Become a Slalom Coach

Our sport need enuthusiastic people to coach at all levels of the sport, from introducing people to paddling and their first experiences of slalom right through to the highest levels of performance on the international stage.  Inspiring coaches can make a huge difference to paddlers performance on the water and helppeople develop important life skills through the sport.

As well as qualified coaches, there are also many roles that less experienced people can do working alongside a coach to suppport paddlers in clubs and at races. 

The Journey to gaining the Slalom Coach Award

This is a summary to help prospective slalom coaches understand what is involved in becoming a qualified coach. It is recommended that they read full information provided on the relevant home nation and awarding body websites (see resources and information).

The Slalom Coach Award can be done as a boat-based coach or a bank-based coach, so is open to non-paddling parents and those in clubs that don’t feel comfortable paddling on more challenging water.

The basic to journey to complete the Slalom Coach Award is as follows:

  • complete the Coach Award Core training course,
  • compete the Slalom Coach Award discipline specific training course,
  • complete a Slalom Coach Award assessment.

Below you will find more details about each stage. Those with previous experience may be able to apply for Accredited Prior Learning to bypass some elements of the training (there is no exemption from the assessment).

Coach Award Core Training Course

This 2-day course is common all disciplines of the coach award and covers the ‘Who’ and ‘How’ of coaching.  It is also possible to do this as an online course, usually over 4-6 sessions.

Pre-requisites for Coach Core training:

  • you must be a full Paddle UK / Home Nation member to attend the course.

Slalom Coach Discipline Specific Training Course

This 2-day course applies the learning from the Core training to slalom and the slalom environment, adding the ‘What’ and ‘Where’ to coach to the ‘Who’ and ‘How’.  One day of the course is based at an artificial ww centre, and one day at a natural river venue.

Pre-requisites for Slalom Coach training:

  • Have completed the Coach Core training.
  • You must be a full Paddle UK / Home Nation member to attend the course.

Slalom Coach Assessment

This is a 1-day assessment of your coaching, group management, safety and rescue skills, as well as discussion about your experience and ability to plan the development of paddlers towards a particular goal. An assessor can assess 2 people in a day.

There are now 2 levels of Slalom Coach Award assessment available. This is because it has been recognised that there are some aspirant slalom coaches that will only operate on easier water at lower division slalom site, therefore an assessment requiring coaching on more challenging water presents a barrier to them becoming qualified. The training pathway is the same for both levels of Slalom Coach Award Assessment – you simply choose the appropriate assessment for your needs, either:

  • Slalom Coach Grade 1/2 Assessment
  • Slalom Coach Grade 2/3 Assessment

Aspirant slalom coaches who are comfortable coaching on grade 2/3 can go straight to this level of assessment (you do not have to do the grade 1/2 assessment).  Coaches who do the grade 1/2 assessment and subsequently develop the experience to coach on grade 2/3 simple take an assessment at this level – you do not have to repeat any training.

Pre-requisites for Slalom Coach Assessment:

  • You must be a full Paddle UK/Home Nation member.
  • Have completed the Coach Core training and Slalom Coach training.
  • Have registered for the Slalom Coach Award (via your home nation).
  • Have completed the Coach Award e-learning – access to this is included in your registration for the award.
  • Have current Safeguarding training (within 3 yrs) – see below.
  • Have current First Aid training (within 3 yrs) minimum 16hr course – see below.
  • Sufficient coaching experience (recommended a minimum of 15 sessions).
  • Be at least 16 years old.

You also must do an Assessment Check In to get approval to go to assessment. This is administrative step to confirm you have all the pre-requisites before you go to an assessment – you cannot be assessed without doing this.  Your assessor should provide more details about this and ask for a copy of it before the assessment.

You must take the following with you to assessment (the assessor will probably ask for some of these to be emailed through in advance:

  • Evidence of Delivery Centre Approval (Assessment Check In as above)
  • Details of your experience (e.g. a logbook / details of sessions run, participants, venue etc)
  • Completed Assessment Discussion Task (see below)
  • You’ll also be asked for some details/a plan for the coaching sessions you will deliver at the assessment in advance.

At your assessment you will be expected to do the following:

  • Practical Coaching – deliver 90min (can be in 1 or 2 sessions).
  • Rescue skills – full details of what is required, and the minimum standards are given in the Coach Award Assessment Guidance and on training courses. Bank-based coaches need to ensure they have appropriate safety provision in place to cover these.
  • Assessment Discussion Task – You need to prepare this in advance. It’s a plan of how you would develop a paddler or paddlers towards a specified need. There is guidance and examples on the BC Awarding website).
  • Professional Discussion – to look at your experience and knowledge, and anything not covered in the practical sessions – see the guidance for full details.
  • Personal skills (boat-based coaches only) – while this isn’t formally assessed for the Slalom Coach Award, the assessment is holistic so if you choose to do your assessment as a boat-based coach you need to be able to paddle effectively in the conditions you are coaching in.

