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 3 - Sea (old scheme)

Assessments for the ‘old’ BCU Level 3 will continue to run until 31st December 2010. Training courses are no longer running, but it is possible to apply for exemption from Level 3 Training with relevant experience / qualifications– see below for details.

Purpose & Remit

A BCU Level 3 sea coach can work in moderate water conditions on the open sea (including launching and landing in surf) and can assess 1, 2 and 3 star awards (to assess the new 2 star award you must also hold 2 star in canoe or the new 2 star).

Exemption from BCU Level 3 Training

Current coaches who already have the relevant level of ‘how to coach’ training and can prove their personal skills / leadership skills in this discipline can apply to by-pass BCU Level 3 Training.
Standard applicants:
  • BCU Level 3 coach (or higher) in another discipline + ‘new’ 4 Star Leader Sea OR ‘old’ 4 star Sea Kayak
  • BCU Level 3 coach (or higher) in another discipline  + a letter from a coach able to assess the old 4 star / Level 3 to say you are of appropriate standard.
If you wish to apply for exemption from BCU Level 3 training, in order to access the BCU Level 3 assessment, you need a letter from an assessor of the BCU Level 3 to say that you are of appropriate standard. Please send applications for the attention of Nigel Midgley to our usual address, found here. If successful, you will be sent a letter along with a stamped C1 form, ready to be taken to your assessment.

What do I need to do before the assessment?

You must meet the following prerequisites:
  • Be a current comprehensive BCU / CW member
  • Have attended an 8 hour first aid course within the past 3 years
  • Have attended a two-day BCU Level 3 training course within the past 3 years or received exemption from Canoe Wales, as outlined above.
  • You must have a stamped C1 form, which will have been signed by the provider of your training course to confirm attendance or by a CW coaching officer to confirm exemption from training.
  • You must have at least 30 hours of logged relevant coaching experience
You must take your logbook, the C1 form, originals of all certificates and your membership card to your assessment.

Syllabus

Click here

Find Courses

There are old BCU Level 3 assessments running to meet the demand of those wishing to qualify before the end of 2010, please see our dates list for details of all courses currently registered with us.

What can I do next?

As described above, a BCU Level 3 sea coach can work in moderate water conditions (including launching and landing in surf) and are qualified to assess 1 star, 2 star and 3 star sea awards as well as the PaddlePower and PaddleSport awards. In order to provide the new star awards, coaches must complete the star award assessor registration form (please also note that to assess the new 2 star award you must also hold 2 star in canoe or the new 2 star). If you wish to provide surf specific sessions, you should hold a surf specific qualification, such as the 4 Star Surf Leader. You will continue to be able to work within this remit and assess the star awards for which you have registered for as long as you remain current.

For details of development pathways from BCU Level 3, please see this page.


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