Performance Coach

Course Description

WHY BE A PERFORMANCE COACH?

Becoming a Performance Coach can have a huge impact on your professional and personal life. Be it exploring coaching to further develop your ability to help others, to support your coaching career or a quest for a sense of purpose. The Performance Coach Award is aimed at experienced coaches who want to get better at coaching the paddlers they work with, and for those who seek recognition that their delivery meets enhanced levels of sophistication.

COACHING IS REWARDING AND SATISFYING

Therefore you will gain satisfaction by helping people develop and achieve their goals. For instance, working with people who are eager to learn and gain clarity give coaches a real sense of purpose. This in turn can create a strong sense of self-worth, inner happiness and satisfaction.

COACHING ACCELERATES YOUR OWN PERSONAL AND PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT

As people learn from each other, you will learn at a rapid pace too! Being a coach invigorates both you and the people you coach.

COACHING EXPANDS YOUR NETWORK AND COMMUNITY

Whether running your own company, working for an organisation or volunteering for your local club your success as a coach will depend on your ability to develop personal and professional networks. Your networks will quickly widen and provide you with opportunities to engage with paddlers.

FLEXIBILITY TO LIVE AND WORK WHERE YOU WANT

As coaching can take place anywhere in the world, anywhere we paddle, consequently it opens up exciting opportunities to work, travel and explore. Coaching happens all the time, you could be full time, part time or sessional, allowing flexibility to work around your life and priorities.

WE CHOSE TO OFFER THE BRITISH CANOEING AWARDING BODY PERFORMANCE COACH AWARD (BCAB) as IT IS:

• Widely recognised.
• BCAB is an OfQual regulated Awarding Organisation.
• The BCAB Performance Coach is aligned with the CIMSPA Professional Standards and is eligible for 20 Paddle UK CPD points and 10 CIMSPA CPD Points.
• Designed for our paddling community.
• The Performance Coach Award is available in 21 disciplines allowing you to develop in the area of our sport that interests you.
• Your learning journey is fluid and personalised you.
• Find out more about Paddle UK Awarding Body here

What does it cost to become a Performance Coach?

There will be different costs and considerations for you, every journey is different and will come down to variable costs such as travel and accommodation as well as the number of days you feel you will need to prepare for assessment. there are however some fixed costs to consider:

1. Registration £335*
2. Coach Developer Day £320
3. 12 Guided Learning Hours (this can be at a face to face event or online, or a combination) typically we would expect costs in the region £250 (not including travel or accommodation) this could be £250 for a weekends course or £25 for a 1.5hr Webinar.
4. Assessment £350 (this assumes assessor expenses of £90, there may be a surcharge where extensive travel is required)

The next CLE in our calendar is being hosted by Paddle Scotland at Grandtully Station Park, Grandtully, Scotland, UK on the 8th and 9th November 2025

For more information and to book click here.

*registration includes all certification, registration costs, cost of four mentoring sessions (including pre assessment mentoring session) cost of online ‘drop in’ support sessions and 1-1 support with facilitator during your learning journey.

Click through the Tabs above for more information!

Registration

The Performance Coach has a formal registration requirement.

PERFORMANCE COACH AWARD REGISTRATION

Registration can take place at any point during your learning journey but must be done in advance of your assessment.

To register you only need to hold the following prerequisites:

• You need to be at least 16 years of age to register.
• Full National Association Membership.

WHAT DOES REGISTRATION COST?

£335 (this includes 4 mentor sessions and registration and all digital support and resources)

WHEN AND HOW DO I REGISTER?

Normally we would recommend that you register as early as possible and before your Community Learning Event (CLE). However, if after your initial discussion you feel registering after the CLE is better for you, that's fine. You must be registered before your mentor sessions begin.

• You need to access your membership portal and register through the portal.
• Click on the registration tab and follow the on screen instructions.
• For more information you can use our Registration Guidance.

Why do I have to Register?

Your Registration covers:

• 4 x mentor sessions (3 x sessions and 1 x pre-assessment session)
• Advice, support and guidance
• Registration services
• Provision of Internal Verification
• Provision of digital platforms and resources
• Administering qualifications including e-certificate and digital records
• Enhanced insurance
• For more information you can use our Registration Guidance.