Additional Information about Pre-requisites:

  • Coach Award Registration – this is done through your home nation. You can do this at any point in the training pathway, so it is recommended you register as soon as you plan to do the Coach Core training.
  • Coach Award e-learning – this is included in the cost of Coach Award Registration (do not purchase it separately!). While it must be completed before assessment, it provides learning to underpin and reinforce that gained from the training courses, so is best accessed as soon as you start training, and you can revisit it.
  • First Aid training – as Slalom Coaches operate on moderate water (Grade 2/3) you need a First Aid course that is a minimum of 2 days. Most courses will suffice, but a 2-day ‘Outdoor First Aid’ course is likely to be the most appropriate as these include looking after a casualty in the environments that we coach in. See the British Canoeing Awarding Body’s First Aid Policy for further details. This must be current when you come to assessment (within the last 3 years) and updated every 3 years.
  • Safeguarding training – you need to have completed an introductory safeguarding course. This should be an interactive course of at least 3 hour within the last 3 years. (For example: UK Coaching’s Safeguarding and Protecting Children courses – either their face-to-face or through their ‘online classroom’).
    Please check with your Home Nation as the course requirements are slightly different in each nation.
    Important     – Your Safeguarding training should also be updated every 3 years. The British Canoeing Awarding Body and other safeguarding refresher elearning courses meet this requirement, but are not acceptable as an initial course.
  • Experience – it is suggested that candidates that are successful at assessment have normally delivered a minimum of 15 progressive technical/tactical coaching sessions. For many people it will usually be more than this, but it is heavily dependent on an individual’s previous experience and skills.

Frequently Asked Questions:

Is there an age limit on becoming a coach?

Training – there is no age limit for attending Coach Core or Slalom Coach training – although course providers may have their own age limits.

Assessment – you must be aged 16 or over at the time of assessment.  Note: under 18’s can not be legally responsible so clubs/organisation should deploy these coaches under adult supervision.

How much will getting qualified cost?

To give an indication, the two-day training courses are likely to be around £200-250 each, and an assessment will be £150-200. Cost will vary depending on the provider, location. You may also incur additional costs such as travel and accommodation.

There are additional costs for pre-requisites: Coach Award Registration (£48), Safeguarding training (£45), and 2-day First Aid (£120-£150).

Is there funding available?

Paddle UK slalom committee: will fund 50% of the cost of Slalom Coach Training course or Slalom Coach Assessment for volunteer coaches committing to coach in the club environment.  There is currently no Slalom Committee funding for the Coach Core training or for any of the pre-requisites, it is recommended that aspirant coaches approach their club for support.

Home Nations: additional funding may be available through your home nation. E.g. the England Slalom Committee will currently match fund the other 50% of the training course and assessment for volunteers within English Clubs. Other Home Nations usually offer support to volunteers.

Clubs: your club may be able to support you or access funding to support you (e.g. Paddle England Coach and Leader Bursary scheme, Slalom Start programme, local grants).

I already have experience, do I need to do all the training?

It is possible for those with other coaching qualifications or experience to apply for Accredited Prior Learning (APL) allowing them to bypass elements of the required training (Coach Core or Slalom Coach training). It is not possible to APL the assessment for either Slalom Coach Award.

Any APL application needs to be submitted to your home nation with the appropriate fee (currently £25). See your home nations website coaching information.

Further Information and Guidance on the Slalom Coach Award

British Canoeing Awarding Body – https://britishcanoeingawarding.org.uk/coach-award-resources/  This includes the full guidance to candidates, tutors and assessors.

There are also a huge range of resources and guidance for coaches and aspirant coaches on the awarding body website (see https://britishcanoeingawarding.org.uk then learning).

Home Nations website (coaching information)

FAQs

What is Paddles Up Training?

This is the English delivery centre for British Canoeing Awarding Body qualification – basically the English brand for this with its own website containing information on the qualifications and awards available.

How do I find a course?

Coach Core training course (in person and online) run regularly through the year as these are common to all of the Coach Award in all disciplines. Course are advertised in various places including home nations website and various social media groups. They can also be run on request if clubs have a group interested in the course.

Slalom Coach training courses generally advertised by providers as when they are arranged, but these are less frequent that Coach Core training.  A minimum of two candidates are required to run a Slalom Coach training course so they can be arranged on request for clubs or groups of clubs (although it would be more financially viable to run a course with more candidates).

Details of course providers for either course can be found on each home nations website.

How do I find an assessment?

Generally, Slalom Coach Assessments are run on request by contacting an assessor to arrange this.  Assessor’s details can be found on each home nations website.

How long do I have to complete the Award?

There is no set time limit to complete the award and it will depend on your existing level of experience. It is realistic to go from training to assessment within a year, and the longer you leave it the less likely it is you will progress to an assessment.

What about my existing qualification?

Any previous coaching qualifications you have remain valid, although you should keep your home nation membership, first aid and safeguarding training current. You are also required to complete CPD to demonstrate you are up to date as a coach.

Can I use my previous experience?

Yes, any slalom coaching you have done prior to training is valuable experience towards gaining the Slalom Coach Award.  If you have existing coaching qualifications it is possible to apply for Accredited Prior Learning (APL) to bypass some elements of training, although these are considered on a case-by-case basis. There is no exemption from the assessment.

Do I need a criminal records check?

This is not a requirement or prerequisite to do the Slalom Coach Award. However, any club or other organisation that you are coaching for has a responsibility to undertake criminal records check on anyone working with young people on a regular basis, so it is likely you will be asked to a check by your club.

Can I progress after completing the Slalom Coach Award?

Yes, you can go on to do the next level of qualification, the Slalom Performance Coach Award.