see that is what i am talking about knowing all these things can be pretty time consuming

[color=orange:5f045d50fc][/color:5f045d50fc][size=18:5f045d50fc][/size:5f045d50fc]Benefit of 5* over 4*, well saying it is cool to start. But to be honest theres not a lot. its good for good for safe canoeing life, getting outdoor industry jobs mainly whitewater activities.

Once again, to keep in topic, i am a 4* paddler but i am only 17, so i cannot put other peoples lives on my shoulders. I can't get a BCU coaching qualification yet. what i can do, is get the first aid certificates out the way etc. in preparation for it.

i thought that it was 16 before u cud be an instructor

well i guess it must be 18 then

I believe at sixteen you can become a young instructor so you can attend the courses and get a qualification but you wont be able to be the lead instructor. its a good idea if you want to become an instructor and learn the skills.

it will also look good on your cv and help out any clubs you are joined with to be trained at young age.

once you become an instuctor do you get to lead the other people down the river

[quote:8282ec8dea="playboating_rob"][color=orange:8282ec8dea][/color:8282ec8dea][size=18:8282ec8dea][/size:8282ec8dea]Benefit of 5* over 4*, well saying it is cool to start. But to be honest theres not a lot. its good for good for safe canoeing life, getting outdoor industry jobs mainly whitewater activities.

Once again, to keep in topic, i am a 4* paddler but i am only 17, so i cannot put other peoples lives on my shoulders. I can't get a BCU coaching qualification yet. what i can do, is get the first aid certificates out the way etc. in preparation for it.[/quote:8282ec8dea]

you lie you lie!! i am 16 and doing a level two training in a few weeks, how you ask? junior coach, it is all the same but i have to send off a letter from someone at my canoe club saying i will not be taking running courses and will be under supervison.

which most the time i am not

Hey,

I'm also 16, and am sort of an instructor. The offical title is something awful along the lines of Trainee Assistant Level Two Kayak Coach, but I get away with it. So it is possible.

see all you have to do is sneak it

lol ok ok guys calm down.

You may be able to get the qualification before 18. But using it responsibly is another thing.
I certainly wouldn't want to "sneak it" incase someone get in trouble and i have to deal with it as a group leader.
Being an assistant is fair enough as long as you've got someone else that is fully qualified.

So strictly speaking i wasn't lieing. Your argument was either doing a TRAINEE coach or junior coach that you can't actually use.

just wait until you are 18 so that you can get a license and be able to use it whenever

I always thought that you could do the training at 16 therfore becomeing a level 2 trainee but must be 18 to take the test and become a coach.

yeah probably i don't know what i am talking about

haha i was going to take mine but there is no point because it doesnt realy entitle you to do anything. Also level 2 coach only realy entitles you to flat water unfortunately you need to be level 2 to get level 3.

man it all seems like such a chore dang i was hoping i could do it wen i was 16

When 16 you can also do a cadet leader award or summet but i think this is very similar to level 2 trainee and entitles you to nothing.

in the US I think we are alot more layed back about that kinda stuff i guess it seams kinda weird that kayaking that is all about freedom is governed by such strict set of laws.

Adam

They are not laws as such they are more guidlines as you do get peopl who still dont bother with satr awards or coaching qualifications.

sorta sounds like geting aca certified to coach

what is an aca certificate

you take a 400 dollar class so you can tell your buddies aca says your good to go. While this is a good class there are many other classes (seirria club) that are much cheaper the aca is just like the bwa

Just to put things in an easy way to read, to my understandings:

Star Awards.

1: Very basic introduction to kayaking, can't really fail.

2:Good understanding of strokes, braces, eskimo and deep water rescues, a bit of knowlage, and gerneral good control of boat, and I think some trips logged.

3:All flatwater strokes/rescues perfect. Able to roll, use a throwline and towing, more indepth knowlege and more trips logged. Fairly hard to pass.

4:Now it breaks into different disaplins.e.g. sea, surf, whitewater, c1, open canoe etc. Basicly the bigginings to whitewater. If you have paddled whitewater then this, in my eyes is easier than the 3*. Grade 2 break in/out, ferry front+back, edging, surf small wave, gerneral river reading/rescues, swimming theroy, basic whitewater knoladge, equipment, strokes, roll, and trips on grade 2. You have to have a fist aid cetificate.

