Introduction
Marlow Canoe Club celebrates and recognises the vast experience of those club members that freely give up their time to coach and lead others on the water.
The Committee has a duty of care to ensure any club led activity takes place within a safety framework that incorporates appropriate risk management. This includes an assessment of the competence of those permitted to lead sessions.
This document should be read in conjunction with:
Club activities must be led by someone qualified to coach and/or lead the activity, considering the group’s ability and the environmental conditions.
This policy describes how the Club will assess the competence and capabilities of an individual before allowing them to take responsibility in leading a paddlesport activity.
Club activity
A club activity is any activity that has been planned and organised by the Committee or by someone authorised by the Committee. It is promoted on the club calendar. This includes club sessions, coached sessions, and guided club trips. It does not include activities that we advertise on behalf of another organisation, or where club members go paddling independently.
Qualifications
The Club believes that a paddler can be qualified by ability, experience, training and certificates. This is usually proven by British Canoeing qualifications.
British Canoeing Qualifications
An individual who holds a British Canoeing Awarding Body qualification or award may coach and/or lead club activities in accordance with the British Canoeing Environmental Definitions and Deployment Guidance for Instructors, Coaches and Leaders.
They should hold up to date records with British Canoeing of their:
- First Aid training – within three years
- Safeguarding training – within three years
- Evidence of continual professional development (CPD)
The individual is responsible for making sure British Canoeing have up to date records of their qualifications, training and CPD evidence. The Committee is responsible for verifying these records with British Canoeing each year.
Club Assessed Qualifications
An individual with sufficient ability and experience may be assessed by the club to coach and/or lead in specific environments and conditions.
They should hold up to date records with the Club of their:
- First Aid training – within three years
- Safeguarding training – within three years
The individual is responsible for making sure the Club has up to date records of their training.
An individual with an up to date British Canoeing qualification or award may assess another individual’s ability and experience.
They can assess an individual to coach/lead in any environmental conditions below the highest environmental conditions stated for their award in the British Canoeing Environmental Definitions and Deployment Guidance for Instructors, Coaches and Leaders. For example, an individual who holds the British Canoeing White Water Leader may assess an individual to lead in very sheltered or sheltered water, but not moderate water.
An assessment is expected to include active observations and testing of an individual in the highest environmental conditions being assessed for.
The assessor should make a written record of the assessment, stating how they have assessed the assessee in these areas:
- Personal skills and paddling ability
- Rescue of self and others
- Leadership of groups and individuals
- Experience operating in different environments and conditions
- Knowledge of environment, participants, equipment, etc.
This assessment record should be submitted to the Committee who may award a club assessed qualification in accordance with the recommendations of the assessor. The club assessed qualification is valid for three years from the date of the assessment.
A record of the assessment and the club assessed qualification must be kept by the Committee.
The Committee may cancel any club assessed qualification on the recommendation of any individual qualified to assess the individual.
Last updated: September 2022
Marlow Canoe Club 