Description

Want to Lead SUP Adventures on Sheltered Waters?
Imagine leading paddling adventures for people of all backgrounds, sharing your passion for SUP in a safe, enjoyable way. Whether you’re a seasoned paddler or a fan of water sports looking to develop your skills, the SUP Sheltered Water Leader award could be a perfect fit!
Why Choose the SUP Sheltered Water Leader Award?
- Open to All: The SUP Sheltered Water Leader award is designed for anyone with paddling experience! This award builds on your current skills and gives you the tools to lead fun, safe, and engaging SUP journeys.
- Create Your Learning Path: The journey is flexible and can include formal training or informal learning, allowing you to grow your skills at your own pace and in your own style.
- In-Demand Skills: Many clubs, centers, and organisations need leaders like you to guide SUP adventures on sheltered waters. This includes solo or tandem craft experiences, ensuring everyone has a safe, enjoyable time on the water.
- British Canoeing Awarding Body Qualification: We choose BCAB awards because they have over 40 years of experience, they are a regulated awarding organisation and their qualifications are aligned to the CIMSPA Occupational Standards.
What Can a SUP Sheltered Water Leader Do?
With this award, you’ll be able to lead SUP trips that are safe, rewarding, and tailored to your group’s needs. You might organise educational experiences, social paddles, or introduce new paddlers to the world of SUP. Lead as part of a club, centre, or independently to inspire others to explore the water.
You’ll also be able to offer additional training and awards, such as:
- Paddle Start and Paddle Discover:
- Personal performance awards to get others started on their own SUP journey.
(Please note: additional training or qualifications may be required. Check out our “develop skills” section for more details.)
How Should I Prepare for the Training Course?
There are no formal requirements for performance or safety awards to begin the SUP Sheltered Water Leader award. To get the most from the course, however, it’s helpful to feel confident on your board and to be able to paddle comfortably on sheltered water. We recommend starting with the Paddle Explore Award or its equivalent.
Preparing for Assessment
Preparing for your SUP Sheltered Water Leader assessment can take many forms. You’re encouraged to actively choose the training and experiences that best suit your development. You can join a British Canoeing Awarding Body SUP Leader Training course, or tailor your preparation with custom learning opportunities.
Interactive eLearning and Leadership Resources
Explore our optional eLearning modules, where you can dive into essential leadership principles, including:
- British Canoeing Awarding Body Leadership Model
- Guidance for Leading in New Environments
- Tips for Leading Mixed Craft Journeys
These resources include guides, a digital self-assessment tool, and more to help you build confidence as a SUP leader. Find out more here!
Registration
The SUP Sheltered Water Leader has a formal registration requirement.
LEADERSHIP REGISTRATION
Registration is a process for leaders who are planning to attend a Leadership Assessment course. The purpose of Registration is to confirm you hold all prerequisites, it's quick and confirmation is sent straight to your inbox*.
This should then be shared with the assessor to confirm eligibility for assessment. It also gives you peace of mind that you have everything you need in place and you can focus on enjoying your assessment.
Please do not try to Register unless you hold all prerequisites:
- You need to be at least 16 years of age to register.
- Safeguarding Training (dated within the last 3 years).
- 1 day First Aid (dated within the last 3 years).
- Full National Association Membership.
WHAT DOES REGISTRATION COST?
£40.56
HOW DO I REGISTER?
- You need to access your membership portal and register through the portal.
- Ensure your record is up to date before you start**.
- Click on the registration tab and follow the on screen instructions.
- For more information you can use our Registration Guidance.
When should I Register?
When you have all of the prerequisites in place
AndAt least 2 weeks before your assessment, this allows us to resolve any issues in plenty of time!
Why do I have to Register?
Your Registration covers:
- 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.
Content
There are lots of ways you can prepare for your SUP Sheltered Water 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 Awarding Body Training
British Canoeing Awarding Body SUP Sheltered Water 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 SUP Sheltered Water Leader Tutor, 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 SUP Sheltered Water Leader Tutor on an individualised programme as they have explicit knowledge of the award requirements. No matter which development journey you choose, the SUP SW 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 SUP SW 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 Tutor to check your readiness for assessment?
The Leader journey is personalised to anyone who takes the award and depends on your existing experience. There is optional 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.
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 Paddle UK Awarding Bodie's Leader Self Analysis Tool Find All resources here!
Booking Now

Course Description
Want to Lead SUP Adventures on Sheltered Waters?
Imagine leading paddling adventures for people of all backgrounds, sharing your passion for SUP in a safe, enjoyable way. Whether you’re a seasoned paddler or a fan of water sports looking to develop your skills, the SUP Sheltered Water Leader award could be a perfect fit!
Why Choose the SUP Sheltered Water Leader Award?
- Open to All: The SUP Sheltered Water Leader award is designed for anyone with paddling experience! This award builds on your current skills and gives you the tools to lead fun, safe, and engaging SUP journeys.
- Create Your Learning Path: The journey is flexible and can include formal training or informal learning, allowing you to grow your skills at your own pace and in your own style.
- In-Demand Skills: Many clubs, centers, and organisations need leaders like you to guide SUP adventures on sheltered waters. This includes solo or tandem craft experiences, ensuring everyone has a safe, enjoyable time on the water.
- British Canoeing Awarding Body Qualification: We choose BCAB awards because they have over 40 years of experience, they are a regulated awarding organisation and their qualifications are aligned to the CIMSPA Occupational Standards.
What Can a SUP Sheltered Water Leader Do?
With this award, you’ll be able to lead SUP trips that are safe, rewarding, and tailored to your group’s needs. You might organise educational experiences, social paddles, or introduce new paddlers to the world of SUP. Lead as part of a club, centre, or independently to inspire others to explore the water.
You’ll also be able to offer additional training and awards, such as:
- Paddle Start and Paddle Discover:
- Personal performance awards to get others started on their own SUP journey.
(Please note: additional training or qualifications may be required. Check out our “develop skills” section for more details.)
How Should I Prepare for the Training Course?
There are no formal requirements for performance or safety awards to begin the SUP Sheltered Water Leader award. To get the most from the course, however, it’s helpful to feel confident on your board and to be able to paddle comfortably on sheltered water. We recommend starting with the Paddle Explore Award or its equivalent.
Preparing for Assessment
Preparing for your SUP Sheltered Water Leader assessment can take many forms. You’re encouraged to actively choose the training and experiences that best suit your development. You can join a British Canoeing Awarding Body SUP Leader Training course, or tailor your preparation with custom learning opportunities.
Interactive eLearning and Leadership Resources
Explore our optional eLearning modules, where you can dive into essential leadership principles, including:
- British Canoeing Awarding Body Leadership Model
- Guidance for Leading in New Environments
- Tips for Leading Mixed Craft Journeys
These resources include guides, a digital self-assessment tool, and more to help you build confidence as a SUP leader. Find out more here!