2025/2026 Nipper FAQs
Nippers will commence on Sunday 12th October
Registrations are now open for the 2025/26 season via the SLS website.
We have split the times into a number of slots to manage overcrowding and enable Nippers to spend time rotating through the different activities.
The following time slots have been allocated for 2024/2025:
- U6 and U7 – 8.30am – 9.30am (Gunnamatta alternate weeks)
- U8 – U10 – 8.00am – 9.30am – Cronulla
- U11 – U14 – 10am – 11.30am start – Cronulla
There is a 30-minute gap between the 2 sessions to allow people to leave the designated areas and to reset the beach for the next age groups
U6s and U7s move between Gunnamatta Bay and Cronulla beaches each Sunday.
Locations are published on our Nipper Calendar (subject to change pending conditions)
As part of the Nipper program, we also offer a Learn to Swim program at Cronulla Swim School which is the only program of its kind across the Bate Bay clubs. U6s will also receive a free pair of goggles as part of their participation this year.
Start times for U6s and U7s at Gunnamatta and Cronulla is 830-930.
The Learn To Swim program times will vary pending on surname A-K, L-Z. These will be communicated at the start of the season via age managers.
By utilising the facilities at Gunnamatta, it allows the Nippers to get into the water, and learn activities in a controlled environment. Every second week, U6s and U7s will be at Cronulla beach to participate in the Learn to Swim sessions.
The Cronulla Crays Nippers program includes lessons that are tailored to each of the nipper age groups, ensuring the content is relevant, in line with lifesaving and surf sports most up to date training standards. But most of all, Nippers is about FUN!
All children are encouraged to “have a go” at activities, but no one is forced to participate in any activity that they are not comfortable with or don’t want to do.
Beginning with the basics of ocean and beach awareness, surf education is gradually introduced to the children each year with the objective that at the age of 13 they can obtain their Surf Rescue Certificate (SRC), enabling them to to start patrolling our beach.
Nippers’ activities are not a child-minding service. At Sunday Nippers, a parent / guardian must be always present on the beach. Nippers is not a learn to swim program. We strongly encourage all nippers to participate in an external professional swimming program. Your child will be safer in the ocean and progress more quickly if they are a confident swimmer.
Age Groups
The youngest age group for Nippers is the U6’s. For the 2025/26 season this includes children who are born between 1 October 2019 – 30 September 2020.
A slightly younger child may take part – however they must have turned 5 years of age beforehand (e.g. your child may turn 5 in November, they can start Nippers after their birthday). Note that your child will “repeat” the U6 age group the following year – i.e.. they will be in u6 for the following season.
| Age group | Birthday |
|---|---|
| U6 | born between 1 Oct 2019 – 30 Sept 2020 |
| U7 | born between 1 Oct 2018 – 30 Sept 2019 |
| U8 | born between 1 Oct 2017 – 30 Sept 2018 |
| U9 | born between 1 Oct 2016 – 30 Sept 2017 |
| U10 | born between 1 Oct 2015 – 30 Sept 2016 |
| U11 | born between 1 Oct 2014 – 30 Sept 2015 |
| U12 | born between 1 Oct 2013 – 30 Sept 2014 |
| U13 | born between 1 Oct 2012 – 30 Sept 2013 |
| U14 | born between 1 Oct 2011 – 30 Sept 2012 |
Uniforms
The compulsory uniform items are:
- Nippers Cap
- Pink high visibility rash vest
- Swimming Costume
We also have an array of other merchandise available at the Apparel shop located at the front of the clubhouse.
No, it’s like the baggy green, you keep the same colour cap right through nippers. The colour cap that is allocated to your age group will stay with them until they graduate.
Apparel can be purchased at our registration days or Sunday 8am – 11am (during Nipper season). It is recommended that children also attend to try sizes on as we do not refund/exchange swimwear.
Proficiency
All nippers must complete the annual age-appropriate proficiency swim and float as part of their Nippers registration. This ensures a minimum and safe standard of swimming and survival ability for water activities at Nippers and is a pre–requisite for nippers to be part of the program.
All children U6-U14 need to complete proficiency each year
Dates for 2025/26 Proficiencies are:
- Saturday 6th September – 12pm-2pm
- Sunday 21st September – 12pm-2pm
- Sunday 28th September – 12pm-2pm
For those that missed it, proficiency swim/floats will be done in the first two weeks of Nippers at Cronulla Beach.
Nippers must be registered prior to attending proficiencies.
Bring with you:
- Swimmers
- cap
- goggles and
- towel
If you are new to the club, please also bring proof of birth date for your child.
Facilities
Parking around the club is free however limited. There is free unlimited parking around the streets of Cronulla beach, as well nearby streets, Cronulla train station and Gunnamatta.
You can get your caffeine fix from Cozzie’s which is located in the surf club.
Our U14s will be running the BBQ with lots of delicious goodies to fill your belly in the morning for breakfast.
Our in-house restaurant Cozzie’s may also have something that tickles your fancy