Paddlesport Instructor

Course Description

• Do you want to have fun?
• Like to spend time on the water?
• With likeminded people?
• Do you want to introduce people from all walks of life to paddlesport by running fun, engaging taster and starter sessions?

If so your pathway to becoming a Paddlesport Instructor starts here.

Why take the Paddlesport Instructor Award?

First of all, this is the qualification used by outdoor centres, organisations and clubs to support their activity delivery. Secondly it doesn’t matter if you Canoe, Kayak, Sit on Top Kayak, Stand Up Paddleboard, this course allows you to develop your existing skills and passion for paddlesport.

• It’s your journey, our highly experienced tutors are trained to support you throughout this practical course.
• Your course will support you to run games, activities to support learning and inspire adventure for new paddlers.
• This qualification is open to everyone over 14 years of age!

The programme will explore a variety of subjects, here is an outline of what you will cover during your course:

What will I learn on the course?

• How to effectively prepare a group for an activity (e.g. kitting up and getting afloat);
• Together you will play with a range of activities to engage the group (e.g. games, tasks and journeys);
• You will explore a range of motivating activities and games that support learning;
• The tutors will support you to plan ways of using mini journeys to inspire adventure and exploration;
• You will develop ideas that allow you to help participants learn basic skills;
• Our tutors will share top tips and quick fixes for common challenges to accelerate learning;
• You will investigate how to select suitable equipment for participants;
• You will explore methods of maintaining participants’ safety and develop your understanding of deployment matters.

There will be opportunities to develop and progress your own paddling skills and meet likeminded people during the course, many of our course candidates develop long lasting friendships, connections and contacts.

You can read the full course guide here: Paddlesport Instructor Course Guide

You access a sample programme here: Paddlesport Instructor Sample Programme

You access an editable version of the Course Learner Development Pack here: Learner Development Pack

Registered Paddlesport Instructor Learners get a range of free resources to support their learning, before, during and after the course. This includes free access to the British Canoeing Awarding Body Instructor eLearning Click here, This supportive eLearning package is made up of 9 topics, along with a knowledge audit which will help you understand areas you may need to develop further.

The modules cover

• Coaching philosophy
• Boats and Paddles
• Health and Safety
• Group and Session Management
• Meeting Athlete Needs
• Feedback
• Coaching to support
• Fundamental Skills
• Performance Models

You can earn 20 CPD points by completing this eLearning. These will be added to your National Association record after completion.

The eLearning is £40 for non-members, £20 for National Association members (Full/ On the water or equivalent). The eLearning is free for learners registered for the Paddlesport or SUP Instructor Award (as long as your membership is valid)

Registration

Before you book onto your Paddlesport Instructor Course, you will need to be a member of British Canoeing, have attended a Paddlesport Safety and Rescue Course (PSRC) or Foundation Safety and Rescue Training (FSRT) and complete your registration.

What is Registration?

Anyone wishing to pursue a Coaching or Leadership Qualification is required to centrally register with the appropriate National Association (British Canoeing, Canoe Wales, Scottish Canoe Association, Canoe Association of Northern Ireland). Registration is the process by which you confirm your intention to study towards a particular qualification. It includes:

• Checking of previous qualifications
• Completing and signing the Registration Form
• Medical Declaration (if required)
• Setting up and providing access to course resources and eLearning (where applicable)
• Acceptance of the terms and conditions of study and helps you understand your rights
• Whilst undertaking the qualification and how your data will be used.

Once you are registered you become a learner with the National Association and we are able to contact you with relevant information and updates to your course of study, help you find a course and local support or mentoring.

When and where does registration take place?

We would recommend that you register as early in your development journey as possible to access all of the support and learning resources. As a bare minimum and to support your learning we would recommend registering at least two weeks before starting your course. Registration is an online process through your British Canoeing membership portal. Registration is separate from booking a place on a course; the latter is done directly with the Course Provider. It is worth noting that many Course Providers want to see evidence of Registration at the point of booking.

What Safety Training Do I Need?

Before you register you will need to have attended a Paddlesport Safety and Rescue course (PSRC) or FSRT. (Please note, the FSRT is no longer available but will be accepted for those who have already attended this course). Our highly trained and experienced tutors will explore the knowledge and skills required to keep you and your fellow paddlers safe on sheltered water paddling trips, this fun practical day will be spent looking at simple situations faced by paddlers utilising problem solving and your normally paddling equipment to provide solutions. We recommend you take this training at least 2 weeks before your Paddlesport Instructor course to allow for you to practice and develop your skills before they are assessed during the Paddlesport Instructor Course

You can do both of these things, and find available Paddlesport Instructor courses, using the finder. Click or tap the relevant links below.

• Join British Canoeing here: British Canoeing Membership (On the Water)
• Find PSRC training here: Paddlesport Safety and Rescue Course
• Find Paddlesport Instructor courses here: British Canoeing Paddlesport Instructor
• Don't forget to register!

Course Content

We have chosen to provide the British Canoeing Awarding Body (BCAB) Paddlesport Instructor Award for two reasons:

• Firstly BCAB has a longstanding reputation of providing industry leading qualifications that are recognised internationally as well as closer to home
• BCAB is OfQual regulated, consequently this ensures the highest standards and qualification validity

This combined training and assessment course will enable you to run games and activities to support learning and inspire adventure and exploration for new paddlers in stable craft. On this practical course, you will learn skills such as:

• Kitting up a group and getting afloat
• Activities and games to support learning
• How to use mini journeys to promote exploration of the environment
• Keeping your group safe

You need to be able to paddle your Canoe, Kayak or Stand Up Paddleboard independently on flat water. You will also need to be able to keep yourself and others safe on and near the water, for example a paddler falling off their craft. We find that paddlers that have completed the Paddle Explore Award or with around 70 hours of personal paddling experience can focus on the training and get the most out of their course. The Paddlesport Safety and Rescue course takes typically 6 hours and the Paddlesport Instructor course around 15 hours.

• A typical Paddlesport Instructor course takes place over 2 days.

If you want to find out more you can visit the British Canoeing Awarding Body Website: Click here

You could also take a look at the Free Instructor eLearning: Click here

British Canoeing eLearning activities to aid anyone taking part or thinking about the Paddlesport Instructor Course.

The British Canoeing Awarding Body Instructor eLearning is designed to support Instructors and aspirant Instructors through varying topics of knowledge and skill. There are 9 topics to choose from, along with a knowledge audit which will help you understand areas you may need to develop further. The activities are free to access, can be accessed in any order and each have a statement of participation that can be downloaded upon completion. Simply choose the package you want to study and then open the link to access the eLearning.

Course Assessment

Our tutors are great at putting you at ease, consequently the assessments are part of the learning and as enjoyable as the rest of the course! By the end of the course, you will have to demonstrate knowledge and skills in three areas:

• Profesional Standards
• Personal Paddling Skills
• Rescue Skills

You will know when, where and how you're going to be assessed and have lots of chances to shape those decisions. Upon successful completion of each of these tasks the tutor will recommend the you for certification. Certificates will be emailed to you with the craft stated your certificate.

Please note, you do not need to repeat the Paddlesport Instructor course to have a certificate for every craft. It will be up to you where you work or volunteer to decide what you need to allow you to work in other craft, this could be by undertaking a Personal Performance Award or a competency check performed by your deployer.

If you're nervous about your personal skills and want to make sure your ready for your course we suggest you speak to a more experienced coach and ask them to support you in gaining your Paddle Explore Award or to use the skills check list (in the course guide) to check your ready.

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