The Season Ahead
Our season starts Sunday 20 October 2024 and will run through to Sunday 2 March 2025. Nippers is held most Sundays throughout the season meeting from 9.00am on the grass in front of the Surf Club ready for a 9.30am start. Find the flag for your age group and get your name marked off by one of your age managers.
What to bring on Sunday:
- Swimmers, Towel, Goggles
- Pink hi-vis rashie
- Skull Cap (U6s Blue, U7s Yellow, U8s to U14s Green/Gold)
- Sunscreen, Hat, Water bottle
- Foamie Board U9s/U10s, Fibreglass Board U11s/U12s/U13s, Mal Board U14s.
For our U6s and U8s, Sunday nipper’s will usually run for 1 hour and U9s to u14s about 90mins. At the end of every session, every nipper must have their name marked off by their age manager. The club runs a BBQ on the grass area next to the Clubhouse every Sunday during nippers. The BBQ is run by the Age Groups with parent volunteers (families are expected to volunteer twice per season).
DOWNLOAD NIPPER SEASON CALENDAR HERE
Proficiencies
At the start of the season, every junior nipper is required to complete a still water ‘swim and float’ proficiency assessment. It’s a crucial safety component of nippers that helps age managers assess each nipper’s swimming and self-survival ability in the water before starting any water based activities. U9s and up will also complete an Ocean Swim Proficiency which must be completed for any child competing in Carnivals both Beach and Water.
2024 Swim Proficiency Dates
U6s, U7s, U8s – Sunday 29 September 11.30am to 12.30pm @ Swansea Pool – cost $4.10 per child paid at the pool. Anyone who can’t make this date will complete their proficiency on their first day of Nippers @ Blacksmiths Beach.
U9s to U14s – Sunday 29 September 1pm to 1.30pm @ Blacksmiths Beach, Ocean Swim Proficiency. Anyone who can’t make this date will need to complete their swim at Sunday Nippers on 20 October and final date will be 29 October to be able to compete in carnivals for the 2024/2025 season.
CLICK HERE TO READ THE PROFICIENCY ASSESSMENT EVALUATION PER AGE GROUP
Who’s who on the beach
Age Managers
Our age managers wear green shirts / rashies with the words Age Manager.
Water Safety
Our water safety wear orange rashie with the words Water Safety. They are trained lifesavers there to support our Nippers in the water on Sundays and training days.
Surf Lifesaver
Whilst Nippers is on our beach, it is still open to the public. If a Lifesaver provides instruction please follow it as it is for the safety of yourself and our beachgoers
Our Uniforms
All uniform items can be purchased from our online store and collect on Sunday mornings. https://store.swanseabelmontslsc.com.au/
U6s
Blue skull cap and pink hi-vis rashie/vest
U7s
Yellow skull cap and pink hi-vis rashie/vest
U8s to U14s
Green/Gold skull cap and pink hi-vis rashie/vest
Nipper Communications & Updates
We use Facebook for all of our main nipper communication, updates and events. For urgent notifications we will send email and txt message.
Used for general updates about Nippers, Events and the Club.
Private group for U9s UP – used for all Training updates and Carnival info.
Every age group from U6s to U14s has a private Facebook page. This is run by Age Managers and is used to communicate messages related to your nippers age group.
Carnivals
Nippers from U9 and UP can participate in carnivals once they have completed their ocean swim proficiency.
- U9 & U10s must complete a 150m ocean swim.
- U11 to U14s must complete a 200m ocean swim.
- This season we have allocated three dates for kids to complete their proficiencies:
- Sunday 29 September 1-1.30pm @ Blacksmiths Beach
- Sunday 20 October 9.30am @ Blacksmiths Beach
- Sunday 27 October 9.30am @ Blacksmiths Beach
Registering for Carnivals
Anyone wishing to compete in a carnival must register via their age manager and pay the competition levy.
- Information for upcoming carnivals will be posted In age group Facebook groups and U9s and up training Facebook group
- Registration and payment are required to compete
If you have any questions please get in touch with your Age Manager.
Officials and Water Safety
All carnivals are run by volunteers and It is a requirement that every club with competitors registered to compete at carnivals supply a minimum amount of officials and water safety per age group (1 per 10 competitors). Unfortunately if we do not meet the requirement the age group will be not be allowed to compete. We encourage every parent with a competing child to take on a role.
Training
Swansea Belmont is one of the Hunter’s most successful competitive surf clubs. We are fortunate to have a team of elite coaches with extensive surf knowledge who provide FREE training to our nippers from U9s and up.
| Monday | Tuesday | Wednesday | Thursday | Friday | Saturday | Sunday |
|
Board Training 4.30 to 5.30pm Belmont 16s (Lake) starting 27 August |
Board Training 4.30 to 5.30pm Blacksmiths Beach starting 29 August. |
Ironperson Training TBA
|
Nippers 9am for 9.30 start Blacksmiths Beach starting 20 October. |
Scroll to see more >
Sprint, Flags and Distance running training to be advised throughout the season. You can learn more about our training program here.
Swimming Lessons
To help your child build their confidence in the water and progress through Nipper’s it’s important to be enrolled in swimming lessons/squad training. Whilst nipper’s is a great way to learn surf skills it does not take the place of swimming lessons and building the swim fitness required to confidently navigate the surf.
Our Nipper Team
| Director of Junior Activities (Nippers) Michael Legge |
Junior Secretary Mel Linde |
|
| U6 Age Managers – Greg Charles | U7 Age Managers – Maddi Mills, Emelia Sharrock, Tim Cox | U8 Age Managers – Greg Tobin, Lauren Anderson, Bec Stone |
| U9 Age Managers – Shane Blair, Blake Cousins, Tanya Murdoch | U10 Age Managers – Ginaya Dunn, Josh Sams | U11 Age Managers – Michael Hoetzer, Prue Stone |
| U12 Age Managers – Josh Blair, Megan Cox | U13 Age Managers – Greg Murdoch, Kate Berry | U14 Age Manager – Melissa Thurlow |
Scroll to see more >
Member Protection & Children’s Safety
Our aim is to provide a safe, supportive and enjoyable environment for our members and their families. You can learn more about our member protection and children safety program here You can contact our Member Protection Officer Information Officers (MPIO) Stephen and Lisa Lincoln if you ever need help.
Club Social Activities
Our surf club bar is open every Sunday afternoon with live music from 3pm over summer. Bring the family, cheese platter or snacks and enjoy the view. Keep your eye out on our facebook pages for special events and performers for our Club fundraisers too.
Nipper Fundraising
We hold a bunch of fundraising activities throughout the year to help fund new equipment and initiatives for nippers at our Club. One of our regular fundraisers is the Thursday night raffles at the Orana Hotel, Blacksmiths. These raffles are run by each of the Nipper age groups on a weekly rotating basis. Speak to your Age Manager to find out how you can be involved.