Minnows & Nippers

Pool Proficiency Swim

If your child has missed the pool proficiency swim that the Club organised, they will need to be signed off by a registered swimming teacher.
We cannot let nippers into the water until we have seen that they are able to perform the set swimming distance in a pool (this is a Surf Life Saving Australia Policy).

Please note that swimming certificates are not accepted, it must be a signed letter from an approved swimming teacher.  

General Nipper information 

To enable Cottesloe Nippers to run smoothly on Sundays, please note the following: 

• Children are unable to participate on the beach or in the water unless they are a financial member.
• No child will be able to participate in water events without first completing an evaluation swim and being certified proficient.
• Children must arrive with sunscreen applied, a hat, long sleeve shirt, towel and water bottle.
• Children MUST wear their age group cap at all times on Sunday morning whilst participating in Nipper activities. At the conclusion of the day’s events, children must remove their age group caps – they cannot remain on the beach wearing their club cap. This assists the Patrol on duty as children wearing caps are assumed to be under the supervision of an Age Group Manager. 
• The Patrol Captain of the day is the ultimate authority in relation to water activities and events.
• Please offer to assist your child’s Age Group Manager.

Age Group Cap Colours

National Age Awards  

As part of the National Surf Life Saving organisation Cottesloe SLSC ensures that each Nipper receives instruction that allows them to attain a National Award at the end of the season. To receive this award it is expected that Nippers attend at least 10 Sundays and actively participate. 

U6 and U7, Minnows – Surf Play 1 and 2 – focus on play, participation and fun. Simple beach safety and awareness lessons such as basic safety practices during activities, what makes up a beach environment, sunsmart guidelines, the importance of being with an adult at the beach, what a life saver is and what they do. Surf sports skills involve wading, beach sprinting and beach flags.

U8 – Surf Aware 1 – focus is on understanding, identifying and demonstrating sunsmart guidelines and dangers that relate to themselves, as well as what it means to feel safe. They learn to recognise whether they are, or someone else is, in an emergency situation and how to get help. Ecosurf discusses the beach environment and communities surf life savers operate in. Surf sports skills focus on bodyboarding, wading, dolphin-diving, beach sprint starts and beach flag starts. 

U9 – Surf Aware 2 – builds on Surf Aware 1. The idea of a personal safety network is introduced so children are comfortable asking for help. Children are given safety tips and learn more about hazardous surf conditions. Ecosurf talks about the impact surf life savers can have on the beach. Surf sports skills focus on board positioning and paddling, sand running technique and diving for a beach flag.

U10 – Surf Safe 1– identification of adults at surf clubs they can ask to help. The Ecosurf focus is on water conservation and sun safety and the consequences of skin damage. Children learn about rips, recognising unsafe behaviours and relating these areas to preventative actions. Rescue techniques are introduced and children learn to use boards to assist other swimmers. Surf sports skills focus on entering and negotiating the surf on a board and beach relay baton changes.

U11 – Surf Safe 2 – at this level, children have the ability to learn more technical aspects of lifesaving and are able to be more physical in surf sports skills. Children are encouraged to persist when needing help. there is a strong focus on recognising ‘at risk’ people . Interpersonal and beach signage communication is introduced. Surf sports skills focus on board dismounts, catching waves on a board, board relay, surf swimming techniques and crouching beach sprint starts.

U12 – Surf Smart 1– children learn about their rights and responsibilities as members of SLSA, and consider personal health and wellbeing. More beach signals are introduced, and the use of these in the context of beach rescues is considered. Board rescues are undertaken. The focus of surf sports skills is to complete all the skills in each skill set and includes rolling under a wave on a board, diving under large waves, beach sprint arm and leg drive, and beach flags race strategies. 

U13 – Surf Smart 2 – looks more broadly at surf life saving safety from various viewpoints – SLSA member safety and wellbeing, climate change and the impact on surf life saving, communicating with beach users, other professional emergency services and surf safety tips. The focus of surf sports skills is on bringing all the skills learnt in previous awards  together to participate in an event for each of the disciplines: board race, board rescue, surf race, run-swim-run, beach sprint, beach relay, beach flags, ironman / ironwoman and cameron relay.

 U14 – SRC – Surf Rescue Certificate – This provides a good background and preparation for the Bronze Medallion, which can be obtained at age 15. This is the last year of structured junior activities and the first where Nippers can start to participate in regular surf life saving activities – patrols, open carnivals. The SRC comprises a number of skills and knowledge