"Very good course. Useful to get pdf which I could open on the smart phone. De-brief was useful and informative and I enjoyed time on the water. Chose Wild River as I’ve used before and happy with service."
"Paddled some great rivers to advance my leading and to consolidate my personal paddling. Was given adequate opportunity to show how well I could lead and paddle."
"Well organised and thought out. Experience of running course was clear.Good atmosphere, clear delivery. Not too much pressure"
"Professional, well organised and clear objectives. Good pre-course info. Plenty of opportunity to perform. Thanks."
"Genuinely feel a more confident leader, which even if I'd failed would have been a positive outcome. Tasks set were clear as to where they fit in the 4 Star syllabus."
BCAB Pre-requisites
Performance Awards
There are no prerequisites or age restrictions for these awards.
Although not pre-requisites, these awards provide appropriate acknowledgement of personal skills for paddlers wanting to attend Coaching and Leadership qualifications. Achieving these awards ahead of the relevant qualification will enable you to focus on the course content, rather than being concerned with your personal skills.
There are no pre-requisites or age restrictions for these awards.
Although not prerequisites, these awards provide appropriate acknowledgement of personal skills for paddlers wanting to attend Coaching and Leadership qualifications. Achieving these awards ahead of the relevant qualification will enable you to focus on the course content, rather than being concerned with your personal skills.
There are no pre-requisites or age restrictions for these awards.
Although not prerequisites, these awards provide appropriate acknowledgement of personal skills for paddlers wanting to attend Coaching and Leadership qualifications. Achieving these awards ahead of the relevant qualification will enable you to focus on the course content, rather than being concerned with your personal skills.
There are no formal pre-requisites for leader training but candidates should have a level of personal skill relevant to the environment.
Paddlers wishing to complete a Paddlesport Leader Assessment are required to register with the appropriate Home Nation Association (Paddle England, Canoe Wales, Paddle Scotland, Paddle Northern Ireland).
It is advisable to do this at least 2 weeks prior to the assessment date. At the point of registration, evidence of the following is required:
How to register - step by step guide:
Full Home Nation Association Membership
Valid (within 3 years) Paddle UK recognised 1-day First Aid award
Valid (within 3 years) Safeguarding Training recognised by Paddle UK
There are no formal pre-requisites for leader training but candidates should have a level of personal skill relevant to the environment.
Paddlers wishing to complete a Canoe Open Water Leader Assessment are required to register with the appropriate Home Nation Association (Paddle England, Canoe Wales, Paddle Scotland, Paddle Northern Ireland). It is advisable to do this at least 2 weeks prior to the assessment date.
At the point of registration, evidence of the following is required:
How to register - step by step guide:
Full Home Nation Association Membership
Valid (within 3 years) Paddle UK recognised 2-day First Aid award
Valid (within 3 years) Safeguarding Training recognised by Paddle UK
There are no formal pre-requisites for leader training but candidates should have a level of personal skill relevant to the environment.
Paddlers wishing to complete a Canoe White Water Leader Assessment are required to register with the appropriate Home Nation Association (Paddle England, Canoe Wales, Paddle Scotland, Paddle Northern Ireland). It is advisable to do this at least 2 weeks prior to the assessment date.
At the point of registration, evidence of the following is required:
How to register - step by step guide:
Full National Association Membership
Valid (within 3 years) Paddle UK recognised 2 day First Aid Award
Please note: Candidates need to ensure their safety and rescue skills are current and up-to-date before presenting for an assessment; it is strongly advised that their WWSC or WWSR training is recent to ensure this is the case.
There are no formal pre-requisites for leader training but candidates should have a level of personal skill relevant to the environment.
Paddlers wishing to complete a White Water Leader Assessment are required to register with the appropriate Home Nation Association (Paddle England, Canoe Wales, Paddle Scotland, Paddle Northern Ireland). It is advisable to do this at least 2 weeks prior to the assessment date.
At the point of registration, evidence of the following is required:
How to register - step by step guide:
Full National Association Membership
Valid (within 3 years) Paddle UK recognised 2 day First Aid Award
Please note: Candidates need to ensure their safety and rescue skills are current and up-to-date before presenting for an assessment; it is strongly advised that their WWSC or WWSR training is recent to ensure this is the case.
There are no formal pre-requisites for leader training but candidates should have a level of personal skill relevant to the environment.
Paddlers wishing to complete a Paddlesport Touring Leader Assessment are required to register with the appropriate Home Nation Association (Paddle England, Canoe Wales, Paddle Scotland, Paddle Northern Ireland). It is advisable to do this at least 2 weeks prior to the assessment date.
