Where your lifesaving journey begins
Woodside Nippers is Surf Life Saving WA’s junior surf program that introduces children, aged 5 to 12, to surf lifesaving.
Held on Sunday mornings from October to March, Nippers is a fun, outdoor activity that grows a child’s confidence; teaches valuable skills and lessons about beach safety; and provides a fun and safe environment to get outside and enjoy our coast. In a stimulating, challenging and fun environment we aim to prepare these junior lifesavers for a lifetime of surf safety and fun, and guide them towards becoming fully qualified, committed, dedicated Surf Lifesavers prepared to volunteer their time to ensure we have safe enjoyable beaches.
Please note, if you have a Nipper in the program (Under 6 – Under 13) it is a requirement for the parent to sign up as a general member as well).
Important information
Sunday mornings – October to March
Age Group
Time
U6-U7
9:00am – 10:30am
U8-U13
9:00am-11:00am
Event
Time
Prerequisite evaluations
Sunday 5 and 12 October 2025
First official day of Woodside Nippers
19 October 2025
Last session before Christmas break
14 December 2025
Return from Christmas break
4 January 2026
Coogee Beach Nipper Carnival
11 January 2026
Last day of Nippers
29 March 2026
For further information and details on Nippers, surf sport carnival and training dates, please see the club calendar.
Age groups are determined by SLSWA for all clubs with the cut-off for age groups being on the 30 September which determines the age group for the entire season. While a child may have a birthday during the season, they remain in their relevant age group. Children are unable to change age groups to be with friends as per the SLSA policy.
A child may join as soon as they turn five years of age. A child who reaches five years old after 30th September may join nippers for the rest of the season; however, this child must remain in the U6 nippers age group again the following season.
Age Group
Age at 30/09/2025
Birth Date
Cap colour
Under 6
5
1/10/2017 – 30/09/2018
Pink
Under 7
6
1/10/2016– 30/09/2017
White
Under 8
7
1/10/2015– 30/09/2016
Yellow
Under 9
8
1/10/2014 – 30/09/2015
Green
Under 10
9
1/10/2013 – 30/09/2014
Light Blue
Under 11
10
1/10/2012 – 30/09/2013
Purple
Under 12
11
1/10/2011– 30/09/2012
Dark Blue
Under 13
12
1/10/2010 – 30/09/2011
Red
If your child wants to move up or down an age groups, please email nippers@cbslsc.com.au to discuss further.
The below table shows the member packages available for Nippers and their families. Please note, if you have a Nipper in the program (Under 6 – Under 13) it is a requirement for the parent to sign up as a general member as well). More information can be found on the Membership page.
Membership type
Price
Family – A
4 members, must include 1 adult. Children 5-15 years of age*
$475
Family – B
3 members, must include 1 adult. Children 5-15 years of age*
$410
Family – C
2 members, must include 1 adult. Children 5-15 years of age*
$320
Family – D
5 members, must include 1 adult. Children 5-15 years of age*
$530
Family – E
6 members, must include 1 adult. Children 5-15 years of age*
$585
The Preliminary Evaluations are in place to ensure that participants are fit and able to meet the requirements of the Woodside Nippers Program.
As a pre-requisite for participating in junior activities, children are required to prove their proficiency as per SLSWA requirements. Juniors are required to meet the appropriate proficiency level within 2 weeks of commencement with club activities.
The requirements can be found here.
Any child who does not meet the required preliminary evaluation level will require more supervision when involved in water-based activities. A parent will be required to support them one-on-one until this is passed.
Each age group’s program builds on the skills learnt from the previous age group but is also designed in a way as to not disadvantage new nippers entering at any age. If you feel that your child is disadvantaged or struggling, please talk to your age manager who can develop a plan to assist your child.
The majority of our Woodside Nipper Sundays focus on fun activities whilst teaching beach safety. Activities include:
- Beach sprints, relays and beach flags
- Wade races and wade relays
- Surf swim races and surf swim team races
- Board races, rescues and relays
- Surf safety education
- Games and fun activities
- Great social occasions
What to bring
- Woodside Nippers kit bag including hi-vis vest, coloured cap (based on age group) and
- wide-brimmed hat
- Towel
- Sunscreen
- Water bottle
- Goggles
- Any medication if required
Assessment
By the completion of each age group program, participants should be able to demonstrate the skill and ability to meet the outcomes of their age group. Age Managers will continually assess participants which enables them to adapt instruction to suit participant ability and to ensure participants are having fun whilst learning.
Each age group has a series of associated learning outcomes that your Age Manager will use to assess participant ability. At the end of the season, each participant will receive a certificate displaying the outcomes they have received.
