Nipper Information

Welcome

Welcome to Surf Life Saving Lakes Entrance. The Lakes Nipper program is for children aged 7 to 14 and usually runs on Sundays from November or December through to mid March.

SLSLE provides a surf education program under Life Saving Victoria that includes competition, training, surf awareness and first aid, all taught by experienced volunteer lifesavers in a safe and friendly environment.

The club encourages families to get involved on the beach and in the water. The more help the program has, the better the experience is for the children.

The Club aims to develop each child's potential. Winning competitions is great, but the bigger aim is helping each child build confidence, try something new and expand their abilities in the surf.

• Nippers Coordinator: Pip McInnes - nippers@slsle.org.au
• The club aims to build confidence, teamwork, good sportsmanship and a willingness to try new activities in the surf.
• Facilities are available to members, encouraging healthy activity for the whole family.
• Today's nippers are tomorrow's surf lifesavers.
• To be eligible for Under 8s, children must have turned 7 by 30 September. SLSLE does not offer programs for children younger than 7.
• Age groups are based on age as at 30 September; contact the coordinators if you need clarification.

Preliminary Assessment

Life Saving Victoria sets a minimum proficiency standard that every child, new or returning, must meet each year before joining an affiliated club nipper program.

SLSLE conducts preliminary assessment opportunities at the Lakes Entrance Aquadome before the season. A child only needs to attend one session if they pass.

• Assuming your child passes, you only need to attend one of these sessions.
• 2026/27 assessment dates are awaiting publication.
• Assessment opportunities are normally held at the Lakes Entrance Aquadome before the season.
• The club will publish exact dates in the calendar once confirmed.
• Families should check the home page calendar for full details.
• Parents are strongly encouraged to help children practise in the pool before assessment day.

Nippers

Sunday morning starts at 9:30am at the Clubhouse for a briefing and group allocation. Sessions normally finish around 12pm with a sausage sizzle to follow.

Nippers assemble in the club courtyard under their age group coloured flag so Age Managers can mark the roll. The Coordinator then explains the day's activities and any upcoming details.

Sessions go ahead in all weather unless the club advises otherwise, so children need clothing for both hot and cold conditions.

• Activities include swimming and wading, board activities, beach flags and sprints, adjusted for weather and surf conditions.
• Every child must wear a SLSLE Nippers Skull Cap. No cap - no Nippers at all.
• Children must wear SLSLE bathers, not board shorts, plus a SLSLE rashie.
• Every child must wear a SLSLE Fluoro Pink Water Visibility Vest. No vest - no water entry.
• Age group flags include Under 8 - Red, Under 9 - Purple/Maroon, Under 10 - Yellow, Under 11 - White, Under 12 - Navy Blue, Under 13 - Green and Under 14 - Black.
• Bring a broad brimmed hat, sunscreen, drink bottle, towel, goggles if needed, wetsuit if available, warm change of clothes and a parent or guardian.
• Families should arrive on time so age managers can mark attendance and organise water safety.

Events

SLSLE uses beach and water events to build participation, confidence and friendly competition. Events vary with age group, weather, surf conditions and volunteer availability.

The Greg & Sue Oglesby Encouragement Award is presented to the U14 Nipper who shows commitment, sportsmanship and a willingness to push their abilities. It honours two Life Members who gave many years to the nipper program.

• Beach events include beach sprints, flags, beach relays and age-appropriate long runs.
• SWIM - swimming a course or distance suitable for the age group.
• BOARD - paddling on a nipper board around a course or practising catching waves.
• WADE - individual or team events running in knee-to-waist-deep water.
• Water events include swim, board, IRON NIPPER, Cameron relay, board rescue, board relay, surf teams race and wade events.
• Board rescue is a two-person event with one swimmer and one paddler.
• Cameron relay is a four-member team event with a swimmer, two runners and one board paddler.
• Surf Education is built into Sunday sessions and includes surf awareness, beach safety, first aid and CPR.

Staff & Helpers

Nippers cannot run without parent and member support. The program works best when families help with Age Managers, water safety, beach activities, set up, pack up and supervision.

• Age Managers are vital to nippers, are identified by fluoro vests, keep children together and accounted for, help with hydration and are the first point of call for concerns.
• If any parent is interested in being an Age Manager, contact one of the coordinators.
• Any concerns are initially dealt with by the Age Managers.
• Water Safety Officers are the BACK BONE of all Nipper water activities.
• No water safety means no nippers in the water, and the club always needs more qualified helpers.
• Water Safety Officers wear orange vests and caps, hold Bronze Medallion or SRC awards, and requalify each season.
• Water Safety Officers provide instruction, encouragement and confidence, and are people with a genuine love of the water.
• The club follows Life Saving Victoria water safety guidelines, including a minimum ratio of 1 Water Safety Officer to every 5 children.
• No child will ever be forced into the water against their wishes.
• There are no exceptions to the cap and visibility vest rule: no nipper may enter the water without a club skull cap and pink water visibility vest.
• Water conditions are evaluated and the LSV Aquatic Activity Risk Assessment and Management Form is completed before nippers commence.
• Age Managers guide groups through each session and help keep children engaged.
• Parents can assist with beach activities, cleaning change rooms, cooking the BBQ, hosing and stacking boards, marshalling, fundraising and carnival support.
• At carnivals, SLSLE families may be asked to help as line judges or officials and help set up and pack up at home or away.
• Adults helping with children must meet the club's Working with Children Check requirements.

