1. Policy Purpose
The purpose of this policy is to provide a clear, fair, and consistent framework for the annual Nipper Age Championships, including the points system that determines the winners and runners up.
2. Scope
This policy applies to all U8 to U14 Junior Activities members of RPSLSC participating in the club’s Nipper Age Championships, and their parents or guardians.
3. Responsibilities
Implementation and compliance with this policy is the responsibility of the Junior Activities Committee (JAC), under the oversight of the Management Committee.
4. Event Format
The Nipper Age Championships is run in carnival format on a Nipper Sunday.
Age groups rotate through a program of events. While it is not mandatory, U8 – U14 Nippers are encouraged to participate in all events.
5. Eligibility Requirements
To be eligible to participate in the club’s Nipper Age Championship, all Nippers must meet the following criteria:
5.1 Financial Membership
- Competitors must be registered and financial members of RPSLSC for the current season.
5.2 Age Requirements
- Competitors must be in the U8 to U14 age groups as determined by Surf Life Saving Queensland (SLSQ).
5.3 Proficiency & Competition Evaluation
- All competitors must have completed the relevant Pool and Beach Proficiency evaluations for their age group.
5.4 Minimum attendance
- To be awarded Age Champion or Runner Up:
- U8-U13 Nipper must have attended 65% of Nipper Sundays;
- U14 have attended 50% for the season.
- If a Nipper has scored the most points but has not achieved minimum attendance, the Age Champion and Runner Up will be the Nippers that have achieved minimum attendance and the next highest points.
- Nippers who miss a Nipper Sunday due to attending a carnival will still be marked off as attended for that weekend.
6. Events
Event procedures and course layouts to be based on the SLSA Australian Surf Sports Manual. Download app here – https://sls.com.au/slsa-launches-updated-digital-surf-sports-manual/
6.1 Chart of events per age group
Event | U8 | U9 | U10 | U11 | U12 | U13 | U14 |
Wade | ✔️ | ||||||
Deep Wade | ✔️ | ✔️ | ✔️ | ||||
Swim | ✔️ | ✔️ | ✔️ | ✔️ | ✔️ | ✔️ | |
Board | ✔️ | ✔️ | ✔️ | ✔️ | ✔️ | ✔️ | |
Iron | ✔️ | ✔️ | ✔️ | ✔️ | |||
Sprint | ✔️ | ✔️ | ✔️ | ✔️ | ✔️ | ✔️ | ✔️ |
Flags | ✔️ | ✔️ | ✔️ | ✔️ | ✔️ | ✔️ | ✔️ |
6.2 Wade & Deep Wade
See SLSA Australian Surf Sports Manual – Section 4.9 Wading Race. Maximum 32 competitors per heat/final.
6.3 Swim Race
See SLSA Australian Surf Sports Manual – Section 4.2 Surf Race. Maximum 32 competitors per heat/final.
Course distances to be based on preliminary beach evaluation distances:
- U9 – U10: 50m
- U11 – U14: 100m
6.4 Board Race
See SLSA Australian Surf Sports Manual – Section 6.4 Surf Board Races. Maximum 16 competitors per heat/final.
6.5 Iron
See SLSA Australian Surf Sports Manual – Section 8.2 Ironman and Ironwoman with the deletion of the ski leg. Maximum 16 competitors per heat/final.
6.6 Beach Sprint
See SLSA Australian Surf Sports Manual – Section 9.1 Beach Sprint. Maximum 8 competitors per heat/final.
6.7 Beach Flags
See SLSA Australian Surf Sports Manual – Section 9.4 Beach Flags. Maximum 8 competitors per heat/final.
7. Officiating
7.1 Officiating roles
The roles of Starter and Judges should be performed by Technical Officials and Age Managers or Age Manager Assistants.
7.2 Carnival Referee
The carnival referee role is to be performed by the Junior Activities Coordinator (JAC) or Deputy JAC and is responsible for overseeing the running of the Nipper Age Championship carnival, and ensuring that these guidelines are adhered to.
8. Points System
Points are scored for every event completed during a Nipper Age Championship plus bonus points scored during the season, as per the table.
Age Championship Points per Event | Points |
1st | 10 |
2nd | 7 |
3rd | 5 |
Bonus Points | Points |
Attendance at one or more carnivals | 10 |
Completed Junior Age Award | 10 |
Participated in President’s Challenge (U11-U14 only) | 10 |
Attended 75% of Nipper Sunday sessions* | 10 |
Completed Competition Evaluation | 10 |
*Nippers who miss a Nipper Sunday due to attending a Nipper carnival on any day of the weekend should be marked as having attended the Nipper Sunday of that weekend.
9. Dead Heats
See SLSA Australian Surf Sports Manual – Section 2.24 Dead Heats
10. Awards
Age Champions and Runner Ups will be awarded to the Male and Female Nippers in each U8-U14 age group who have:
- Achieved minimum Nipper Sunday attendance during the season – see 5.4 – Minimum Attendance.
- The highest total points of all events from the Nipper Age Championship carnival, plus bonus points awarded during the season.
Age Champions will receive an individual trophy and their name engraved on a perpetual trophy. Runner Ups will receive a medal.
11. Fair Play
11.1 General Competitive Conditions
Nippers, volunteers and spectators will adhere to the following SLSA Australian Surf Sports Manual General Competitive Conditions:
- 2.26 Breach of Rules
- 2.27 SLSA Code of Behaviour
- 2.28 Abuse/Inappropriate Behaviour
- 2.29 Competing Unfairly
- 2.30 Luck of Prevailing Conditions
11.2 False starts
Nippers will not be disqualified for false starts. Any race that involves a false start should be recalled and the starting process recommenced.
12. Safety Considerations
- Coaches and the Team Manager reserve the right to withhold a competitor from an event if safety concerns exist.
- Competitors must demonstrate appropriate ocean awareness and swimming capability.
- If bad weather results in the cancellation of the Nipper Age Championships it may not be rescheduled.
13. Appeals & Complaints
13.1 Conduct Expectations
- Negative comments about selection or other competitors are not permitted.
- Poor sportsmanship or “sledging” will result in removal from events or the beach.
- Parents must not approach Coaches, Age Managers, or other parents with complaints.
13.2 Appeals Process
- No appeals will be considered for Nipper Age Championship results.
13.3 Exemptions
- To ensure fairness and compassion for exceptional circumstances, the Junior Activities Committee will consider requests for exemptions e.g. injury, bereavement for Age Champion and Runner Up awards only.
14. Policy Review
This policy is to be reviewed annually by the Junior Activities Committee to ensure continued relevance and effectiveness. Feedback from parents, coaches, and members will be considered during each review cycle.
Approved by:
Management Committee, Redcliffe Peninsula SLSC
Date: 28 September 2025
Next Review Date: 1 July 2026