COVID PLAN FOR 2020-21 season.
The plan for the 2021-22 has not yet been determined. We are waiting for restriction guidance.
Nippers will not run during Oct-Dec 2021
_______________
This pages provides our Covid-safe approach in full detail, and some related items.
Index
Summary
-
- Bronzies start 01 Nov. All other groups start 08 Nov
- Split into two sessions to keep under 500:
- First session runs from 8am-8:55 for 4s, 6s, 8s, 10s, Bronzies
- Second session runs from 9:05-10 for 5s, 7s, 9s, 11s, Sharkies
- No champs (as we need to run two sessions)
- The only way to buy clothing is online from here
- Caps handed out by age managers at first session
Our formal NSW COVID-safe plan
Why couldn't I get in this year?
_________________________________________________
Our detailed plan
v.1.3 17 Nov 2020
Summary
- We will start the season aware that we have to have a number of compromises due to Covid-19. Should restrictions ease and we deem it safe, we will edge nearer a normal season but currently we have to compromise.
- To comply with no more than 500 on the beach at any one time, we will ensure maximum space between groups we will use the full two hour window granted and run two sessions.
- We will start at 08:00 and finish by 10:00
- The sessions will be 55 minutes each to allow 10 minutes of dispersal of groups as they swap over.
- The website and emails will be the primary method of communicating the requirements.
- We will have 32 highly visible Covid Marshalls to ensure physical separation of adults and keep an eye on movements.
- The Champs will not go ahead this year.
- Registration will be electronic for all participants with manual option for those without participating children (ie. first aid, lifeguards, etc..)
- We have taken steps to significantly reduce congregation around the tent
- The season will start 01 Nov for Bronzies (only) and 08 Nov for remainder
- We will have a retrospective session after the first session to see how we can adapt and
improve for future sessions.
Enforcing physical distancing
Each group will have a parent assigned to wear a yellow vest with ‘COVID MARSHALL’ on. (For clarity; 5 Boys A, 5 Boys B, 5 Girls A, 5 Girls B are four groups, with four Covid Marshalls.)
The Covid Marshall will not be the age manager. This person will be responsible for ensuring that all adults stay separated by >2.0m throughout the session. Marshalls will be told the rules and be given authority to report non compliance.
We will have 32 Covid Marshalls in total. We expect that the high level of visibility will ensure easy and continued compliance.
500 persons restriction
The government has a restriction to ensure no more than 500 persons (adults or child) are on together. By using the whole of the time window the council allocate the beach to Nippers and running two sessions we can fit within that number.
Registration has always been enforced at Nippers, however due to this requirement this year we have developed ‘an app’ for the Age Mangers use to allow for a check-in and counting facility of adults and children participating in a session.
This app will do two things:
- Provide a LIVE numerical count of all participating in a Nippers session.
- Provide a report of who has, historically, participated in the sessions throughout the season. This can be attached to their contact details (down to physical address) for contact tracing requirements.
Once registration has finished (08:05 for the first session, and 09:20 for the second), the tent team will review this number, add to the manual check in (ie. First aid, sponsor, lifeguards) and write this number on the white board at the tent.
Should the number be above 500, the tent team will add 10, divide by 16 (the amount of seperate groups) and instruct the Covid Marshalls to identify that number in their group to leave the activities immediately. They will ensure this happens, then write the modified count on the whiteboard (at the tent). The participants, age managers and covid marshals will be aware of this procedure (we expect some parents will move away, assigning responsibility to another parent).
We are very aware that Nippers does not have exclusive use of the beach. Although there will be other members of the public on the beach we will focus on ensuring that the Nippers Participants will remain under 500.
Note: Most years a number of children do not return (from the previous participating year), but they did this year, filling the program to the council-set capacity number (hence we did not run a ballot). The reason could be due to Covid restrictions reducing other activities and removing travel possibilities.. or it could be that we didn’t charge an enrolment fee this year, whereas last we charged $175. We simply don’t know, but if the latter, the numbers on the beach will be reduced still further than how they are presented in the forecast below.
