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.

Becoming a BCU Star Award Assessor

Registration

In order to provide any of the new star awards, coaches who meet the pre-requisites are required to register with us (whether you have provided star awards in the past or not). To do this, all you have to do is complete and return this simple star award assessor registration form to the usual Canoe Wales address. The pre-requisites to be able to provide each award without further training are outlined on the form; we have outlined how coaches in both the old scheme and new scheme can work towards providing further star awards below.

Providing the BCU 1 star

BCU UKCC Level 1 coaches can request a logbook to work towards delivering the BCU 1 star. Please contact the CW office to request a 1 star provider logbook.

Old scheme BCU Level 2 coaches (or above) or new scheme BCU UKCC Level 2 (or above) can begin assessing the BCU 2 star award, as soon as they have registered with us.

Providing the BCU 2 star

New scheme BCU UKCC Level 2 (or above) can begin assessing the BCU 2 star award, as soon as they have registered with us. Old scheme BCU Level 2 coaches (or above) must hold the old 2 star award for both canoe and kayak, or hold the new BCU 2 star award themselves before they can register to provide it, but can begin delivering as soon as they have registered. This is due to the fact that the new BCU 2 Star award requires both single-bladed and double-bladed skills.

Providing the BCU 3 Star

Coaches who are old scheme BCU Level 3 or higher can provide the BCU 3 star award within that discipline - all you have to do is register with us using the star award assessor registration form.

BCU UKCC Level 2 coaches with their Moderate Water Endorsement in the relevant discipline, who have registered to provide the BCU 2 star award and have run at least one 2 star assessment can request a logbook to work towards providing the BCU 3 Star. Please contact the CW office to request a 3 star provider logbook.

Once you have the logbook, you are required to observe a minimum of one 3 Star course but may observe and assist on as many as you like before being assessed. Each course you observe or assist on will be noted in the logbook. Once you feel you are ready to take full responsibility for running the course, you should get a registered 3 star provider to watch you running an assessment course; if they think you are ready to deliver the course independently, they can sign the final endorsement required in the logbook before you return it to us for approval. Once approved, you will be sent a letter to confirm your status as a 3 Star provider.

All 3 star assessments should be registered with us prior to the course taking place. We will then give you a Course Authorisation Number and can send you a 3 star course schedule, if you do not yet have one.

Providing the BCU 4 Star Leader award

Becoming a 4 Star Leader provider


Providing the BCU 5 Star Leader award

The process you need to go through to become a 5 Star Leader provider is very similar to that of the 4 Star Leader described above, only the pre-requisites prior to getting the log book are set at a higher level and there is no provider course.

Before requesting a logbook you must:
  • Be a BCU Level 5 coach
  • Hold the BCU 5 star in the relevant discipline
  • Be a registered BCU 4 Star Leader provider for the relevant discipline
  • Have run at least one BCU 4 Star Leader assessment for the relevant discipline
  • Have attended the pre-requisite safety course for the 5 Star Leader award in this discipline within the last 3 years
  • Be a valid, up-to-date coach.
If you meet these pre-requisites, please contact us to request a logbook.

Once you have a logbook, you are required to observe / second staff a minimum of 3 courses run by a current BCU 5 Star Leader assessor within the relevant discipline. At minimum, this should include one observed course, act as second staff on one training course and second staff on one assessment course prior to your assessed delivery. Each of the courses you observe, help on or work on must be logged and signed off by the endorsed BCU 5 Star Leader provider. There is space in the logbook for them to note any recommendations for your development as a 5 Star Leader course provider.

When you believe you are ready to be assessed delivering a 5 Star Leader course in this discipline, you should get a registered 5 Star Leader provider to sign your logbook as a recommendation that you progress to assessment. At this point, you should return the logbook to us with the £39 registration fee and proof that you have attended the relevant safety course within the past 3 years. If we are satisfied that you have complete your action plan and have all of the pre-requisites in place, we will send you a letter to confirm that you can proceed to "assessed delivery". Assessed delivery just involves you delivering a course without help from other coaches, with a 5 Star provider that we have recommended there to ensure that you are delivering the course to the appropriate level. We will send a list of recommended deliverers and their contact details with your letter - you are responsible for arranging for them to attend your course and should cover their costs as appropriate. Your assessor will debrief you at the end of the course, so you will know immediately whether you have passed.

When the course schedule is returned to us, a note signed by the assessor should be included to let us know whether they are happy for you to be signed off as a full provider. In some cases, the assessor may recommend a further action plan - which we will also require a copy of. We will update your membership record on receipt of the course schedule and accompanying signed note. If you are successful in your assessed delivery, we will send you a final letter to confirm your status as a 5 Star Leader course provider within that discipline.