Parent's Guide to Lifesaving South Africa Nippers U9-U14 2022/23

Under the LSA Competition Manual (Section 3), every competitor must:

• be a registered member of a club (and on the LSA Membership Database), in good standing with their club, district, province and LSA;
• complete the prescribed entry form;
• hold, and be proficient in, the award for their age group;
• not be in default on service, financial, discipline or duty obligations.

Minimum awards for Nippers (surf or open water):

A Nipper who gets their award after the closing date for entries can't take part in that competition.

Club changes: a competitor may represent only one club in inter-club competition in a season, and needs a transfer or clearance before competing for a new club (one transfer per competition year, 1 October to 30 September). This applies to Nippers too.

Only in team events, and only in limited cases. Under the LSA Competition Manual (Section 3.6.2):

• Nippers may not compete in more than one age category in individual events.
• In team events (such as relays and the Taplin), one younger Nipper may be brought up to fill a team in an older age group, but only:
  • on special written application to the Chief Referee, and
  • if all competitors of the older age group have already been used in that event.
• Only one Nipper may be moved up per event.
• Under no circumstances may a competitor compete in a younger age group.

Team events are already run for combined ages (U9-U10, U11-U12, U13-U14).

At the 2025 DHL South African Lifesaving Championships (Nipper Surf, King's Beach, Gqeberha), Nippers competed in three arenas by age:

Course rules (LSA Competition Manual, Section 4):

• Beach sprint: about 50 m (U9-U10), 60 m (U11-U12), 70 m (U13-U14); judged on the chest crossing the line, and competitors must stay in their lane.
• Beach flags: about 15 m for all Nipper ages; there are always fewer batons than competitors.
• Nipper board race: turning buoys about 60 m (U11-U12) and 80 m (U13-U14) from knee-deep water at low tide. U11-U14 may use the standard 3.2 m board or approved Nipper boards.
• Iron Nipper: swim, board and beach run legs, U13 and U14 only, buoys about 80 m out.
• Team events are run as combined age groups (U9-U10, U11-U12, U13-U14).

Under the LSA Competition Manual (Sections 1.1, 1.3 and 2.4):

• No event may start unless a crewed rescue watercraft is on the water in the competition area (it counts as two water safety personnel).
• In Nipper water events there should be safety lifeguards with rescue torpedo buoys or rescue tubes: one lifeguard to five competitors, or one to ten where an Event Safety Guide Sheet shows low-risk conditions (generally surf under 1 m). The Safety Officer and Chief Referee decide, and may reduce numbers for small fields without compromising safety.
• Safety lifeguards hold a Lifeguard Award or Junior Lifeguard Award (with a valid retest) and wear a red and yellow duty skull cap.
• A Nipper who is assisted by a safety lifeguard may not continue in that event and isn't placed.
• Managers and coaches shouldn't force a Nipper into an event if they lack confidence or aren't physically capable, and must make sure Nippers are able to complete their events.
• The Chief Referee and Safety Officer may withdraw a Nipper at the start if conditions aren't suitable, or during an event if it's unsafe or the Nipper seems unable to finish.

Under the LSA Competition Manual (Sections 1 and 4):

• Before any surf or open water event, the Chief Referee or Safety Officer must assess the conditions. If there's an unreasonable risk of serious injury, the Chief Referee, with the Safety Officer, suspends all or part of the competition, and the Competition Committee decides whether to postpone, cancel or relocate.
• Lightning: if lightning is within about 10 km (thunder less than 30 seconds after the flash), everyone leaves the water and the venue for a solid building (or a car, not the back of a bakkie). Activities resume about 30 minutes after the storm moves on, and the 30 minutes restarts with each new flash or thunder.
• Daylight: no ocean water event may start within 1½ hours of sunset.
• Cancelled events: if an event is cancelled, even after some heats, no points from it count. If hazardous surf, lightning, tides or extreme wind stop the competition before more than 75% of beach and surf events are contested, no grand aggregate or "Competitor of the Championships" award is made.
• The Chief Referee's decision to cancel an event can't be challenged by competitors or team managers.
• Time limits apply (for example 10 minutes for Nipper board and bodyboard races, 15 for run-swim-run, 20 for the Iron Nipper and Nipper Taplin relay).

Under the LSA Competition Manual (Section 2.8):

• Skull caps: competitors must wear their club or lifesaving authority's team skull cap in every event, and all team members wear identical caps. In surf and open water events the cap must be securely fastened under the chin at the start. A rubber or silicone cap may be worn underneath. Competitors aren't disqualified if the cap comes off after the start, and should keep it on after the finish until the finish officials release them.
• High-visibility vests: LSA may require distinctive hi-vis vests (pink, orange, yellow, green or red) and skull caps for a competition; these are supplied, worn over swimwear, and are sleeveless singlets for swimmers.
• Swimwear: must be non-transparent, even when wet. Female Nippers may not wear two-piece swimwear.
• Cameras: no video cameras on Nipper craft.

If LSA mandates protective equipment for an event, a competitor who doesn't wear it can't take part.

Under the LSA Competition Manual (Section 4.2.21), only registered team managers, team coaches and chaperones may enter the competition arena to manage their teams, and they must wear their registration tag and the club's competition skull cap. No coaching is permitted in the arena.

If a team manager, coach or chaperone helps remove craft in an event (for example in the Iron Nipper or relays), they count as a handler and must follow the handler rules, including wearing the same skull cap as the team.

Technical officials may not coach or help any team while officiating.

Under the LSA Competition Manual (Section 9):

• A competitor or team manager may protest to the Chief Referee.
• Against a competitor, team or official's decision: lodge it verbally within 15 minutes of the result being posted (or of being told of the decision), then hand in a written protest (in English, on the Protest/Appeal Form) within 15 minutes of the verbal protest.
• Against the conditions of an event: verbally to the Chief Referee before the event starts.
• Beach flags eliminations: verbally within 2 minutes or before the next run-through, whichever comes first; the Chief Referee decides on the spot and there's no appeal (disqualifications can still be protested and appealed).
• You can't protest the finish judges' order of finish. A protest against another competitor or team in the same event is only accepted if your child suffered direct interference.
• There's no protest fee. If the Chief Referee dismisses or refuses a protest, it can be appealed to the appeals committee within 30 minutes, with an appeal fee (refunded if the appeal succeeds). The appeals committee's decision is final.
• Video may be used, but the person protesting must supply clear, authentic footage and a suitable viewing device (a high-definition tablet of at least 9 inches is generally considered the minimum).

No. Under the LSA Competition Manual (17th edition, Section 3):

• The duty obligation applies to members from age 14 competing in U15 and above. From then on, competitors need at least 20 duty hours in the year from 1 February to 31 January before the SA Championships (with some exemptions).
• The annual retest requirement doesn't apply to Nippers (or masters, life members and competitors over 25).

Nippers still need to be registered members of a club, hold the award for their age group (Level 1, 2 or 3), and not be in default with their club or LSA.

When a member turns 14 they may attempt the Junior Lifeguard Award (JLA); if they pass, they must compete as a U15 junior, and the duty and retest rules then apply (a current JLA retest is needed if under 16).