Juniors / Parents Induction Information 2011 - 2012

The West Beach Surf Life Saving Club was formed in 1956 and has, over the last 5 years, seen a steady revival with the clubrooms extensively renovated and a strong growing junior division.  There is currently over 180 boys and girls in junior lifesaving (Nippers) at the West Beach Surf Club.

Junior Activities

The Junior Surf Life Saving Australia program (also known as Nippers) services more than 40,000 young surf lifesavers and their families Australia-wide.  The program is open to all boys and girls aged 5 to 14 and aims to teach children all there is to know about keeping themselves, their families and their friends safe at the beach. The Junior program is a great active way for children to learn more about the beach while becoming involved with a community based surf-lifesaving club.  The program runs between October and March and provides age-specific activities for children that are both fun and educational.  In particular the program aims to teach children: 

•  Surf awareness and safety

•  Surf sports skills

•  Personal development

•  First Aid Training

•  Team Work

The West Beach Surf Life Saving Club Junior program works to train tomorrow’s life-savers, encouraging all children to take part in all aspects of the junior life saving program. Saturday Training sessions and Sunday Competitions are both key aspects of the Junior program. 

Junior Administration Handbook

The Junior Adminstration Handbook is used by clubs as a reference guide.  It details administration requirements, resources and qualifications necessary for conducting a successful junior lifesaving program.  It is available to read by following this link:

Junior Adminstration Handbook

Saturday’s Program & Training Requirements

Starting Time     1.30pm

Finishing Time   4.00pm

All juniors must be signed on before going onto the beach and signed off at the end of training in order to account for all children on the beach.

Swimming Policy

Swimming is obviously a big part of Surf Lifesaving; however, Surf Lifesaving is not a “learn to swim” program. Unfortunately, we do not have the resources to provide swimming instruction for those children who are unable to swim. Minimum survival skills (as outlined in the Preliminary skills summary below) will be required to be displayed before aquatic activities are undertaken

Parents Run Nippers!

The Club operates entirely from volunteer help. There are many jobs, so you do not need to have had surf lifesaving experience! The Club values the contribution from parents – it makes our Club.

Involvement within other aspects of the Club may include:

• Setting up the beach before training. You can be of great help by arriving 30 minutes early to offer assistance.

• Assist in the “sign on” and “sign off” on Saturdays.

• Washing off boards or helping to pack up beach equipment at the end of training.

• Assist the Age Manager during training

• Assist with Fundraising activities.

• Volunteer to help with the BBQ

• Gain your Surf Rescue Certificate or Bronze Medallion to become a Water Safety Officer

Age Groups

A child may join the club as soon as he/she turns 5 years of age, but not before. Children are divided into Age Groups: U6, U7, U8, U9, U10, U11, U12, U13 and U14. Each Age Group has at least two Age Managers who organise, run and control the activities each Saturday. Most Age Group Managers are parents too.  Nippers must wear their Age Group cap (supplied by the Club) during club activities so they are easily identifiable on the beach.

Age Group Managers

Age Group Managers are usually volunteer parents and are allocated to each age group with responsibility for organising and conducting the various Nipper activities. The main responsibilities of the Age Group Managers are as follows:

• Encourage the children of their age group to participate, enjoy, cooperate and compete in all activities of the Club.
• Keep weekly records of each child’s attendance and proficiency achievements.
• Instruct the children in their age group of the necessary requirements for the Awards.
• Assist in the development of surf awareness and surf safety for the children in their age group.
• Keep children and parents informed of the requirements of the age group and of Club activities, carnivals, competition dates, etc.
• Ensure the children of the age group are aware of and encourage sun protection.
  

Parents are encouraged to make themselves known to their child’s Age Group Manager and to offer assistance when required.  If you have to leave before events are finished, please inform your child’s Age Group Manager BEFORE taking your child from the beach. 

