CANOE INSTRUCTOR JOBS

Quite a few people fall in love with canoeing when they first try their hand at it, I know I did. The ability to propel yourself through the water is a great feeling. Canoeing, kayaking, indeed any form of paddlesport also has a lot of scope in terms of how you enjoy it. You may enjoy taking your time through peaceful lakes and slow water in a Canadian style canoe, or perhaps the rush of a furious white water river is more your thing.

Then of course there is sea kayaking where you head out past the breakwater and are immediately pitched about like a cork, the person in front of you several feet above one second, disappearing from view below the next. The good news is there are jobs, skills and coaching training courses available for every style of paddling.

You are likely going to be introducing a group of school children to paddling on a small lake or teaching already competent canoeists how to improve their white water technique. Much depends upon the level of canoe or kayak experience you have. You will probably be required to have a Paddle UK award, such as Paddlesport Instructor, Paddlesport Leader or Coach Award. The new style coaching certificates focus on developing your coaching skills as much as your paddling prowess. There is lots more information below!

British Canoe Union: The National Governing Body

Canoeing in the UK is run by Paddle UK, the new name for the British Canoe Union (BCU) which rebranded in 2024. The body exists to promote canoeing from the grass roots level, through to coaching and international competition.

They are also interested in topics which affect the quality of our sport, such as environmental concerns, water quality and pollution, plus, legislation affecting access to rivers and other bodies of water. As the national body, the BCU are also responsible for the award schemes and coaching certificates which are standardised across each of the national associations. This means that whether you want to take local youth groups for paddles along a stretch of canal, school children in open canoes on a small lake, advanced amateurs on some grade three river sections, or a group of adults on a sea kayak trip, you will need a coaching qualification from the Paddle UK.

Up until 2007, the coaching qualifications for canoeing were BCU Level 1 - 5. This changed when the UK Coaching Certificate (UKCC) was established to try to ensure that sports coaching qualification all complied with the National Qualifications Framework. Since then, the qualifications have updated and are now under the Paddle UK brand. If you have earlier qualifications you may need to take a transfer course. Check with Paddle UK for more details.

Do take a look at the paddleuk.org.uk website to make sure you are getting the correct qualification for the type of teaching or coaching you wish to undertake. But here is a brief introduction to the skills and coaching awards available. Their awards range from complete beginners on flat water to advanced paddlers on serious grade six white water, and cover playboats, open canoes and kayaks.

Paddlesport Instructor Award is the first qualitfication you can gain, and is a ideal for anyone who wants to introduce people to paddlesports, whether that is Canoes, Kayaks or Standup Paddleboards.

Next up is the Coach Award. This course is for those who wish to instruct paddlers who are themselves looking to improve their skills.

Paddlesport Touring Leader, White Water Kayak Coach, Sea Kayak Coach, Stand UP Paddleboard Coach, the list goes on and you are able to take qualifications in various paddlesports disciplines.

If you wish to continue your own improvement, developing your skills for your own benefit, then you can go on and gain any number of these additional awards, the difference being this time you take an award specific to the type of boat, and decide whether you want to go down the coaching route with Paddle UK.