Level 1 – Assistant Coach
What can I do as a Level 1 Coach?
A Level 1 Coach is able to assist Level 2 coaches and above, delivering aspects of a coaching session, normally under direct supervision. The supervising coach should be able to take charge of a session if need. There is no restriction as to who you can assist; this will dependent upon your personal experience, where you will be coaching and what coaching you want to do. So a Level 1coach can assist Level 2 coaches and above in any discipline.
Who trains as a Level 1 Coach?
This will be the entry point for most coaches coming into the BCU coaching scheme, and will be the same for coaches working with competitive and recreational paddlers, as well as canoe and kayak paddlers. It is here that you will start to develop the foundation coaching skills that will underpin your coaching practice in the future. The training will aim to ensure coaches develop skills that will benefit any paddler irrespective of what type of boat they are paddling.
There will be two routes available at level 1;
Level 1 - Bank-based Coach – An award intended for individuals who do not have personal paddling skills but intend to coach from the waters edge or an appropriate safety boat.
Level 1 - Boat-based Coach – An award for individuals with a degree of personal paddling skills and who intend to coach from either a canoe, kayak or the waters edge. To be considered a boat based coach you must have a 2* award.
How do I become a Level 1 Coach?
There are no prerequisites needed to enter the training elements of Level 1 Coach. But prior to attending an assessment you as an aspirant coach must complete all of the following components:
· Generic Coach Module (16 credits) – A 24 hours (3x1day) course introducing the basic concepts of how and what to coach. This will be a generic course applicable to coaches who wish to work with competitive and recreational paddlers.
· Paddlesport Safety (4 credits) – a 4 hour course that covers the basic of safety and life sustaining skills required by anybody operating in a paddlesport environment.
· A period of mentored practice – during this period you will spend some time coaching under the supervision of a more experienced coach and some time watching a more experienced coach working.
· A Criminal Records Bureau (CRB) Check; or its equivalency in each Home Nation – this must be maintained on a three yearly cycle.
What order should I do these components in?
Apart from the CRB check and the safety and rescue components which must be completed prior to any mentored practice you can complete the modules in any order.
What happens when I’ve completed all these components?
Once these elements have been completed you can proceed to your Level 1 assessment. Upon successful completion of an assessment you will be awarded Level 1 Coach status.
Continuous Personal Development (CPD)
In order to continue to develop as a Level 1 coach you would need to complete additional training within a period of three years. This additional training must carry a value of 8 credits. These credits can be gained from attending additional coach training courses (any course at any level); discipline specific units (any course at any level) or from a number of supporting units (see appendix i) and are valid for a 3 year period.
Accreditation for Prior Learning and Experience (APL or APEL)
If you have previous coaching experience or qualifications in other areas covered by the training it is possible to use this previous learning or experience to gain credits for elements of the Level 1 training requirements (or any other BCU course).
For further information from the BCU visit their website www.bcu.org, or click here.
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