Flatwater SUP Instructor Trainer

Flatwater Instructor Trainer - Stand Up Paddleboarding

Overview
The various Instructor-Trainer levels are achieved through the Mentorship/Apprentice process. Instructor-Trainers can administrate and instruct Stand Up Paddleboard instructor courses and mentorship according to the limitations and responsibilities of each level.
Instructor-Trainers have significant influence on the delivery of the overall Stand Up Paddleboard program. Appropriate time taken to gain experience is of paramount importance. Instructor-Trainers are leaders in the paddling community and must demonstrate good judgment in all matters relating to safety, group management and the general welfare of all participants.
The Instructor-Trainer is the cornerstone of the Paddle Canada Stand Up Paddleboard Program. The effectiveness of the training and the quality of the certification of the Instructor-Trainer profoundly influences all levels of the Stand Up Paddleboard Program. The knowledge, skill and judgment of the Instructor-Trainer is passed along to the Instructor and then along to the paddler.

Attributes of the Instructor-Trainer
These attributes are to be encouraged and assessed during the Mentorship/Apprentice process:

Commitment to Paddle Canada with a spirit of cooperation and participation in the development of the Paddle Canada Stand Up Paddleboard Program.
A clear and thorough understanding of the Paddle Canada Stand Up Paddleboard Program.
Commitment to continued education and training in paddling, teaching and coaching.
Recognition of their limitations and willingness for mutual learning between the Mentor and the Apprentice.
Excellent communication skills, written and oral and in the overall delivery of a full course of instruction or mentorship.
Excellence in maintenance of all course records and correspondence with Paddle Canada, paddlers, Instructors, Mentors and Apprentices.
Demonstrate competence in developing course outlines and lesson plans
Demonstrate alternative teaching styles to address a variety of learners.
Maintain and adapt good class management.
Structure individual teaching and coaching sessions.
Be objective with all participants.
Identify and communicate benchmarks for achievement with clear processes for assessment and evaluation.
Provide ongoing individual feedback about overall success and failure in the program and provide a constructive final debriefing for each individual at the end of a course.

Aim
To provide a national certification in the instruction and administration of the Paddle Canada Flatwater Stand Up Paddleboard Instructor (SUP-FWI) course.

The Flatwater Stand Up Paddleboard Instructor-Trainer (SUP-FWIT) is certified to:

Conduct Paddle Canada Flatwater Stand Up Paddleboard Instructor courses (SUP-FWI) and certify Instructors at that level.

Prerequisites
Prerequisites are to be completed before the assessment process. Flatwater Stand Up Paddleboard Apprentice Instructor-Trainer must have:

Skills Certification: Successful completion of River Level-2 Skills course (SUP-R2) or Coastal Journeying (SUP-CJ) and Coastal Surf Skills (SUP-CS) courses.
Instructor-Trainer Certification: None required
Experience: As a SUP Flatwater Instructor, taught two or more SUP-AF skill courses.

Apprenticeship and Assessment
The Flatwater Stand Up Paddleboard Instructor-Trainer Apprentice is assessed on an ongoing basis throughout the mentorship process. The Apprentice must assist on at least two (2) Flatwater Stand Up Paddleboard Instructor courses. A Coastal or River Stand Up Paddleboard Instructor-Trainer is required to assess a Flatwater Stand Up Paddleboard Instructor-Trainer. The Apprentice can work with the same Instructor-Trainer on both courses.

The assessment would include:

Suitable written preparation of an instructor course.
Demonstration of a broad understanding of teaching and coaching skills, theory and the assessment of instructors.
Demonstration of a thorough understanding of the ways and means of assessing Instructor candidates.
“Demonstration Quality” strokes and maneuvers.

Once the Apprentice has received the recommendation of the Mentor from each of the two Instructor courses they assisted on, they may apply to the Stand Up Paddleboard Program Development Committee (PDC) for their Instructor-Trainer status.