OUR 'NIPPERS'

Piha Surf Life Saving Club’s Nippers are the bright young patrollers of the future. Our coaches are fabulous, the programmes are both fun and educational, and our programme continues to grow.

BECOME A PIHA NIPPER

OBJECTIVES

• To learn the skills required to gain the Surf Lifeguard Award.

• To provide the best possible life saving experience for all our juniors with the view to encourage long-term active participation.

• To provide opportunities for juniors to actively participate in and enjoy life saving and competition in an aquatic environment.

• To ensure our junior members are safe on New Zealand beaches through building knowledge and experiences in our Junior Surf Program.

• To develop a team based philosophy encompassing leadership, camaraderie, teamwork and fun.

• To promote social, emotional and physical health and development in a healthy safe environment.

• Involve parents and interested members of the community as leaders, coaches and administrators.

PURPOSE

The purpose of our Junior Surf Program is to enrich the lives of our young members through engaging activities and active participation, leading to the acquisition of personal, life saving and competition skills, in a safe aquatic environment.  Members will be educated in surf safety as well as confident to undertake training for their Surf Lifeguard Award at age 14.

OUR NIPPERS ARE KINDLY SPONSORED BY

SURF CLUB SEASON 1 JULY 2024 - 30 JUNE 2025

NIPPERS RUNS IN PERSON SESSIONS OCT-APRIL EACH YEAR

We look forward to seeing existing members and new ones, Sundays at 10am on the beach, at the A,B or C yellow “FILTA” flags (as per your age group) in togs ready to go!

Not sure- ask a coach or coordinator in a dark green Piha Junior Surf T shirt!

Please wear togs, bring towel, sunscreen, water. (Surf fins as per discussions with your coach).

New to Piha or Nippers? Please feel free to join us for a free trial to see if this is a fit for your family! Please arrive at the club by 9.45am so we can loan you a vest and cap. Contact nippers@pihaslsc.com for any questions.

 All paid members receive a free high visibility vest if you don’t already have one.

CLUB UNIFORM

The Piha Junior Surf Club uniform is:

• High-vis safety vest – Compulsory for ALL ages. If you do not already have a vest, we supply one per year free of charge, thanks to our sponsor Filta. Additional vests can be purchased from the club for $15. These can be collected at the first day of Nippers.
• Swim Skull Cap – Compulsory for all age groups, for all Sunday training sessions. Purchase from the club for $25.
• Black togs 
• Rash shirts for sun protection – Optional.
• Wetsuit – Optional

PIHA UNIFORM & SUPPORT GEAR

We additionally have other Piha branded items for purchase which include hooded towels, tote bags, tees and hoodies. These are currently available at Piha SLSC and by contacting the Operations  Manager at opsmgr@pihaslsc.com. We are looking to move these online shortly.

AGE GROUPS

TADPOLES 

5 & 6 year olds as at 30/9/24

A GROUP

7,8,9 year olds, as at 30/9/24

B GROUP 

10 & 11 year olds, as at 30/9/24

C GROUP 

12 & 13 year olds, as at 30/9/24

ROOKIES 

This is for those 13 & 14 year olds wanting to become qualified lifeguards, as at 30/9/24

How age groups are calculated:

Nippers are divided into age groups, which are calculated as per SLSNZ guidelines on your child’s age on 30/9/2024:

Eg: If you are born on September 25th of 2014 = Age 10 – B Group

Born on  October 2nd 2014 = Age 9 – A Group

Children ages 5 – 13 years and their families can join our club and participate in our Junior Surf Program between October and March.  Members are encouraged to participate in inter-club, regional and national competitions.  We encourage children to have fun and develop their skills, so they can enjoy the beach and one day might be able to save someone else too.  It’s about developing tomorrow’s lifeguards and opening up a whole new world to children.

DAYS AND TIME AVAILABLE THROUGHOUT THE WEEK FOR NIPPER PARTICIPATION

TUESDAY, THURSDAY & SATURDAY - Oceans Squad B & C Groups - TAKAPUNA  - Week days 6:15pm to 7.30pm, Saturday 9.45am

These are our fitness training sessions for those intending to compete at competitions this season. The conditions do not always allow for this at Piha, and Takapuna provides a great opportunity to practice in flat water. Conor will be running the fitness trainings for B & C group, and there will be an additional casual session for A groupers. To attend these sessions your child must have been tested and achieved their 200m badge.