Course Content

The Performance Coach Award is available in 21 pathways, across all of our main disciplines and environments:

• Performance Canoe Coach (Sheltered Water)
• Performance Kayak Coach (Sheltered Water)
• Performance Freestyle Coach
• Performance Open Water Canoe Coach
• Performance Open Water Canoe Coach (Advanced Water)
• Performance Polo Coach
• Performance Racing Coach
• Performance Sea Kayak Coach
• Performance Sea Kayak Coach (Advanced Water)
• Performance Slalom Coach
• Performance Surf Kayak Coach
• Performance Surf Kayak Coach (Advanced Water)
• Performance Stand Up Paddleboard Coach (Open Water)
• Performance Stand Up Paddleboard Coach (Sheltered Water)
• Performance Stand Up Paddleboard Coach (White Water)
• Performance Stand Up Paddleboard Coach (Race)
• Performance White Water Canoe Coach
• Performance White Water Canoe Coach (Advanced Water)
• Performance White Water Kayak Coach
• Performance White Water Kayak Coach (Advanced Water)
• Performance Wild Water Racing Coach

Course Content

The learning journey is fluid and personalised to every coach who undertakes the programme. The key components of the award are the same but, as an experienced coach, you will steer the direction and focus of your learning in areas that are most relevant to you. The journey can be personalised every step of the way, by understanding the capabilities and skills you arrive with, you decide the skills, knowledge and experience you want to learn and develop.

Online Mentor Sessions: Your development and thinking is supported through online mentor sessions with a Performance Coach Mentor who will support your reflection, stimulate insights and action, and support you making sense of your practices and thinking. Registration includes 4 Mentor sessions and this meets the minimum requirements to progress to assessment. However many of our learners really value the mentoring experience and every development journey is different, if you need more sessions you can purchase more at £60 per session by contacting us [email protected]

For more information and support in choosing your mentor click here.

Community of Learning Events: These 2-day, face-to-face events provide opportunities to explore ‘Performance Coaching’ and how this relates to ‘Who’, ‘What’ and ‘How’ you coach.

The next CLE in our calendar is being hosted by Paddle Scotland at Grandtully Station Park, Grandtully, Scotland, UK on the 8th and 9th November 2025

For more information and to book click here.

Coach Developer Support: A Coach Developer will support the development of specific and specialist knowledge, understandings and practice. Unlike other Paddle UK Awarding Body Coaching qualifications, you have autonomy over the topics you wish to explore, and it is up to you to seek learning in the areas most pertinent to your coaching role.

For more information and support in choosing your coach developer. click here.

Philosophy Task: Throughout the Performance Coach programme you will be challenged and supported to further develop deep understanding in how your values and beliefs shape and underpin your coaching practice.

That's Great, How Do I Start!

If you are interested in the programme, you need to contact your National Association to arrange an initial discussion. This will help you assess the programme’s suitability for your specific learning needs and allow you to check that it will provide the learning opportunities you seek. There will be chance to explore your expectations and to ask questions prior to registering.

Given that the qualification is designed to build and refine existing skills, it is important that you have a base of experience and are currently actively coaching (and qualified) in the discipline/environment relevant to the pathway you wish to follow. During the conversation, your National Association will be able to offer support, guidance and make recommendations to help ensure you have the essentials in place and to help you move forwards appropriately.

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 the you at the heart of the process involving you in as much of the decision making as possible. As soon as you are considering taking your assessment we encourage you to contact us on [email protected] to start the matching process with your assessor. To be eligible for assessment you must have registered and reached the stage of planning your final Mentoring session with your Mentor find out more on the Registration Tab.

Method of Assessment

The assessment is conducted in two parts; a Pre-assessment Mentor Session and a practical assessment focused on your coaching skills. During the assessment you are required to show that you have the skills, background knowledge and understanding to use sophisticated coaching practices to enhance participants’ and groups of participants’ long-term development and wellbeing. The Assessor will observe a minimum of 3-hours’ quality coaching for at least two learners. Evidence will, in the main, be gathered from observation of performance. This will be supplemented by questioning and discussion regarding the observed behaviour, previous experience, the pre-assessment mentor session and/or scenario type situations.

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