Nippers resources

Four children dressed in pink swimsuits and colorful sun hats standing on a sandy beach near the ocean, with a person in a white shirt labeled 'Age Manager' in the foreground and a large straw hat in the lower right corner.

program structure

The Nippers Program is delivered through age-based learning aligned to Surf Life Saving Australia’s Junior Development Program.

Each season, members work toward an age-based award, which includes:

  • Participation in education sessions

  • Completion of key learning outcomes

  • Minimum attendance guidelines

  • Clubs delivering Nippers programs should focus on:

    • Safety first – all activities are planned and risk-assessed

    • Participation and fun – engaging, age-appropriate sessions

    • Progression – building skills across each age group

    • Inclusion – providing opportunities for all children to participate

Group of children and adults wearing pink bathing vests and swim caps playing in the ocean waves.

Risk and Insurance

Running a Nippers program? Make sure all activities are risk assessed, approved where required, and delivered in line with SLST and SLSA requirements.

Clubs must ensure all Nippers activities are conducted within approved Surf Life Saving operations to ensure appropriate insurance coverage for members.

  • Age Group

    • Award Name

    • Age as of 30 September*

  • U6

    • Surf Play One – U6

    • 5

  • U7

    • Surf Play Two – U7

    • 6

  • U8

    • Surf Aware One – U8

    • 7

  • U9

    • Surf Aware Two – U9

    • 8

  • U10

    • Surf Safe One – U10

    • 9

  • U11

    • Surf Safe Two – U11

    • 10

  • U12

    • Surf Smart One - U12

    • 11

  • U13

    • Surf Smart Two - U13

    • 12

  • U14

    • Surf Rescue Certificate

    • 13

*Unless ageing up or down applies in individual cases

Resources for clubs & volunteers

A range of resources are available to support Junior Activity Coordinators (JACs), Age Managers and volunteers.

  • A beach scene showing a group of young children sitting on the sand under a canopy, dressed in pink swimsuits and yellow wide-brimmed hats, listening to a lifeguard. The lifeguard, wearing a yellow and red uniform and a red hat, is standing and pointing towards the ocean while holding a rescue board. An adult man, dressed casually in a beige shirt and hat, stands with arms crossed, watching the scene. In the background, there are waves crashing on the shore and various beach toys scattered on the sand.

    Junior Development Resources (JDR)

    The JDR provides resources to help Age Managers and coaches training children in the Nippers program (ages 5 to 14):

    • Age-specific lesson plans

    • Structured program delivery

    • Includes water safety, lifesaving, and surf sports skills

    These resources include:

    • JDR Overview - outlines the suite of fourteen (14) documents which make up the Junior Development Resources (JDR).

    • Age Guides - designed to be a ‘one stop shop’ of lesson plans for an Age Manager

    • Worksheets - to support the key learning outcomes of the Lesson Plan.  

    Learn More
  • Young girl practicing CPR on a training mannequin while adults observe and assist, wearing pink shirts and blue caps, in a classroom setting.

    Junior Activities Start of Season Bulletin

    This is published at the start of each season and provides key updates and changes to Junior Activities each year.

    Learn More
  • A female lifeguard is instructing two young girls on the beach, showing them a yellow rescue tube. The girls are wearing pink swim jackets and blue wide-brimmed hats, while the lifeguard is wearing a white hat, sunglasses, and a white shirt.

    Nipper App – User Guide

    The SLSA Nipper App (‘Nipper App’) – while not an actual ‘app’ that can be downloaded from an online store, it is available to access through mobile devices on the SLS Hub.  

    The Nipper App (via the SLS Hub) supports:

    • Attendance tracking

    • Recording evaluations

    • No need for paper records

    Learn More
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Essential Program Requirements

  • Two young people, a girl and a boy, smiling on a beach, wearing bright pink shirts and wide-brimmed hats for sun protection. The girl has a blue hat and the boy has an orange hat. The ocean and sandy beach are visible in the background.

    Membership

    All Nippers participants and volunteers must be registered members of Surf Life Saving before taking part, other than for Come and Try activities.

  • A woman wearing a wide-brimmed hat with a neck cover, a beige jacket labeled 'AGE MANAGER,' and black shorts stands on the beach, raising her arm, while a group of children in pink wetsuits and blue swim caps enjoy the shallow ocean waves, supervised by two adults.

    Junior Preliminary Evaluations

    All Nippers must complete an annual aquatic skills assessments before participating in water-based activities, to help determine the best supervision ratio.

  • A young boy in a pink wetsuit and a blue swim cap running out of the ocean while holding a paddleboard, with another person partially visible holding a paddleboard nearby.

    Competition Evaluations

    From U8 onwards, members wishing to compete in surf sports must also complete a Competition Evaluation relevant to their age group. This ensures they have the skills and fitness required to safely participate in carnival activities.

Frequently Asked Questions

  • Children can join Nippers from the time they turn 5 years of age (U6).

    Age group allocation is based on their age as at 30 September each season.

  • Yes. All Nippers must complete preliminary water competency evaluations before participating in water activities.

  • No. Nippers focuses on surf awareness, safety and confidence in the beach environment.

    Children are encouraged to undertake learn-to-swim training separately to support their development.

  • Most clubs run Nippers once per week (typically weekends) during the season.

    Some clubs also offer additional training for surf sports, board paddling and swimming.

    Check with your local club for their schedule.

  • Activities vary by age group but may include:

    • Beach games and activities

    • Swimming and water skills

    • Board paddling

    • Basic first aid and surf awareness

    All activities are designed to be safe, fun and age-appropriate.

  • Typically:

    • Swimmers

    • Club cap and high-visibility vest

    • Towel

    • Water bottle

    • Sun-safe clothing (rash top, hat, sunscreen)

    Your club will provide specific requirements.

  • Yes — from U8 onwards, children can participate in competition, provided they complete the necessary evaluations to ensure they can safely manage surf conditions:

    • Preliminary evaluations

    • Competition evaluation (open water swim)

  • Regular attendance is important to build skills progressively. A minimum attendance level may be required to achieve the annual age award.

  • In some circumstances, clubs may allow movement between age groups based on ability, development and social factors.

    This is managed at club discretion and subject to guidelines.

  • An Age Manager is a trained volunteer who delivers Nippers sessions and helps ensure activities are run safely. They are essential to delivering a consistent and engaging program.

  • Nippers is a family-based program, and involvement is strongly encouraged.

    Parents are encouraged to get involved in many ways, including:

    • Assisting with activities

    • Becoming an Age Manager or helper

    • Supporting water safety 

    • Helping with events or fundraising

  • Nippers prepares young members to become confident, capable lifesavers. The program provides a pathway into:

    • volunteer lifesaving through Surf Life Saving awards (e.g. Surf Rescue Certificate, Bronze Medallion)

    • Surf sports competition

  • Clubs must ensure:

    • All participants are current members (except Come and Try days)

    • Preliminary evaluations are completed before water activities

    • Appropriate water safety personnel and ratios are in place

    • Activities are risk assessed and suited to conditions

  • ‘Come and Try’ days must:

    • Be registered as a Special Event

    • Use approved participant registration forms

    • Be supported by appropriate risk assessment and supervision

    See the Special Events page for full requirements.

  • For detailed requirements and procedures, refer to:

    • SLST Club Guide

    • Junior Development Resources (JDR)

    • SLST Junior Activities Bulletin