The coach education section offers a compressive range of programmes which provide British Canoe Union (BCU) and UK Coach Certificate (UKCC) qualifications.
Our coach’s collective experience and qualifications bring us to the forefront of paddlesport coaching both in the competitive and recreation areas. We apply this knowledge to offer you cutting edge coaching methods that are rapidly evolving to the needs of mainstream paddlesport. It’s this depth of knowledge that allows us to deliver coach education courses guaranteed to meet your needs and more.
We pride ourselves on the high standard of all our coaching programmes, we guarantee the following:
- The latest coaching methods, which evolve to meet the demands of mainstream paddlesport.
- Coach mentoring between training and assessment for all levels of the coaching pathway.
- Fair and friendly assessment that reflects high training standards, giving you the peace of mind that you’ll have the right knowledge and tools to do the job successfully.
The course will be run over four days and be based in locations throughout the UK.
You will be required to register with the BCU before the course starts. This can be done by completing the registration form for the appropriate level of qualification, enclose photocopies of your prerequisities and return to the governing body (please allows 14 days to process). A course pack will be sent to you before the course starts.
BCU/UKCC Level 1 Coach
The Level 1 award is for those new to paddle sport coaching. The qualification is not discipline specific and is therefore suitable to coaches who wish to work with paddlers from any of the competitive and non-competitive paddle sport disciplines. The Level 1 Coach can plan, deliver, and review short coaching sessions; normally with the support of a more qualified coach. They can work with paddlers at any stage of development; receiving specific training to coach paddlers in their first year of activity and to run taster sessions in kayak and canoe.
The Learning Outcomes:
- Preparing coaching activities, taking into account participants’ needs and motives.
- Establishing safe and open learning environments.
- Delivering coaching sessions to introduce fundamental paddle skills.
- Evaluating the effectiveness of personal coaching practice.
- Managing effective and appropriate bank and water based rescues.
Further Information » Level 1 Synopsis PDF » Coach Registration Prequsists PDF » CR Registration Form PDF
BCU/UKCC Level 2 Coach Training
Level 2 training provides a range of skills to develop coaches who want to work with individuals or groups over multiple sessions. You could be a Club Coach developing a group of paddlers or a teacher coaching a specific group of students. The training course is run over 4 days. The emphasis of the training course is to ‘observe, analyse and implement’. This means experimenting with new coaching styles and techniques and with new boats! Basically, it’s about putting theory into practice - giving you foundation skills and understanding along with the confidence to transfer them into a variety of coaching situations.
The Learning Outcomes:
- Understanding the roles and responsibilities of a BCU UKCC Level 2 Coach.
- Lesson planning for progressive learning.
- Safely delivering a series of pre-planed paddlesport activities.
- Evaluating and developing participants performance.
- Reviewing personal practice and coaching sessions.
Further Information » Level 2 Synopsis PDF » Coach Registration Prequsists PDF » CR Registration Form PDF
UKCC Level 2 Transfer Course
This 1 day course provides a fast-track route to UKCC Level 2 Assessment. It is aimed at active coaches who hold level 2 and level 3 BCU coaching qualifications obtained prior to the introduction of UKCC accreditation. The transfer course is designed to provide an update on changes in the coaching scheme and the latest current thinking in paddlesports coaching. The course provides an action plan for progress on to UKCC Level 2 Assessment.
The Learning Outcomes:
- Understanding the roles and responsibilities of a BCU UKCC Level 2 Coach.
- Lesson planning for progressive learning.
- Safely delivering a series of pre-planed paddlesport activities.
- Evaluating and developing participants performance.
- Reviewing personal practice and coaching sessions.
Further Information » Transfer Pre Course Information PDF » Coach Registration Prequsists PDF » CR Registration Form PDF » Level 2 Synopsis PDF
UKCC BCU Level 2 Coach Assessment
On this one day course, you will be assessed on your coaching ability to develop people within the sport and coaching at the foundation / progressive level. You will provide your own personal equipment and be assessed in a sheltered flat-water venue
It will be an all day assessment of coaching kayak and canoe sessions. A candidate pack will be sent to you before the assessment.
The Assessment Tasks:
- Evidence gathering and completion of candidates level 2 workbook.
- Complete a coaching case study between your training and assessment.
- Complete a practical scenario based assessment of rescue skills.
- Demonstrate technical understanding of paddlsport techniques.
- Complete question paper.
Further Information » Level 2 Assessmnent Synopsis PDF » Coach Registration Prequsists PDF » CR Registration Form PDF
Level 2 Moderate Water Training
This one day course is designed to provide the relevant training to move on to a UKCC level 2 moderate water assessment. It will cover white water and open water skills, along with the teaching techniques to allow candidates to transfer their UKCC level 2 coaching knowledge into a discipline specific moderate environment.