On carnival days, our Sunday Woodside Nipper activities will continue as normal for all children who are not participating however, due to group sizes and availability of AGM’s, age groups may be combined. You will be notified in advance if anything changes to the running of your child’s age group.
Surf Awareness
- Not only are surf skills required in conquering conditions, but a knowledge of where the dangers are and how to read the surf are essential ingredients in keeping safe at the beach.
Individual Safety
- This deals with recognising potential risks that we all face when visiting the beach, and in life in general.
Lifesaving Skills
- This learning area starts to introduce our Woodside Nippers to the role we hope they undertake as they grow and develop into future lifesavers.
Surf Sport Skills
- Woodside Nippers learn a variety of skills to help them develop confidence and introduce them to surf life saving’s various surf sport events, such as swimming, board racing and beach flags, to name a few.
The club hosts a Club Championship Day for participants U8-U13 to verse others in their age group, as a way for children to test their skills against their own peers.
Medals are awarded to top point scorers from the day on the final day of Nippers for the season.
To be eligible to receive the Champion Nipper award or discipline place award, children must have attended a minimum of 75% of Sunday sessions or equivalent (Carnival attendance) over the entire Woodside Nippers Season.
Every child who registers with Woodside Nippers will receive their FREE Woodside Nippers uniform which includes a high-vis coloured vest; coloured skull cap (based on age group); and a wide brim hat. The high-vis vest and skull cap are compulsory wear for our nippers, to ensure they are visible while on the beach and in the water.
The high-vis vest may be worn over their bathers and/or a rash vest. Given our nippers can be out on the beach in the sun for a period of time, we encourage parents to be SunSmart and put their nipper in a long sleeve rash vest underneath their high-vis vest.
Times for pick up will be published on Facebook and newsletter. They will be prior to season commencement.
As a parent or guardian you are required to be at the beach at all times during Sunday activities.
The activities held each week at our Woodside Nippers program rely on our parents getting involved and helping out and we promise you’ll have as much fun as our Nippers do!
Some of the ways you can get involved include;
- Being an Age Group Manager
- Becoming a qualified Foundation Coach
- Becoming qualified Water Safety Personnel
- Becoming a qualified Competition Official
- Helping record results
- Helping with club set up and pack down
- Helping with the club BBQ
We encourage you to talk to your Nipper’s Age Group Manager to see where you can best help out. Your volunteering will be an example to your own children and will greatly assist the club.
Please note, if you have a nipper in the program (Under 6 – Under 13) it is a requirement for the parent to sign up as a general member as well). Minimum one parent needs to sign up per family. It is recommended that the parent willing to enter the water and uptake any training is signed up.
Sunday mornings – October to March
| Age Group | Time |
|---|---|
| U6-U7 | 9:00am – 10:30am |
| U8-U13 | 9:00am-11:00am |
| Event | Time |
|---|---|
| Prerequisite evaluations | Sunday 5 and 12 October 2025 |
| First official day of Woodside Nippers | 19 October 2025 |
| Last session before Christmas break | 14 December 2025 |
| Return from Christmas break | 4 January 2026 |
| Coogee Beach Nipper Carnival | 11 January 2026 |
| Last day of Nippers | 29 March 2026 |
For further information and details on Nippers, surf sport carnival and training dates, please see the club calendar.
Age groups are determined by SLSWA for all clubs with the cut-off for age groups being on the 30 September which determines the age group for the entire season. While a child may have a birthday during the season, they remain in their relevant age group. Children are unable to change age groups to be with friends as per the SLSA policy.
A child may join as soon as they turn five years of age. A child who reaches five years old after 30th September may join nippers for the rest of the season; however, this child must remain in the U6 nippers age group again the following season.
| Age Group | Age at 30/09/2025 | Birth Date | Cap colour |
|---|---|---|---|
| Under 6 | 5 | 1/10/2017 – 30/09/2018 | Pink |
| Under 7 | 6 | 1/10/2016– 30/09/2017 | White |
| Under 8 | 7 | 1/10/2015– 30/09/2016 | Yellow |
| Under 9 | 8 | 1/10/2014 – 30/09/2015 | Green |
| Under 10 | 9 | 1/10/2013 – 30/09/2014 | Light Blue |
| Under 11 | 10 | 1/10/2012 – 30/09/2013 | Purple |
| Under 12 | 11 | 1/10/2011– 30/09/2012 | Dark Blue |
| Under 13 | 12 | 1/10/2010 – 30/09/2011 | Red |
If your child wants to move up or down an age groups, please email nippers@cbslsc.com.au to discuss further.
