2024/25 Nipper Season

Sign-on for our Nipper program is now closed.

Redcliffe Peninsula SLSC runs award-winning programs for children and their families to develop skills to become surf lifesavers.

Two years in a row, Redcliffe Peninsula SLSC was awarded Sunshine Coast Junior & Youth Club of the Year – 2020/21 and 2021/22.

Last year, our U14 Emily Robins was awarded Queensland U14 Junior Lifesaver of the Year.

FIVE things you MUST know to be eligible to join Junior Activities at Redcliffe

  1. A child MUST be 6 – 13 years old as of 30 September 2024 to be eligible to join Nippers. This 2024/25 season, our U6 age group will only be open to children of returning Nipper families and patrolling volunteer lifesavers.

  2. Nippers is NOT a learn to swim program – we highly recommend that children attend a swim school to improve their swim skills and fitness. To participate in Nippers, ALL children are MUST pass a pool and beach evaluation to demonstrate their swimming ability and fitness – click here to see pool and beach evaluations

  3. Nippers do NOT swim or board in open water until Under 8’s – Surf Life Saving policy only allows U6 to U8 Nippers to wade and paddle in shallow water. After 31 December in their U8 season, Nippers who pass an open water swim evaluation will be allowed to participate in open water swim and board training.

  4. Nippers is 100% volunteer run – it takes a community to support our Junior Activities programs at least one parent/guardian from every family will be asked to support our community of volunteers by nominating for a role or task during the season.

  5. Nippers is NOT a babysitting service! If a parent or guardian is not able to stay on the beachfront for the duration of Nippers every Sunday, please do not join!

Redcliffe Junior Activities Programs

Our Junior Activities programs include:

NIPPER SUNDAYS

On a typical Sunday, U8-U14 Nippers rotate through Beach Sprint, Beach Flags, Boards and Swim arenas to participate in individual and team lifesaving and surf sports activities.

U6 and U7 Nippers participate in various beach and water games and activities in a dedicated arena.

All age groups also do educational lessons to gain their Junior Age Award.

BEACH & SURF SPORTS

U8-U14 Nippers are encouraged to enter carnivals at several Sunshine Coast surf clubs to challenge themselves in different beach and surf conditions. Athletes also compete at Sunshine Coast Branch, state and national championship events at the end of the season.

To be eligible to compete at any carnival, a Junior member must pass a run/swim/run evaluation.

R&R (Rescue & Resuscitation)

R&R is a traditional surf lifesaving competition based on the simulated Rescue and Resuscitation of a patient from the surf using the traditional belt and reel. It combines swimming, resuscitation skills, marching and drill. Teams are judged against set criteria. Redcliffe has a proud history in the sport. In recent years, our 2-person teams have won Gold and Silver medals at state championships.

YOUTH DEVELOPMENT

In their last season as Nippers, U14s will compete the Surf Rescue Certificate (SRC), which allow them to join a patrol as a volunteer lifesaver. U14s will also join our Youth Development Program, which includes Cadet training and social events. Youth members also volunteer as Age Managers or Water Safety to mentors Nippers.

U8 – U14 Beach & Surf Activities

At Nipper Sundays and carnivals, Junior members participate and compete as individuals and as teams in beach and surf sports activities.

BEACH SPRINT & RELAY

The beach sprint and beach relay events are run over 70 metres. In the beach relay, team members are expected to exchange a baton at the end of each leg.

Juniors can also compete in individual and relay team races beach runs over 1km (U11/U12) and 2km (U13/U14) distances.

BEACH FLAGS

Beach Flags is designed to help Surf Life Savers to improve their reflexes and sand sprinting power.

Lying face-down on the beach, competitors rise, turn and run 15 metres to grab a baton from the sand. One or more batons are then removed for the next round, and play progresses this way until the winner grabs the last remaining baton.

BOARDS

Nippers start with board in hand at the water’s edge and paddle around a set of cans up to 170m from the beach before returning to shore. At competition, the first paddler back to shore wins the race. This discipline also features a board relay: 3 paddlers who complete an entire board race with a 50m run leg before tagging the next paddler.

