WANGANUI NIPPERS (JUNIOR SURF)SUNDAY TRAININGS

Welcome to Junior Surf at Wanganui Surf lifesaving Club we are one of the oldest club’s in nz and have been safeguarding our beaches for over a 100yrs don’t forget to like or follow us on fb so you can get up to date information, you have made a great choice and we focus on fostering confidence and safety in the surf and on both our beaches by building confidence in the sea making junior’s aware of the dangers so they know there limitations. Here is some of the basic information you need to get up to speed. Really Critical points below (which require an action by you) are in BOLD. All those taking part in Junior Surf and want to keep going on after a couple session’sof having a go need to be registered members of the club and Surf Lifesaving NZ. We really encourage all parents and helpers to become club members as well. You can sign up online via our website www.wanganuisls.org.nz - also membership forms are available from the Junior Surf Coordinator’s. Price of a membership per season is just two cups of takeaway coffee’s not only one of the oldest clubs in nz but also the cheapest!

Our Nipper Programme (Junior Surf) is every Sunday from November 7th until February 27th 2022 and are held at Castlecliff beach meeting at the Surf Club House.

Junior Surf is organised into the following age groups based on your age on the 01 October of the current season. We encourage parents to remain for all age groups.

Age groups are:
6 to 10yrs -Nippers
11 to 12yrs -Junior’s
13 to 14yrs -Rookie
Our sessions are run by Senior Guards, Junior Guards& Volunteer Parents.

What to expect?
Be there at Club house 10 minutes for briefing before each age group on the day activities we do a lot of land based and sea based sessions but a lot can be dependent on the surf/weather conditions and we aim to try and get wet but if a change weather be prepared for indoor activity's. There children are be placed into groups and a role call taken.

6 to 10yrs -Nippers 930am -1030am
11 to 12yrs -Junior’s 1045am-1145am
13 to 14yrs -Rookie 1045am-1145am

Safety....
In order to be able to go out beyond waist depth UNASSISTED in the water we strongly encourage you need to haveworking towards a 200m badge. During the season, we require all members getting their 200m badge for the first time to have completed 200m(8 laps) in the pool first (need to swim within 7 minutes without stopping swimming freestyle)Also is to be completed in the sea.

NO-ONE IS ALLOWED TO GO BEYOND WAIST DEPTH UNASSISTED IN THE SEAWATER UNLESS THEY HAVE THEIR 200 M BADGES OR ARE WORKING TOWARDS IT.

If your child is not confident with swimming ability’s we recommend swimming lesson’s.

NO Drop Offs, All parents must remain on the beach and close by while the Sunday training sessions are taking place, no drop offs.

This is both for safety reasons and also consistent with our values of family fun.

Parent Participation…

Parent Participation is always welcome on the beach and especially in the water. Our Nippers require 5:1 ratio while in the water and our junior’s are 5:1. So don’t be afraid to don togs or a wetsuit and dive in and help our coaches out. If getting wet isn’t your thing then we always need help on the beach organising the children or acting as starters or finishing lines. This all adds to our values of Family and Whanau Fun!

5:1 Supervision Ratio

As another STRICT mandatory safety requirement, we require a minimum supervision ratio of 1 adult in the water per 5 children.

1:20 Lifeguard Ratio

In addition to the ‘in-water’ 5:1 ratio we must also have 1 qualified guard per 20 children in the water.

Leaving Early

If you have to have to leave a Sunday session early, the coach is the person you have to let know … coaches will regularly do head counts so they need to know if anyone is leaving the group.

What to bring....
Togs, Wetsuits, Rash Vests if you have one if needed to keep warm, towels, plenty of water can also be sweet water ,snacks ,warm change of clothing and a positive attitude!

Junior Carnivals….

The Club competes in Taranaki and Regional Carnivals, Details of this would communicate at the briefings given before each Sunday session or via our Facebook page. There is no training if Wanganui SLSC is competing at a Carnival that happens to fall on a Sunday session. Some of the events are Beach Flags, BeachSprints, BeachRelay’s, Run/Wade/Run, Body Board Race and Relays.

Events that require a 200m badge to participate in are Kneeboards Races and Surf Swim Events.

Coaches…

All our coaches are volunteers who have given up their time to help the club. It is expected that they will be treated with respect by both children and parents, if your child is disrupting the group sessions by not adhering to the above safety messages or listening to instructions by coaches continually they will be asked to sit out for a small time period before re-joining the group parental support is always needed in this.

Lifeguarding Skills…

We follow the Junior Surf Award Program which has a series of levels from 7 to 13 years old and offer parent helpers opportunity’s to work towards the Surf Lifeguard Award.