SUMMERSTRAND NIPPERS
Nippers is a beach sport for boys and girls between the ages of 5 and 14. We teach our nippers to respect the sea, as well as how to enjoy the surf and the beach. Training includes developing skills in sea swimming, body board, malibu board, beach running & flags. These skills are showcased at fun carnivals, as well as regional and national competitions held throughout the season. The season runs through the warmer months from September until April. Nippers is a lifestyle sport, and we encourage full family involvement!
Please remember that nippers is not a “drop and go” or baby-sitting service. We require parents to help us keep an eye on their children.
TRAINING TIMES
| MICRO NIPPERS | Every Sunday | 11am-12pm |
| NIPPERS | Every Sunday (Regardless Of Weather) | 11am-1pm |
From around October, extra Friday evening informal training sessions start, to help prepare for upcoming competitions. We encourage all parents to come along to these sessions and support the club.
COACHING
We are extremely privileged to have some of South Africa’s top former nippers and competitive lifesavers coaching at Summies. All our coaches are either qualified lifeguards themselves or parents who have completed the Lifesaving Award (LA), after watching their children enjoy nippers and have now chosen to get involved in the sport themselves.
Please note that all our coaches and committee members are volunteers!
All fees, as well as profits from clothing and tuck shop sales are used for nippers running costs, maintaining our club, purchasing new and maintaining old equipment and spoiling our nippers at competitions where possible.
NIPPERS AGE GROUPS
| Micros (age 4 & 5 ) |
| Seagulls (age 6 & 7 ) |
| Under 9/10 (age 8 & 9) |
| Under 11/12 (age 10 & 11) |
| Under 13/14 (age 12 & 13) |
| Age determined at midnight on 30 September |
NIPPERS LEVEL TESTS
A level test is required by all nippers from 8 years of age who want to compete in regional (EC Champs) and national competitions (SA Champs).
3 levels are done – level 1 (U9/10), level 2 (U11/12) and level 3 (U13/14).
Once certified, nippers will be eligible to compete at Eastern Cape Championships and National Championships.