The Paddlesport Start Award is designed to provide a framework for a paddlers first session. It is very much an encouragement award and can be used by coaches who offer taster sessions, or as a first session of a series. It is an adult version of Paddlepower start.
PADDLESPORT START AWARD SYLLABUS V1-0 click here
Paddlesport Start Trainer and Assessor Memo click here
The BCU One Star is a flat water award that demonstrates an individual has basic boat control and foundation skills.The one star can be taken in any kind of paddlesport craft (e.g. sit-on-top, slalom C2, polo boat, sea kayak, racing canoe etc.)
BCU 1 STAR SYLLABUS click here
BCU 1 STAR TRAINERS NOTES click here
BCU 1 STAR ASSESSORS NOTES click here
The BCU Two Star is an improvement award that helps paddlers develop fundamental paddlesport skills on flat water. The emphasis is on gaining a breadth of experience, creating the desired movement of the boat and developing an understanding into how the paddle, boat and water interact.
BCU 2 STAR SYLLABUS click here
BCU 2 STAR TRAINERS NOTES click here
BCU 2 STAR ASSESSORS NOTES click here
This award is significantly different to the old 2 star, with a change to develop generic movement skills that can transfer to any discipline and with an assessed journey. Assessors will need to be able to assess the award in a variety of craft.
Successful performance at BCU Three Star level indicates that a candidate can consider themselves an intermediate paddler rather than a beginner.
Unlike the existing award this will be discipline specific with awards in Sea Kayak, Surf, Open Canoe, White Water Kayak, Flat Water Kayak and some of the competitive disciplines. The three star paddler will be a competent performer in sheltered to moderate water environments and have the ability to paddle unsupervised, with similar standard paddlers on sheltered water. The new award will look similar in structure to the existing 4 star, but with the skills applicable in an easier environment.
Sea Kayak
BCU 3 STAR SEA KAYAK SYLLABUS (V2-0) click here
BCU 3 STAR SEA KAYAK GUIDANCE NOTES (V2-0) click here
Surf
BCU 3 STAR SURF SYLLABUS click here
BCU 3 STAR SURF TRAINERS NOTES click here
BCU 3 STAR SURF ASSESSOR NOTES click here
Open Canoe
BCU 3 STAR OPEN CANOE SYLLABUS click here
BCU 3 STAR OPEN CANOE TRAINERS NOTES click here
BCU 3 STAR OPEN CANOE ASSESSOR NOTES click here
White Water Kayak
BCU 3 STAR WHITE WATER SYLLABUS click here
BCU 3 STAR WHITE WATER TRAINERS NOTES click here
BCU 3 STAR WHITE WATER ASSESSOR NOTES click here
Touring
BCU 3 STAR TOURING SYLLABUS click here
BCU 3 STAR TOURING GUIDANCE NOTES click here
When you successfully complete a Star Test you will recieve a certificate (please note that we no longer issue badges)
STAR AWARD ASSESSOR GUIDANCE NOTES V4-1 CLICK HERE