It is a pre-requisite for all nippers to have an ability to swim, therefore, they must eventually complete a Skills Assessment as part of their membership process. This is done at the start of each new season at Bomaderry Aquatic Centre. Our JAC team assess and guide each child from the U6s-u14 and and enable them build confidence in the water. This water skills test should not be a scary thing and no one is forced in to it until they are ready. It is used by each club to gauge what level of water skills each child has. We adjust our water safety ratios to accommodate the skill levels in our age groups. No one fails, we just keep practicing and they can still be involved in beach-side activities until they reach the assigned level

Each age group category listed on the Nippers Water Evaluation and Surf Education Award tab page is associated with the SLSA Surf Aware Education program which is designed to give children, and also parents, a firm understanding of beach rescues, resuscitation and carnival events, along with preparation for senior level membership – we are training future life savers! We try and keep everyone in their correct age group but run cross group combined activities and allow for different levels of skills and confidence.

We aren’t a “learn to swim” programme but over time our activities do help enhance each child’s confidence and skills in the water.