Nippers Registration for the 2022/2023 season is open online now!
If your child is not registered, they cannot attend nippers.
Due to the Queen’s memorial public holiday the registration afternoon on Thursday September 22nd has been cancelled. If you are having trouble registering online please contact the club coordinator via email.
TO JOIN:
Register online or register at the Club on one of our Registration Days:
- Registration Day and BBQ at the Club House: Sunday 18 September, 10am-12pm
NEW REGISTRATIONS can also be completed online via the Surf Lifesaving Portal.
RETURNING NIPPERS can use the Surf Life Saving Members Portal for renewal and payment of Bilgola Nippers fees . If you cannot find your returning child as linked to your adult SLSC account, it’s likely that a different email address was used when the child was originally signed up, so in this case try your partners email address when signing into the Surf Life Saving Members Portal.
If you have never used the Members Area before you will need to create an account. Please click here for a video on how to Create a members Portal Account.
Nipper uniforms can be ordered online. Click the button below to access our online store.
Season Start
- Sun Oct 9th, 9:00am Age Manager Briefing @ the Club house
- Sun Oct 9th, 1:00pm-4:00pm Water Proficiencies at Warringah Aquatic Centre in French’s Forest (see below for the age group timetable and more information)
- Thu Oct 13th, 6:30-9:30pm – Parents Start of Season Briefing and drinks
- Sun Oct 16th, 8:45am Nippers commences!
NIPPERS SESSIONS FOR 2022/23
Nippers Know How!
Bilgola Surf Life saving club is an all-inclusive family club in which your children and you can have lots of fun and make new friends while learning new and exciting skills for life.
Children are taught how to respect and read the surf, and to use it to their advantage in a safe and nurturing environment. The activities are many and varied and are aimed at children from the age of five (5) and up learning about surf awareness and safety through the “Surf Ed” program. Depending on their age and ability children participate each week in beach sprints, relays, ‘flags’, tug-of-war, wading, swimming, board paddling, surfing and lots of other games and activities.
Remember, the emphasis is on having fun whilst learning new skills. They can also compete in Northern Beaches inter-club competitions, Sydney Branch and state carnivals. After Nippers there is a BBQ in our BBQ garden, with food and drinks for sale. The girl and boy ‘Nipper of the Week’ from each Age Group gets a Billy Award for a free sausage sandwich and drink!
So, put some colour into your family Sunday and join us! Become a Billy Nipper!
Parent Involvement
No one knows your children like you do so it is very important for them that you are involved to help them build confidence. You should therefore be willing each week to actively participate. Be dressed for the beach and be prepared to get wet with your child.
We do not offer a child minding service, but with this in mind we realise that some parents have more than one child in different age groups. If this is the case and you elect to stay with one of your kids in a group, then you need to nominate another responsible adult for your other child’s sign-on and sign-off.
Become an Age Manager or Age Assistant!
Many parents are past or current members of life saving clubs and serve as patrol members, water safety and committee members. You can also be an Age Manager or an Age Manager’s Assistant. Your kids will think it’s great, and you will provide valuable help and guidance as our children learn about surf fun and safety. Bilgola SLSC provides all the necessary training:
- Contact us to join Bronze Medallion and Online Age Manager’s Courses.
- Age Manager’s Assistant’s are required to undertake an online Assistant’s Course.
Also see our Membership page for more information on Bronze Medallion training.
Each Sunday
Activities in the 2022/23 season will take place in one session each Sunday, with older age groups having an extra 30 minutes – rain, hail, or shine.
- 8:45am Assemble / attendance / briefing.
- 9:00-10:00am U6-U10 Nippers activities
- 9:00-10:30am U11-U13 Nippers Activities
- 10:00-11:00am BBQ
Under the supervision of their Age Managers the children participate in a range of learning, sand, and water based activities several. Depending on their age and competency, activities may be on the beach or in the water. We have a 50-metre ocean pool with wading area for the younger Nippers. So, you and your children need to bring sunscreen, water, swimming costume, and a towel.
Age Groups
In accordance with regulations from Sydney Northern Beaches Branch, a child must have turned 5 before 30 September of the year that they are eligible to join Nippers. Children are registered in the age group according to the age of the child on 30 September. For example, if your child is 11 on 30 September, the child will be in the Under 12s.
Active Kids Vouchers
As Bilgola Surf Life Saving Club is an approved activity provider, you may use this voucher for your child’s Nippers membership registration.
NOTE: If you have already paid your membership fees for the current season then you are unable to claim a cash refund of the kids voucher amount with Bilgola SLSC after that.
Click one of the buttons below for more information on Active Kids Vouchers.
Proficiencies
All children participating in Nippers are required to take a proficiency evaluation. This consists of a number of supervised tasks which vary by age group in still water (usually done in the pool). Children who wish to compete at carnivals must pass a supervised surf swim over a swim course distance (varies by age group). Children who cannot pass the minimum proficiency are limited for their safety to beach and wade events only and cannot enter carnivals.
For specific details on proficiency requirements for each age group, click on the button below.
Proficiencies will be held on Sunday 9th October between 1pm and 4pm at the Warringah Aquatic Centre. The schedule for each age group is listed below.
- 1:00pm U13, U12
- 1:30pm U11, U10
- 2:00pm U9, U8
- 2:30pm U7
- 3:15pm U6
Uniforms
Nippers require a rash vest which can be purchased from our Online Uniform shop. We also have a selection of swimmers and other items – come and shop at Bilgola!
Contact the Nippers Committee
If you have ideas, questions or feedback for our Nippers program, please contact the committee members shown below.