Equipment

The club provides lifesaving and nipper equipment for program activities. Equipment is expensive to buy and repair, so care of gear is part of every session.

All equipment must be washed and stored before families get changed and leave. Damage must be reported to the Coordinator, Instructor or Age Manager as soon as possible.

• Each age group has an Age Manager and assistant to supervise and assist nippers before they enter and after they exit the water.
• Nippers must wear club skull cap, bathers, rashie, pink water visibility vest and broad brimmed hat at Sunday sessions and carnivals.
• Board shorts and bikinis are not permitted as nipper uniform.
• Fibreglass racing mals and short boards are only used for supervised training and carnivals and are locked away.
• Uniform items should be clearly named because lost property builds quickly through the season.
• The club also sells club-coloured windcheaters, track pants, jackets and beach towels for nippers and parents; these are optional but help the club present as one team.
• Merchandise contact: Sophie Brown 0439 439 482.
• Families should label personal items and avoid leaving valuables unattended.

Carnivals

Local carnivals are usually held at Lakes Entrance, Seaspray and Woodside. The emphasis is to join in, have a go, meet nippers from other clubs and experience different beach conditions.

The Eastern Regional Carnival is run by Life Saving Victoria and is aimed at nippers who want to compete at State Titles. Families should check final dates, entries and qualifying requirements with the nippers team.

• Seaspray Surf Club: Foreshore Road, Seaspray; phone 03 5146 4231.
• Woodside Surf Club: Ben Rendell Drive, Woodside; phone 03 5187 1246.
• Carnival attendance depends on age, proficiency, entries, water safety and parent support.
• Children attending carnivals must meet relevant preliminary and competition requirements.
• Nippers must have an S Badge before competing at any carnival.
• Life Saving Victoria does not offer Under 8 competition at Eastern Regional or State Titles, although U8 nippers may compete in U9 if accepted and qualified.
• Families may need to help with transport, marshalling, line judging, water safety, team support, set up and pack up.

S Badge

The S Badge is the timed open-water competition skills evaluation used before carnival competition. It confirms nippers can complete the prescribed distance in surf for their age group.

The S Badge is mandatory for U12-U14 to compete in any carnival event and for U9-U11 water events. Life Saving Victoria has discontinued sew-on S Badges.

• Under 8 Run - Wade - Run (50m - 50m - 50m)
• Under 9 Run - Swim - Run (150m open water swim with in 12 minutes)
• Under 10 Run - Swim - Run (150m open water swim within 11 minutes)
• Under 11 Run - Swim - Run (288m open water swim within 12 minutes)
• Under 12 Run - Swim - Run (288m open water swim within 10 minutes)
• Under 13 Run - Swim - Run (288m open water swim within 9 minutes)
• Under 14 Run - Swim - Run (288m open water swim within 9 minutes)
• Children must complete preliminary assessment before attempting the S Badge.
• Extra skill and fitness coaching for serious competitors who have earned their S Badge is normally held on Thursday at 5.00pm from mid-January until the state championships; confirm the current schedule with the nippers team.
• Surf conditions are taken into account and assessment may be conducted in the lake.
• Ask the nippers team if you are unsure whether your child needs an S Badge for an event.

Membership

Nipper participation requires current club membership and completion of the registration process before children can take part in sessions.

Every nipper parent or guardian aged 18 years or over must hold a current Working with Children Check. This is mandatory Life Saving Victoria and SLSLE policy.

• Be on time.
• A parent or nominated adult must remain with their Nipper during the entire session.
• Good sportsmanship and team spirit must be displayed at all times.
• Bullying, derogatory comments and unsporting behaviour are not accepted. SLSLE has zero tolerance for this.
• Children must report to their Age Manager at the start of each session and tell the Age Manager if they leave the group.
• Children are expected to help pack up the gear.
• No smoking is permitted in the club or near children during nipper sessions.
• Family membership covers parents or guardians and children up to and including 21 years of age.
• Working with Children Check requirements apply to adult members and helpers.
• Club caps and pink vests are compulsory and are the responsibility of the nipper.
• Grievance matters can be raised with member delegates and are handled confidentially under the club grievance policy.

Nippers 14+

When a child completes U14 their nipper journey ends, but their surf club pathway does not. Older nippers can compete with the senior club, join YIPs, complete SRC and then Bronze Camp, and qualify as patrolling lifesavers.

The club also needs people with many different skills, from equipment and clubhouse maintenance through to publicity, record keeping, instructing groups and helping with the bar.

• Older nippers can progress toward youth pathways, patrol involvement and future lifesaving awards.
• The Youth Involvement Program recognises participation across patrols, water safety, junior activities, fundraising and club support.
• After the age of 14, children can join the YIPS program and keep building skills through youth activities.
• For many families, the surf club gives teenagers a way to spend summer with friends while doing something useful in a supervised community setting.
• A commitment to lifesaving demonstrates responsibility, community service, teamwork and first aid skills.
• Families can ask the nippers coordinator or youth coordinators about the best next step after Under 14.