British Canoeing Coach Update Scheme:
Recognising commitment to relevant development and learning
Overview
British Canoeing and the Home Nation Associations actively encourage all coaches to keep up-to-date with relevant developments in paddlesport and in general coaching/leading best practice. The Coach Update Scheme supports and recognises coaches’ commitment to continued learning and development.
British Canoeing and the Home Nation Associations consider coaches who subscribe to the Coach Update Scheme to meet minimum standards for deployment as a coach. The flexibility which has been built into each aspect of the Coach Update Scheme allows coaches to select CPD opportunities relevant to their coaching activity.
To support quality provision of the BCU Awards and Qualifications, providers of any BCU course are required to subscribe to the Coach Update Scheme. It is also recommended that coaches working with BCU Approved Paddlesport Providers and Clubs subscribe to the scheme. Benefits of the scheme include;
- Evidence for deployers, or customers that you are qualified and updated
- Eligibility to vote for Regional and Area Coaching representatives
Coach Update Scheme Components
The Coach Update Scheme recognises coach members’ commitment to learning, development and best practice through the following areas:
1. Membership:
Maintaining full membership of British Canoeing is a core aspect of the Coach Update Scheme. Holding such membership provides civil liability insurance amongst other benefits depending on the Home Nation Association.
Find out more about membership.
2. First Aid:
Holding a recognised and valid First Aid certificate demonstrates the coach’s commitment to this aspect of the Coach Update Scheme. British Canoeing reviews First Aid courses against the needs of paddlesport coaches and publishes a
list of acceptable courses relevant to the coach’s working environment. Please refer to the
BCU First Aid Policy for full details
Note: This aspect does not apply to BCU UKCC Level 1 Coaches working under direct supervision.
3. Safeguarding Training:
Completing a recognised Safeguarding Training course demonstrates the coach’s commitment to this aspect of the Coach Update Scheme. Who a coach is working with will influence the level of training required. Please refer to our
Safeguarding Training Requirements for details of these requirements and a list of recognised training. For more information
please click here.
4. Continuous Personal Development (CPD):
The CPD aspect of the Coach Update Scheme recognises the coach’s commitment to ongoing development of their coaching practices.
British Canoeing and the Home Nation Associations consider it best practice for coaches to pursue regular development of their knowledge, skills and understanding in the following areas;
Coaching Aspects
Broadly, this refers to development which enhances the coach’s technical abilities (what to coach), understanding and application of the coaching process (how to coach), and (where relevant) leadership and/or assessing abilities.
Safe Practice
This refers to aspects of water safety, risk management and keeping up to date with current legislation and guidelines on ensuring the safety of participants
To fulfil the CPD aspect of the Coach Update Scheme, a coach should show active involvement with CPD in both of the above areas in every 3 year period.
British Canoeing appreciates that coaches may choose to develop themselves through a variety of means, and seeks to recognise formal, non-formal and informal development. By the following routes;
i. Participation in a recognised course
British Canoeing has reviewed a selection of training courses against the above areas and published a list of recognised courses. The list includes both BCU courses as well as courses run by established external organisations. Where a coach has attended one or more of the courses from this list their CPD validity can be extended for a specified period, of either 1.5 or 3 years. For full details refer to
Recognised CPD Courses
ii. Participation at a Coaching Matters event
To support coach development British Canoeing and the Home Nation Associations offer a series of Coaching Matters events. These provide development opportunities within the local area. Participation at one of these events will be automatically extended the coach’s CPD validity from the date of the event. For a list of upcoming Coaching Matters events please
click here.
iii. Application for Recognition of CPD
If you are organising an event which provides an opportunity for coaches to develop in the areas of Coaching Aspects and Safe Practice, and would like the event to be recognised as a CPD opportunity, please
[email protected] to register the event.
Coaching Reinstatement
Where individual membership has lapsed, BCU/SCA/WCA/CANI Coaching Service qualifications an be restored on the following basis:
1. If the membership is allowed to lapse for a period of less than 3 years the coach can reactivate qualifications by paying the current year’s membership plus a £15.00 administration fee and completing the Coach Update Scheme requirements described above.
2. If the lapsed period exceeds 3 years, the coach must pay the current years membership fee, a £15.00 administration fee, plus a £20.00 fee to cover revalidation. This will be in the form of an action plan plus a workshop or working alongside a course provider. (As deemed by their National Coaching Officer)*. Costs for workshops will be extra.
3. Due to the changes to the Coaching Scheme, re-instatement of Assessor status (A1 – A5) will not be given. Re-instatement of current assessor status (possibly at a lower level) would be re-activated on application via an agreed action plan and possible charge. A decision on an application for assessor re-instatement and any associated action plan would depend on the number of years of lapsed membership.
*(In order to complete this process the party concerned is advised to contact their Coaching Office to initiate the process).
Coaching qualifications are only valid whilst the member holds a current first aid award. For more information on First Aid please follow this
link on First Aid requirements. A copy of your first aid certificate must be sent in with your coach update or re-instatement application.