Canoe Wales is the national governing body for paddle sport in Wales. We:

  • Manage the National White Water Centre which is located on the river Tryweryn in Bala, North Wales
  • Represent the interests of our club and individual members
  • Advocate on behalf of the interests of the sport in Wales
  • Provide coaching and development programmes from local to international level
  • Stage national and international competitions.

BCU Level 1 Transfer

Purpose & Remit

The BCU Level 1 Transfer is designed for coaches who hold pre-UKCC qualifications and wish to deliver short sessions in any of the paddlesport disciplines; either as a taster session or as an assistant to a more qualified coach. The Level 1 transfer course is a combined training and assessment course, so as long as you pass, you leave a qualified BCU UKCC Level 1 coach.

Level 1 transfer

If you hold coaching awards in the old scheme which give you a greater remit than that of the BCU UKCC Level 2, you will not lose them and will still be able to work within that remit, but only using the craft to which the award is relevant.

What can I do as BCU UKCC Level 1?

As a BCU UKCC Level 1 coach you are able to work in very sheltered water on taster sessions or under supervision by a more qualified coach (with appropriate first aid, disclosure and supporting club / centre structure, Level 1 coaches may work independently) . You can also take paddlers through the following BCU Awards; if you wish to deliver any of these awards please contact us to request the certificates, pass-slips and resources:
  • BCU Paddlesport Start: This award is designed to provide a framework for a paddler’s first session; it includes a basic test of skills and knowledge. It is very much an encouragement award and can be used by coaches who offer introductory sessions. It is an adult version of the BCU Paddlepower Start award, and can be taken in any type of paddlesport craft.
  • BCU Paddlepower Start: An entry level award suitable for taster sessions or as part of a series of sessions designed for young people. The award provides challenges in basic skills and knowledge, and can be taken in any type of paddlesport craft.
  • BCU Placid Water Racing Awards: A series of awards including time trials (2km – 10km), 500 Meter Sprint Awards, and marathon and half marathon awards. The awards intend to recognize and encourage improvement in canoe and kayak racing performance, although they can be attempted in any canoe or kayak.
  • BCU Cross Stream Challenge: The Cross Stream challenge is a series of challenges, using various ‘course’ for paddlers to attempt, aiming to develop and challenge boat handling skills, strokes and moves, whilst blending Slalom, Freestyle, Polo, with a touch of Wild Water and Flat Water Racing maybe a bit of surf. 
  • BCU Paddlepower Passport and BCU 1 Star: Paddlepower Passport is a child friendly award covering topics including safety awareness, paddling skills, gaining varied experiences, and supporting knowledge; the BCU 1 Star is the adult equivalent. If you wish to deliver either of these awards you need to contact us requesting an assessor logbook, what you need to do from there is explained within the logbooks.

What do I need to do before the course?

You must hold the pre-requisites shown in the diagram above (i.e. a new 2 star or old 2 star awards in both canoe and kayak). You must then complete Coach Registration at least 2 weeks prior to the course that you wish to attend. This is absolutely vital, as without a CR Form you will not be able to attend the course!

Syllabus

Level 1 Transfer pre-course information.

Find Courses

Transfer courses are run on a demand-led basis - mainly at the update weekends that run across the regions. Please contact the Coach Education Co-ordinator to register an interest in the Level 1 Transfer as it will allow us to determine how many people would like the course in any particular region. You may also find a course that is already planned by checking in the dates list.

What can I do next?

Having successfully completed your Level 1 award you may wish to consider further opportunities to develop your coaching knowledge. The Level 2 coach award takes the coaching theory another step on, covering the skills required to run progressive coaching sessions with paddlers in any craft, within a flat-water environment.

The BCU 4 Star Leader award covers the skills required to lead others in a moderate water environment (Sea, Surf, Whitewater, Canoe, and Touring). The award is not for coaching in moderate water but along with the Level 2 coaching award is the pre-requisite for the Moderate Water Endorsement, which ensures you have the skills and experience to coach in that environment.

We also run 3 hour Foundation Modules introducing the concepts of fitness, psychology, performance planning, mentoring, coaching young paddlers, and outdoor education to coaches. There are also the BCU Discipline Specific Modules to help coaches learn the skills required to coach Canoe Slalom and Racing (with others such as Freestyle due online soon!), which may interest you if you wish to coach the basics of a specific discipline on flatwater.