Nippers

All 2022/23 season Nipper communications and administration will occur via the MVSLSC Stack Team app portal.

This includes;

• Educational material for Age Managers
• Age Group attendance
• Allocation of parent helpers to weekly tasks
• Reminder memos for upcoming nipper events

To download the app follow these steps;

If you have multiple children in different age groups follow these steps.

Nippers is a great family & community activity which is packed full of fun for children and adults alike.

Gaining confidence in the surf and becoming ‘surf aware’ are key components of the weekly activities culminating in a surf award and certificate at the end of the season. The Nipper Program also offers participants the opportunity to meet a new set of friends whilst they are being challenged in activities controlled within a learning environment. Participation in the Nippers program provides the following;

• Instruction in surf safety and surf awareness
• Marine environment education
• Lifesaving and first aid skill development
• Increasing fitness levels and involvement in an active lifestyle
• Community involvement and socialisation skills
• Platform to senior patrolling duties

Regular activities include beach sprints and relays, swimming, beach flags, tug-o-war, boards and iron person events. Week to week activities are led by volunteer Age Managers – let us know if you’d like to help out!

In order to support a safe water environment, children who participate in water activities are required to complete an age group evaluation. These are completed on the beach during routine Nipper programs and are finalised by Week 4 of the season. See “Nipper Proficiencies” for more details.

For those nippers interested in competition, the program also introduces children to Surf Life Saving events with a series of Club Championships and Carnivals held across the season which provide the opportunity to compete on the beach or in the water against other children from surf clubs from around the region.

Additionally, being part of a surf life saving club is a stepping stone to becoming a Patrolling Member. For details on completing training courses starting with the SRC (Surf Rescue Certificate) and Bronze Medallion see the Training Courses.

Living in Australia water and surf skills are essential, so come on down to Mona Vale and join in the fun!

Nippers is on regardless of gloomy weather. Only lightening keeps us off the beach. We have access to the Basin area of Mona Vale beach that provides significant protection for adverse surf conditions.

In the event Nippers is cancelled for the morning a group communication will be issued via TEAM App/Stack.

Age Groups are determined as at midnight 30th September 2021. Please see below for a break down of which age group your child will be registered to. You can register a child for Nippers if they turn 5 by 30 September 2021.

To participate in water activities we need to provide your child with a safe environment. In order to do that we need to understand how your child manages an open water experience. At the commencement of the season we conduct preliminary evaluations where we look for capabilities which meet the age group requirement. 

Nippers is not a forum for learning to swim, but rather a platform for building surf safety on top of pre-existing water skills.

Please see below the National Standard for preliminary and competition skill evaluations (blue table).

Preliminary evaluations are conducted across three stages and are completed by Week 4 of the season (red tables).

Mona Vale SLSC does not accept evaluation letters from external sources e.g. swim schools.

Click on each image to enlarge.

The Nippers uniform is a requirement for participation in our Sunday program.

Caps are coloured to differentiate the newest members of our club as those needing a little more supervision and development support (yellow) against our older age groups (green & white).

High visibility fluoro pink rash shirts complete the uniform and again are mandatory for participation.

The club also offers other clothing items ranging from swimmers, shorts and shirts right through to hats/caps and towels.

For uniform details and pricing please click visit the MVSLSC Shop.

As a parent/guardian member of Mona Vale Surf Club you are required to take an active role in the day to day operations of our Nipper Program.

Your Nippers’ registration will only be approved by the Club committee once you as the associated parent/guardian member is allocated to a club task. This is a change for our club this season. We’ve elected to draw on the success of other clubs who have engaged their adult members in this way for many years.

Your time and energy helps grow the next generation of surf life savers who understand team-work and that contributing to their community is a fundamental part of the surf life-saving family.

Parent/guardian roles include a broad range of tasks enabling you to participate in a way that draws on your existing skill set.

For those who want a change of pace there are plenty of opportunities to be involved in something new, have you ever flipped 200 eggs on a Sunday morning? Built a sand obstacle course? Taken a roll call for 40 eager 6 year olds?

Now is your time to shine!

The following are examples of some of the club areas where you can play a role; beach set-up on Sunday mornings, BBQ serving/cooking, water safety, age manager, administration support, age group coordination, social event support.

As their greatest role model, your enthusiasm for a successful season as a club member is essential.

Those parents/guardians who do not nominate themselves for a club role will be allocated by the club committee at the time of membership approval.

On any Sunday once you’ve completed your allocated task for the session there is always plenty to do!

An extra pair of hands for beach pull-down and pack-up along with grabbing an extra pair of tongs to serve bacon and egg rolls is always welcome.

Outside of that the Age Managers (who are also volunteer parents/guardians) will always welcome you offering to help organise the age groups and cheer on the children throughout their activities.

Yes – We need you on the beach while your child is participating.

Your child needs your encouraging smile, that water bottle you are holding, and to see you in the breakers waving them into the surf.

Parent participation makes Nippers a great experience for everyone and means that 11 o’clock coffee tastes extra good!

A smile, some enthusiasm and a positive helpful attitude!

Your child needs a towel, water bottle, sunscreen, a healthy snack, and complete Nipper uniform (cap & rash shirt).

Wetsuits are able to be worn for those children who ‘feel the cold’.

Shower and changing amenities are available.

Sure can! Mona Vale is an inclusive surf club where we welcome all members of any community to make an application and join us for some fun on the sand and in the water.

Yes! Club Transfers are processed in accordance with Mona Vale SLSC & SLSA guidelines. Please note, Mona Vale SLSC fees are payable even if you transfer mid-way through the season.

• Go to the Surf Lifesaving Portal.
• If you have not registered for access to the Portal.
• Select Memberships > Transfers > Join/Transfer to a new organisation.
• Enter the requested information.
• Wait for the club to complete the approval process.
• Follow the instructions above to Renew Nippers Membership.

These are parents and members of our community who volunteer to lead an age group for the season. The role is often shared between club members as we understand sometimes there are competing commitments in our lives.

All Age Managers hold current Working with Children certificates and have completed the Age Managers course, and then move on to become ‘Endorsed Age Managers’. They rely on your participation as a parent to help rally the children, support, encourage and cheer them on as they jump into activities sometime for the very first time.

This is one of the roles which parents/guardians are asked to take on and also one of the most rewarding as you watch water confidence grow and friendships being built throughout the season.

Complete the Working with Children certificate now if you don’t hold a current certificate, and at season commencement complete the Age Managers Course, and process to become an ‘Endorsed Age Manager’. Mona Vale has many long serving volunteers who are always on hand to answer questions and provide advice about how best to approach a Sunday session.

Children are grouped as per Surf Life Saving Association guidelines (please see the question: What age group will my child be in?).

Grouping by age means children with similar levels of ability will learn together and support each other to attempt new tasks such as diving under a wave or learning to paddle a board.

Grouping by age also means the children are supported through age-appropriate activities and not extended beyond a reasonable level. They are challenged together, learn together, and celebrate their successes together.

Mona Vale complies with SLSA Age Group guidelines and does not move children between groups. Age groups are allocated according to date of birth.