Red Fins Nippers FAQ

Questions	Answers
Who can I contact in regards to my children's varying needs?	Please call or email Denny Rowlands – 0401 688 221 or denny.a.rowlands@gmail.com
Do I need to be at Nippers to support my Child?	Yes – No one knows your child better than you - We require a parent or carer to be there to support the child during nippers
Do they/can they wear the Wanda uniform so they feel part of the club?	Wanda has a strong One-Club culture – Across, Juniors, Senior and Masters  - Your kids will wear a Wanda Uniform and be part of the Wanda family Registration includes Nipper Cap and Hi-Vis Rash Shirt - Same as other kids (All age groups have different caps for identification - Red Fins have their own cap) We are not separate and the kids will have the opportunity to do the 5 Nipper events each week - Swim, Board, Wade, Sprint & Flags and do the education session that every other nipper does There is lots of Wanda apparel (Swag) for sale too - Swimwear, Towel, Bags. etc.
What do I bring?	Swimwear (Wetsuit if needed)(PFD if needed)  Nipper Cap Towel Goggles Sunscreen (Apply at home) Hydration Anything needed to deal with sensory needs (e.g. Water bottle or wipes to remove sand, Towel for laying on sand, Ear muffs if sound is an issue, etc.)
How do you encourage reluctant kids?	Our philosophy is about participating and having fun - We try to get the kids to set their own limits and encourage them to break through them - It can be a slow start, but they all make progress across the season.
What should I do if there’s a meltdown, refusal, we’re having a bad day or running late?	We take our lead from the Parents or Carer on the beach - If at any time your child needs a break, that's ok. Some days just don't work at all, so don't feel pressured to be there (or even On-time) if there's a refusal/meltdown going on - There's always next week, and sometime just getting there is the "Win"
My children love the beach but we aren't that used to waves.	Red Fins is an Inclusive \ Relaxed Nipper Program - We work with you and the child on their goals - We are about having fun, participating and making friends, not trying to become the next NutriGrain Ironmen\Women
Can I transition my Child into the mainstream Nipper program?	Yes - Red Fins is a side by side program that runs at the same time as mainstream nippers - We operate as an age group and do all the same activities other age groups do. Kids can move between mainstream and Red Fins (needs to be organized & tracked for safety purposes) and we can provide support for transitioning to mainstream full time - Normally in the new year
We were hoping that whilst at Red Fins our child could join in with their age group with support, to allow for socialisation and not feeling segregated.	Red Fins is a side by side program that runs at the same time as mainstream nippers - We are not segregated, and operate as an age group and do all the same activities other age groups do – There is plenty of socialisation
My Child is a competent swimmer - Will they be able to do the Swim and Board activities like other kids their age?	Yes – They will be able do the Swim and Board event with other kids in the Red Fins group – We have other kids that are capable in the water, and we can discuss swimming proficiencies - More down below
Are they able to participate in the beach training outside of Nippers i.e. Sandhills and Athletics track and the Water training?	Yes - The Child will have to be proficient to go in the water and be ok with operating with a reduced level of supervision during the training sessions, however we don’t send them out into the sand hills alone)
Helping Out?	Like most kids sports, Nippers runs on Volunteers and the more help we have, the smoother things run and more fun the kids will have each week At a minimum – Please be prepared to get a little wet helping out at the water’s edge Put your hand up to become an Assistant Age Manager for the group and we welcome additional volunteers If you have a carer or therapist that you work with – They are welcomed to help out too
Helping Out – Becoming Water Safety for the Red Fins	It would be great to have additional dedicated water safety on our team – I encourage you to consider completing the Bronze Medallion award and becoming a qualified Surf Life Saver – The course is free and you’ll learn CPR, First Aid and Surf Awareness as well as learning Surf Rescue techniques You do not need to be an athlete to complete the Bronze Medallion – Many people in the club have completed the requirements (Including myself) and you will gain a base level of fitness during the course - Let me know if you’re interested
Do we compete?	Once a year we join up with the other Inclusive Nipper groups in our local area and run a Funday Carnival – This is a chance for the kids to experience a carnival that supports their needs and is followed up a sausage sizzle and every kids gets a medal On the same day as the Funday carnival – The Local 4-Way Carnival will be taking place – There will be inclusive events at this carnival for those that want to compete at a higher level The Wanda One Club Carnival runs each year and includes inclusive events Other carnivals run across the season inclusive events – including Branch, State and Aussies - If you are interested in competing – Let me known
What is a Proficiency?	SLSA Australia has strict Water Safety Ratios for Children at Nippers Water Safety is provided by a Bronze Medallion Holder - This is why we encourage parents to get their Bronze Children are broken down into 2 categories - Proficient and Non-Proficient. Children that are not Proficient, have a 1:1 Water Safety ratio requirement when in the water Children that are Proficient have a 5:1 (or better)  Water Safety ratio requirement when in the water Children ages 8 and under do not go into water deeper than waist depth Nobody goes into the Water when the beach is closed by the Council Lifeguards or the Active Patrol at Wanda
Does my Child need to be Proficient?	There is no pressure for our kids to become “proficient”, kids that are not “proficient’ will continue to receive 1:1 Water Safety from a qualified Lifesaver when in the water There is no pressure for any of the children in the Red Fins program to become proficient unless they want to give it a go, and there is no pressure at Wanda for any child to complete their proficiency - We will offer guidance, support, and encouragement for any child that wants to attempt their proficiency.
If not Proficient, then what?	I do an assessment of each child’s capabilities in the water – I’m guided by the parents knowledge – Please let me know where you think you child is on the following list of capabilities   From a standing position in waist-deep water, perform a front glide, kick for 3m and recover to a secure position Perform a back or front float for a few seconds and recover to a secure position Float for 1 minute – Un-aided Swim 25m – Any Stroke - No Time limit Float for 2 minutes – Un-aided Swim 50m – Any Stroke - No Time limit Float for 3 minutes – Un-aided Swim 100m – Any Stroke - No Time limit   Some kids will be capable of becoming “Competition Proficient” by participating in an untimed 200m Open Water Swim – We can discuss this individually as we move forward during the season

 

Proficiency Requirements

AGE GROUP	EVALUATION
U6	From a standing position in waist deep water, perform a front glide and recover to a secure position. Perform a back or front float holding a buoyant aide and recover to a secure position.
U7	From a standing position in waist deep water, perform a front glide, kick for 3m and recover to a secure position. Perform a back or front float for a few seconds and recover to a secure position.
U8	25m pool swim (any stroke) 1 min survival float
U9-U10	200m pool swim – freestyle, in less than 6 mins 1.5 min survival float Min. 150m ocean swim (untimed)**
U11-U14	200m pool swim – freestyle, in less than 5 mins 3 min survival float Min. 288m ocean swim (untimed)*