sorrento nippers resources

Season Dates 2020/2021 
This season will be very different to previous years, due to the need to comply with our Covid-safe plan. The program will commence on Sunday 20 December with the swim evaluation test. The regular Nippers sessions will then run each Sunday morning from 3rd January for 8 weeks, being the end of February. Session start times will likely be staggered in order to maintain social distancing, and sessions will likely be 1 hour in duration.

Each individual session, although shortened, will focus on practical activities, such as swimming, wading and using the boards. The theoretical educational piece will still remain though will be a combination of on the beach and use of the LSV online learning modules.

The overall program will run from between 9am-12pm as usual, though start and end times broken down into the different age groups.

Once registered please check the various emails providing information relevant to your age group that will include, location, start and finish times and particular in the new Covid-19 world, other important health considerations that will need to be met.

Mandatory Volunteering 
The Sorrento Nippers program is run entirely by volunteers, and therefore it is a requirement that each nipper family must take on a volunteer role. There are a number of key roles that need to be filled, such as Age Manager (we need 4 for each age group), Water Safety (must do SRC or Bronze Medallion course), Covid-safe officers and First Aid officers.

Some of these roles have a virtual component so there are a variety of ways you can contribute. You will be asked to nominate for a volunteer role when you enrol your nipper for the 2020/21 season. Sorrento and Life Saving Victoria does provide the necessary training that will provide you with the requisite skills required to volunteer.

More importantly, not only is volunteering rewarding and good for the CV, it is actually a lot of fun. The volunteers do continue to come back each year, and they all have smiles on their faces, so there is something to be said for getting involved.

Nippers Registration 
This season the sessions will predominantly occur at Sorrento Back Beach but the swim test will be conducted at St Pauls Rd Front Beach. If run this season, the optional competitions are held in different beach locations of the State. The details of all sessions are available in the Nipper Calendar. Club sessions take place each Sunday morning between 9-11.30am. Most sessions occur at Sorrento Back Beach but occasionally they are at St Pauls Rd Front Beach. The optional competitions are held in different beach locations of the State. The details of all sessions are available in the Nipper Calendar.

Equipment 
Each child must have the Sorrento Nipper Cap (provided to each new nipper upon Registration) and also purchase the Fluro Pink Vest from the Uniform Shop when registering as a member. Under our Covid-safe plan, we will be unable to loan out any spare fluoro pink vests for nippers that have forgotten to bring their’s to the session. It is also heavily recommended that each child has a full length wetsuit and brings goggles and a water bottle to each session.

Nippers Registration 
This season the sessions will predominantly occur at Sorrento Back Beach but the swim test will be conducted at St Pauls Rd Front Beach. If run this season, the optional competitions are held in different beach locations of the State. The details of all sessions are available in the Nipper Calendar. Club sessions take place each Sunday morning between 9-11.30am. Most sessions occur at Sorrento Back Beach but occasionally they are at St Pauls Rd Front Beach. The optional competitions are held in different beach locations of the State. The details of all sessions are available in the Nipper Calendar.

Participant Requirements 
Children must be 7 years of age by September 30 to join the program. Children older than 13 can join the program in the SRC/U14 age group if they are new to Surf Life Saving, using it as a training pathway towards achieving their Bronze Medallion in llowing years. Age groups are capped at 20 nippers to ensure water and beach management procedures allow effective and safe delivery of the program. All nippers must pass the necessary swim test each year in order to be allowed to participate in the water based activities in the program. For U/8 this is a 25 metre swim, where any stroke is allowed and 1 minute survival flat. Each year the expectation of the length of swim and float does increase so please do check and ensure the requirements can be met.