Many of the activities that children participate in at nippers are conducted in open water, to ensure that all children have suitable swimming ability every junior member is required to complete a swim proficiency evaluation.
Every junior member is required to successfully complete this evaluation prior to any water-based activities being undertaken.
Pool proficiency evaluations are completed on the specified registration days. Competition Evaluation (Open Water proficiency) is completed in the first few weeks of normal nippers activity.
Proficiency Requirements
Under 6
Pool proficiency - Back or front float for a minimum of 5 seconds, recover to stand. Submerge to touch the bottom with your hands. From a standing position in waist-deep water, perform a front glide (1-2 metres) & re-cover to stand.
Competition Evaluation - Nil
Under 7
Pool proficiency - Back or front float for a minimum of 10 seconds, recover to stand. Submerge to touch the bottom with your hands. From a standing position in waist-deep water, perform a front glide (2-3 metres) & re-cover to stand.
Competition Evaluation - Nil
Under 8
Pool proficiency - Back or front float for a minimum of 15 seconds, recover to stand. Submerge to touch the bottom with your hands. Swim on the front any stroke (distance 20 metres) followed by swimming underwater (distance 2-3 metres).
Competition Evaluation - Nil
Under 9
Pool proficiency - Front-to-back float or back-to-front float - 5 seconds on each side. Tread water and/or any stroke sculling for a minimum of 1 minute. Submerge to touch the bottom with your hands. Swim on front through water any stroke for 25 metres followed by survival stroke(s) breaststroke and/or sidestroke and/or back sculling for a minimum of 10 metres
Competition Evaluation - Minimum 150m open water swim (any recognised stroke)
Under 10
Pool proficiency - Front-to-back float or back-to-front float - 5 seconds on each side. Tread water and/or any stroke sculling for a minimum of 1 minute. Submerge to touch the bottom with your hands. Swim on front through water any stroke for 25 metres followed by survival stroke(s) breaststroke and/or sidestroke and/or back sculling for a minimum of 25 metres
Competition Evaluation - Minimum 150m open water swim (any recognised stroke)
Under 11
Pool proficiency - Front-to-back float or back-to-front float - 5 seconds on each side. Tread water and/or any stroke sculling for a minimum of 2 minutes. Swim on front through water any stroke for 25 metres followed by survival stroke(s} breaststroke and/or sidestroke and/or back sculling for a minimum of 25 metres. Swim on front through water any stroke for 25 metres followed by survival stroke(s) breaststroke and/or sidestroke and/or back sculling for a minimum of 50 metres
Competition Evaluation - Minimum 200m open water swim (any recognised stroke)
Under 12
Pool proficiency - Front-to-back float or back-to-front float - 5 seconds on each side. Tread water and/or any stroke sculling for a minimum of 3 minutes. Submerge to perform a forward or backward roll/somersault underwater, recover to the surface, and submerge to touch the bottom with your hands. Swim on front any stroke for 75 metres followed by survival stroke(s) breaststroke and/or sidestroke for a minimum of 50 metres.
Competition Evaluation - Minimum 200m open water swim (any recognised stroke)
Under 13
Pool proficiency - Front-to-back float or back-to-front float - 5 seconds on each side. Tread water and/or any stroke sculling for a minimum of 3 minutes. Submerge to perform a forward or backward roll/somersault underwater, recover to the surface, and submerge to touch the bottom with your hands. Swim on front any stroke for 100 metres followed by survival stroke(s) breaststroke and/or sidestroke for a minimum of 50 metres.
Competition Evaluation - Minimum 200m open water swim (any recognised stroke)
Under 14
Pool proficiency - Front-to-back float or back-to-front float - 5 seconds on each side. Tread water and/or any stroke sculling for a minimum of 3 minutes. Submerge to perform forward or backward roll/somersault underwater, do not recover to the surface, and submerge to touch the bottom with your hands. Swim on front any stroke for 100 metres followed by survival stroke(s) breaststroke and/or sidestroke for a minimum of 100 metres.
Competition Evaluation - Minimum 200m open water swim (any recognised stroke)
Junior competition evaluations
From the Under 8 age group juniors can begin to compete in intra-club, inter-club and branch competition, while from the Under 9 age group juniors can participate in state competition.
To ensure that all junior members have the ability, strength and fitness standard to complete the courses they must be able to complete the junior competition evaluation for their age group.
Junior competition evaluations will be conducted after pool proficiency evaluations have been completed and held in the first few weeks of normal nippers activity.
Any competitor wishing to compete at carnivals (water or beach events) must have successfully completed:
- Junior Preliminary Evaluation
- Junior Competition Evaluation
- Appropriate Surf Education award for their age group
To be eligible for Elouera State Team selection, Nippers must attend a minimum of 6 Sunday Nippers from October to December 2024 to be considered.