Youth Development 2015-16 Season
Welcome to Mandurah SLSC and the Nippers and Youth program for 2015-16
season.
My name is Annette James I am the Youth Development Officer and Board Member
who will represent our junior division of the club this season.
I am very excited about the season ahead and hope this introduction will answer
some of your questions about the education programs available to your children.
Age Groups
MHSLSC offer Junior programs (also known as nippers) for children between the ages of 5 and 13. Children
must be a minimum of 5 years of age by 30 September to join the club. Whatever age the child is at 30
September, determines which age group the child is in for that season.
Each year the nippers progress through a Surf Education Award, which teaches surf safety, board paddling,
swimming, wading, beach activities, basic rescue and first aid skills. Emphasis is on fun and participation. Nippers
is designed to provide educational experience in a wide range of skills within the aquatic environment.
Surf Play 1 - U6 RED
 Focus on beach safety and awareness
 Basic safety procedures, the beach environment, sunsmart, who is a
lifesaver
 Emphasis on fun and participation
Surf Play 2 - U7 MAROON
Surf Safety 2 - U11 LIGHT BLUE
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 Focus on beach safety and awareness
 Basic safety procedures, the beach environment, sunsmart, who is a
lifesaver
 Emphasis on fun and participation
Surf Awareness 1 – U8 WHITE
 Develop an understanding of who goes to aquatic venues and what
Surf Smart 1 - U12 DARK BLUE

they do there
 Develop an awareness of SLSA, what surf lifesavers do and who can
be a surf lifesaver
 Understand and develop introductory running, swimming and paddling
skills in a surf or aquatic environment
Surf Awareness 2 - U9 PURPLE
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 Develop basic beach, ocean and aquatic sense
 Develop a basic awareness of the various hazards in beach or aquatic
environments
 Expand their understanding and development of running, swimming
and paddling skills in a surf or aquatic environment
Surf Safety 1 - U10 GREEN
 Develop an awareness of usage trends and activities at local aquatic
venues
 Develop an awareness and knowledge of the safety services in the
local area.
 Further develop their awareness and knowledge of the surf zone and
other aquatic characteristics
 Develop running, wading, dolphining, swimming,
paddling and surfing skills in a stable or moderate surf or aquatic
environment
Develop an awareness of self survival
concepts
in the surf or aquatic environments
Be introduced to basic airway management
techniques and initial first aid procedures
Expand running, wading, dolphining,
swimming,
paddling and surfing skills in a stable or
moderate
surf or aquatic environment
Develop an enhanced understanding of surf
lifesavers and the functions of lifesaving
services
Develop an enhanced knowledge of physical
characteristics of surf zones and other
aquatic environments
Develop an awareness of basic rescue
skills and activities
Enhance running, wading, dolphining,
swimming,
paddling and surfing skills in a stable or
moderate
surf or aquatic environment
Surf Smart 2 - U13 YELLOW
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
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Develop an understanding of the principles of
first aid
Develop basic knowledge of resuscitation
skills
Develop introductory rescue skills in aided
or unaided approaches
Enhance running, wading, dolphining,
swimming,
paddling and surfing skills in a stable or
moderate
surf or aquatic environment
Youth Development 2015-16 Season
What Nippers IS NOT
The program is run 100% by volunteers, most are parents who offer their time to become
trained to deliver the education programs. For this reason Nippers is not a child
minding facility, it is the parents’ responsibility to ensure there is a parent or guardian
present on the beach during nippers. Age managers do not accept duty of care, they are
merely there to provide appropriate activities within a safe environment.
Nippers is not a swim school. All children participating in the Under 8’s age group and
up must complete a proficiency swim test before being allowed to participate in water
activities. If your child doesn’t pass the minimum swim requirement for their age they
will only be allowed to participate if a parent is in the water with them. The Age Manager
will know that your child is at risk and will require a parent or guardian to supervise when
doing water activities. Under6 and Under7 will only partake in wading activities, reducing
the risk for those smaller children. If your child is a capable swimmer and is in these age
groups please bear in mind they wont be permitted to leave the group to swim out further
regardless of their extra ability. We suggest all children participating in Nippers also be
attending a swim school to assist them with their technique and confidence especially in
the older age groups.
