How to become a new BCU coach
BCU Coaching Awards can be accessed by anyone wishing to gain coaching knowledge or experience.
1. Gain the required Pre-requisites
During registration, candidates must hold the necessary pre-requisites for the appropriate level. Visit our coaching resources page to find out more.
Bank Based / Boat Based
Candidates who do not hold the required personal performance award (e.g. 2 or 3 star) may still complete the Level 1 or 2 coaching awards as bank based coaches. Important: Candidates who have registered as boat based coaches and are unsuccessful at assessment do not revert to bank based candidates, but must resit the assessment at a later date. Bank-based Coaches have to demonstrate their ability to manage the coaching environment effectively from the shore and provide effective and appropriate safety cover. Whilst the two routes do exist, most courses will be open to both bank- and boat-based candidates.
At the point of registration, candidates should specify if they intend to complete the award as a boat or bank based coach.
2. Register with Home Nation Governing Body
Important Information - Candidates should allow two weeks to complete the registration process
Anyone intending to become a BCU Coach by following training with development and portfolio requirements with an assessment will be required to centrally register with a BCU Awarding Delivery Centre (Canoe England, WCA, SCA, CANI) before they are able to attend initial coach training).
Registration will be required at each coaching level and will be the start of the validating process of your qualification and the means via which your coaching journey will be recorded.
Registration allows candidates to attend training courses, work through portfolio requirements and attend an assessment.
Entry into BCU Coaching Awards is at Level 1.
From January 2009 the BCU are no longer accepting the Canoe Safety Test (CST) as a pre-requisite for the UKCC courses. The Foundation Safety and Rescue course is now the only safety qualification accepted onto the UKCC courses. If you believe you have the experience but do not wish to take the course then you can apply for APL see below.
Accredited Prior Learning
The BCU does recognise that in some instances aspirant coaches will have prior experience that may enable them to enter the Coaching Awards programme at a higher level.
If you feel you have experience that can be accredited as prior experience refer to the BCU Accredited Prior Learning (APL) Policy
Visit our Coaching Resources page for relevant forms and documents to register.
3. Attend a Training / Assessment Course
BCU UKCC Coaching awards are delivered by a range of course providers throughout the country. These individuals or centres are authorised by SCA to deliver the awards before submitting the course paperwork to SCA and BCU who will issue certification. Full details of course providers in Scotland are available in the ‘course providers’ page.
Modular Structure
The new BCU coaching scheme follows a modular format, and whilst many Level 1 Training & Assessment courses, and Level 2 Training courses are advertised as 4 consecutive days, options exist for courses over non consecutive days. Contact any training provider for further information and a custom course at dates to suit.
Coaching Qualifications for Competition Disciplines
Where in the past Competition Coaching Awards have run separately to recreational awards, the new Level 1 and Level 2 Certificate in Coaching Paddlesports courses and the ‘core’ how to coach elements of the new Level 3 Certificate in Coaching Paddlesports are generic.
It is not necessary to be a paddler in order to obtain a competition coaching qualification. Level 1 Competition Coach in particular is suitable for parents and helpers, as well as paddlers and is intended to provide a supporter with sufficient knowledge to increase their coaching confidence as an assistant at club level.
Candidates attending Level 1, Level 2 and the ‘core’ elements of Level 3 courses may well share these experiences with and benefit from an interaction with coaches from a range of discipline interests. Additionally for all coaches there will be a range of supporting discipline modules and foundation supporting modules available in order to further develop interest and coaching experience.
Registration and some pre-requisite requirements may be required prior to accessing a training course. See the new guidance notes above.
Candidates can apply to the nearest qualifications training course, or their nearest BCU Training Director as listed in BCU and Home Nation Publications or on the BCU or Home Nation Website(s).
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