can request additional help.

Working with children

Surf Life Saving is committed to implementing Child Safety Standards.

Our Club is committed to the safety and wellbeing of every child and young person who takes part in our activities, programs, events or services.

As parents are expected to be on the beach with their children, you will need to:

Complete the Working with Children declaration

Email your working with children check number to the club

Proficiency

Many activities that will be completed by children as part of Junior Activities will be conducted in the water.

To ensure that all children have a suitable swimming ability to allow them to participate in these activities, SLSA has developed a Junior Preliminary Evaluation for each age group.

Every junior member is required to participate in this evaluation prior to any water-based activities being undertaken. If this is of concern to you, please contact us to discuss further.

*****

The following table outlines the national standard for preliminary and competition skills evaluations.

Uniforms

We are currently updating/refreshing our uniforms to include sun-safe long sleeve rash vests and other items. Please check back here closer to the start of the season for more information.

Age Groups

Listed below are the nipper groups and age categories of each age group that we run.

Group	Age as at 30th September 2024
Under 6’s	5
Under 7’s	6
Under 8’s	7
Under 9’s	8
Under 10’s	9
Under 11’s	10
Under 12’s	11
Under 13’s	12

Get Involved

We are always looking for age managers and assistants, so please get in touch if this is something that you would be willing to help out with.

Coledale will provide support to new age managers, there are a wealth of resources available to assist new age managers, and all of us had to start somewhere, so don’t be afraid to give it a go!

If you are interested or would like to have a chat, please get in touch at juniors@coledalebeach.com.au

Conditions on the beach can be unsafe, and while Coledale SLSC will adhere to all requirements to keep our nippers safe – it is expected that parents keep an eye on their children, and are responsible for their safety at Nippers.

For this reason it is also expected that as above parents will have completed their working with children check and sent it to the club before the season commences, so that they can be on the beach with their kids.

It is expected that the parents of each age group will help out with running the BBQ at least once per season.

There are plenty of other things that parents can help with too – from photography, to social, to water safety, to commmitee. To find out more please get in touch at juniors@coledalebeach.com.au

On Sundays the following events may be included: Flags, Sprints, Relay, Wading, Swims, Board, Beach Volleyball and Soccer. Surf Education: As part of the Surf Awareness program, the children are shown and explained all the aspects of beach safety. We also play games, and have a lot of fun!

Lifesavers often have to retrieve equipment from the sand. These are a fun race to retrieve an object from a short distance away on the beach. The last person is eliminated until only the victor remains.

Just like a normal running race but on sand. Running on sand effectively uses different muscles and technique to running on a hard surface like you would in an Olympic 100m sprint.

Relays are a running race on sand with the addition of the transition of a baton to the next team mate.

Running through the shallow water needs to be practised to allow for smooth transitions from land to sea. This is also an effective way to teach kids how to judge and negotiate waves.

Negotiate the surf using body surfing techniques to return to shore. This is completed at an age and skill appropriate level with a water safety people along side.

Handling a rescue board correctly, analysing the surf for best conditions and paddling to buoys past the breaking waves.

Membership

Junior

$0 Per Season
Junior/Nippers
5-13

Junior

$0 Per Season
one adult

Junior

$0 Per Season
one parent
and one child

Junior

$0 Per Season
one parent
and two children

Capped pricing

For parents with two or more children the membership price for the season has been capped at $0.

To Join nippers you must complete the below steps

Complete the online registration

Complete the working with children declaration check

Once you have your Working With Children Check number please email your WWC number to juniors@coledalebeach.com.au.

If you have any further questions please contact us at juniors@coledalebeach.com.au.