Proficiencies

Many of the activities that children participate in as part of nippers are conducted in open water. Surf Life Saving Australia has a minimum standard for junior skills evaluation (proficiency) and education for all children taking part in nippers.

Under 8s to Under 14s must complete their Pool and Ocean Swim Proficiency requirements

AGEPRELIMINARY EVALUATIONCOMPETITION EVALUATION*
U6U6 Push and glide from wall, recover to stand (distance 1-2 metres)
Wade through water (distance 5 metres)
Float on back or front (5 seconds), recover to stand.
Submerge to retrieve object from bottom of pool with hands Nil (no competition)
Nil (no competition)
U7
Push and glide from wall, recover to stand (distance 2-3 metres)
Wade through water (distance 5 metres)
Float on back or front (5 seconds), recover to stand.
Submerge to retrieve object from bottom of pool with hands.
Nil (no competition)
U8
25 metre pool swim (any stroke)
Underwater swim (2 – 3 metres)
Tread water (1.5 minutes)
Submerge to retrieve object from bottom of pool with hands
Nil (no water competition except for wade in waist deep water)
U9 & U10
200 metre pool swim (Untimed)
Tread water (2 minutes)
Submerge to retrieve object from bottom of pool with hands.
150 metre ocean swim (untimed)
200 metre pool swim (less than 6 minutes)
Tread water (2 minutes)
Submerge to retrieve object from bottom of pool with hands &
150 metre ocean swim (untimed)
U11 – U14200 metre pool swim (Untimed)
Tread water (3 minutes)
Forward or backward roll/somersault underwater, recover to surface, followed by submerge to retrieve object from bottom of pool with hands.
200 metre ocean swim (untimed)		200 metre pool swim (less than 5 minutes)
Tread water (3 minutes)
Forward or backward roll/somersault underwater, recover to surface, followed by submerge to retrieve object from bottom of pool with hands
200 metre ocean swim (untimed)
NOTESEvery junior member is required to satisfy the Preliminary Evaluation requirements for their Age Group prior to participating in Nipper Day water activities or water-based training activitiesFor U9+, the Competition Evaluation must be achieved before being eligible to participate in:
Swim, Board & Iron person events
Board Training
Carnivals (Water OR Beach events)

*The Competition Evaluation must be completed around a competition course
**U9+ nippers must wear a pink high-vis rash vest while completing the ocean swim. A wetsuit is optional.

Nippers must be registered prior to attending proficiencies.

All Nippers U6-U14 need to complete proficiency each year.

Dates for 2023/24 Proficiencies are: 

  • Sunday 27th August – 12pm-2pm
  • Saturday 2nd September – 12pm-2pm
  • Sunday 10th September – 12pm-2pm

For those that missed it, proficiency swim/floats will be done in the first two weeks of Nippers at Cronulla Beach.

What do I need to bring to the proficiency swim/float assessment?

  • Swimmers
  • Goggles
  • Towel
  • Pink Rash shirt
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