We have a real shortage of female coaches and leaders in Paddlesport. We would like more! Diversity makes for a better environment for everyone!

Approximately 30% of our members and 40% of club associates are female; yet the balance of female coaches and leaders is significantly less. It’s also pretty sporadic, in some disciplines we have ZERO female coaches/leaders presenting to assessment. In others it’s nearer the 20-30% mark and with plenty in-between. 

To try and address the imbalance we are running a Female Coach Development programme and are looking for female paddlers who are thinking about getting qualified as a coach or leader, either as a first step or to advance existing qualifications.

Many women hold back from taking the step into a qualification or from progressing to the next level. Often not feeling inspired by their perceptions of what is required, not feeling that they are good enough, or feeling too daunted by the prospect. 

If this sounds like you - or like someone you know - we want to hear from you! 

As a result we lose many ‘would be’ excellent coaches/leaders, other women lose out due to a lack of others around as role models, and participants lose out as there is less diversity in the coaching/leading workforce.

What is the SCA Women's Coach Development Programme?

We are looking for a group of up to 24 female paddlers with aspirations to qualify. The (free) programme will be centred around a supportive, inclusive, non-judgemental environment, with:

• small teams/groups of (2-4) paddlers working together, supporting each other on their journey;
• three (separate) days of practical on the water support for each team, where they will be working with an experienced female coach on whatever they all need; 
• regular online mentoring sessions to help people keep progressing on their journey. 

Who is it for? 

The programme is open to anyone; 

• Who identifies as a woman or as a marginalised gender and is comfortable in a space that centres around the experience of women
• Who lives in Scotland
• Aged 14+ 20+ 30+ 40+ 50+ 60+ 70++++++
• Who has aspirations to get qualified as an Instructor, Coach or Leader.

E.g. Paddlesport Instructor - Leadership Qualifications - Advanced Leadership Qualifications - Coaching Qualifications - Advanced Coaching Qualifications. This could be their/your first qualification - or their/your 10th….

Are you interested? 

If this sounds like the kind of support that would help you progress, would give you the confidence to work towards a qualification, or lights a spark to get you moving on something you’ve been quietly pondering but never really getting around to - then we’d love you to hear from you. Simply email lara.cooper@canoescotland.org to tell us a bit about yourself and your coaching/leading aspirations including where you are now, where you’d like to be in the future. If you think “this isn’t for me” - it probably is! 

Nominate Someone 

Do you know someone who might benefit from this programme? Can you think about female paddlers who are passionate about being on the water and have the potential to become a great coach or leader… but something has been holding them back? Or can you think of people who are ready to progress to the next level qualification, but they haven't got going yet, or need some final support to help them prepare for assessment? Your nomination might be the one thing they need to encourage them to take the step forwards. 

We want your nominations! 

How to nominate someone: Simply email lara.cooper@canoescotland.org to tell us who you’d like to nominate and a sentence or two about why you’re putting them forward. If they are not yet a member we might also need you to help us with a contact for them so we can get in touch. 

What Next?

We will be recruiting through April and May. Once we receive nominations or expressions of interest, we’ll work together to get a bit more information, find out some more about aspirations and current needs. By 1st June we hope we’ll be able to have the team ready to get going. 

Please contact lara.cooper@canoescotland.org if you are interested, or know someone who you think would benefit.