Nipper Season Information Overview
Age groups for nippers at North Avoca SLSC?
In accordance with regulations from the Central Coast Branch & Surf Lifesaving NSW, a child must have turned 5 prior to 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 12’s
What age group will I be in?
North Avoca SLSC Season 2024/25
Birth date between the following dates:
| State Date |
to |
End Date |
Age Group |
Age Manager |
| 1st October 2018 |
to |
30th September 2019 |
U6 |
Vacant |
| 1st October 2017 |
to |
30th September 2018 |
U7 |
Gemma Roderick & Simon Dwyer |
| 1st October 2016 |
to |
30th September 2017 |
U8 |
Dannie Hodgson, Byrne LaGinesta & Stuart MacPherson |
| 1st October 2015 |
to |
30th September 2016 |
U9 |
Chris Miller & Eve Hennessy |
| 1st October 2014 |
to |
30th September 2015 |
U10 |
Daniel Luongo & Kat Dwyer |
| 1st October 2013 |
to |
30th September 2014 |
U11 |
Matt Sproll & Peta Quinn |
| 1st October 2012 |
to |
30th September 2013 |
U12 |
Kim Findlay & Scott Robards |
| 1st October 2011 |
to |
30th September 2014 |
U13 |
Jackie Sproll & Iain Robinson |
| 1st October 2010 |
to |
30th September 2011 |
U14 |
Jackie Sproll & Iain Robinson |
| 1st October 2009 |
to |
30th September 2010 |
U15 |
Elise Avis & Megan Miller |
Must be a minimum of 5 years of age to join and a copy of the nippers Birth Certificate must be provided on registration to North Avoca SLSC.
What to expect in your nipper age group?
UNDER 6 (Surf Play 1)
UNDER 7 (Surf Play 2)
- Equal attention to water and beach events
- Water activities that are limited to shallow water near the water’s edge
- Beach activities to emphasise games and group participation
- No competition other than that involved in fun games
- Learn beach awareness & water safety
- Learn event rules by the time they are in U/8 (Sprint, flags, wade & relays)
Recommended: 1 – 2 sessions / week (learn to swim squad)
UNDER 8 (Surf Awareness 1)
UNDER 9 (Surf Awareness 2)
UNDER 10 (Surf Safe 1)
- Recall surf awareness information and basic emergency care procedures
- Perform introductory self rescue skills
- Has completed run-swim-run
- Equal attention to water & beach events, beginning to specialise by U10s
- Develop basic skills in events & have basic knowledge of rules
- Improve confidence in surf
- Ability to train in a group situation and develop road rules of squad training
- Understanding training terminology
UNDER 8
- Wading, duck-diving, grabbing sand under waves, swim to behind shore behind the break.
- Boogie board paddling, catching broken waves, correct position on board, able to change direction.
- Understand rules, demonstrate sprint, flags, wade and relay.
UNDER 9
- Catch broken waves from standing, swim in surf with head down, swim into gutter
- Board starts with skim, sit/pop, eskimo roll, catching unbroken wave, able to correct board position
- Develop technique in beach events, able to do relay changeovers at speed
UNDER 10
- Catching unbroken waves from swimming, swim to back break
- All above board skills with confidence and speed, slipstream
- Continue to advance skills in all events, knowledge of tactics in flags and wade
Recommended : Start at 2 sessions / week & increase by 1 session each age group
UNDER 11 (Surf Safe 2)
UNDER 12 (Surf Smart 1)
- Apply surf awareness information
- Provide emergency care
- Operate communications systems
- Has completed run-swim-run
- Begin to concentrate more on specific area (beach/water) but still train at both
- Work on intermediate skills and have reasonable knowledge of rules
- Begin moderate endurance training to help with Iron and extra events now available
- Increase confidence in surf and surf awareness
- Promote good training ethics and desire to train to improve
UNDER 11
- Catch unbroken wave, swim in pack with head down, know when to wade/duck-dive
- Introduce board rescue skills, angle across wave, chasing runners
- Beach relay changes at speed, correct sprint starts, correct flags technique and dive
UNDER 12
- Hold body wave using arm, correct wading
- Advanced board rescue skills. Negotiate surf using correct choices, late take offs
- Speed drills introduced, fine tune skills on beach
Recommended : 4 – 6 sessions / week for those wishing to attend carnivals
UNDER 13 (Surf Smart 2)
UNDER 14 (SRC)
- Understand how to regulate training around school, holidays, exams
- Provide serious trainers with log book to monitor training
- Promote training with Senior squad & attend senior carnivals once SRC is obtained
- Understand competitive pathways from Junior to Senior (Branch – State – National)
UNDER 14 Surf Rescue Certificate (U14 compulsory for competition)
- Apply surf awareness information
- Provide emergency care
- Operate communications systems & equipment
- Work in a team
- Communicate in the beach environment
- Has completed run-swim-run
- Participate in an aquatic rescue operation
- Demonstrates resuscitation skills
