STAND UP PADDLEBOARD WHITE WATER LEADER AWARD

COURSE DESCRIPTION

WHY BECOME A STAND UP PADDLEBOARD WHITE WATER LEADER?

First of all, the Stand Up Paddleboard White Water Leader is open to anyone with experience of paddling in moderate white water. The award will enable you to lead fun, safe and enjoyable white water trips for groups of paddlers.

You will be supported to develop your personal and leadership skills during two days of training, with like-minded white water paddlers. Alternatively, if you have sufficient experience you could go straight to assessment.

Furthermore, this award is used by clubs, outdoor centres and organisations to support their white water journeys on grade 2(3) rivers.

WHAT CAN A STAND UP PADDLEBOARD WHITE WATER LEADER DO?

Your award will support you to lead safe and enjoyable journeys. You will lead white water paddlers with a range of experience on trips based on their needs and aspirations in a moderate white water environment.

As a Leader, you can work independently or be deployed by a club, centre or organisation to lead trips and journeys. The purpose of these trips may be wide ranging from educational experiences, social adventures or trying something new.

You will be able to provide British Canoeing Awarding Body Awards and Training, such as:

• Personal Performance Awards – the Start Award, Discover Award and the White Water SUP Award

Note: other experience, training or qualifications may be required. Find out more in our develop skills section.

HOW SHOULD I PREPARE FOR THE TRAINING COURSE?

To get the most from your course you will need to feel comfortable paddling on grade 2(3) white water rivers. We would recommend holding the SUP White Water Award before booking onto your training. 

HOW SHOULD I PREPARE FOR THE ASSESSMENT?

Before your assessment, you need to attend the White Water Safety Training Course. This course will support you to consider safe practices, provide practical solutions to common issues and appropriate responses to incidents, providing peace of mind when venturing out onto the rivers.

There are lots of ways you can prepare for your assessment. It is important that you take an active role in deciding the appropriate training and experience that you need. You could book onto the British Canoeing White Water Leader Training course to support you in developing the required skills. Alternatively, you can choose bespoke learning opportunities to support your development stage. Find out more on the content tab.

LEADERSHIP ELEARNING AND ONLINE RESOURCES

These optional, interactive eLearning package will take you through some of the key principles behind:

• British Canoeing Awarding Body Model of Leadership.
• Leading in unfamiliar environments.
• Leading mixed craft journeysAnd provides resources and guides as well as a digital self-analysis tool. Find out more!

And provides resources and guides as well as a digital self-analysis tool. Find out more!

COURSE CONTENT

It's your development pathway! You choose if you want to attend formal training courses or develop your personal skills, leadership and safety and rescue, with a mentor or through your Club/Organisation. When you're ready for assessment you are in control. It's your group, your trip and our assessor joins you for the day.

WHITE WATER LEADER TRAINING

Typically run over two days, British Canoeing Awarding Body SUP White Water Leader training courses will support the development of your personal skill level and leadership ability to lead a group of paddlerboarders in a moderate white water environment. The training emphasises the application of strokes to achieve suitable techniques and boat control in real situations.

The training covers four key areas:

• Personal paddling skills
• Rescue skills
• Safety, leadership and group skills
• Theory

Some training courses can be extended to include the assessment prerequisite White Water Safety training.

Formal leadership training is not mandatory, however if you chose to access the training you will have a great couple of days, develop your community of practice as well as making friends and paddle with likeminded paddlers.

SUP WHITE WATER LEADER ASSESSMENT

We believe in assessments for learning and you will definitely learn a lot from your assessment. 

All White Water Leaders will require -

• Advanced White Water Safety and Rescue
• Valid (within 3 years) British Canoeing recognised First Aid award, appropriate for the qualification
• Valid (within 3 years) Safeguarding Training – we offer a range of online Safeguarding packages, as well as face to face courses. 
• Paddle Cymru Membership

*Note - as long as you meet the prerequisites, you will be automatically sent confirmation of your Registration.

Before you book onto your Assessment, you will need to be a member of Paddle Northern Ireland, 16 years of age (or older) and have an appropriate First Aid Qualification, safeguarding training and complete your registration.

WHAT IS REGISTRATION?

Anyone wishing to pursue a Coaching or Leadership Qualification is required to centrally register with the appropriate National Association (British Canoeing, Canoe Wales, Scottish Canoe Association, Canoe Association of Northern Ireland). Registration is the process by which you confirm your intention to study towards a particular qualification. It includes:

• Checking of previous qualifications
• Completing and signing the Registration Form
• Medical Declaration (if required)
• Setting up and providing access to course resources and eLearning (where applicable)
• Acceptance of the terms and conditions of study and helps you understand your rights whilst undertaking the qualification and how your data will be used.

Once you are registered you become a learner with the National Association, we are able to contact you with relevant information and updates to your course of study, help you find a course and local support or mentoring.

WHEN AND WHERE DOES REGISTRATION TAKE PLACE?

We would recommend that you register as soon as you have all the prerequisites in place.  As a bare minimum and to support your learning we would recommend registering at least two weeks before your Assessment. Registration is an online process through your Paddle Northern Ireland membership portal. Registration is separate from booking a place on a course; the latter is done directly with the Course Provider. It is worth noting that many Course Providers want to see evidence of Registration at the point of booking.

COURSE ASSESSMENT

We do everything we can to take the stress out of assessments, we are focused on the journey and not the destination. The experience will be safe, engaging and enjoyable, with you at the heart of the process, involving you in as much of the decision making as possible.

TYPICAL ASSESSMENT

Your assessor will guide you through the stages of arranging your assessment, discussing with you the best times and dates for the assessment, helping you ensure you have a group to lead and the appropriate assessment conditions on the day.

By the end of the assessment, you will have to demonstrate knowledge and skills in four areas:

• Personal paddling skills
• Rescue skills
• Safety, leadership and group skills
• Theory

SUP White Water Leaders will need the ability to judge the conditions and the standard of the group and make appropriate decisions. The assessment takes place over a typical paddling day, depending on the logistics relating to access to suitable environments, you and your assessor may agree a longer assessment.

HELP AND SUPPORT AHEAD OF YOUR ASSESSMENT

Every Leader will prepare differently for their assessment. However, you can check your readiness for assessment using:

• The SUP White Water Leader Assessment Guidance – this explains, in detail, the standard required for assessment. Available March 2024
• Leadership eLearning – This optional, interactive eLearning package will take you through some of the key principles behind the British Canoeing Model of Leadership. This is a good refresher of the Leadership principles, at any point on your journey towards becoming a White Water Leader.

Leadership eLearning and online Resources – This optional, interactive eLearning package will take you through some of the key principles behind the British Canoeing Awarding Body Model of Leadership. This is a good refresher of the Leadership principles, at any point on your journey towards becoming a Leader. You also might find it useful to carry out a Self-Assessment using British Canoeing's Leader Self Analysis Tool.