How do I get Into Coaching?

To become a Coach, you first need to be aged 16 or over.  Secondly, to Coach within the Sea cadets, you will need to hold personal paddling skills awards.  This can be either be the 'old' BCU 2 star kayak and the 'old' BCU 2 star open canoe, or the new BCU 2 star.  This pre-requisite is not required at the start of Coach training, but is required at the time of assessment.   Coach Level 1 courses are run at Area level or may be attended at a local Watersports Centre or via a regional BCU course.

Pre-requisites for attending a Sea Cadet run BCU Level 1 Coach Training course:

• Hold a BCU 2 Star award or higher (old Kayak and Open Canoe or the new BCU 2 star).

• Be 16 or older.

After you have completed your training modules:

After your have completed your 3 core modules, you will need to Coach alongside another experienced Coach to gain logged experience.  You will also need to complete a half day rescue course and submit a CRB check form, this must be done with the BCU, you can not use an existing CRB check.  After completion of these pre-requisites you can attend a BCU UKCC Level 1 Coach Assessment. 

Pre-requisites for attending a BCU Level 1 assessment:

• Aged 16 or over.

• BCU 2 Star skills award (old Kayak and Open Canoe or the new BCU 2 star).

• Have completed core training modules.

Once you have passed your BCU Level 1 Coach you may:

• Take out 8 people on the water (in Kayaks) or 6 people (in Open Canoes).

• Operate on very sheltered water only.

• Issue the new Paddlesport Start and the Paddle Power Start.

• Be awarded the Sea Cadets SCC Grade 3 award if over 18 or the SCC Grade 4 award if under 18 (on application to ASO-Paddlesport).

• BCU Level 1 Coaches aged under 18 must be supervised by an adult BCU Coach.