5*training: In my eyes this is a very worthwhile course. You learn everything you need to know to be competent member of a group, and leading on grade 3-4 rivers in different conditions. They teach you lots of differnt ways of runnings rivers, setting up saftey, portages, visuliastion, rescues, and improve on your general skills and control of the boat. Need a first aid certificate and evidence on trips on grade 3-4 rivers.

5*Assement: I don't think it is that woth it, cost alot and don't get any bennifits apart from coaching. Basicly just an assement of the above to a high standard. Need first aid and white water saftey and rescue qual.

Coaching:

Level 1: 2*needed, with canoe saftey test and fist aid, membership to bcu.. This is the same for all coaching quals. Take 6 people on a shelterd lake or equivilant. Assess 1*.Can't do much else.

Level 2: 3*needed with the above. Take 6people on lake or sheltered river. Assess 2* 20hours coaching logged.

Level 3: Need 4*with the above, along with whitewater saftey and rescue qual. Done your level 3 training(weekend course) Can take 4-6 people(can't remember), on grade 2 water and lead the trip safley, Again at level three the disaplines split so you specilise in your prefered area. Most people fail this one because there is a big jump from level 2 to 3. 50 hours coaching logged.

Level 4: Need 5* along with the above, and then go on a coaching processors course. Not too sure how these work, i think a weekednd discussing coaching techniques, and putting them into practice. Think you can lead people down grade3-4 water. Choaching hours needed????

Level 5: Now this is the dogs bol***ks. You need a liftimes experience, be recomended by someone, have loads of first aid, rescue quals, be level 4 in different disapline, different assesor quals. You see where I am going with this. Once you have this, then I believe you can lead people down whatever you feel they are upto. Although if anything goes wrong then everything would come down on you because of your experience.

Whitewater saftey and rescue course:

Teaches you the safe techniques of rescuing people/boats, different ways to portage, belays, live bait, swimming technique, paddling, self rescues. Genrally a good course, but make sure you have a good coach and get your monies worth, because you can pay between £100-£200 for this course.

Canoe saftey test:

Flat water rescues, throwlines, towing, basic flat water stuff, chaep £20-50.

You don't need to do the star test to be able to paddle. Unless you want to be a coach. Although they are good for several reasons. They push you to exceed and aim for a higher level, gives people a general understanding of your ability, and teaches you how to do everything in a safe and controlled manner. As far as paddling on man made courses, you don't have to be a 3*. If you have a level 3 coach then that will cover you. Or most centres will do a quick on water assement, to see you are of a 3* standard. These rules are there to keep things safe, rather than have a load of complete novices bombing down grade 2-3 water and hurting people in the process. And you have to be a level of any sort to paddle natural rivers. This is how I think it works. Im sure I have left things out or got things wrong so feel free to coment. But at the end of the day this is basicly how it works, so it is down to you to make your mind up.

Cheers

Darren

P.s. I have an very lax job

Oh yeah. You can take your level 2 training at the age of 16, but first I think you have to write off to your reginal head coach to get clearence. Then you always have to work under an adult level 3 coach until you turn 18. And from this point you are on your own. The highest level coach always takes responsibility I think.

It says 2 posts above that you need level 1 coach to get your level 2. I dont think this is true because i dont know anyone who has ever bothered with it.

Completly right, i didn't check through properly.

I know you can get your Level 2 coach before 18, cause im going on the course next weekend.

And for Level 3 you need 8 Hour first aid course not 4 hours.

Everything is now correct!!

Well 3 star is Still a flat water technique, 4 star is only on grade 1-2 whitewater. basically still a entry level award. 5 star is very worthwhile its a big step up from the 4 star you need to do a training course, white water rescue course, and a assesment course. Thie will help with any one who is leading on white water. Also will bump up your level 3 coach to a level4 coach!

These awards are great for encouraging beginners to become more proficent and vitial for wananbe coaches! but are not the be all and end all and they will be changing in the near future!
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wot do you meen by near future as i dont want to wrok reely hard to get my instructors course for it to be useless

It wil stil stand as a relavent qualification the coaching awards will be moved across to the newer system when it arrive so your award will be transfered to the new eqvialant award so go and do ur course get qualified and spread the love of paddlin to new peeps!

happy boating