What award and membership does my child need to compete?
Rule- South Africa
- Lifesaving South Africa
- Nippers
- U9-U14
- Surf lifesaving
- LSA Competition Manual 17th ed
- 2022/23
- Parents
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):
| Age group | Award |
|---|---|
| U9 and U10 | Level 1 |
| U11 and U12 | Level 2 |
| U13 and U14 | Level 3 |
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.
Added 22 Oct 2026