Nipper

If you’re thinking of introducing your child to lifesaving, then Junior Activities (Nippers) is for you. Junior Activities is open to children from age five up to 13 years (age for a season is calculated as of midnight September 30). Every club in Queensland offers a Junior Activities program, all with various styles and sizes.

Lifesaving is something for the whole family to get involved in and there are many supporting roles that you can play as a parent of a child involved in Junior Activities. Surf lifesaving is an amazing activity for growing a child’s confidence, knowledge and skills in the beach environment. Not only will your child have fun and meet new friends they will become part of an iconic organisation that has served the Australian community for over 100 years.

The program is focused on play, participation and fun. It offers an educational pathway through the delivery of the Junior Development Resource Kit which is designed to ensure children have fun at the beach while participating in lessons that will develop them to become a knowledgeable participant in both lifesaving and sport. As they progress through the various age groups, nippers will undergo lessons in wading, running, swimming, board paddling and lifesaving skills including working towards resuscitation and first aid.

Practising these skills allows children to compete in club, regional and state surf lifesaving carnivals representing their clubs.

Nippers need to be a minimum of five years of age as at 30 September. Before the start of the Nipper season each participant is required to complete a Preliminary Skills evaluation designed to ensure that each child demonstrates a standard of competence in an aquatic environment. This evaluation may include a pool swim and run-swim-run, where the lengths depend on the different age categories.

Children who wish to compete will also be required to complete a competition evaluation swim in the ocean environment to ensure that they are able to make the distance required during competition.

Please note, while Nippers provides participants with valuable water safety skills, it is not a ‘learn to swim’ program, and there is an expectation that your child has basic swimming skills before commencing the program.