First : 8am - 8:55 (Evens)
Groups 4, 6, 8, 10, Bronzies
284 children
.. allows for 216 adults
Families are asked to move away as soon as the session ends (please arrive prepared to take the kids straight home, rather than attempt to use the public shower block that can only accommodate 4 people)
Second : 9:05 - 10:00 (Odds)
Groups 5, 7, 9, 11, Sharkies
302 children
.. allows for 198 adults
Families are asked not to arrive before 9am.
Parents / guardians in the elder children groups are not on a 1:1 ratio. The detail below provides our estimation, based on collective 20+ years of experience. In addition, we have reliably had a 10% rate of not non-participation, for multiple reasons, across all the groups. (ie. illness, conflicting activity, birthday, family holiday, weather too hot, weather too cold, couldn’t find parking, etc..)
Should a family have a child in an odd and even group we ask if they can explore options for another adult to bring one child down and collect the other.
Families should not bring additional grandparents, helpers, etc.
Note, the beach is nearly 300m long and 50m wide, spreading these numbers along this distance will be considerably separated. In addition, due to the boarding and swimming activities two thirds of the children will be in the water at any one time.
Detailed numbers and placement
The below provides transparency to our thinking and details who we expect will be where in which session. We will ensure what actually happens on the beach matches this through an app that will register everyone (children and adults) before the session starts, and provide a count. We will write this count on the board outside the tent. Should there be more people than we expect and we exceed 500 we have a procedure to immediately remove people to bring it under 500. We also have retrospective sessions post-event to review and improve the plan.
First Session : 4, 6, 8, 10, Bronzies
08:00 - 8:55
|
Group |
Children |
Adults |
|
4 Girls |
21 |
21 |
|
4 Boys |
23 |
23 |
|
6 Girls A |
21 |
21 |
|
6 Girls B |
20 |
20 |
|
6 Boys A |
19 |
19 |
|
6 Boys B |
21 |
21 |
|
8 Girls A |
20 |
10 |
|
8 Girls B |
22 |
10 |
|
8 Boys A |
19 |
10 |
|
8 Boys B |
19 |
10 |
|
10 Girls A |
20 |
7 |
|
10 Girls B |
18 |
7 |
|
10 Boys A |
15 |
7 |
|
10 Boys B |
17 |
7 |
|
Bronzies 1 |
38 |
1 |
|
Bronzies 2 |
36 |
1 |
|
TOTAL |
349 |
195 |
|
Less 10% |
314 |
175 |
= 489 persons on beach
Note, the beach is nearly 300m long and 50m wide, spreading these numbers along this distance will be considerably separated. In addition, due to the boarding and swimming activities two thirds of the children will be in the water at any one time.
Second session : 4, 6, 8, 10, All Abilities
09:05 - 10:00
|
Group |
Children |
Adults |
|
5 Girls A |
21 |
21 |
|
5 Girls B |
17 |
17 |
|
5 Boys A |
17 |
17 |
|
5 Boys B |
18 |
18 |
|
7 Girls A |
24 |
18 |
|
7 Girls B |
23 |
18 |
|
7 Boys A |
24 |
18 |
|
7 Boys B |
25 |
18 |
|
9 Girls A |
22 |
7 |
|
9 Girls B |
19 |
7 |
|
9 Boys A |
23 |
7 |
|
9 Boys B |
16 |
7 |
|
11 Girls |
26 |
5 |
|
11 Boys |
19 |
5 |
|
Sharkies |
20 |
40 |
|
TOTAL |
314 |
223 |
|
Less 10% |
283 |
201 |
= 484 persons on beach
Note, the beach is nearly 300m long and 50m wide, spreading these numbers along this distance will be considerably separated. In addition, due to the boarding and swimming activities two thirds of the children will be in the water at any one time.
Event registration
Registration is via on-line system accessed from a Smart Phone which accesses our central database. This will allow us to identify those who were there and provide the list electronically (name, email, physical address, time).
There is no paper to collect, return, or convert to an electronic format.
Nipper of the week is recorded electronically using the same smartphone online system.
