NullPointerException in array.length Java

Question

I've been getting an NPE whenever I try to access my array. Even calling for the .length attribute gives me an NPE. Any help would be appreciated. Here is my constructor and the method that keeps failing.

public SkierList() {
    Skier[] skiers= new Skier[INITIAL_CAP];
    for (int i = 0; i < skiers.length; i++){
        skiers[i] = new Skier("");
    }
    int count = 0;
    
}

public void add(Skier newSkier) {   
    if (this.size() < skiers.length)
    {
        skiers[count] = new Skier(newSkier.getName(), newSkier.getLevel());
        count++;
    }
}

The code compiles but throws the NPE at skiers.length

Answer 1

Define skier globally:

public Skier[] skiers= new Skier[INITIAL_CAP];