The below table shows the member packages available for Nippers and their families. Please note, if you have a Nipper in the program (Under 6 – Under 13) it is a requirement for the parent to sign up as a general member as well). More information can be found on the Membership page.
| Membership type | Price |
|---|---|
| Family – A 4 members, must include 1 adult. Children 5-15 years of age* |
$475 |
| Family – B 3 members, must include 1 adult. Children 5-15 years of age* |
$410 |
| Family – C 2 members, must include 1 adult. Children 5-15 years of age* |
$320 |
| Family – D 5 members, must include 1 adult. Children 5-15 years of age* |
$530 |
| Family – E 6 members, must include 1 adult. Children 5-15 years of age* |
$585 |
The Preliminary Evaluations are in place to ensure that participants are fit and able to meet the requirements of the Woodside Nippers Program.
As a pre-requisite for participating in junior activities, children are required to prove their proficiency as per SLSWA requirements. Juniors are required to meet the appropriate proficiency level within 2 weeks of commencement with club activities.
The requirements can be found here.
Any child who does not meet the required preliminary evaluation level will require more supervision when involved in water-based activities. A parent will be required to support them one-on-one until this is passed.
Each age group’s program builds on the skills learnt from the previous age group but is also designed in a way as to not disadvantage new nippers entering at any age. If you feel that your child is disadvantaged or struggling, please talk to your age manager who can develop a plan to assist your child.
The majority of our Woodside Nipper Sundays focus on fun activities whilst teaching beach safety. Activities include:
- Beach sprints, relays and beach flags
- Wade races and wade relays
- Surf swim races and surf swim team races
- Board races, rescues and relays
- Surf safety education
- Games and fun activities
- Great social occasions
What to bring
- Woodside Nippers kit bag including hi-vis vest, coloured cap (based on age group) and
- wide-brimmed hat
- Towel
- Sunscreen
- Water bottle
- Goggles
- Any medication if required
Assessment
By the completion of each age group program, participants should be able to demonstrate the skill and ability to meet the outcomes of their age group. Age Managers will continually assess participants which enables them to adapt instruction to suit participant ability and to ensure participants are having fun whilst learning.
Each age group has a series of associated learning outcomes that your Age Manager will use to assess participant ability. At the end of the season, each participant will receive a certificate displaying the outcomes they have received.
On carnival days, our Sunday Woodside Nipper activities will continue as normal for all children who are not participating however, due to group sizes and availability of AGM’s, age groups may be combined. You will be notified in advance if anything changes to the running of your child’s age group.
Surf Awareness
- Not only are surf skills required in conquering conditions, but a knowledge of where the dangers are and how to read the surf are essential ingredients in keeping safe at the beach.
Individual Safety
- This deals with recognising potential risks that we all face when visiting the beach, and in life in general.
Lifesaving Skills
- This learning area starts to introduce our Woodside Nippers to the role we hope they undertake as they grow and develop into future lifesavers.
Surf Sport Skills
- Woodside Nippers learn a variety of skills to help them develop confidence and introduce them to surf life saving’s various surf sport events, such as swimming, board racing and beach flags, to name a few.
The club hosts a Club Championship Day for participants U8-U13 to verse others in their age group, as a way for children to test their skills against their own peers.
Medals are awarded to top point scorers from the day on the final day of Nippers for the season.
To be eligible to receive the Champion Nipper award or discipline place award, children must have attended a minimum of 75% of Sunday sessions or equivalent (Carnival attendance) over the entire Woodside Nippers Season.
Every child who registers with Woodside Nippers will receive their FREE Woodside Nippers uniform which includes a high-vis coloured vest; coloured skull cap (based on age group); and a wide brim hat. The high-vis vest and skull cap are compulsory wear for our nippers, to ensure they are visible while on the beach and in the water.
The high-vis vest may be worn over their bathers and/or a rash vest. Given our nippers can be out on the beach in the sun for a period of time, we encourage parents to be SunSmart and put their nipper in a long sleeve rash vest underneath their high-vis vest.
Times for pick up will be published on Facebook and newsletter. They will be prior to season commencement.
As a parent or guardian you are required to be at the beach at all times during Sunday activities.
The activities held each week at our Woodside Nippers program rely on our parents getting involved and helping out and we promise you’ll have as much fun as our Nippers do!
Some of the ways you can get involved include;
- Being an Age Group Manager
- Becoming a qualified Foundation Coach
- Becoming qualified Water Safety Personnel
- Becoming a qualified Competition Official
- Helping record results
- Helping with club set up and pack down
- Helping with the club BBQ
We encourage you to talk to your Nipper’s Age Group Manager to see where you can best help out. Your volunteering will be an example to your own children and will greatly assist the club.
