Junior Age Groups

A child may join a Club as soon as he/she turns 5 years of age. No Club is to accept membership of a child until they have reached the age of five years to comply with insurance requirements. A child who reaches five years of age after 30th September may join Nippers at that time; however, this child will be required to stay in the U/6 Nippers age group again the following season. It is the clubs responsibility to explain this to the parents of the child.

Listed below are the age groups members who can join the Surf Club if they are born between the following dates:

Age Group	Age as at midnight 30 September
Under 6	5 years
Under 7	6 years
Under 8	7 years
Under 9	8 years
Under 10	9 years
Under 11	10 years
Under 12	11 years
Under 13	12 years
Under 14	13 years

Note: Proof of age/birth certificate must be sighted for all new children joining a Surf Life Saving Club.

U/6 and U/7 members may participate in activities on an educational basis only, meaning children in these age groups may not compete in any point score/ championship events.

Junior Preliminary Evaluations

Surf Life Saving Australia, sets certain criteria that Nippers need to achieve. These requirements are purely in the interest of children’s safety.

Many activities that will be completed by children as part of junior activities will be conducted in the water. To ensure that all children have a suitable swimming ability to allow them to participate in these activities, SLSA has developed a Junior Preliminary Evaluation for each age group. Every junior member is required to participate in this evaluation prior to any water-based activities being undertaken.

Note: It is not an assessment which if not completed competently precludes the child from becoming a member or continuing with junior surf education or training activities – see information and attached forms for download below.