Story and photos:
Daniel Chan
About Daniel Chan
Daniel Chan
Daniel Chan is a kayak, canoe and stand up paddleboard (SUP) coach with extensive experience of working with young people. He is a British Canoeing Foundation Safety and Rescue Training (FSRT) Provider, Paddlesport Instructor Tutor and SUP Sheltered Water Coach Tutor.
Young paddlesport instructors
The British Canoeing Paddlesport Instructor qualification was launched in 2019. It’s designed to support instructors to introduce people to the exciting world of paddlesport through fun games and inspiring sessions in a very sheltered environment, using stable craft deemed suitable for a first time experience.
Paddlers can access the qualification from the age of 14, with many young paddlers having achieved this. As a paddlesport instructor tutor working predominantly with young people and adults who support young paddlers, it’s particularly rewarding to support young people on their journey to become paddlesport instructors. Then to put the qualification to use, including introducing even more people to the world of paddlesport.
Four young people who qualified as paddlesport instructors with me share their journeys to become paddlesport instructors and now deliver paddlesport sessions: Apple-Jane Hayward BEM, Miles Hayward, Charlie Donald, and Dominic Rhodes.
It’s essential to understand why people register for the course, and a key part of this often links to how they got into paddlesport and what motivates them to go paddling. For Apple-Jane, her first paddlesport experience was a day out on the River Chelmer, “I just really enjoyed being on the water. It was so different to anything else I had ever done.” Miles had a really positive first experience too, “I absolutely loved it. From then on, I jumped at any opportunity I had to get back on the water.” A positive experience leads people to come back and demonstrates the impact of an individual’s first time on the water. This can’t be underestimated and is why the role of a paddlesport instructor is so essential.
There are also wider benefits which these young people recognise. Miles continues, “Being on the water helps me to think clearly, and all of the stresses of college and life fade away.” Charlie echoes this, “I love being on the water, so any excuse to get out in my kayak is a good one. It helps me keep up with my fitness, and it means I get to meet new people.” Dominic adds, “What motivates me to go paddling is knowing that I’m doing something that I find very fun.” Apple-Jane concurs, “My main motivation is the people I go paddling with. I enjoy discovering new places on the water and having adventures with my friends.” In my experience, these sentiments are certainly not atypical of young people who attend paddlesport instructor courses and align with the focus of delivering safe, enjoyable, and rewarding sessions.
Why did these young people want to become paddlesport instructors?
Perhaps unsurprisingly, there was a strong theme of giving others the great experiences they’d had themselves. Charlie explained, “I know my instructors helped me so much to get better and progress, and I want to be able to help other young people do the same.” Dominic also wanted to “Develop my instructional and problem-solving skills.”
And what was the Paddlesport Instructor course like?
For Dominic, “What I enjoyed about the course was that it was very informative and less stressful than I thought it was going to be.” Miles agreed with how empowering it was, “I had been worrying about doing it, but I found it really enjoyable.” A big part for him was “Delivering sessions with the other candidates. It was great to share ideas with each other.” It was similarly eye-opening for Charlie, who enjoyed “Learning how to instruct and deliver fun sessions to paddlers. I’ve struggled to present in a classroom setting, so seeing that I was able to get out on the water and do it was a big thing for me!” He also gained, “Confidence knowing that if I had a paddler who needed help in the water, I’d know how to handle the situation and help them.” Apple-Jane also, “Enjoyed knowing I could do all of the rescues as well as working with different types of craft.”
Dominic’s key learning from the course was “The importance of patience and empathy; you need to take the time to get to know your group.” Miles also reflected that one of his key learnings from the course was “How to manage people with different abilities and needs on the water.” He also shared how the course encouraged him to plan sessions in more detail which, in turn, gave him greater confidence in delivering them. For Apple-Jane, “It surprised me how easy it was to work with the adults who were also on the course; we all shared skills and tips, and they listened to me as a peer.”
So, what about after the course?
As fully-fledged paddlesport instructors, how has it been?
Charlie was clear that, for him, “The best part about being an instructor is taking young people on the water and giving them the experiences I had when I first started.” “It’s awesome,” Apple-Jane remarks, “It is so rewarding, seeing people who are really enjoying themselves and how eager they are to come back next time to be on the water again.”
“There are so many memorable moments when delivering sessions on the water,” says Dominic. He recalled several different games and activities, which involved many people getting very wet in the water. For Charlie, “My first time delivering a session after the course was the most memorable. It was a huge learning curve for me but really gave me the confidence knowing I did it for real.” Apple-Jane mentioned working with a nervous young paddler and how great it was to see their progression, even only after a short space of time.
Miles comments that, “Being a young paddlesport instructor has given me lots of confidence, as I now deliver sessions for both adults and young people. I’m really pleased to be able to support my paddlers. It’s also given me an identity that I can be proud of.” Apple-Jane agrees that, “It is so fulfilling to be able to be in the instructor role. It is so empowering to help people get on to water, particularly if it is their first time. I’m really proud.” Charlie talks of how “I love being able to pass on my knowledge and experience of paddling and seeing others progress makes me so happy.” Dominic summarises, “It feels amazing being a young instructor!”
What advice would you give to other young people who are thinking about becoming paddlesport instructors?
“Go for it! Take every opportunity given to you to get as much experience as you can on the water and, above all, have fun,” says Apple-Jane. Charlie couldn’t agree more, “If you have a passion for paddlesport, it’s one of the best things a young person can do. It will also help you grow as a person beyond what you do on the water.”
What about advice for young people once they become paddlesport Instructors?
Dominic’s view is, “Learn how to be approachable; people want to learn from those they feel they can talk to and trust.” Miles thinks it’s about continuing to develop, “As an instructor, you never stop learning and discovering new techniques and skills – keep moving forwards and trying out new things.” He also adds that, “One of the best things for me about being a paddlesport instructor is being able to use it in other ways, for example, at interviews for college and work placements – it goes down really well!”
It’s clear that these young people are fantastic ambassadors of our sport. They are passionate and enthusiastic, and it is with paddlesport instructors like them, we will help to inspire the next generation of paddlers and, hopefully, paddlesport instructors!
