Training

Overview

The idea of the training structure is to implement and maintain a structure within the club to highlight a clear and safe progression of learning and ability to club members, providing adequate training opportunities, and recognised certification where appropriate.

The overall system breaks down into essentially 6 main areas, outlined below.

They are not necessarily to be covered in this order, however, they act as a reasonable guideline for the first four items. References made to the BCU coaching system are purely for information only.

There are some additional resources on other pages:

• Training Schedule
• BCU 1 Star information

How to SUCC

The idea to this section is to give a brief overview of the club, giving new club members, regardless of their experience, an introduction to the club, our rules and regulations, and enough information to partake in a Wednesday afternoon paddle without someone having to tell them what to do while still on the land. While this task shouldn't take too long, it should be covered thoroughly, with adequate opportunities for questions.

Topics to cover:

• Club safety rules.
• Boat hard rules – Including footwear and use of power tools.

• Tour of the boat hard.

  • Kit Shed.
  • Boat Shed.
  • Changing Rooms.
  • Emergency telephone and first aid kits.
• Which boats who may use, where they are kept.
• Signing out kit.
• Cleaning kit and boats – When, where and why.
• Keys, local access agreements and who may lead groups.

• Local “dangers” and how / when to avoid them.

  • Weir and sluice
  • Water quality
  • Shipping
  • Fishermen
  • Rowing club

Skills Level 1 (Beginner)

The skills required to partake in a days paddle in placid conditions without significant assistance. The below are in no particular order, but common sense should be used!

For reference, a canoeist having completed this section should be at about the BCU one star standard.

• What kit to wear, why and how
• Selecting a kayak, the different types, when each should be used
• Lifting and Carrying kayaks, when to use which carrying technique
• How to get into a kayak
• How to get out of a kayak
• How to capsize in an emergency.
• Paddle forward
• Turn around (both sides, sweep stroke, forward and reverse)
• Paddle backwards
• Emergency stop
• “T” or “Standard” draw stroke, removing paddle from water if required.
• Capsize and swim to shore
• Stern rudder
• Low brace support
• Emptying boats on the land, and how to get a swamped boat out of the water.
• Putting boats away
• Washing kit and why

It is anticipated that to cover this would normally take at least two or three sessions. Remember, building water confidence, and making a canoeist feel comfortable on the water is also part of this section! Better to bail, and swim away, then live to die another day

Skills Level 2 (Intermediate)

To be normally only be attempted with a good knowledge of beginner skills. Again, not in any particular order. Where skills are repeated from other sections, they are expected to be of higher standard (See instructors’ notes). Upon completion, a candidate will be at approximately a BCU 2 star standard.

• Knowledge of basic safety and rescue kit, including being rescued by

  • Throw lines
  • Towing

• Good knowledge of “beginner skills”
• Good forwards and reverse paddling
• Entering and exiting the kayak without assistance from others (or a paddle), including putting on and removing a spray deck
• Emergency stops in both directions
• Stern rudders, both sides
• Low brace support strokes
• Low brace turn
• High brace
• “T” draw, static and on the move
• Sculling support
• Sculling draw
• Eskimo rescue
• Edging
• Deep water rescue (victim and rescuer)
• Clean, controlled capsize with spray deck
• Securing kayak on trailer

Skills Level 3 (Improving)

Again, to only be attempted with good knowledge of other skills sections, completion of this section would make a member a suitable to no longer require direct tuition on most club paddling sessions. It roughly approximates to a BCU 3 star award, with a “moving water” section covering basic 4 star strokes. These items are not in any particular order.

• Good skills from previous levels
• Suitable lifting techniques
• Launching and exiting a kayak from land.
• Good forwards and reverse paddling, both straight and figure of 8
• T draw strokes, static and on the move
• Sculling draw
• Low brace turn
• Hanging draw
• Bow and stern rudders
• High and low brace support stokes, static and on the move
• Towing (Rescuer and victim)
• Eskimo rescue (“H” and “T”)
• Deep water rescue
• “Tilting” to assist turning
• Roll

• Throw line work

  • Where, when and why
  • How – rescuer and victim

• Moving Water

  • Breaking in and out
  • Ferry glide (Forward and reverse)
  • Side surf
  • Forward surf
  • Carving
  • Riding stoppers

Safety and Rescue

This section could be attempted at any stage, it is by no means a definitive list, and further safety and rescue training can be sought from external bodies (e.g. Canoe Control, St John Ambulance etc.) First Aid

Ideally at least one canoeist in each group would have proper first aid training, however, there are some topics of which we should all be aware, these include

• Hyperthermia
• Hypothermia
• Dehydration
• Shock
• Dislocations, especially shoulders
• Cuts and breaks
• Drowning
• How and when to get help

Practical rescue

Practical rescues break down into two rough categories

• Water based rescue

  • Eskimo rescue
  • Deep water rescue
  • Towing
  • Entrapments
  • River emergencies (include unconscious victims)

• Bank based rescue

  • Throw lines
  • “Reach rescues”
  • Pins
  • Entrapments
  • Stoppers
  • When to set up protection
  • How to protect a feature

• White Water Safety and Rescue Course Guidelines Jan 2008 - Upload:WW_SandR.doc

Coaching

The idea of this section is to give a canoeist a few skills which can be useful regardless of experience. To coach, you do not need to be an expert canoeist, just to have a good understanding of what you are teaching. For example, most members who have been with on a river session could teach most of the “How to SUCC” section.

More coaching aids will be placed on the website as they become available.

When coaching there are a few things to keep in mind

• Body, boat, blade principle
• Why, when, where
• Teaching an individual is very different to teaching a group
• Keep an open mind, always listen, maintain a close watch, but only talk when you have to. Keep It Simple, Stupid!
• Know your limits. E.g. if you don’t feel that you could deal with a worst case scenario, (e.g. canoeist trapped during capsize drill) then don’t try it.

The best way to learn to coach is to practice

• Watch at least two other coaches working. Note good and bad points.
• Have a go at teaching one or two strokes on someone else’s session.
• Get your own group!