The age group managers for this season to date are: 

Age Group (coloured) Cap 

All juniors are required to wear a coloured cap that identifies them with a particular Age Group category. This assists Age Managers in identifying those in their care and parents in locating the Age Group on the beach. Caps must be worn at all times while participating in the Saturday training program.  The age group coloured cap can be purchased from the merchandise shop. If your child is competing in carnivals, a West Beach Cap will be required to be purchased as well.  Club rash vests, bathers and wide brim hats are available for purchase. All clothing and belongings are to be labelled.

Medical Conditions

Any nipper who suffers from ASTHMA or other medical conditions inform your child’s age manager

What are the Events?

Beach Events:

• BEACH RACES – running over a set distance on the sand (50m – 70m depending on age).

• FLAGS – lying flat on sand, then getting up and running a short distance to grasp lengths of hose standing in the sand.

• BEACH RELAYS – teams of four run a relay over similar distances to the beach races.

• SURF WADE – U9 -U10. Running through shallow water around a heavily supervised course

• MARCH PAST U9–U14. The iconic event dating back to the 1920’s. 12 Competitors to a team – one standard bearer, one belt person, six reel squad and four rear rank.

• 2 PERSON R & R; U11,- U14. Two competitors per team, one patient & one rescuer.

Water Events:

• SURF RACE – swimming from the beach, around a “U” shaped course approx 180m long.

• SURF TEAMS – similar to the surf race, but teams of 4 swimmers.

• BOARD RACE – similar to the surf swim, but paddling boards around the course.

• RUN/SWIM/RUN – a race combining two sprints along the beach separated by a swim leg.

• IRON PERSON – a race involving running on the sand, swimming and paddling a board.

• BOARD RELAY – a team of three paddles their boards in turn around the course.

• BOARD RESCUE – 2 people – one swimmer & one board paddler. Patient swims to the buoy. The paddler then paddles to the buoy, picks up the patient and returns to shore with the patient.

Carnivals

Carnivals are generally held on Sundays, commencing at about 8.30 am and finishing at about 3pm..  Approximately seven carnivals are held throughout the season at different llifesaving clubs in Adelaide. Nippers also have the option of competing at State Championships at the end of the season

Junior Preliminary Skills Assessment

Many activities that will be completed by children as part of junior activities will be conducted in the water. To ensure that all children have a suitable swimming ability to allow them to participate in these activities, SLSA has developed a Junior Preliminary Skills Assessment for each age group (Red Patch). Every junior member is required to participate in this evaluation, conducted by the club, prior to any junior water activity training or competition being undertaken. It includes a swim and a float which progressively increases by age group

Ocean Timed Swim

Following the successful demonstration of the preliminary skills assessment, this competition skills evaluation MUST be achieved before any junior can participate in water events at carnivals (not including wade events). This includes swim, board and related team events.

Club Reporting Officers

Each Club has members trained as Club Reporting Officers (CRO) for the Nipper Safe program. These are the people that are not only trained to recognise unacceptable behaviours, but have the resources and the knowledge to assist others through any reporting process (be it victim or witness).   Our CRO's are:

Dennis Hay

Malcolm Stevens

David Ellis

John Fitzgerald

West Beach Life Saving Club Community

West Beach is always looking for parents to assist with the running of the club; to help with the children in the water or at competitions; or just to contribute to the social atmosphere of the club. Any feedback or ideas are welcome – just see a committee member or age group manager.   

Do you think Life Saving might be for your family?

Enquire at the club about Come ‘n Try. Come N’ Try entitles a potential club member 2 training sessions for only $20. There is life saving membership available for family members at all ages. 

• Junior memberships are available to all boys and girls aged 5 and up.  

•  Senior membership from aged 18

•  Open, Masters or Social memberships are also available.

Fees for Junior program membership for 2011 / 2012  can be found under the membership fee tab. 

Policies

Please refer to the WBSLSC and the Surf Rescue websites for further information.

RED PATCH SWIM:

Under 9 – 175m ocean swim within 12 minutes

Under 10 – 175m ocean swim within 11 minutes

Under 11 – 275m ocean swim within 12 minutes

Under 12 – 275m ocean swim within 10 minutes

Under 13 – 275m ocean swim within 8 minutes