Should someone on the beach not have a child participating (for example first aid, lifeguards, sponsors) we have a QR Code at the tent, allowing one to register manually.
Activities
We will run three activities
- Swim
- Sand-based activity
- Boards
Swim
Children to enter water 10 seconds apart
Adults to remain > 5 meters apart in water
Covid Marshall will enforce this, and separation for any adults remaining on the beach
Sand based activity
This may include flags. If so they will be reside in bins half full of salt water and flags will be immersed in the salt water between uses.
Adults to remain > 2 meters apart in water.
Covid Marshall will enforce separation for adults
Boards
Current advice (Dr. Norman Swan) is that salt water kills Coronavirus on surfaces.
Children to enter water 10 seconds apart
Adults to remain > 5 meters apart in water
Covid Marshall will enforce water entry separation, and separation for any adults remaining on the beach
Four tunnels
The tunnels will not be used by the fours this year.
Bronzies
73 Children, no parents, 2 helpers
Run on the empty part of the ‘fours’ beach, in the 1st session.
Bronzies will start a week earlier (01 Nov)
All Abilities
The all-abilities nippers program is a modified and structured special needs program that runs in conjunction with the Balmoral Nippers program.
- The program will have a maximum of 20 participants in age ranges 7-11
- 1:1 parental/guardian supports are mandatory and required at all times. These supports will be limited to household members to minimize any COVID infection risk.
- In addition to the age group manager, each group will have a designated Water Safety Officer (WSO) and they will decide what water-based activities can take place each week – WSO decisions are final
- The program will take place at the 'rockpool' end of the beach during the second session (10:15 am to 11:00 am)
- The program will follow the same anti-infection protocols as the main program
Champs
The champs will not go ahead this year (due use of the beach over the full 2 hour window)
Shed, set up and pack away
Shed team of four people are the only people allowed on the BBC premises and into the shed. A Covid Marshall will enforce this (BBC security are also onsite)
The team will move equipment onto the grass where a rostered group will move it into position on the beach (07:30)
At the end of the second session, all participants will wash boards in the ocean and bring them back, queuing to give to a shed team member to stack. The Covid Marshalls will ensure distancing.
The below shows the details :
The majority of time in stacking the shed has always been the cleaning of sand from the boards. By ensuring they have no sand on, this will be a rapid process.
Timing
06:45 The shed team will move the boards on to the grass area, and put the age marker lollipops in position.
07:30 One age group from first session will take the equipment to the age lollipops
08:00 Session 1 starts
08:45 Session 1 ends. Participants are asked to move off the beach
09:00 Session 2 participants start to arrive
09:15 Session 2 starts.
10:00 Session 2 ends. *ALL* participants are to wash the board in the sea and bring back to the shed, handing to one of the shed crew to re-stack. The Covid Marshalls will ensure that people remain >2.0m from each other.
If you have any questions - please email us: admin@balmoralnippers.com
Clothing
To reduce grouping of participants we will no longer be selling (or exchanging) Nippers clothing at the beach, and have set up an online clothing shop.
Participants have been instructed to address their clothing requirements prior to the sessions, which will be delivered direct to their homes.
This will remove the need to have pre-season 'pop up shops', run a kit swap day (for sizing issues) or provide a reason (ie. buy more clothing) for participants to come to the tent.
NSW Government Covid-safe plan
We have registered as an NSW Government Covid-Safe business.
A copy of our plan can be downloaded here.
If you have any questions - please email us: admin@balmoralnippers.com
What happened to the ballot?
Simply put, the program is full for the size of the beach and we had no capacity to bring more in.
This year all the children who were with us previously re-enroled and hence we reached our maximum numbers straight away. This has never happened before.
This maximum number has been set by the council (ie. for a non-Covid year), based on how many children and adults we can safely have on the beach. This number is agreed to by our insurance company. We have no flexibility.
A further consideration have this Covid year is that we can’t have more than 500 persons (ie. adult or child) on the beach and therefore we have to reduce the (enrolled) numbers further, a problem we’re still figuring out how to tackle.
We're always sorry to disappoint, however it is difficult to get in during a non-covid year as this article explains.