Description
Nipper Membership is an annual club membership available to persons aged 8 to 13 years as of 1st October. Nippers can enjoy all the amenities of the club and participate in Level Awards, training and competitions representing Clifton Surf Lifesaving Club if all requirements are met. Parents/Guardians can enjoy all the amenities of the clubhouse.
To join Clifton Surf Lifesaving Club, you need to attend an open day or a trial day and purchase your membership in our online shop. The summer season runs from September until April and fees are due by the end of October every year.
Nipper Membership is for the Nippers program held on Clifton 4th Beach during our summer season, (from September to April). Fees for this membership include the beach program fees, access to Nipper Level Awards, competitions and use of the clubhouse facilities for Nippers.
The program introduces children to surf and still water lifesaving. It is a fun outdoors activity that grows a child’s confidence, teaches valuable life skills and knowledge about the aquatic/marine environment. The youth of today are the future of Lifesaving, and the Nippers pathway teaches lessons and skills allowing them to continue in lifesaving and carry over into other sporting codes and life in general as they grow older.
The emphasis is on Participation and Fun. Activities include surf safety and first aid, swimming, body board paddling (U10 and U12), knee board or Malibu paddling (U12 and U14), and beach activities: beach running, relays, sprints and flags. Each Nipper is required to complete their Level Award for their age as it is ensures competency and safety. Clubs participate in Inter-Club, Provincial Championships, and National Championships and everyone who has passed their Level Award can take part.
Training:
Sunday
Nippers from 10am-12:30pm (arrive by 9:45am)
Friday
U9 to u14s from 5:30pm-7pm; mostly water based fun sessions!
Other weekday training will be made available for u13/14s and will be communicated each week via WhatsApp groups
Level Qualification Awards:
These are tests that all Nippers must do to prove competency and water safety, and includes a swim test, a verbal theory test, beach/sea practical & a run-swim-run. Level Awards for Surf & Pool are different. Clifton Surf Lifesaving Club offers Surf Nipper Level Awards. Pool Nipper Level Awards can be arranged.
Fully qualifying for these Level Awards also allows the Nippers to compete in competitions.
The pool swim times to qualify per level are as follows:
- Level 1 – u9/10 – 300m in under 8 minutes
- Level 2 – u11/12 – 400m in under 10 minutes
- Level 3 – u13/14 – 400m in under 9 minutes
These pool swims must be completed successfully to take the Level Awards.
Level Award exam dates are set by Lifesaving Cape Town and will be confirmed during the season.
Communications:
For weekly and last-minute communications please make sure you are on the following 2 WhatsApp groups and part of the Nippers WhatsApp Community:
- CLSC Nipper Parents (this is the main comms group) run by the Nipper Officer as a broadcast only group.
- Your “Age Group” WhatsApp group that will be managed by the Head Coach.
Competitions:
Nipper Inter-Club Competitions are events where all your Nipper training will be put into practice. These competitions will happen 3 times during the year and will be hosted at various beaches across Cape Town on a Sunday. Venues and dates for the season TBC.
Note ONLY qualified Nippers may compete.
Western Cape Provincial and SA Nationals Nippers Champs: The highlight of the season, these 2 events are life experiences that parents and Nippers alike will never forget! There are no selection criteria besides Level Qualification to participate, so we encourage all our Nippers to aim to take part.
Clothing and Kit:
Wearing the Clifton colours of black, white and yellow is a long tradition. Nippers are encouraged to purchase kit (swimmers, rash vest, jammers, swim caps, etc) to train in, with this kit also being compulsory for competitions. The skull cap in Clifton colours is compulsory for all Nippers to take their Level Award. There are several other items of clothing (sun caps, hoodies, towels also available to purchase at our online shop.
