Induction Training
 A modified and structured Special
Needs Nippers Program
 which runs in conjunction with the
age group nippers program
COPYRIGHT: The concepts and information contained in this presentation are the property of
Anglesea Surf Life Saving Club Inc. Use or copying of this presentation in whole or in part without the
written permission of Anglesea Surf Life Saving Club constitutes an infringement of copyright. The
presentation may be modified to reflect local surf conditions.
Starfish Nippers
 For children and young adults aged 6-25 with special
needs
 Access for all abilities philosophy
 All individuals are treated with respect and dignity
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xV5vEpJn5LU
Aims & Objectives
 Inclusion
 Run alongside the age group nippers
 Improve safety skills and awareness on the beach and
in the water
 Engaging cadet and juniors
 Broader engagement
 Opportunity for non-qualified
members to be engaged
Benefits of Starfish Nippers
 Pride
 Social skills
 Water awareness
 Improves fitness and skills
 Parent networking
Benefits of Starfish Nippers
continued….
 Sense of worth for trainers
 Club benefits financially
 Life/long term member engagement
 Inclusion
Trainers / helpers
Trainers need to be:
• Committed to all sessions
• Reliable
• On time
• Enthusiastic
• Passionate
• Understanding
• Patient
Activities for the Starfish
Nippers include:
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‘Go starfish’ Chant
Starfish nipper song
warm up run & stretches
flags (modified)
ball games
surf patrol talk on water safety, tube & board rescues,
wading activity
board skills and catching waves
body surfing
sand activities ( for those not keen on the water)
‘Good bye Starfish’ chant
TIMETABLE
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Time : 9.30 – 11am
10 sessions
Fitness /Beach activities/Water Activities
Integration with other nipper groups for activities
Please refer to timetable for specific activities /
structure
 Presentations after the last session/ friends & family
invited
Modified Flag Skills
 Show by example, standing up facing the flags, run up
to the flag
 Nippers run with trainers, collecting the flag and hold
it up high
 Encourage by clapping, high fives & cheering
 More advanced start lying down, turning, heads
down starts
Wading Skills
 Lifting knees high in the water
 Lead the way around the water safety trainers who
have hands above their heads to be recognised
 Go in pairs with trainer
 Start water safety in shallow waters until they build
up confidence
 Dolphin diving for more advanced
Swimming Skills
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Test out nippers abilities before going out too far
Wade in the water
Head under in still water or water-can over head
May need to swim with noodle or goggles
Swimming Skills
continued..
 Stay with nippers at all times
 Teach by example the swimming strokes
 Dive under waves, teaching them to touch the sand to dive
down deeper
 More advanced swimming around water safety trainers
 Trainers need to be in arms reach of nippers at all times
Board Skills
 Be aware of beach conditions, types of waves, wind &
rips
 If conditions not suitable cancel water activities and
stay on the beach
 Always have 1:1 or 1:2 trainers in the water depending
on water skills
 Start by lying on the board on the foreshore
 Pretend to paddle with hands, digging in the sand
Board Skills continued….
 Move into shallow water and practice balancing on
the board with trainers holding board
 Explain where to lie on the board
 Push nippers on their board onto broken waves
 Building up confidence gradually go out deeper
catching bigger waves
Learning
Nippers with Special needs learn best by:
 Repetition
 Routine
 Example
 Clear simple instructions
 Watching demonstrations / being shown
 They are visual learners
 Use your hands for direction and signals i.e. stop
 Be firm & direct with a smile on your face
 Be a good role model
Key Issues
 Ratio 1:1 in the water and depending on their
individual needs 1:2 in the water.
 One water safety trainer with Bronze or SRC with
each nipper in the water
 Water activities including swimming & wading on
patrolled beach between flags at all times
 Board activities in the board area of the flags
Key Issues continued….
 Make sure a family member is on the beach
at all times
 Aware of the Childs ability, taking into
account their swimming ability, do not take
nippers out beyond their depth if they have
limited swimming skills
 At the end of the session, everyone helps
pack up, and then hand them over to their
parent/carer
Participants
 Aged between 6-25 years
 Varied abilities, achieving individual
goals
 A parent needs to be on the beach at
all times
 Need to wear nipper hat and club
shirt
 Rash vest and nipper hat to be worn
in the water
Special Needs Students
 Have short attention spans-may need to move onto
next activity, read their signs
 Thought processing slower-give them time to process
and give a reply
 One instruction at a time
 Less talk, more action approach
 Need to be flexible
 May need to explain with visual board pictures
Types of Disabilities
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Autism
Asperger's Syndrome
Downs Syndrome
Learning & intellectual difficulties
Cerebral palsy
Visual/auditory/sensory processing disorders
Physical difficulties
Hearing impairments
Non verbal
Epilepsy
Goals
 Fun and Laughter
 Beach safety and water awareness
 Team work
Rules
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Staying with the group at all times
Only entering the water with a water safety officer/s
Always swim between the flags/Allocated swimming area
Must wear nipper hat/uniform at all times whilst at nippers
If someone wants to go to the toilet, they must go
with a trainer
 Wear sun screen
Starfish Nippers
 Questions
 Thank you for coming along and taking part in the
Star Fish Nipper Program 2013/14
 Please feel free to contact me any time with ideas,
questions, feedback etc.
 Lets have fun!
Note
 This information has been prepared by
volunteers at the Anglesea SLSC to meet the
needs of our Starfish Nipper program.
 If you are using this information at your club
ensure that you undertake due diligence to
check relevance to your club and assess the
risks at your beach as they arise and act
appropriately.
More Information
 Website: www.starfishnippers.com.au
 Like us on our Facebook Link:
https://www.facebook.com/StarfishNippers
 More support:
 Janet Jones, Anglesea SLSC
 Mobile: 0408944424
 [email protected]