❊ Nippers
Nipper Proficiencies
What is the proficiency swim and float?
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.
Nipper Proficiency Requirements
Age GroupPreliminary EvaluationCompetition Evaluation*
U6
Preliminary Evaluation
- Push and glide from the wall, then recover to stand (1–2 metres)
- Wade through water (5 metres)
- Float on the front or back for 5 seconds, then recover to stand
- Submerge and retrieve an object from the pool floor using both hands
Competition Evaluation*
- Nil — no competition
U7
Preliminary Evaluation
- Push and glide from the wall, then recover to stand (2–3 metres)
- Wade through water (5 metres)
- Float on the front or back for 5 seconds, then recover to stand
- Submerge and retrieve an object from the pool floor using both hands
Competition Evaluation*
- Nil — no competition
U8
Preliminary Evaluation
- 25-metre pool swim (any stroke)
- Underwater swim (2–3 metres)
- Tread water (1.5 minutes)
- Submerge and retrieve an object from the pool floor using both hands
Competition Evaluation*
- Nil — no water competition, except for wading in waist-deep water
U9–U10
Preliminary Evaluation
- 200-metre pool swim (untimed)
- Tread water (2 minutes)
- Submerge and retrieve an object from the pool floor using both hands
- 150-metre ocean swim (untimed)
Competition Evaluation*
- 200-metre pool swim (under 6 minutes)
- Tread water (2 minutes)
- Submerge and retrieve an object from the pool floor using both hands
- 150-metre ocean swim (untimed)
U11–U14
Preliminary Evaluation
- 200-metre pool swim (untimed)
- Tread water (3 minutes)
- Forward or backward underwater roll or somersault; recover to the surface, then submerge and retrieve an object from the pool floor using both hands
- 200-metre ocean swim (untimed)
Competition Evaluation*
- 200-metre pool swim (under 5 minutes)
- Tread water (3 minutes)
- Forward or backward underwater roll or somersault; recover to the surface, then submerge and retrieve an object from the pool floor using both hands
- 200-metre ocean swim (untimed)
Notes
Every junior member must satisfy the Preliminary Evaluation requirements for their age group before participating in Nipper Day water activities or water-based training.
For U9 and above, the Competition Evaluation must be completed before participating in:
- Swim, board and ironperson events
- Board training
- Carnivals — water or beach events
- * The Competition Evaluation must be completed around a competition course.
- ** All Nippers must wear a pink high-visibility rash vest while completing the ocean swim. A wetsuit is optional.
- Nippers must be registered before attending proficiency assessments.
- All Nippers from U6 to U14 must complete proficiency requirements each year.