BCU UKCC Level 3
A Level 3 Coach is a discipline specialist Coach who is able to plan, implement, and analyse long-term development programmes. This is an appropriate level of coach for a person to be in charge of paddlesport activities in a club / centre or as a working professional. From Level 3 onwards, coaches will specialise in one or more of the disciplines or environments listed below.
• Racing * • White Water Kayaking • Surf • Slalom * • Sea • Polo* • Wild Water Racing* • Touring • Freestyle* • Open Canoeing
*It is possible to obtain a Level 3 as either a Boat or Bank Based Coach at Level 3 in these disciplines.
Prior to BCU UKCC Level 3 Core Training
Pre-requisites
Before attending Core Training you must have completed one of the following:
- BCU (UKCC) Level 2 Training (4-days; and completed within last 12 months)
- BCU (UKCC) Level 2 Coach
- BCU Level 3 Coach, plus BCU Coaching Processes Course completed within last 5 years
- BCU Level 3 Coach, plus 2 day Level 2 Transfer Course completed within last 12 months
- BCU Trainee Level 5 Coach completed within last 5 years
- BCU Level 5 Coach
Registration
Registration Fee £17.50 for Comprehensive/Full Home Nation Association Members
Apply for scholarship funding (if applicable)
Candidates living in Scotland may be able to apply for Scholarship funding.
BCU UKCC Level 3 Core training
Core training is three days long and looks specifically at the ‘how’ of coaching paddlesports and annual planning. This course is generic and includes a mixture of on the water and classroom based sessions.
Prior to BCU UKCC Level 3 Discipline Specific Training
Pre-requisites
- BCU (UKCC) Level 3 Core Training completed within last 2 years
- BCU 4 Star ‘Leader’ or BCU Level 3 Coach in the relevant discipline*. A list of recognised alternatives for competition disciplines is available here.
- Have completed the BCU Intermediate modules in Coaching theMind for Paddlesport; and Optimising for Performance part 1 and 2 OR Have completed one of the above BCU Intermediate Modules along with the BCU Moderate Water Endorsement or BCU Level 3 Coach in the relevant discipline
*Coaches working towards a competition discipline BCU (UKCC) Level 3 as a boat based coach will be required to complete an equivalent degree of personal skills / leadership attainment. Competition Coaches wishing to work through Level 3 as a bank-based coach will be required to hold an appropriate safety award relevant to the environment in which they intend to operate.
Registration
Registration Fee £39 for Comprehensive/Full Home Nation Association Members (this includes the assessment registration fee)
BCU UKCC Level 3 Discipline Specific Training
The two day discipline specific training will look at putting all the ‘how’ elements of the Core Training course into practice in the moderate water environment. You will also look at the specific ‘what’ of coaching technical skills in that environment.
The course will finish by giving you a clear action plan as to how to progress to a BCU (UKCC) Level 3 Certificate in Coaching Paddlesport Assessment
Prior to BCU UKCC Level 3 Assessment
Pre-requisites
- BCU (UKCC) Level 3 Core Training completed
- BCU (UKCC) Level 3 Discipline Training completed within last 2 years
- 8 Hour first aid certificate recognised by the BCU
Assessment Tasks 1-6
- Direct Assessment of Coaching Skills
a) Portfolio
You must provide a portfolio of evidence, relating to an annual programme you have delivered to a group of long term students, including the following:
- Profile of long term students
- Aims for annual plan
- Session plan x12 from annual plan
- Risk assessment linked to one of the sessions above
- Session evaluation x12
- Evaluation of annual plan
b) Logbook
You must provide a logbook which shows evidence of:
- Personal paddling experience- Regular current personal paddling in the appropriate Moderate Water environment
- Leadership- Logged experience of leadership under your 4 star Leader remit
- Coaching- Minimum 30 hours of coaching within the Level 3 remit (this should be in addition to the12 sessions recorded in task 1a)
- Detailed Phase Plan
As part of your development phase you will be required to work up an 8 week detailed phase plan demonstrating knowledge of periodisation and practice relevant to your chosen discipline area. Your plan should include; a minimum of 6 of your 12 sessions as part of an annual plan and should include an indication as to how these fit into an 8 week phase of delivery as well as highlighting additional off the water activity.
- Syllabus Understanding
An independent practical scenario based assessment. Between your training and assessment you will need to arrange observations by a Level 3 Coach or higher of you delivering, during your coaching sessions, the technical and tactical components of the discipline concerned. These should be identified from the appropriate templates. A recreational example of this would be the use of the 3 Star syllabi as a reference / assessment tool and as such evidence of your ability to do this accurately would be via an observation and sign off by a Level 3 coach or by being a registered 3 Star assessor with evidence of having completed a 3 Star assessment.
- Mentored Coaching Review
Task 4 is a mid way review. Half way through your 12 sessions use a mentor (BCU (UKCC) Level 3 or above) to observe you coaching a session. Complete the feedback and action plan alongside your mentor.
For competition coaches this MUST be a training session.
- Mentoring Others
Mentor at least 2 coaches. These coaches could be any level, however, BCU (UKCC) Level 2 trained coaches need a mentor to observe them. Use the form in your candied portfolio, together to record feedback and action points.
- Discipline Specific Home Paper
You will be given a home paper to test your knowledge of your chosen specialist discipline, normally about 15 questions.
You can find more information about the assessment tasks in the Level 3 Candidate Portfolio.
BCU UKCC Level 3 Assessment
Your assessment will last one day and you will be asked to complete the following assessment tasks.
- Direct Coaching Assessment
During the assessment day an assessor will observe a minimum of two practical coaching sessions of minimum 1 hour duration each. the same students will be coach in both sessions. Sessions should be linked by student needs with more focused delivery observed in the second session.
Assessments can take place on any suitable environment and assessment options include: Bringing an assessor to you to assess you ‘at work’ with your own group, or to join an assessment where the group and the venue are provided. One assessor can assess 1 or 2 people in a day.
- Questioning
After your coaching assessment your Assessor , or Assessment Director will ask you a series of questions related to either your practical delivery or your normal coaching environment. These questions will check your understanding of the following points:
- Personal Skills and CPD
a) Personal Skills
Recreational Boat based Coaches Only- 4 Star Leader / equivalent Skill level demonstrated in specific Discipline Area
Competition Boat Based Coaches Only-
b) CPD
Either Three Intermediate Modules
· Optimising Fitness for Paddlesport (part 1)
· Optimising Fitness for Paddlesport (part 2)
· Coaching the mind
Or Moderate water (in relevant discipline) plus one Intermediate Module
Or BCU level 3 (in relevant discipline) plus one Intermediate Module
c) CRB Disclosure
This is not required for coaches living and working in Scotland