Paddlesport Leader

Paddlesport Leader. A group on the water in sit-on-tops and paddleboards.

The Leadership and Raft Guide Awards suite align to the British Canoeing Awarding Body Educational Philosophy and support leaders to run safe, quality, enjoyable trips, based on their group’s needs and aspirations.

The Paddlesport Leader is aimed at paddlers who wish to lead groups of mixed craft on both wind affected and slow moving sheltered water.

Paddlesport Leader Overview

Minimum age

16 years

Prerequisites

  • Full National Association Membership
  • Valid (within 3 years) British Canoeing Awarding Body recognised 1-day First Aid Award
  • Valid (within 3 years) Safeguarding Training recognised by British Canoeing Awarding Body

Course Length

Optional training /1-2 day Assessment

eLearning

Optional free Leadership eLearning

Course Documents

To view the associated documents with this course, click here.

Registration

You will need to register with your Delivery Centre ahead of assessment. Visit your Delivery Centre website below for further information.

Find a Course

Visit your Delivery Centre website to find a course near you.

Informal learning, experience based learning, and an availability of individualised choices are important to developing skilled leaders. To supplement this, British Canoeing Awarding Body provides quality training opportunities for those that seek them. It is important that you take an active role in deciding the appropriate preparation, training and experience that you need prior to presenting yourself for assessment. Guidance is offered below to help you construct this personalised development journey.

British Canoeing Awarding Body Training  

British Canoeing Awarding Body Paddlesport Leader Training courses are available to support you in your development of the required skills. These courses typically cover leadership skills, and the associated personal skills, safety and rescue skills. As this training is delivered by British Canoeing Awarding Body Paddlesport Leader Providers, they will also be able to help you identify an appropriate action plan to support your progress towards a successful assessment. This is the comprehensive option; courses are normally offered as 2-5 day programmes, with longer courses providing more time for you to practice and develop the skills.

Other Training Opportunities  

You may wish to opt for more bespoke training opportunities. For example, private tuition, in-house training through your work place, working alongside/shadowing other Leaders, or conference/symposium workshops. Many British Canoeing Awarding Body Paddlesport Leader Providers are willing to offer bespoke training to individuals or groups of individuals. The benefit of working with a Paddlesport Leader Provider is that they have explicit knowledge of the award requirements. However, there are a great many other experienced Leaders who may be in a position to support your development; the Paddlesport Leader Assessment Guidance,  Checklist and the Leader and Raft Guide Self- Analysis Tool can be used as a steer as to the skills required.

Supportive Resources

There are a range of resources to support you on your journey to becoming a Leader, from the self-analysis tool, to the logbook and journey planning sheet. Explore the resources here.

Methods of Assessment

In order to achieve the qualification you need to show competence in the following elements:
  • Participant focused leadership skills
  • Personal paddling skills
  • Rescue skills
  • Underpinning background knowledge, understanding and experience

The Leadership Assessment will normally run over 1 or 2 days. This will depend on the course ratios and logistics relating to access to suitable environments.

Upon completion of the Assessment, the course provider will submit successful participants for certification.

Course Documents

To view the associated documents with this course, click here.

Find a Course

To find a course in your area, visit your Delivery Centre website by clicking the relevant logo at the bottom of this page.

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Paddlesport Safety and Rescue Course

This course was launched on the 4th January and aims to provide paddlers with the key safety and rescue skills required to operate safely and be able to deal with common problems in a sheltered water environment.

The course content focuses on rescuing from the paddlers specific craft and covers equipment, safety frameworks, as well as a range of rescues such as contact and towing rescues, self-rescues and deep water rescues.

Find out more about this course!

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Stand Up Paddleboard Instructor

This course was launched on the 4th January and aims to support Instructors running SUP taster/starter sessions and short journeys in very sheltered water environments.

The 2 day course helps to prepare candidates for their first SUP instructing role, ensuring they are ‘primed and ready’ to deliver safe and enjoyable sessions for people new to paddleboarding, within the safety management systems of clubs, centres or other organisations.

Find out more about this course!

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Inclusive Language eLearning

This eLearning was launched on the 11th January and will cover the importance of using inclusive language and the impact it can have on those around you.

This module provides an understanding of key terms, definitions and examples of inclusive language; supports learners on how to identify and tackle inappropriate or exclusive language such as banter and microaggressions; and how to challenge it when it happens.

Find out more!

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International Webinars

We have held several International webinars throughout the year the first being Paddling in France which was on 15th February 2023, this was then followed by the United States of America on 15th March 2023 we then had Nepal, Norway and the latest one Austria which was on 21st June 2023. 

If any resources were used in the webinar you can now find them on the BCAB Digital Library along with the recording of the webinars. Unfortunately Paddling in Norway wasn\’t recorded so that wont be on the Digital Library.

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Manual Handling eLearning

This eLearning was launched on the 31st January and will cover different types of manual handling, how we can consider and manage risk and shows the steps we can take when manual handling to better protect our bodies. 

Throughout paddlesport, there are many occasions when we are lifting, carrying and moving craft, as well as performing rescues.  It’s essential we reflect on current practice and consider whether we are putting ourselves and others in potential danger of damaging joints and muscles, particularly when moving or lifting equipment or people.

Find out more!

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