NIPPERS
What & Why
Nippers is surf lifesaving's Education Program and is delivered at Life Saving Clubs across Victoria throughout summer. The program is about children participating in safe, fun and organised activities in a beach environment; teaching beach safety along with preparing them to be future lifesavers.
What will your Nipper learn
Nippers is about learning, confidence and having fun in a safe beach environment. For Nippers, the beach is the classroom. They gain confidence by passing the ‘tests’ of swimming, boarding riding, beach sprints, dolphin-diving, spotting a rip, having fun with new friends and discovering things about themselves. They also learn valuable water safety awareness and skills that can applied whenever they visit the beach, a river, a lake or the pool.
Nipper Skills
Nipper skills build progressively on skill development from U6-U13 in beach, water and lifesaving activities. The activities are designed to provide Nippers with the skills to be safe around open water and prepare them to complete their Surf Rescue Certificate.
Beach Activities
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Beach Sprints
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Beach Relay
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Beach Run
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Beach Flags
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Nipper Games
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Wading
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Dolphin Diving
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Surf Race
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Boards
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Aqua Cameron
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Run-Swim-Run
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Board Relay
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Ironman / Ironwoman
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Board Rescue
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Tube Rescue
Water Activities
Age Groups
The minimum age for children to participate in the Nipper Education Program in Victoria is 5 years to a maximum age of 13 years. All Nippers are appointed to an age group each season based on their age at midnight on 30 September.
Swim Proficiency
Being able to swim competently is an integral part of making children safe at the beach as well as allowing them to actively participate and enjoy lifesaving activities.
The Nippers program is not a “learn to swim” program.
Swimming evaluations are in place to ensure that Nippers are fit and able to meet the minimum requirements for safety during the Nipper Program. The evaluations consist of a swim and survival float.
Want to join?
All Nippers that wish to be part of the program must:
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Be part of a current Family Membership - Join on our membership page
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Parents of Nippers must hold a current Working with Children Check
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Be 5 – 13 years of age by midnight on September 30 in the current season
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Complete a Preliminary Swim Evaluation prior to commencing Nipper activities in the water. ALSC offers club-run evaluation sessions.
Join our club here:
Nipper Program 2025/26
Nippers registrations – important update
We’re nearly at the halfway point of the season, so registrations for this year’s Nippers program will close at 5:00 pm on Monday 1 December.
To finalise any new registrations, we do need a current Working with Children Check included with your application. If you’re not able to get everything in by the deadline, we’d love to welcome you next season – memberships reopen in September 2026.
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U7 Nippers – now full
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Our U7 age group is currently at capacity, so any new U7 registrations will be placed on a waitlist.
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To help us safely welcome more kids onto the beach, we’re looking for a parent volunteer to step into an Age Manager role for this group.
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Life Saving Victoria recommends a ratio of 1 Age Manager to 20 Nippers, and having another Age Manager will allow more children to join.
The Club will provide training, support and lesson plans – you just bring your enthusiasm and willingness to get involved.
If you’re interested in supporting the Nippers program as an Age Manager, please contact:
Sunday 9 November | Nippers #1 |
Saturday 15 November | Nippers #2 (note the change to Saturday) |
Sunday 23 November | Nippers #3 |
Sunday 30 November | Nippers #4 |
Sunday 7 December | Nippers #5 |
Sunday 14 December | Nippers #6 |
Sunday 1 February | Nippers #7 |
Sunday 8 February | Nippers #8 |
Sunday 15 February | Nippers #9 |
Saturday 21 February | Nippers #10 (note the change to Saturday) |
Sunday 1 March | Nippers #11 |
​Other Key Nipper Dates:
Swim assessments Saturday 11 October 3.30pm-5pm & Sunday 19 October 3.30pm-5pm
Every nipper from U8 and older is required to do a swim assessment prior to the season. This is an insurance requirement from Lifesaving Victoria.
You can EITHER do the swim assessment with your current swim teach: print form, get swim coach/teacher to sign; and send to nippers@altonalsc.com.au BY END OF OCTOBER.
OR attend one of the swim assessment days the club runs at Bayfit swimming pool together with the Williamstown club. Different age groups will run in different half hour slots. More info to come.
Please RSVP through TeamApp. If you are new to the club and have not yet got TeamApp then please RSVP to nippers@altonalsc.com.au
Open day Sunday 12 October 11am-2pm
Come say hi, get your uniforms for the season, find out more about the season and what’s involved in the training and competitions.
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Age Managers season briefing Sunday 12 October 3pm-5pm
Welcome to the season, meet the team, collect kits/lesson plan guides, shirts etc. Please RSVP via TeamApp.
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Age Managers coaching course by LSV Sunday 26 October 10am-3pm
Nippers Inclusive Coaching & Age Manager Technical Skills Sessions LSV headquarters, Sandridge Beach - 200 The Boulevard Port Melbourne. Book your place here
If you can’t make this date, there are workshops running in other locations on other dates (Ocean Grove/Warrnambool etc). See the Nipper Training Schedule here