BSUPA Coaching Scheme

 

 Welcome to the BSUPA coaching scheme.  We have worked hard building this course with help from instructors and governing bodies from across the water sports sector. BSUPA's aim is to create a teaching platform that combines core technical skills to teach stand up paddle surfing and inspire a new generation stand up paddlers to take up sport in a safe and fun manner.  This course will provide a recognised qualification to water sports instructors who wish to develop their careers by teaching stand up paddle surfing. 2010 will be the first year of this course and we will review and update the material at the end of each season with feedback from instructors and schools.

The scheme has been developed and written by Simon Bassett BSUPA Head Coach, Andy Gratwick BSUPA Trainer, Matt Argyle BSUPA Chairman and Trainer, Chris Rea BSUPA Trainer with contributions from Neal Gent, Jeremy Waite and Chris Rainbow.

 

Mission Statement

BSUPA's aims are to within the UK:

• Development - growing the sport through SUP clubs, schools, SUP events, in flat water, surf and inland waterways.
• Coaching - through an accredited BSUPA coaching scheme, accredited BSUPA schools and hire centres and promoting good practice.
• Safety - through working with RNLI, ROSPA, AALA and government and non-government organisations to promote safety.
• Representation - to ensure that the sport of stand up paddle surfing is looked after by stand up paddle surfers, to work with the SUP industry and other relevant associations in the best interest of stand up paddle surfing and BSUPA members.
• Members - to provide access to waterways, 3rd party insurance, advice, information and a focal point for stand up paddling.
• Other Organisations – BSUPA intends to build good relationships with other organisations and NGBs.

BSUPA History

BSUPA was founded in September 2007 from an idea by Olaus McLeod. In October 2007 Bill Fitzhugh, Grant Winter, Simon Bassett and Matt Argyle met to officially create BSUPA as an association to represent the interests of stand up paddle surfer. Olaus negotiated a membership scheme deal with the British Surfing Association and BSUPA was added onto the BSA's club scheme so to provide third party insurance for its members. 

In April 2008 BSUPA became a Company Limited by Guarantee. In 2008 Simon Bassett and Matt Argyle created, wrote and ran the worlds first national stand up paddle surfing and racing series in the world, appointing national champions at the end of the season (with input from Adrian ‘Shag’ Howell, John Hibbard and Neal Gent).  Events were held at West Wittering, Gwithian Beach, Isle of Wight and Newgale.  In 2008 BSUPA committee members (Bill, Simon and Matt) attended the Outdoors Show at the NEC in Birmingham to promote SUP inland, Olaus and Bill attended the Bedford River Festival to promote inland SUP, BSUPA were also represented at the SurfShop Expo 2008 and ran fun events at Paddle Round the Pier (Brighton) and Animal Windfest (Poole). 

In 2009 Richard Marsh, Claire Blacklock and Steve Carter joined the committee as Bill Fitzhugh and Grant Winter resigned.  In 2009 once again BSUPA ran a national series with events in West Wittering, Gwithian, Swansea and Watergate Bay.  BSUPA sanctioned events for Paddle Round the Pier and the Animal Windfest.  BSUPA chairman Matt Argyle entered into the process of getting BSUPA recognised as the National Governing Body for stand up paddle surfing with Sport England. Simon Bassett attended the Beach Safety and ROSPA (Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents) meeting in Cardiff to represent BSUPA's members interests.  BSUPA worked with the RNLI to create a safety guide for SUP. 

In 2010 Jock Patterson joined the committee and Steve Carter and Richard Marsh resigned.  In 2010 BSUPA has its own insurance policy (underwritten by Royal and Sun Alliance) which allows BSUPA to be separated from the BSA scheme and totally independent as an association.  BSUPA negotiated with British Waterways and the Environment Agency for member to have discounted licenses for access to inland rivers, lakes and waterways. The current committee members are Matt Argyle (Chairman) Claire Blacklock (Secretary) Simon Bassett (Head Coach) and Jock Patterson.

 
BSUPA Teaching scheme

The BSUPA scheme is split into three categories, Level 1 which is designed to take people who have never stand up paddled before and give them a base level of skills making them “Ready to Ride”.  Level 2 focuses on taking students who have a Level 1 certificate and introduces them to stand up paddle surfing and making them “Ready to Surf”.  The key learning points in the first two levels are a basic level of skill to ensure that students can stand up paddle safely and develop core technical skills.

There will also be a BSUPA Coach qualification that will be very in depth and will allow instructors to teach advanced racing and surfing skills to a maximum of one instructor to two students.

BSUPA registered schools who use BSUPA qualified instructors will be able to issue certificates to customers when the instructor feels that the customer has attained the level of skill necessary. 
 

BSUPA Level 1 – Ready to Ride

Intro to weather, water environment, board and paddle;
Paddle technique, stance, board trim and turning;
Safety, self rescue and distress signal;
Basic explanation of SUP in surf and SUP expeditions.

Level 1 all to be taught on flat water.

BSUPA Level 2 – Ready to Surf (to be launched winter 2010/spring 2011).

Intro to the waves, theory weather and tides;
Getting out through surf and back ;
The take off;
Turning, Riding and basic trimming, use of paddle.

Level 2 to be taught in small easily accessible surf conditions.

BSUPA Coach - Improving techniques

• Expeditions
• Surf, advanced techniques and waves
• Distance training and racing
• Advanced paddle technique

 

BSUPA Instructors Scheme

Level 1 Instructor Training  

Two day course that qualifies an instructor to teach BSUPA Level 1 Ready to Ride to students.

Instructor Candidate Pre requisites:

• RYA Powerboat Level 2;
• Minimum age 18;
• Valid first aid qualification (for example RYA First Aid or RNLI);
• Riding ability, competent on a range of boards and able to surf in medium waves;
• Current member of BSUPA;
• Students without any previous water sports teaching experience or qualifications will be required to ghost qualified BSUPA instructors before certificates are issued.

Teaching Ratios for BSUPA Level One Ready to Ride

One instructor
Six students
Six boards

BSUPA Level 1 Instructors Certificate will be valid for 3 years from the point of qualification provided the candidate has a valid first aid certificate and RYA Powerboat qualification.

Level 2 Instructor Training

Two day course that qualifies an instructor to teach BSUPA Level 2 Ready to Surf to students.

Instructor Candidate Pre requisites:

• 100 Hours as a level 1 instructor
• BSUPA Level 1 Instructor Certificate;
• Minimum age 18;
• Hold a valid Surf Rescue qualification (SLSA, RNLI, RLSS);
• Riding ability, competent on a range of boards and be a competent stand up paddle surfer in medium waves;
• Current member of BSUPA.

 

Teaching Ratios for BSUPA Level Two Ready to Surf

One instructor
Four students
Four boards

BSUPA Level 2 Instructors Certificate will be valid for 3 years from the point of qualification provided the candidate has a valid Beach Lifeguard (NBLQ) qualification and RYA Powerboat qualification.

BSUPA Coach

BSUPA Coach Candidates Pre requisites:

Valid BSUPA Level 1 and 2 instructors qualification;
At least 100 hours teaching at a BSUPA recognised school;
Understanding of physiology, sports psychology and fitness aspects of coaching.
Excellent ability in waves and excellent paddle technique;
Current member of BSUPA.

Teaching Ratios for BSUPA Coaches

One instructor
Six students
Six boards or smaller groups.

BSUPA Trainer / Examiner

By Application to BSUPA Committee & chairman

* To maintain a valid qualification as a BSUPA instructor of any level, a revalidation course must be attended every three years. Dates and locations for these are found on the BSUPA website.