NIPPERS FAQs
Registration for Nippers who participated in the 2025/26 program opens on 8 September 2026. General registration (including the U7 age group) opens on 15 September 2026.
Nippers registration is $200 per participant. Starfish Nippers registration is $95.
Age groups are determined by your age as at 30 September 2026. For example, if you are 10 on 30 September 2026, then you will be in the U11 age group for Nippers this season.
The accreditation swim allows our water safety team to assess your child’s ability before participating in water-based activities. They can only participate in beach activities if they don’t satisfactorily complete the accreditation swim. The accreditation swim will be held in December, in Melbourne. More details to follow.
Upon satisfactorily completing the accreditation swim, your child will receive a coloured wristband which must be worn each day of the Nippers program. No wristband = no water-based activities, no exceptions.
Yes, the accreditation swim is a prerequisite for participating in our Nippers program for all ages (U/7 to U/13).
You can have a swim school teacher sign off that your child satisfies the accreditation swim requirements. The form can be downloaded here and must be emailed to nippers@portseasurf.com.au no later than 13 December 2026.
Yes, please ensure that the swim school teacher uses the correct form which can be downloaded here and must be emailed to nippers@portseasurf.com.au no later than 13 December 2026
No. You get your Nippers bag when you have successfully completed the accreditation swim. Once you have successfully completed the accreditation swim, you will be given a wristband and can collect your bag from the Nipper admin desk.
Nippers packs will be available for collection on 27 December. 27 December is your best opportunity to change the size of your child’s rashie.
Your Nipper pack will contain your rashie, a skull cap, a bucket hat and goggles.
All participants must wear Portsea SLSC swimming togs. These can be purchased from Swimwear Galore in Sorrento. Portsea SLSC jammers are only available from the Portsea SLSC shop. If your child wears a wetsuit, the Portsea rashie (from the Nippers pack) must be worn over the top of the wetsuit.
You can apply for a refund if you withdraw from Nippers before 6 December 2026. Please contact nippers@portseasurf.com.au.
Once the program has commenced, no refunds will be provided.
Please contact our Nippers Administrator at nippers@portseasurf.com.au.
NIPPER PROGRAM DATES
The dates for the Nipper program are as follows:
- 27th December – U7-9 Session 1; U10-13 skills session
- 29th December – Session 2
- 31st December – Session 3
- 2nd January – Session 4
- 3rd January – Nippers Disco
- 4th January – Session 5 + Nipper Parent Cocktail Party
- 6th January – Session 6 + U13 farewell BBQ
- 8th January – Competition Day + Nipper Helper drinks
ACCREDITATION SWIM
Session 1 – Accreditation Swim – Quarantine Station
The accreditation swim is a compulsory part of the program. The accreditation consists of the following activities:
| Course 1 | U7 – 3m glide and 30 sec float (on back) |
| Course 2 | U8 & 9 – 25 Metre swim, 1 min float U10 – 25 metre swim, 1 1⁄2 min float U11 – 50 metre swim, 2 min float |
| Course 3 | U12 – 100 swim float, 2 min float U13 – 150 metre swim, 3 min float |
ACCREDITATION SWIM TIMES
The accreditation swim will be held on 27th December. We will run the accreditation swim by registered surname (family name) at the following times:
| Time | Group |
|---|---|
| 9:00am | A-G |
| 10:00am | H-O |
| 11:00am | P-Z |
Please arrive promptly at your allocated time.
ACCREDITATION WRISTBANDS
Accreditation wristbands will be provided to all participants who meet the above requirements, and they must be worn throughout the program. No wristband, no water-based activities, no exceptions.
COMMUNICATIONS - STACK TEAM APP
Please ensure that you join the “Portsea SLSC Nippers community” on Stack Team App as soon as possible. We will be using Stack Team App for all communications in relation to the program.