The Learning Outcomes:
- Leadership and group organisation
- Coaching in moving water enviroment enviroments
- Observation and analysis techniques
- Progresive coaching stratagies
- Goal setting and motivation
- Action planning
Further Information » Level 2 Moderate Water Training Synopsis PDF » Coach Registration Prequsists PDF » CR Registration Form PDF
Level 2 Moderate Water Assessment
This one day assessment will cover all aspects of the UKCC level 2 moderate water syllabus. It will assess all the appropriate coaching techniques and knowledge in the discipline specific moderate environment. Successful candidates are then qualified to coach on Grade 2(3) white water (or equivalent weirs) in white water kayaks.
The Assessment Tasks:
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Put in place an appropriate safety framework including safety briefing and incident action
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Using appropriate sites to provide suitable progressions and coaching to the needs of the learners.
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Deliver two coaching sessions based on the content of the 3 star syllabus
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Show the ability to demonstrate skills in the appropriate environments making them clear and precise for their learners.
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Demonstrate the ability to lead a group (maximum of six) safely in moderate water environment.
Further Information » Level 2 Moderate Water Assessment Synopsis PDF » Coach Registration Prequsists PDF » CR Registration Form PDF
UKCC BCU Coaching Modules
There are currently six BCU Foundation Module Courses available for coaches;
- Fitness for Paddlesports
- Coaching the Mind
- Performance Planning for Paddlesport Coaches
- Mentoring for Paddlesport Coaches
- Outdoor Education and Paddlesport
- Coaching Young Paddlers
These introductory modules are designed to give Coaches an insight into the different topic areas.
Fitness for Paddlesports
This module is designed to introduce racing and recreational paddlers to the key concepts of fitness for canoe sport – training, nutrition and physiology (TNP). It is intended as a standalone module such that paddlers and coaches with no prior knowledge of sports science should be able to attend and access all the delivered material.
Level / Time: Level 1 and 2 coaches – 3 hours
Coaching the Mind
To introduce paddlers to the role of mental skills in paddlesport development and performance and to relate the area of mental skills training to coaching and paddler development and provide some working definitions. The course will introduce the concept of mental skills training, basic imagery and optimal arousal/arousal control strategies to coaches in the paddlesport environment.
Level / Time: Level 1 and 2 Coaches and anyone following a CPD programme in Paddlesport. 3 hours
Performance Planning for Paddlesport Coaches
This module intends to develop an understanding of how to articulate a three phase breakdown of the performers needs. Firstly the accurate breakdown of the type of paddling in focus, secondly complete a performance profile of a paddler and thirdly the construction of a development plan to move the paddler accurately forward in the desired context.
Level / Time: Level 2 or three coaches wishing to develop their ability to improve a performers development be it for club development or PDP purposes. 3 Hours.
Mentoring for Paddlesport Coaches
The module intends to equip coaches with a definition of modern mentoring. Identifying its principles, elements of best practice and the vocabulary which current mentor education embraces. Becoming a mentor is challenging and rewarding in equal measures. It is challenging because you are actively involved in the professional development of the coach and the long term improvement of paddlesport coaching. There is therefore a responsibility to be as knowledgeable and enthusiastic about recent developments in coaching and coach education. It is rewarding because as a mentor you will have opportunities to articulate your own perspective, views and beliefs about coaching to another coach effectively reflecting on your own thinking and practice.
Level / Time: Level 2 or three coaches wishing to develop mentoring skills for club or PDP purposes. 3 hours.
Outdoor Education and Paddlesport
What is coaching in the outdoors? Many definitions exist but general agreement within research and literature suggests that outdoor education is: Education in the outdoors, Education for the outdoors and the Use of resources outdoors to meet educational goals. This module is designed to introduce Paddlesport Coaches to the key concepts of Paddlesport Coaching in the outdoors.
Level / Time: Level 1 and 2 coaches – 3 hours
Coaching Young Paddlers
This module has been introduced in recognition of the hundreds of thousands of young people who are instructed by BCU coaches every year and the importance of providing the best support and help to meet their needs. It is designed to help coaches who may work with young people aiming at Olympic success or those providing someone’s very first experience in paddlesport. It aims to help coaches deliver sessions in a way that meet young paddlers needs, so that they want to come back for more and that they help young paddlers to be the best they can be, whatever their ability or aspirations.
Level / Time: Level 1 and 2 coaches – 3 hours
Pre-requsits – SCA/BCU/WCA membership, stamped CR form, UKCC level 2 assessment, log book and 4 star leader award in relevant discipline.