Meet at Takapuna Beach Boat Club by 6:15pm/9:45am to collect a board. The boards are now stored in the enclosed trailer on the boat ramp. Please ensure at the end of the session that your child helps load the board back into the trailer.

All parents are required to stay with their children throughout these sessions; at times coaches may ask you for assistance in the water or on the beach. If you are unable to have an adult present with your child on the beach, then please do not send your child.

There will be a causal paddling group for the noncompetitive Nippers & A Group

WEDNESDAY - KELSTON POOLS - 7.00pm - 8.00pm

Piha also provides an opportunity for children to have swim fitness training. This is similar to squad training where your child will be asked to swim a certain number of lengths whilst using different swimming strokes. To be eligible for this your child must pass their 200m test in their age-appropriate time. This squad costs $50 a child/term and works on basic skills for surf swimming and endurance training.

Registrations for term 1, 2025 will be available soon.

Four sessions throughout the season will include FREE 200m swim proficiency testing for all nippers. ALL ROOKIES must be tested in November to qualify for the program. PLEASE NOTE - these are not swimming lessons; this is endurance and swim fitness.

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SUNDAY - PIHA SLSC - 10.00am to 12:00pm

30th October- April 2025.  Age group games, swims, activities and training, followed by Sausage sizzle after each session.

CARNIVALS

Throughout the season Nippers have the opportunity to represent PIHA at carnivals. 

These events are created and run by SLSNZ, with support from each club and their families.

To be eligible you need to be a current 24/25 member of Piha SLSC.

Following our 3 day camp in Urititi we have the Northland Head to Head Carnival. This is a participation event, no club points awarded. This is a great event to experience a carnival without the added pressure of competing.

Northland Head to Head

Date: Saturday 11th January

Location: Ruakaka Beach

Cost: $25.00

Registrations close: 18th December (NO late entries possible)

For event information from SLSNZ - please click here.

To enter - please click here

200M SAFETY BADGE

WHAT IS THE 200M SAFETY BADGE VS THE 200M SWIM BADGE?

1) When the season starts, to take part on the boards at Takapuna weekdays and Piha on Sundays (and enter all races offered to your age group at carnivals) the requirements are your 200m safety badge. Swim 200m in 7 mins, tread water 1 minute

2) To qualify for your surf certificate this season, and know you are on track to reach the goal of becoming a lifeguard – this season you should aim to meet the swim requirements listed below under “200m Swim Badge”.

1: THE 200M SAFETY BADGE

This is the important one to start the season with or aim towards!

200m in 7 minutes, plus 1 minute treading water (applies to all ages)

PLEASE NOTE: The 200m junior safety badge must be refreshed each year. (All our lifeguards at Piha are refreshed on their safety requirements each year as they retest their skills for the upcoming season).

We are in the business of saving lives. Swimming skills go hand-in-hand with surf life saving. Therefore we require Junior Surf members to attain 200m safety badge, so they can satisfy the mandatory NZSLS safety requirements which include use foam or fibre-glass paddle boards. This applies at both Piha training and in the Junior Surf Carnivals.It demonstrates their confidence in the water and their capability of returning to shore if separated from their equipment. Always safety first.

It is expected that as children progress through their age groups, their swimming ability increases. Children are not taught to swim at Junior Surf Sunday beach sessions. We strongly recommend that parents arrange regular swimming lessons for their children. Children who swim regularly prove to be the most capable in the surf and ultimately gain the most from participating in a Junior Surf programme.

2: THE 200M SWIM BADGE 

The times below, per age group are milestones the kids with their coaches help should aim to achieve as the age up. This is an indication your kids are on track to becoming safe in the water and on track for a pathway to becoming alifeguard.

U10/U11/U12 swim 200m in 7 mins, tread water 1 minute
U13 swim in under 5 min 30 sec, tread water 1 minute
​​​​​​​U14 swim in under 4 min 30 sec, tread water 1 minute

SUMMARY

1) When the season starts, to take part on the boards at Takapuna weekdays and Piha on Sundays (and enter all races offered to your age group at carnivals) the requirements are:Swim 200m in 7 mins, tread water 1 minute

2) To qualify for your surf certificate this season, and know you are on track to reach the goal of becoming a lifeguardThis season you should aim to meet the swim requirements listed above under “200m Swim Badge”