Season Dates, Times, Location

Dates

Tuesday 27th December 2022 to Wednesday 4th January 2023.
Please Note: There will be two Rest Days on Sunday 1st and Monday 2nd January 2023.

Times

Sessions will run from 10.00am-12.15pm.
Each session will comprise three (3) x 45 minute activities.

Arrival

Please arrive by 9.45am to have your child marked off the roll.

Nippers are to meet on the beach at their coloured Age Group Flag.

Departure

Sessions are scheduled to finish at 12.15pm, however sometimes an age group may finish an activity early, or bad weather may require an early finish. Please stay at the beach and have your phone on in case an early pick up is required.

Nippers are to remain at the Age Group Flag with the Admin Assistant and the AGM until collected by a parent or guardian.

Please do not take your child until they have been checked out by your age groups Admin Assistant. The Admin Assistant needs to see you and hear you say that you are collecting your child. If someone else will be collecting your child at the end of a session please advise the Admin Assistant when you check your child in.

Under 6 (Mozzie) parents please note that sometimes the sessions finish early as the kids can get tired and cold. Please have dry clothes, snacks and cuddles available.

Location

We plan to hold all of our sessions on our beautiful beach at Fairhaven. However, the location on any day is always subject to change depending on the conditions. If we have to relocate the whole or part of the program we will move to either Painkalac Creek in Aireys Inlet or Point Roadknight in Anglesea. Location changes will be notified via the Team App so please make sure you have this downloaded prior to 26th December (instructions to come) & allow push notifications.

Swim Proficiency

The Swim Proficiency requirements have changed in the lead up to this season however as has been the case in the past, every Fairhaven Nipper is required to complete the Swim Proficiency for their age group before participating in any water-based activity. Any child that isn’t ‘proficient’ can still be involved in our Nipper program but will require a much higher level of supervision in the water and their water activities will be limited accordingly.

There are 3 different stages based on age and each have different assessment requirements:

• Stage 1: U6 (mozzie), U7, U8
• Stage 2: U9, U10, U11
• Stage 3: U12, U13, U14

To be deemed proficient, children will need to do EITHER the floatation, submersion and propulsion OR the continuous sequence for the appropriate stage / age group. Assessments can be done in either a pool or open water.

Please read the new requirements, arrange for your child/ren to be assessed and complete a separate form for EACH child.

All Swim Proficiency forms will need to be completed manually this season.

To complete the form, print a copy, have it signed off by a pool lifeguard or swim instructor & email the completed form (either in the form of a scanned copy or clear photo) to [email protected].

Swim Proficiency forms must be returned by 1 December 2022.

Any child that does not meet the required evaluation level for their age group will require a higher level of supervision when involved in water-based activities. These children must remain in shallow water and supervised on a 1:1 ratio until the child is deemed competent in relation to the preliminary skills evaluation guidelines.

Parent / Carer Involvement

Get involved!

All the people who make Nippers happen each year are volunteers.

It is a requirement that (at least) one parent / carer (with WWCC and double vaccination) make themselves available to help provide the Nippers program to our children.

Our program cannot run without parents stepping up to become Age Group Managers, water safety, IRB crew, first aid officers and coaches. In addition, ALL parents are expected to help out each day in setting up and packing up gear – especially boards. Please step up. Don’t wait to be asked.

Further, our nippers cannot compete at carnivals unless we have the required number of Club Officials on the beach. Full training is provided for both Age Managers and Officials – and no experience is necessary. It is a great way to be actively involved in your children’s sport and you get to be in the middle of the action rather than watching from behind the ropes!

If you have a current Bronze Medallion and / or an IRB Crew or Driver’s License or are interested in becoming and AGM or Carnival Official please let the Nippers team know ASAP by emailing [email protected].

Can I drop my children at Nippers and leave?

No! Our programs are not a babysitting service.

One responsible adult MUST be present at the sessions at all times in case of medical or other emergency or to accompany your child to the toilet or assist them change into/out of a wetsuit, find googles etc.

If a child is ill or injured, we need to be able to utilise our first aid officer and potentially return the child to their parent. Taking an Age Group Manager, coach or water safety officer off the beach to oversee a child’s care potentially leaves the other children in the program under-supervised and at risk. If you are called away from the beach, you MUST notify the Age Group Manager and leave a mobile number and expected return time or make alternative arrangements for the care of your child.

Parents of Mozzie and U7 children must stay with their group at all times.

Parents of U8+ must inform the Age Group Manager or Admin Assistant where they will be on the beach if they are not going to be with the group (e.g. the parent will be with a child in a different age group) and ensure that the AGM and Admin Assistant have their phone number.

Merchandise Shop

The FSLSC Merchandise shop will be reopening late December. The Shop is located in the Clubhouse. It stocks an extensive variety of Club clothing and merchandise including replacement FSLSC rashies, pinkies and swim caps should your nipper lose these items during the season. You can order FSLSC gear online by following this link fairhavenslsc.myshopify.com. Click and collect is available at the Clubhouse at nominated times during the Season.