At the point of registration, evidence of the following is required:
How to register - step by step guide:
Full National Association Membership
Valid (within 3 years) Paddle UK recognised 2-day First Aid Award
There are no formal prerequisites for leader training but candidates should have a level of personal skill relevant to the environment.
Paddlers wishing to complete a Paddlesport Touring Leader Assessment are required to register with the appropriate Home Nation Association (Paddle England, Canoe Wales, Paddle Scotland, Paddle Northern Ireland). It is advisable to do this at least 2 weeks prior to the assessment date.
At the point of registration, evidence of the following is required:
Full National Association Membership
Valid (within 3 years) Paddle UK recognised 2 day First Aid Award
There are no formal pre-requisites for leader training but candidates should have a level of personal skill relevant to the environment.
Paddlers wishing to complete an Advanced Canoe Open Water Leader Assessment are required to register with the appropriate Home Nation Association (Paddle England, Canoe Wales, Paddle Scotland, Paddle Northern Ireland). It is advisable to do this at least 2 weeks prior to the assessment date.
At the point of registration, evidence of the following is required:
How to register - step by step guide:
Full Home Nation Association Membership
Valid (within 3 years) Paddle UK recognised 2 day First Aid Award
There are no formal pre-requisites for leader training but candidates should have a level of personal skill relevant to the environment.
Paddlers wishing to complete an Advanced Canoe White Water Leader Assessment are required to register with the appropriate Home Nation Association (Paddle England, Canoe Wales, Paddle Scotland, Paddle Northern Ireland). It is advisable to do this at least 2 weeks prior to the assessment date.
At the point of registration, evidence of the following is required:
How to register - step by step guide:
Full Home Nation Association Membership
Valid (within 3 years) Paddle UK recognised 2 day First Aid Award
Please note: Candidates need to ensure their safety and rescue skills are current and up-to-date before presenting for an assessment; it is strongly advised that their WWSC or WWSR training is recent to ensure this is the case.
There are no formal pre-requisites for leader training but candidates should have a level of personal skill relevant to the environment.
Paddlers wishing to complete an Advanced White Water Leader Assessment are required to register with the appropriate Home Nation Association (Paddle England, Canoe Wales, Paddle Scotland, Paddle Northern Ireland). It is advisable to do this at least 2 weeks prior to the assessment date.
At the point of registration, evidence of the following is required:
How to register - step by step guide:
Full Home Nation Association Membership
Valid (within 3 years) Paddle UK recognised 2-day First Aid Award
Please note: Candidates need to ensure their safety and rescue skills are current and up-to-date before presenting for an assessment; it is strongly advised that their AWWSR training is recent to ensure this is the case.
Candidates wishing to pursue the SUP Instructor award are required to register directly with their respective Home Nation Association. This can be done via your on-line membership portal. Registration is different to booking a place on a course, which is done directly with the course provider. It is advisable to do this at least 2 weeks prior to the assessment date. Registration costs £46.80.
At the point of registration, evidence of the following is required:
How to register - step by step guide:
Full Home Nation Membership (Paddle England, Canoe Wales, Paddle Scotland, Paddle Northern Ireland)
Prior to attending the Stand Up Paddleboard Instructor course you are expected to have developed personal paddling and rescue competence. If you are unsure about your skill level or you can cross check your skills in the Stand Up Paddleboard Instructor Course Guide - Skills Checklist
Minimum age 14.
Candidates wishing to pursue the Paddlesport Instructor award are required to register directly with their respective Home Nation Association. This can be done via your on-line membership portal. Registration is different to booking a place on a course, which is done directly with the course provider. It is advisable to do this at least 2 weeks prior to the assessment date. Registration costs £46.80.
At the point of registration, evidence of the following is required:
How to register - step by step guide:
Full Home Nation Membership (Paddle England, Canoe Wales, Paddle Scotland, Paddle Northern Ireland)
Paddlesport Safety and Rescue Course (PSRC)
If you have not previously completed the Paddlesport Safety and Rescue Course we normally provide the opportunity to take this training before our Paddlesport Instructor courses.
Prior to attending the Stand Up Paddleboard Instructor course you are expected to have developed personal paddling and rescue competence. If you are unsure about your skill level or you can cross check your skills in the Stand Up Paddleboard Instructor Course Guide - Skills Checklist
In addition, we strongly recommend that students paddle their preferred craft at a good standard in sheltered water. See skills assessment on page 20 of the course guide.
Have a clear understanding of how boats move and can breakdown the manoeuvres in order to facilitate good coaching. Have delivered a number of coaching sessions so they have an appreciation of group management and communication.
