Frequently Asked Questions
Everything you need to know about Nippers, Micros, and the Plett Surf Lifesaving Club.
About Nippers
A Nipper is the term used to identify a young member of the lifesaving movement who is between the ages of 8 to 14 years old.
Children start learning about surf awareness and safety through the Nipper Program run by the Plett Surf Lifesaving Club at Central Beach. They are also able to participate in board paddling, surfing, swimming, running, wading and other fun activities and games.
Practicing these skills allows children to compete in Club, Provincial and National surf lifesaving carnivals representing their clubs. While competition is an important element, the surf awareness and education aspect is a primary aim.
Children are taught from the youngest ages how to respect the surf, read the surf, and use the surf to their advantage. This is done in an environment of fun, healthy lifestyle and camaraderie which is unique to surf lifesaving.
Any child, boy or girl, may join Nippers. They do NOT have to be super competitors or super athletes!
One of the best features of Nippers is seeing young children overcome their fear of the surf. Children who are afraid of the surf can develop through encouragement, education and training to be confident in the water.
Micro Nippers are children who can join Nippers from the age of 5, until they become full Nippers at 8. They need to be able to swim, but do not do an entrance test.
Important: A parent must accompany their child to Micro Nippers at all times. This is to ensure the safety of the children, and also to lend a hand to the coaches.
Micro Nippers enjoy a fun introduction to the activities of Nippers, including running, flags, wades, and board relays. The emphasis is on having fun and learning to work and move with the water.
Age Groups
Children can join Micros from an age of 5 years, and from age 8 to 13 as Nippers.
Age is determined as at 30th September each year.
For example: A child who is 10 years old on or before 30th September will be in the U10 age group for the entire season.
| Birth Year | Jan-Sep | Oct-Dec |
|---|---|---|
| 2011 | - | U14 |
| 2012 | U14 | U13 |
| 2013 | U13 | U12 |
| 2014 | U12 | U11 |
| 2015 | U11 | U10 |
| 2016 | U10 | U9 |
| 2017 | U9 | - |
| Birth Year | Jan-Sep | Oct-Dec |
|---|---|---|
| 2017 | - | U8 |
| 2018 | U8 | U7 |
| 2019 | U7 | U6 |
| 2020 | U6 | - |
Joining & Registration
Register online at plettsurf.org.za or simply go to the PlettSurf Lifesaving Club on a Friday afternoon and ask anyone for help.
Refer to the Memberships page to view the latest options.
Parents will need to join in order to use the facilities of the wonderful clubhouse we have right on Central Beach.
About the only items needed are:
- Plett Surf Costume and Skullcap
- A towel
- Sun protection (applied before you arrive)
- A smile!
Nippers are encouraged to bring swim goggles, and a change of clothing.
The club supplies all other required equipment, which is available for the use of all registered Nippers.
Training Days
Nipper training takes place every Friday at Central Beach in front of the Plett Surf Lifesaving Club.
- Training starts promptly at 3:30pm
- Ends at around 5:00pm once all the equipment has been cleaned and put away by the children
- Registrations completed upstairs at the club from 3:00pm
Leading up to competitions, additional Fitness training takes place on Sundays at 11am for those who wish to compete.
The Nipper season runs during School Terms 3 & 4 (October to April).
- All Nippers get their registration age group marked on their hand upstairs before gathering downstairs
- Wait for the coaches whistle
- Nippers are expected to stay with their age group until the end of training or excuse themselves from their respective coach
- At the end of Nippers (~5:00pm), all equipment needs to be returned from the beach, washed and put away
- The Plett Surf Skull cap needs to be worn by all competitors for the duration of Nippers (safety measure for identification)
- It is required that all those in the competitive age groups (U10-U14) wear Plett Surf costumes
- Board shorts and t-shirts may NOT be worn
- Girls may wear hotpants over their costumes provided they are blue or black
One of the main areas in Nippers is the development of surf skills and knowledge of the surf and surf lifesaving.
Each week, an age group from the U8 to U14's will start their Nipper Friday in the Clubhouse with their Coach and an Instructor.
