On our first field trip this past Sunday, we went to watch the nippers at Maroubra beach. I immediately noticed the immensity of the waves crashing down on the beach. Maroubra is a category 6 beach, which means that it can be very dangerous. This is why I was so shocked at how young the nippers were. Most of them were only 6 or 7 years old. I felt comforted by the fact that these children were staying close to the beach while being closely supervised. I learned that the purpose of the nippers at this age was more focused on learning how to handle the surf and gaining confidence in the water. One of the fathers present said it was important for his kids to be nippers because living on the coast means it is essential to learn about water safety and navigating the surf at a young age. It was obvious by watching the children that they also really enjoyed being there (see picture below). They were laughing and playing with their "mates", while waiting their turn to plunge into the ocean. A friendly community spirit was present rather than a competitive atmosphere. Seeing all of the dads supervising the children in the water reminded me of the Saturday mornings spent on the soccer fields as a kid. They were our coaches, our managers, and our most dedicated supporters. And they did it out of love for the children and the community. The nippers operates in the same way, just different sport.
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