Canoe and/or Kayak Coach Training (Shetered Water)
Completed the new core coach training OR Completed level 2 coach training
Registration
Coaches register with their Home Nation Association at any point on their journey to assessment. It is highly recommended that coaches register early to enable access to the eLearning Coach Award package which provides supportive material and signposting to development opportunities.
Completed the new core coach training OR Completed old level 2 coach training
Relevant Moderate Water Leader Award (formerly 4 Star Leader Award)
Registration
Coaches register with their Home Nation Association at any point on their journey to assessment. It is highly recommended that coaches register early to enable access to the eLearning Coach Award package which provides supportive material and signposting to development opportunities.
Completed the new core coach training OR Completed old level 2 coach training
Moderate Water Canoe Leader Award (formerly 4 Star Leader Award)
Registration
Coaches register with their Home Nation Association at any point on their journey to assessment. It is highly recommended that coaches register early to enable access to the eLearning Coach Award package which provides supportive material and signposting to development opportunities.
Completed the new core coach training OR Completed old level 2 coach training
Relevant Advanced Water Leader Award
Registration
Coaches register with their Home Nation Association at any point on their journey to assessment. It is highly recommended that coaches register early to enable access to the eLearning Coach Award package which provides supportive material and signposting to development opportunities.
Registration fee is £46.80.
Coach Award Assessment
There are three elements of essential training to support coaches working towards a Coach Award.
This includes:
1. Core Coach Training
2. Discipline Specific Training
3. Coach Award eLearning
Prior to your Coach Award Assessment you are required to have completed the following
assessment pre-requisites:
• Registration via your on-line membership portal.
• Coach Award eLearning
• Coach Award Core Training (see notes below)*
• Coach Award Discipline Specific Training (see notes below)* *
• Relevant Leadership Award for Moderate and Advanced Coach Assessments
Evidence of minimum standards of deployment:
• In date First Aid Training (1 day for Sheltered Water and 2 day for Moderate and Advanced Water Options)
• Safeguarding Training (as required by your Home Nation Association)
• Full Home Nation Association Membership
• Aged 16 or over at the time of assessment (18 for Advanced Water Options)
Prior to assessment you must ensure that all the pre-requisites are in place by checking-in with Paddle UK. Assessment check-in can be completed using your member portal. You should do this at least a few days before the assessment. If you have any problems please call your National Association direct.
You MUST take the following paperwork to your assessment:
1. Completed Assessment Discussion Task (see Assessment Day Pack for details)
2. Logbook of experience (see Assessment Day Pack for details)
3. Evidence of your Home Nation Association check-in approval for assessment
*Core Coach Training
Coaches who have completed any of the following training/assessment courses can choose to bypass the Core Coach Training if they feel confident with the content:
Level 2 (UKCC) Training OR Assessment
Moderate or Advanced Water Endorsement Training OR Assessment
Level 3 (UKCC) Core Training OR Assessment
**Canoe and Kayak Coach (Sheltered Water) Training
Coaches who have completed a 4-day Level 2 (UKCC) Training course can choose to bypass Sheltered Water Training if they feel confident with the content.
Open Water / White Water Canoe and White Water Kayak Coach Training
Coaches who have completed Moderate (or Advanced) Water Endorsement Training or BCU Level 3 Assessment (pre-UKCC) can choose to bypass the Coach Award Discipline Specific Training (in the same discipline) if they feel confident with the content.
Advanced Water Disciplines Coach Training
Coaches who have completed Advanced Water Endorsement Training can choose to bypass the Coach Award Discipline Specific Training (in the same discipline) if they feel confident with the content.
Paddlesport Safety and Rescue Course Pre-requisites
There are no specific pre-requisites for this course although we would recommend a paddling ability around 2 Star to get the most from it. There is no age restriction.
White Water Safety Course Pre-requisites
Candidates should be:
Confident in their ability to paddle on grade 2 water
Confident to swim in normal canoe clothing in the moving water environment
There is no age restriction.
A first aid certificate is not a pre-requisite; however the holding of a first aid certificate is strongly recommended for all paddlers.
Advanced White Water Safety Course Pre-requisites
Candidates should be:
Confident in their ability to paddle on grade 3 and 4 water.
Be confident swimming in normal canoe clothing suitable for a moving water environment.
Be a minimum of 16 years of age.
Have attended a Paddle UK White Water Safety course, ideally, in the last three years.
A first aid certificate is not a pre-requisite; however the holding of a first aid certificate is strongly
recommended for all paddlers.
