Bantham Surf Lifesaving Club
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Nipper Progression

The nipper programme at Bantham follows the awards programme as defined and governed by Surf Life Saving GB. As a club we encourage every nipper to achieve the Nipper level 3 award as a minimum. This enables them to compete in SLS GB competitions and helps the club adhere to the recommended safe training ratios on the beach. 

The four awards are defined below.

Nipper 1 Award

Aim - To build confidence and enjoy fundamental surf safety and skills within the individuals own depth.

Assessment criteria, demonstrate:
• Running into the sea
• Going under water as a wave passes
• Jumping or charging through waves
• Able to relax and float on the back in the sea for 30 seconds
• Shout and signal for help
• Providing a friend with a flotation device
• Identify ‘Return to Shore’, ‘Proceed Further Out to Sea’, ‘Go Left’ and ‘Go Right’ signals
• Understand one whistle blast for attract attention
• Perform ‘Assistance Required’ signal
• Identify recognised areas for safe swimming on beaches
• Identify dangerous areas for swimming on beaches
• Able to identify a lifeguard
• Recognise to only ever enter the water with another competent person, not alone

Bantham Nipper target award age 7 and 8yrs

Nipper 2 Award
Aim - To enjoy surf safety and enable development of basic skills in sessions or events within own depth for board paddling and swimming.

Prerequisite - Completion of Nipper 1 criteria. Able to swim 100metres

Assessment criteria, demonstrate:
• Wading and running through waves
• Dive over waves
• Correct body surfing position
• Completion of a wading course
• Swimming in flat conditions for 100m
• Prone paddling a board, in flat conditions for 150metres
• Carrying of a board
• Capsize and get back on a board in deep water
• Ability to turn left and turn right while prone paddling a board
• Identify 2 safety points when using a board
• Identify 3 types of waves
• Recognise the flagged/safe areas and times to go in the water
• Recognise 2 potential dangers of other water users to self
• Be able to explain what to do when in trouble in the sea
• Know who to call in an emergency

Bantham Nipper target award age 8 and 9yrs

Nipper 3 Award

Aim - To provide competence for participation in out of depth nipper surf sessions and SLSGB nipper events for board paddling and surf swimming.

Pre-requisite - Completion of Nipper 2 criteria, able to swim 300metres

Assessment criteria, demonstrate:
• Ability to tread water for 30 seconds at sea
• Complete a 300m swim course
• Complete a 400m board course
• Able to perform dolphin dives over and under waves
• Able to turn the board 360 degrees whilst sitting, without the need for the use of the hands
• Able to ride a wave on a board straight to shore
• Able to quickly move weight from front to back and back to front of board
• Able to get to kneeling position on a board
• Able to rest on the board and jump over the board from left to right and right to left in knee depth water
• Demonstrate 5 craft specific safety points
• Use your board as a flotation support for a friend at sea, until help arrives
• Demonstrate signal for ‘Danger’ and ‘All clear’ (from a board)
• Identify 3 types of rip currents
• Able to explain what to do if you see someone else in trouble in the sea
• Know how to keep position in the sea and align with fixed objects on the beach

Bantham Nipper target award age 9 and 10yrs

Nipper 4 Award

Aim - To provide a safe and competent nipper that can safely and enjoyably progress their competencies into a more advanced surf life saver when progressing from nippers for both board paddling and surf swimming.

Pre-requisite - Completion of Nipper 3 criteria, able to swim 300metres

Assessment Criteria, demonstrate:
• Complete a 500m board, 100m run and 300m swim course in succession in the sea
• When surf swimming: wade, dolphin dive, tread water at sea for 3 minutes and body surf back
• With use of a board: bunny hop, prone paddle and knee paddle on a board, sit and turn the board left and right
360 degrees without need to use the arms, lie and pop through waves, ride waves left and right along a wave and carry the board independently
• Able to move weight from front to back and back to front of board when on a wave
• Communicate ‘Assistance Required’, ‘Go Left’, ‘Go Right’, ‘Return to Shore’ using recognised signal flags
• Ability to paddle a board to shore from beyond the break, with another friend on the front.
• Know what to do with weaver stings
• Identify the dangers of Rips, Waves, Rocks, Cliffs, Sand, Wind, Tides, Sun and Cold

Bantham Nipper target award age 11 and 12yrs

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  • Home
  • News Items
  • About
    • Committee
    • Supporters
    • Gallery
    • Rules and Documents
  • Membership
  • Training
    • Become a Lifeguard
    • Entry Requirements
    • Nippers >
      • Nipper Progression
    • Youth >
      • Youth Progression
    • Seniors
  • Calendar
  • Safety
    • Safeguarding
    • Rip Currents
    • Top 10 Safety Tips
    • Water Safety Code
    • Sun Safety
  • Members Zone