7. JUNIOR EDUCATION

JUNIOR DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM (Nippers)

The Nipper program is designed to ensure children have fun at the beach while participating in lessons that will provide them with a pathway to become fully-rounded participants in both lifesaving and sports activities. The program includes a wide range of subjects and skills relative to the aquatic environment and prepares Junior Activities members for their transition to becoming senior members and aims to promote the spirit of camaraderie and citizenship within the community.

Junior Evaluations
Preliminary Skills Evaluations

There have recently been major changes to the Preliminary Skills Evaluations; at SLSQ, these will now include:
- Pool Swim with 3 components – Floatation, Submersion and Propulsion – requirements differ for specific age groups.
- Preliminary Beach Run-Swim-Run Component – distances specific to each age group.

The following tables outline the national standard for Preliminary Evaluations, some branches may set distances above the standard in these tables. Please ensure that you consult with your respective branch to determine your requirements. Should you need further assistance, there is also a Junior Activities Preliminary Award Processing Procedure Flowchart on the SLSQ App.

All pool swim and beach evaluation sheets are on the SLSQ App under Junior Evaluations.

The following tables break down the Pool swim requirements for each stage/ age group.

Competition Skills Evaluation
The competition skills evaluation should be completed by all nippers in Under 8 and above; however, it is not compulsory unless the nipper wishes to partake in competition events. The competition evaluation consists of a run-swim-rum, with distances specific to each age group. Competition Evaluations should be recorded on the sheets found on the SLSQ app under Junior Evaluations. These may need to be submitted to your branch for processing depending on their requirements. All competition evaluation swims must be completed using majority over arm stroke. Should you need further assistance, there is a Junior Activities Competition Skills Evaluation Processing Procedure Flowchart.

Junior Age Awards
Each age group has specific lesson guides they must complete throughout the season. Following the completion of all lessons, nippers will be eligible to receive their age award. These age awards need to be recorded on the NEW SLSA Junior Activities Record Sheet. may require these to be submitted with the age award Form 14, please confirm your specific requirements with your respective branch.

Age Managers
New Age Manager
The role of an age manager is both to develop our Junior Activities members into competent Surf Lifesavers and to provide a supportive environment in which they can learn and grow.

For the Age Manager award, SLSQ has implemented prerequisites that supersede SLSAs current prerequisites. You must adhere to the current SLSQ prerequisites to be qualified as an age manager and eligible to assist with Nipper programs.

SLSQ prerequisites to become an Age Manager include:
1. Current financial member.
2. Minimum 16 Years old / 18 years old for U6 & U7 age groups.
3. Hold a valid Blue Card linked to SLSQ.
4. Complete SLSQ CYRMS
5. Complete SLSA CSA

Age Managers is now available to complete via the SLSQ HUB & aXelerate. To complete this course access the SLSQ Hub, locate the courses button, enroll in the age managers course (unstick my club only and locate your branch age managers course. Complete the Age Manager learning and your course will be processed within a week of completion. The requirement of submitting a 3rd party report is no longer needed however we still ask that you please commit to training and learning from senior age managers and members within your club. Please note observers’ modules have been included in the Age Managers course.

Age Manager Renewal

TSLSA has recently changed the age manager course expiry to 12 months. With this change, all age managers must watch a yearly proficiency video via the SLSQ Hub to maintain currency. If you do not watch this video your age managers course will become invalid. This includes age manager assistants.

Nipper Adult Assistant Induction (NAAI)
The NAAI was created to provide a non-fitness-oriented position to allow members to contribute to the beach and aquatic supervision of our youngest nippers (Under 6 – Under 8 age groups. Nipper Adult Assistants are qualified to provide beach and water supervision for wading and ‘shallow water activities.

NAAs must always wear the appropriate uniform consisting of a high visibility bib style vest with “NAA” clearly printed on the front and back. As per SLSQ High Visibility Clothing Policy MS13, the NAA vest is to be fluorescent green.

Prerequisites for the Nipper Adult Assistant Induction include:
1. Be a current financial member.
2. Be a minimum of 18 years old.
3. Hold a valid Blue Card that is linked to SLSQ.
4. Complete the SLSQ CYRMS Course.
5. Complete the SLSA Child Safe Awareness Course.
6. Able to float in water.
7. Able to swim 50m or more (freestyle).

To become an NAA, candidates must first meet all prerequisites, read through the NAA induction PowerPoint (provided by the club from the SLSA Members Area document library), Complete the NAA Assessment JotForm (linked in PowerPoint) & complete the Online Assessment Portfolio.

A copy of the JotForm completion, the Online Assessment Portfolio and a Form14 should all be submitted to the branch for processing.

Please see SLSQ – NAAI – Process Flowchart March 2023 for more information.

Endorsed Age Managers
Due to the introduction of the nipper app, JAAOs could no longer access the platform to sign off awards. SLSQ have switched to Endorsed Age Managers. Each club is permitted to have a maximum of 9 endorsed age managers, these 9 people should be given access in the nipper app to approve awards and evaluations. All other age managers should only be given attendance permissions. To endorse an age manager, clubs will need to propose members at their junior committee meeting, approve them at a senior club committee meeting, provide a copy of the minutes to the branch and update the members surf guard profile in the notes section to show that they are an endorsed age manager for the relevant season. This process can also be completed via flying minute. These members must be current and experienced age managers and are still required to fill out the old JAAO code of conduct which is now the Endorsed Age Managers code of conduct and can be found on the SLSQ app.

Joining Nippers Age Requirements
A child may now join Nippers as soon as they turn 5 years of age. No club is to accept membership of a child until they have reached the age of 5 years to comply with insurance requirements. A child who reaches 5 years after the 30th of September may join nippers at that time for the remainder of the season; however, this child will be required to stay in the Under 6 age group again the following season. It is the club’s responsibility to explain this to the parents of the child. Note: proof of age must be sighted for all new children joining a club.

SLSA Nipper App
The SLSA Nipper app has been rolled out across the country and is ready for clubs to utilise from the 23/24 season onwards. It is not a requirement for clubs to utilise the nipper app. However, this will allow clubs to process their own junior evaluations and age awards. Many clubs have chosen to still do paper-based awards through branch and trial the app for attendance only for the first season. It is completely club specific how you chose to utilise this app.
For information on how to use the app please see the SLSA how to guide.

For more information, please refer to the Junior Activities section of the SLSQ App & the Junior Activities Frequently Asked Questions document.

For any further questions or allocation of Nipper App Admins please email ja@lifesaving.com.au