Please note, if you have a nipper in the program (Under 6 – Under 13) it is a requirement for the parent to sign up as a general member as well). Minimum one parent needs to sign up per family. It is recommended that the parent willing to enter the water and uptake any training is signed up.
Nippers FAQs
You can join online by visiting our How to Join/Renew page and completing the membership application and payment, or contact our Administration office during opening hours for assistance.
No, age groups are predetermined by SLSA and must be adhered to. It’s unfair on Age Group Managers to coach children at different maturity levels.
Yes, this is fine for FIFO members and separated partners who share childcare, as long as your child is always supervised on the beach.
Under the Woodside Nippers Program, each child receives an age group cap and hi-vis vest. Additional merchandise can be purchased from the Club Merchandising shop (located in the training room off the upper ground floor balcony, open 8-8:30am Sundays).
Children must wear the club uniform and follow SLSA SunSafe guidelines when participating in beach programs. To compete in interclub competitions, children must have the required club uniform including a Coogee Beach Competition cap (purchased separately).
No, the SLSA age group program is not a swim school.
It’s each parent’s responsibility to supervise their children. Consider asking a friend or neighbour to assist you on the beach.
No, children are only eligible to earn the award for their year of birth age group.
Yes, they will still qualify if they meet the individual award requirements.
Please contact the Nipper Coordinator in writing at nippers@cbslsc.com.au so we can discuss this with you.
It’s our duty of care to ensure each child under 13 has appropriate parental supervision.
No, children must be 5 years old as at 30 September each calendar year.
Age Group Managers are volunteers assigned to manage groups of children in their relevant age group program. They help develop surf life saving skills and personal skills, delivering a structured learning program that encourages and develops young surf life savers.
For their own safety, your child will need to be restricted to sand-based activities.
The KidSport program is a government-funded program run with the City of Cockburn to support participation in junior sport. If you meet the criteria (pension card holder, etc.), you may be eligible for a refund of your child’s membership fees. The Club is a registered KidSport organisation. For more information, visit the KidSport website.
If you have a child in Under 6’s or 7’s, you must provide hands-on supervision. Little Nippers can be easily distracted and put themselves in danger quickly. Adults must be on the beach at all times to be immediately available if their child becomes ill or distressed.
Visit the Merchandising Shop upstairs off the balcony, open most Sundays before Nippers activities start.
You can join online by visiting our How to Join/Renew page and completing the membership application and payment, or contact our Administration office during opening hours for assistance.
No, age groups are predetermined by SLSA and must be adhered to. It’s unfair on Age Group Managers to coach children at different maturity levels.
Yes, this is fine for FIFO members and separated partners who share childcare, as long as your child is always supervised on the beach.
Under the Woodside Nippers Program, each child receives an age group cap and hi-vis vest. Additional merchandise can be purchased from the Club Merchandising shop (located in the training room off the upper ground floor balcony, open 8-8:30am Sundays).
Children must wear the club uniform and follow SLSA SunSafe guidelines when participating in beach programs. To compete in interclub competitions, children must have the required club uniform including a Coogee Beach Competition cap (purchased separately).
No, the SLSA age group program is not a swim school.
It’s each parent’s responsibility to supervise their children. Consider asking a friend or neighbour to assist you on the beach.
No, children are only eligible to earn the award for their year of birth age group.
Yes, they will still qualify if they meet the individual award requirements.
Please contact the Nipper Coordinator in writing at nippers@cbslsc.com.au so we can discuss this with you.
It’s our duty of care to ensure each child under 13 has appropriate parental supervision.
No, children must be 5 years old as at 30 September each calendar year.
Age Group Managers are volunteers assigned to manage groups of children in their relevant age group program. They help develop surf life saving skills and personal skills, delivering a structured learning program that encourages and develops young surf life savers.
For their own safety, your child will need to be restricted to sand-based activities.
The KidSport program is a government-funded program run with the City of Cockburn to support participation in junior sport. If you meet the criteria (pension card holder, etc.), you may be eligible for a refund of your child’s membership fees. The Club is a registered KidSport organisation. For more information, visit the KidSport website.
If you have a child in Under 6’s or 7’s, you must provide hands-on supervision. Little Nippers can be easily distracted and put themselves in danger quickly. Adults must be on the beach at all times to be immediately available if their child becomes ill or distressed.
Visit the Merchandising Shop upstairs off the balcony, open most Sundays before Nippers activities start.
Ready to dive in?
Give your child the chance to grow their confidence, make friends and be part of the Coogee Beach Nippers family.
How to Join