Paddlesport Leader

Course Description

Looking to lead paddlesport journeys?

• Do you want to lead people from all walks of life on sheltered water?
• Are you a paddler or do you have experience of paddling?
• Do you want to support your club leading mixed craft?

If so, the Paddlesport Leader Award could be for you!

Why become a Paddlesport Leader?

First of all, the Paddlesport Leader Award is open to all paddlers! The award supports your existing skills and enables you to lead fun, safe and enjoyable trips.

Secondly, you can design your own learning journey, using formal and informal opportunities to develop your skills.

Furthermore, this award is used by clubs, outdoor centres and organisations to support their activity delivery on mixed craft. This includes single or tandem craft.

What can a Paddlesport Leader do?

Your award will support you to run safe and enjoyable trips, based on your group’s needs and aspirations. You will lead journeys, on sheltered water, for a range of mixed craft.

As a Leader, you can work independently or be deployed by a club, centre or organisation to lead trips and journeys. The purpose of these trips may be wide ranging from educational experiences, social adventures or trying something new.

You will be able to provide British Canoeing Awarding Body Awards and Training such as:

• Personal Performance Awards – Paddle Start and Paddle Discover.

Note: other experience, training or qualifications may be required. Find out more in our develop skills section.

How should I prepare for the training course?

There are no formal Personal Performance Award or Safety Award requirements to becoming a Paddlesport Leader. However, to get the best from your course you need to feel comfortable in or on your craft and be able to independently paddle on sheltered water. Therefore, we recommend holding the the Paddle Explore Award before booking on your training (or equivalent).

You can look at a Sample Programme here.

How should I prepare for assessment?

There are lots of ways you can prepare for your Paddlesport Leader assessment. It is important that you take an active role in deciding the appropriate training and experience that you need. You could book onto the British Canoeing Awarding Body Paddlesport Leader Training course to support you in developing the required skills. Alternatively, you can choose bespoke learning opportunities to support your development stage.

Leadership eLearning and online Resources

These optional, interactive eLearning package will take you through some of the key principles behind :

• British Canoeing Awarding Body Model of Leadership.
• Leading in unfamiliar environments.
• Leading mixed craft journeys

And provides resources and guides as well as a digital self analysis tool. Find out more!

Registration

Before you book onto your Assessment, you will need to be a member of British Canoeing, 16 years of age (or older), have an appropriate First Aid Qualification, have appropriate Safeguarding Training 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, 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 bear minimum and to support your learning we would recommend registering at least two weeks before your Assessment. 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.

Click or tap the relevant links below.

• Join British Canoeing here: British Canoeing Membership (On the Water)
• Find Paddlesport Leader development courses here: Paddlesport Leader Training
• Find an assessment courses here: Paddlesport Leader Assessment
• Don't forget to register!

Course Content

There are lots of ways you can prepare for your Paddlesport Leader assessment. It is important that you take an active role in deciding the appropriate preparation, training and experience that you need, before booking your assessment. Informal learning and experience based learning are important for your development as a leader.

Optional British Canoeing Training

British Canoeing Awarding Body Paddlesport Leader Training courses are available to support you in your development of the required skills. These courses will cover all the required leadership skills, personal skills and safety and rescue skills to support your development journey. As this training is delivered by Paddlesport Leader Providers, they are well placed to help you identify an appropriate action plan to support your progress towards a successful assessment. These training courses are usually between 2 and 5 day programmes, with longer courses giving you more time to practice and develop your skills.

Other Training Opportunities

There are lots of experienced leaders who can support you in your development in a personalised and individualised way. For example, in-house training at your club or work-place, working alongside of shadowing other leaders, private tuition or conferences, symposiums and workshops, the list is endless! You could also work with a Paddlesport Leader Provider on an individualised programme as they have explicit knowledge of the award requirements. No matter which development journey you choose, the Paddlesport Leader Assessment Guidance and Skills Checklist can be used as a guide of the skills required.

Course Assessment

We do everything we can to take the stress out of assessments, we are focused on the journey and not the destination. The experience will be safe, engaging and enjoyable, with you at the heart of the process, involving you in as much of the decision making as possible.

By the end of the assessment, you will have to demonstrate knowledge and skills in four areas:

• Participant focused leadership skills
• Personal paddling skills
• Rescue skills
• Underpinning background knowledge, understanding and experience

Help and support ahead of your assessment

Every leader will prepare differently for their assessment, however, you can check your readiness for assessment using:

• The Paddlesport Leader Assessment Guidance – this explains in detail the standard required
• Skills Checklist – can be used to self-profile and check if you’re ready for assessment

If you’re nervous about your assessment and want to make sure you’re ready, why not ask a Paddlesport Leader Provider to check your readiness for assessment?

The Paddlesport Leader journey is personalised to anyone who takes the award and depends on your existing experience. There is optional Paddlesport Leader training, which covers the required leadership skills and associated personal skills, safety and rescue skill. These courses vary between 2 and 5 days, with longer courses giving you more opportunity to practice. Alternatively, you can opt for bespoke training opportunities, for example shadowing at your club or centre, private tuition, symposiums, to up-skill in the areas that you need. The assessment takes place over 1 or 2 days depending on the logistics relating to access to suitable environments. The assessment takes place over 1 or 2 days depending on the logistics relating to access to suitable environments.

Leadership eLearning and online Resources – This optional, interactive eLearning package will take you through some of the key principles behind the British Canoeing Awarding Body Model of Leadership. This is a good refresher of the Leadership principles, at any point on your journey towards becoming a Leader. You also might find it useful to carry out a Self Assessment using British Canoeing's Leader Self Analysis Tool Find All resources here!

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