Canoe Leader Training

Participants will require be required to hold the Canoe Award (or 3 Star Canoe Award)

This Canoe Award / 3 Star Assessment exemption is only possible with prior discussion with Oisin Hallissey, Head of Paddlesport at the Centre. For further information please contact the Centre on (028) 4372 2158.

The Canoe Leader Award is a prerequisite for those Level 2 Coaches wishing to attain their moderate endorsement.

Candidates need to be aged 16 or over at the time of assessment. See syllabus notes on CANI website for further details and restrictions.

Achieving your Canoe Leader Award is recognition of having the skill level and understanding to lead a group of 4 competent paddlers in appropriate locations up to moderate conditions.

The Canoe Leader Award is an ideal award for those club paddlers who are leading club trips. The award is also a prerequisite to attending your Level 2 Coach Moderate Endorsement. For full details of the Canoe Leader Award syllabus and relevant course guidelines, candidates should visit British Canoeing’s Awarding Body website – Click HERE

The assessment will run over two days and most of the ‘on the water’ activity will take place in a moderate environment. The assessment will focus on the following key areas:

Application of boat handling skills to the moderate environment such as:

• Efficient and effective open water skills ability to manage boat confidently upwind, downwind and across in force 3
• Efficient and effective grade 2 river running skills including eddy selection use of the flow etc
• Ferry gliding
• Rafting and sailing
• Lining and poling
• Supporting and balancing

Safety and rescue such as:

• Dealing with a swimmer swiftly and effectively
• Open water self and deep water rescues in a range of conditions whilst maintaining control of group
• Towing strategies
• Throwline rescues
• Safety equipment, its use and application
• Protocol for dealing with an incident, effective team leader
• Rescuing equipment and affective risk assessing

Safety, leadership and group skills such as:

• Leadership strategies, judgment and decision making
• Safety awareness and risk assessment
• Group control and management
• Use of maps for orientation and escape route
• Duty of care and responsibilities
• Selection of suitable kit and equipment

This programme is aimed at those wishing to lead journeys in a moderate environment.

The following list is of equipment we recommend you bring. All essential equipment is available from our extensive stores. We advise you not to rush out and buy kit for the course, but use it as a chance to find out what would best suit your needs.  If you do have any of your own equipment do bring it along, however our staff will be required to vet for suitability any equipment brought such as buoyancy aids and helmets. You should bring the following personal equipment with you: Footwear – wet suit boots, thermal tops, warm outdoor wear (fleece is ideal), hat, gloves, small first aid kit, vacuum flask, personal medication, notebook and pen.

Our equipment stores are by far the best around with a stock of over 100 boats from across the range of models so there are plenty to choose from! If you are thinking of buying a boat come along and ‘try before you buy’ and also get unbiased expert advice from our staff on the most suitable equipment for you.

Again participants are encouraged to bring any of their own personal equipment so they get the opportunity to be coached using the equipment they are most familiar with.

The course fee includes kit, equipment, in course transport, coaching, food and accommodation.

Course accommodation will be in shared twin ensuite rooms. If you would prefer not to share a room, single occupancy may be available for an additional charge.

BCU Canoe & Kayak Handbook  and  BCU Coaching Handbook – both published by Pesda Press