Club Training & Activities

We are a lifesaving club and registered charity, run by volunteers actively involved in lifeguarding and promoting beach and sea/surf safety at Ogmore by Sea. The club is affiliated to the Surf Life Saving Association of Wales.

Our Nipper Section are our youngest members aged from 7 to 13 years. We run fun, safe sessions teaching our Nippers how to be safe in the water and how to help others be safe too.

Pen-y-bont Nippers

When do we train?

Ynysawdre Swimming Pool every Thursday
Session 1 – 7:00pm to 7:40pm
Session 2 – 7:40pm to 8:20pm

May to September
Beach sessions at Ogmore by Sea.
Meet at the lifeguard station, located near the river mouth.

A training and carnival/competition schedule is published at the start of the beach season (subject to change).

Events Schedule

How To Join

We run assessments for entry to our Nipper Section on Thursday evenings at Ynysawdre Pool.

Surf lifesaving is different to most other sports and activities due to the inherent risk of the sea. Therefore please be mindful of the rules and guidelines set out by the club. These are for the safety of the children, which is paramount. 

All members new to beach sessions are expected to attend a safety and introductory session at the start of the season. 

Training Kit for Nippers

What kit will you need?

 

For The Pool

  • Good quality swimming goggles, durable and well-fitting.
  • Swim fins/flippers, try the long blade soft rubber or polypropylene swim or snorkelling fins.
  • Club pool hats must be worn for competitions.
  • Club pool hats and swimming costumes are available to purchase although not compulsory.

For The Beach

  • Nipper club hat and hi-vis vest is essential
  • Good quality swimming goggles, durable and well-fitting.
  • Nipper club t-shirt
  • Full-length wetsuit, no “shorties” as these do not keep youngsters warm. A wetsuit will only work if it fits correctly. It needs to be snug on the body
  • Wetsuit boots are not compulsory
  • Nipper board is optional

Nipper club hats and hi-vis vests can be purchased from our store on Team App

Download Team App

Nipper Training

What do we do at Beach Sessions?

 

Nippers can expect to run, swim, learn to read surf conditions and learn to paddle a nipper board and ride waves.

Although our activities are fun based, they teach techniques and develop skills that will enable them to make progress as a lifeguard of the future.

Before each beach training session starts, all nippers must sign in and then sign out at the end of the training session.

If they leave the session early they must tell their coach and sign out with the person marking the register.

Nippers are organised into groups with allocated coaches and helpers who are members of Penybont SLSC and are DBS checked.

Qualified lifeguards carry out the risk assessments before each session.

Club nipper hats and hi-vis(safety) vests must be worn during all beach training sessions. Please note that a parent or guardian must remain at all training sessions and must be on or near the beach.

If your nipper gets cold or needs to leave the session for any reason, it’s helpful if you are nearby. Dress appropriately as it can be chilly and weather conditions can change.

Nippers must not enter the water without being supervised. Once the training session has finished and nippers have signed out, if you allow your child to enter the water again they must remove club hats and hi-vis vests.