There appears
to be a need to explain more about the certificate of competence that we wrote
about in the recent edition of Ceufad.
The
certificate is not a coaching qualification. The certificate of competence
demonstrates an individual’s ability to safely lead and manage a group in a
given environment.
The
certificate is not a replacement for the coaching scheme or 4* or 5* leadership
awards, it gives people the chance to run a safe session, in the environment
they seek where coaching is not necessary. This formalises the existing
processes that clubs, centres and other partners undertake but gives an element
of portability.
For
example, it is common practise on the Menai Straights for centres to assess an
individual as competent to run a rafted open boat session. However, as the
centre is carrying out an “in house” assessment, any other centre using this
person to run a session also needs to assess them as competent. Canoe Wales
certificate of competence means that centres could rely on the NGB assessment
of competence to offer freelance work.
The
same applies to clubs; a chairperson may have paddled with an individual,
“Fred” for long enough to be happy to say that “Fred” is able to run a club
trip on the Usk. This places a huge responsibility on the chairperson in the
event of an incident and makes for an uncomfortable position for insurers.
Again, Canoe Wales assumes the responsibility for undertaking the assessment.
As
paddlesport is so diverse and the desires of individuals to run sessions in
lots of different environments Canoe Wales want the scheme to be lead by the
needs of those people. One person may choose to run a session for a group of 12
children in a pool, another may wish to take a session at a surf beach with 4
adults. As the list is virtually never ending and doesn’t fit within a coaching
syllabus Canoe Wales wants to be as flexible as possible to maximise
participation.
The
“syllabus” will be dictated by the candidates desire to be assessed in a
particular environment. As this provides the scope for anyone to be assessed at
just about anything, a syllabus is not appropriate. The closest one can get to
a syllabus is where an existing syllabus prevails. For example where a
candidate wishes to be assessed at Llandysul on the grade 2/3 water, the
requirements for safety and group management contained within the old BCU level
3 assessments, are applicable and can be applied against the assessment
criteria of the certificate. It must be recognised that the certificate is an
assessment of an individual’s competence and not a training course. Therefore a
series of standards will exist but not a syllabus.
At
present the scheme is in pilot to ensure we allow comment and development. As
the scheme progresses we hope it is clear that training provided by coaches
within the existing coaching scheme will allow individuals to run sessions, but
also create a pathway into the coaching scheme for those who enjoy coaching as
well as leading sessions.
For more information contact Nigel Midgley on 07971783080