WILL WE WON'T WE?
Yes - Nippers started on Sunday 5th December 2021! 
Register here - see our Registration Page for more details

Sandcrabs for U5's 
We are delighted to announce that this year we will run a trail for our Sandcrabs program for 4 year olds who are too young for nippers.

Better Know your Beach Program 
In partnership with Coal Coast Discovery days, TSLSC is rolling out the “Better Understand Your Beach” program to teach members of the Surf Life Saving (SLS) Illawarra Community to and learn about Australian beach types and behaviour.

See our brochure here for more details

Nippers Academy 
These are FREE training sessions to improve skills & confidence in the water and on the beach. Join us every Thursday, anyone from u8-u14 is very welcome. Please register  your interest here

Want to be an Age Manager? 
We are looking for age managers for the 2021/22 season. Please contact Jen if you would like to volunteer as an Age manager. 

COVID Guidelines
Please see our current vaccination requirements here

Start Times & Dates for Nippers 

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1. Sunday 5 December - 9:15am-10:45am: Nippers (u6-u14) & Sandcrabs (u5)  - (please arrive at 9am to QR check in your nippers - sorry I know it's a pain, but a necessary one). Also we may not be able to run the BBQ for the first 2 weeks of nippers.

2. Thursday 18 November Nippers Academy at 4pm (please make sure you have expressed your interest, otherwise you will miss the academy emails - come on we all love getting more emails).

3. Sunday 12 December 2021 - Last nippers for 2021 (so sorry no party due to covid).

4. Sunday 30 January 2022 - Nippers resumes

5. Sunday 27 February 2022 - Final nippers

You can download & print our Junior Activities, Sandcrabs & Nippers Academy information sheets and out Nippers factsheet for future reference. 

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Registration

• Oh joy and fun it's time to visit the good ole sls website here to register & pay (I swear it's easier than last year!)

• If you are not registered and fully paid up, unfortunately our insurance will not cover you and you will not be able to take part in our nippers programs. 

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Active Kids Vouchers

• We are an Active Kids provider and accept Active Kids vouchers, please ensure you enter $100 as the membership fee, otherwise we cannot provide the uniform credit. 

• If you choose to use an Active Kids voucher, you will get a membership and a credit towards uniforms. Details will be shown when you register and pay via the SLS Australia website here

Nippers

• We will be asking all nippers and parents to check-in prior to nippers using the club's QR code. 

• Check-in will open at 9am and we will have check-in stations for each age group with Nippers starting at 9.15am. 

• If you are late, you will still be able to sign-in and join your age group, but it may take a bit longer as most of our helpers will be on the sand running Nippers!

Uniform Requirements

In-line with SLS NSW guidelines and our insurance requirements, all nippers must wear:

• a cap (pink for Sandcrabs, blue for u6 & u7 and club cap for u8 and above); and 

• a hi-visibility pink vest

This includes Sunday Nippers, Sandcrabs and The Nippers Academy. Caps, vests and other items can be purchased online at our shop here, or in person at the Surfclub on Sunday mornings. 

Sandcrabs

• We are running a trial of Sandcrabs this year that allows kids who have turned 4, but are too young for nippers, and their carers to enjoy the beach prior to joining our normal nippers program. 

• We have attached an information sheet to this email with more details. Please register as a junior/nipper member and pay via the SLS Australia website here

The Nippers Academy

Drum roll please...... This year we are rolling out our nippers academy!

• These are FREE (yes free!) training sessions to improve skills & confidence in the water and on the beach. 

• Anyone from u8-u14 is very welcome. 

• It is a great stepping stone for those who want to progress to Surf Sports and train for competitions, but is equally suitable for those who just want to spend more time having fun at the beach. 

• We have attached an information sheet to this email with more details. Please register your interest here.

• When: Every Thursday 4pm-5pm (initially)

• In February we will run Every Thursday 4-5pm and Sunday (time tbd) 

Interested in helping out this season? 

• As always we would love for more people to join the team, it's a great bunch of people and and even better cause! 

• If you would like to find out a bit more about becoming an Age Manager or joining our Water Safety team, please let me know by sending me an email at juniors@thirroulsurfclub.com.au

Vaccination Status

Based on the current SLSNSW guidelines:

• To participate in nippers and if you are 16 and over you must be double vaccinated

• You must bring proof of your double vaccination

• These restrictions will be eased on 15 December 2021 or when the State reaches 95% double vaccination

Parents who are currently not fully vaccinated can drop their children off and leave, but only if the parent is comfortable leaving their child unsupervised / under the supervision of another parent

From 8 November 2021, restrictions for fully vaccinated people were further eased which enables Nippers to recommence subject to 1 person per 2sqm, uncapped. This means that we are now able to increase our Nipper numbers for the season! 

Once again, we are asking all parents to support us to meet Government requirements and stay COVID Safe by:

• Registering online (if you haven't already)

• Staying at home if you or your child have any COVID-19 symptoms or are unwell

• Ensuring that you check in using the QR code when attending Nippers to assist with contact tracing

• Bringing proof of your current vaccination status 

• Maintaining physical distancing while spectating, both in and around the clubhouse and on the beach

• Bringing your own sunscreen, water bottles and towels to avoid sharing

• Where possible, showering and getting dressed at home

The current guidelines from SLSNSW can be found at https://www.surflifesaving.com.au/downloads/covid-19-information-pack-junior-activities. These will be updated on an on-going basis so please check back for further updates.

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Now let's get on that beach people! 

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Kind Regards, 

Jen (Director of Junior Activities) & Age Managers (Legends)

juniors@thirroulsurfclub.com.au