SWIM

Nippers swim a distance in open water of approximately 150m (U9/U10) or 300m (U11-U14) out around cans and back to shore. At competitions, there are up to 32 swimmers in each swim race and first back to the beach is the winner. There is also a 4-person swim team event.

U6/U7 Green Caps

The focus of our U6 and U7 Green Caps program is to build your child’s confidence in the beach environment. With the support of their Age Managers and parents, Green Caps participate in various beach and water activities that are a fun and educational.

Nippers do NOT swim or board in open water until Under 8’s – Surf Life Saving policy only allows U6 to U8 Nippers to wade and paddle in shallow water. After 31 December in their U8 season, Nippers who pass an open water swim evaluation will be allowed to participate in open water swim and board training.

Our Green Caps program is not just for Nippers, it’s for parents too. We believe it’s important for parents to learn about beach safety by getting involved with Green Cap activities as Nipper Adult Assistants (NAA). As a NAA, parents assist Age Managers to provide beach and water superivision for activities. The NAA is a short course provided to members for free.

Nipper Sundays

  • Redcliffe’s Nipper season starts on Sunday 6th October and ends on Saturday
  • Nippers is on every Sunday except for a Christmas break or if Nippers is cancelled due to severe weather or carnival commitments
  • Nippers must be ready to sign-on at 8:15am sharp
  • Activities start at 8:30am
  • U6/U7 age groups finish by 10am; all other age groups finish between 10:30am and 11:00am
  • REMINDER – Nippers is NOT a babysitting service! If a parent or guardian is not able to stay on the beachfront for the duration of Nippers every Sunday, please do not join!

Nipper Community

Our Junior Activities programs are 100% volunteer run. To comply with strict Surf Life Saving guidelines for volunteer ratios on the beach and in the water, it takes 60+ volunteers to run a Nipper Sunday at Redcliffe. Plus, there’s all the behind the scenes work that’s needed to coordinate and fund our programs and social activities.

To contribute to our Nipper community, it is expected that at least one parent/guardian from EVERY Nipper family nominates to volunteer for a role or task during the season.

For members with no lifesaving experience:
  • Join our workforce roster to set up the beach and pack up on Nipper Sundays
  • Join our kiosk crew to prep food and serve customers on Nipper Sundays
  • Help to organise fundraising and social activities
  • Assistant Age Manager to assist Age Managers to run activities – free training provided
  • U6-U8 Nipper Adult Assistants to assist Age Managers with beach and water supervision – – free training provided
For returning members who want to get more involved or members with previous lifesaving experience:
  • Age Managers manage the running of activities, behaviour and safety of a Nipper age group – free training provided
  • Water Safety Officers provide encouragement to Nippers in the water while being ready to provide assistance if needed – free training provided
  • Officials officiate in various roles at surf sports carnivals – free training provided
  • Junior Activities Committee member to oversee the direction and management of our Junior Activities programs

Surf Life Saving takes child safety very seriously. Every volunteer aged 18 and over must hold a valid QLD blue card. Blue cards for volunteers are free.

Surf Life Saving takes child safety very seriously. Every volunteer aged 18 and over must hold a valid QLD blue card. Blue cards for volunteers are free.

2024/25 Family Membership Fees

At least one parent/guardian must join with their children

2024/25 Family Membership fees:

  • 1 child up to 18 + up to 2 parents – $320
  • 2 children up to 18 + up to 2 parents – $360
  • 3 children up to 18 + up to 2 parents – $400
  • Per additional child – $40

Valid FairPlay vouchers can be redeemed.

Membership fees include:

  • ONE vest and cap per Nipper
  • ONE wristband for sign in/out
  • Use of club equipment
  • Access to club facilities, including hot showers

Refund Policy

For insurance reasons, membership fees must be paid in full prior to attending a Nipper Sign-On Day to do the pool evaluations. Families of children who do not pass their evaluation will receive a full refund.

Due to expenses incurred by the club for each Nipper there are no refunds after the first Nipper session of the season – Sunday 6th October 2024.