Each Nipper will need to bring their Red Book, which will be supplied at registration. Inside are various activities that each Nipper must complete.
Beach Events
- Beach Sprints
- Flags
- Beach Relays
- Long Run
Water Events
- Surf Swim
- Malibu and Body Board Race
- Run Swim Run
- Iron Nipper (run, swim & paddle)
- Malibu and Body Board Relay
- Taplin Relay (Iron Nipper in relay form)
All junior competition and events are conducted under the rules and regulations specified by Lifesaving South Africa.
Requirements & Proficiency
Before any child is allowed to participate in Nippers (U9+), they are required to perform a proficiency check:
- A 100m swim in less than 3 minutes without stopping, in a pool
- Treading water continuously for 5 minutes
- Retrieve an object 1.5 metres deep in a pool
Note: Micro Nippers need to be able to swim, but do not do an entrance test.
All U/10 to U/14's must prove their proficiency in order to compete in water events at Club level, do water training and attend carnivals (even if only competing in beach events).
| Level | Age Group | Timed Pool Swim | Run-Swim-Run (Surf) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Level 1 | Under 10 | 300m under 8min | 75m-150m-75m |
| Level 2 | Under 12 | 400m under 10min | 100m-150m-100m |
| Level 3 | Under 14 | 400m under 9min | 150m-200m-150m |
Dates for the level tests will be advertised on the website and in the clubhouse.
Competitions & Carnivals
Competitions are full day events held at beaches where Plett Surf Beach Nippers (U/8 to U/14) compete against Nippers from other clubs.
- Competitors must wear the Club skull cap and Club costume when competing at carnivals
- Micro Nippers do not compete in these competitions
- Nippers are able to enter individual and team events
To participate in carnivals, each Club must supply a specified number of accredited officials and water safety officers. An Entry Form needs to be submitted to Lifesaving South Africa one week before the event.
| Event | Date | Venue |
|---|---|---|
| Plett Carnival | 31 Jan - 1 Feb 2026 | Plett |
| EC Champs | 14-15 Feb 2026 | Jeffreys Bay |
| Eden Nipper Champs | 28 Feb 2026 | Mossel Bay |
| Plett Club Champs | 1 Mar 2026 | Plett |
| LWC Surf Nipper Champs | 14-15 Mar 2026 | Strand |
| SA Champs (Nationals) | 30 Mar - 1 Apr 2026 | TBC |
It is vital that we get help from parents of those competing at carnivals. To participate, each Club must supply:
- A specified number of accredited officials
- Water safety officers
Parents & Volunteers
The more YOU get involved, the more your child will enjoy Nippers!
The Club operates entirely from volunteer help. There are many jobs, so you do not need to have had surf lifesaving experience. Ways you can get involved:
- Coaching
- Managing equipment
- Setting up and putting equipment away
- Water Safety
- Education and Training
- Fundraising
- Carnival Assistance
- Judging
- Any other help and ideas
This is an open invitation to ALL parents!
Each age group has at least two Coaches with most having more. They will be in charge of competitors in their age group each week and will make team selections based on regular attendance and performance.
It is important to remember that they are volunteers who are trying to do their best. Please help them as much as possible.
No special skills are required to coach, and the club encourages parents to become involved at any time in coaching. A coaching clinic will be held during the course of the season.
The club provides water safety whilst water events are being conducted. This includes club members on boards and swimmers.
During Carnivals, water safety officers wear red and orange caps and are holders of a Lifeguard Award.
If you are interested in helping out in water safety, please see any of the water safety parents. Assistance in this area is vital to the running of Nippers each Friday.
During Carnivals, the club is required to have a number of water safety officers and without these we are not allowed to compete.
The club tries to ensure that we have quality equipment for the competitors to use. Please encourage all Nippers to respect equipment and help return it to the storage areas after use.
- All equipment should be cleaned before being returned
- Cared for equipment saves money and allows the club to offer better facilities
- We need parents to assist with the cleaning and putting away of the equipment each week
During training and after, the PlettSurf Club bar is open for "Sippers". This gives all members a chance to meet and mix socially over a few drinks while the children train.
All parents are welcome and we especially invite all new members along!
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