Additional Benefits
Competition
Children in the Under10 to Under13 age groups are
eligible to complete in Surf Sports. Our club has a Surf
Sports team from juniors to masters, who regularly
complete against other clubs in events such as flags,
beach sprints and distance runs, swim and board racing
to name a few. Training sessions are run at various times
each week. If you are interested in joining the team please speak to Leanne Spiers our
Competitions Coordinator, she is regularly on the beach prior to Nippers with the training
team or email the club mhslsc@mybeach.com.au
Service to the community
Children are given the opportunity to develop their skills in service to others. It is
important to teach our children the value of giving back to our community. Children can
assist with fundraising for the club and just being a member of a community service like
life saving is very rewarding. Our children are surrounded by mentors and adults who
model these values of service to others.
Socialisation
Children develop a new friend base away from school, which is often valuable to their
development of who they are as individuals. Our youth are surrounded with like-minded
healthy, vibrant, giving people who instil good habits around health and wellbeing. We
offer various opportunities for our youth and younger members to socialise and learn
about healthy lifestyle choices. Building better adults who not only contribute to, but
enrich our society.
Youth Development 2015-16 Season
Costs
Membership
All children under 15 years of age must have an adult join the club as an associate member and all
children under 13 years of age must have a parent/guardian on the beach with them at all times
during nippers activities.
Family Membership
1 Child
2 Children
3 Children
4 Children
1 Parent + (Includes building
levy)
$215
$290
$330
$370
2 Parents + (Includes building
levy)
$330
$370
$410
$450
Uniform
Children are required to wear a coloured nippers
cap and long-sleeved rashie during nippers.
Children in Under 8 - Under 13 are provided with a
second hand cap this season but the younger age
groups will be charged a one off $10 cap fee this
year. These caps will be owned by the child and will
need to be brought each week. This year we have
changed our cap colours process. Previously the
groups had different colours each season but from now on each age group will keep its
cap colour right through to graduating from Nippers in the Under 13 age group. The idea
is that the children will develop a sense of team spirit.
The other item is the Rashie. It is club policy that all nippers wear the club’s long-sleeved
rashie, adhering to our sun smart message. These can be purchased from the club at a cost
of $45 each. We also stock bathers if you would like to purchase those as well. Speak to
Gay Nash our Merchandise Officer, she will be set up in the club before nippers each week.
Times and Dates
Nippers sign in commences at 9.00am sharp on Sundays. Please sign in and then meet at
your coloured flag. Nippers usually finishes between 10.30am and 11.00am depending
on the age group and events of the day.
Youth Development 2015-16 Season
Important Dates
October 18
Compulsory Swim Evaluations for Under 8’s up at Aqua Jetty
Rockingham from 10am to 12pm.
October 25
9.00am First day of Nippers activities and welcome message for
parents
November 1
9.00am Nippers activities at MHSLSC 10.00am -12.00pm
additional Swim evaluation session for those who couldn’t make
the first one. Again at Aqua Jetty.
November 8
NO Nippers due to 70.3 in Mandurah
November 15 &22
Nippers MHSLSC 9.00am -10.30am
November 29
Club Carnival and sausage sizzle (Includes Nippers) 9.00am
December 6 & 13
Nippers MHSLSC 9.00am -10.30am
December 11
SLSWA Street appeal – major fundraising day for the club
December 20
9.00am Last day of Nippers- Christmas break up, sausage sizzle
and club carnival
January 17
Nippers Starts Back 9.00am -10.30am
Jan 24 & 31
Nippers MHSLSC 9.00am -10.30am
February 7
Nippers MHSLSC 9.00am -10.30am
February 14
8.00am Interclub carnival with Port Bouvard at MHSLSC (Nippers
Included)
February 21
Nippers MHSLSC 9.00am -10.30am
February 28
Club Carnival and sausage sizzle (Includes Nippers) 9.00am
March 6
NO Nippers due to Surf Sports Country Championships
March 13
Last Day of Nippers for the season 9.00am -10.30am
March 18
Junior Awards Night 5pm MHSLSC. BYO plate to share and drinks.