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"What are the standards for instructor certification?"

We are often asked "What are the standards for instructor certification?" So we prepared the following Instructor Skills Checklist based on the form we use to evaluate instructors, using our best interpretation of current ACA instructor certification requirements. If you are interested in becoming a certified instructor (or simply a more precise and skilled paddler), the following information is designed help instructor candidates to prepare for their Instructor Development Workshops (IDW) and/or Certification Exams.  All these skills will be covered and refined in the IDW, but the more prepared with the skills you are, the more you'll be able to focus on how to teach these skills to your students.

1. STROKES and MANEUVERS:
Requirement/standard: “Demonstration quality” modeling, i.e., the ability to teach these strokes using a step by step progression that emphasizes the key points to your students.

Key Points and Videos of the strokes and maneuvers can be found at this link

1. Forward stroke
2. Sweep strokes
3. Draw strokes (standard "beam" draw & sculling draw)
4. Low brace
5. High brace
6. Sculling brace
7. Reverse stroke

Maneuvers
9. Stern rudder
10. Low-brace turn*
11. Bow rudder*
12. Side slip* (Hanging draw)
*Required teaching ability for Level 4 instructors

2. RESCUES/REENTRIES & ROLLS:      Top
Requirements—Demonstrate solid, rough-water technique, emphasizing key points

(* "Teaching knowledge" required of the following 3 techniques. This means that you are comfortable teaching these skills using a step by step progression that emphasizes the key points to your students.)

1. PADDLEFLOAT: Keys—maintain hold of boat, keep limb on shaft and weight on float, “bomber” technique (2 minutes or less)

2. T-RESCUE:   Keys—maneuvers quickly to bow, lifts w/ opposite hand using “cross-armed lift,” solid “pit-to-pit stabilization bow to stern, hang on to paddle and boat, “dry” boat (less than 2 knuckles of water in cockpit), good communication with partner,  “bomber” technique (2 minutes or less)

3. SLING USE: Keys—efficient use of sling for both paddlefloat and T recovery

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(Demonstrate ability to perform/demonstrate (but not teach) the following 6 recoveries):

1. Cowboy Scramble video
2. Reenter and Roll (w/ paddlefloat)
3. Bow Recovery/Rescue
4. Scoop
5. Assisted T
6. Reenter and pump 

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ROLLS    Top

ACA Instructor Requirements:
Level 3: Coastal Kayaking instructor: 1 roll on flat water.
Level 4: Open Water instructor: 3 in a row on flat water to simulate ability to perform a "combat" roll; one of the 3 rolls should be from a non-setup position (video).

 
3. TEACHING/PRESENTATION SKILLS:     Top
Ability to prepare and deliver an effective lesson, utilizing the following concepts:

Participation and Engagement:
√     Participant involvement is KEY! Use questions and activities to engage your students
√    Use of appropriate visual aids
√    Good voice projection and group management

Organization:
√    Clear, concise flow of material including: introduction, key points, summary of “take-home points
√    Knowledge of topic shows depth of personal experience
√    Ability to simplify and prioritize information for a beginner audience

Preparation:
√    Use of written lesson plan/notes (to be turned in after presentation for ICE)
√    Stay within given time allotment

-  Teaching experience: some actual experience teaching classes beyond the “friend” or “club” level is implied.
- When teaching strokes and recoveries, gives student specific, positive feedback first, before critique.
- Good general knowledge of kayaking: safety, gear, boat design; is “well read.”

4. TRIP PLANNING AND NAVIGATION:     Top
Appropriate level of “teaching knowledge” to match level of certification

Basic Level instructor familiar with the concepts and can explain how each relates to their students, but does not require the level of  practical knowledge and rough-water experience/skills that is required at the Open-Water level.)

BASIC LEVEL:  teaching knowledge: Wind, weather, tides (ability to read tide book), currents, chart literate, boat traffic.
       familiarity with: navigation: compass use, plotting a course, using ranges and ferrying.

OPEN-WATER:     teaching knowledge: all of above plus: using current charts, taking fixes.
familiarity with: open water crossings using dead reckoning, using vector angles.

- Navigation Presentation (ICE only): Shows depth of knowledge and personal experience.

5. ON-WATER PADDLING SKILLS:     Top
Exhibits boat control “grace and style” at a level above students

LEVEL 3: COASTAL KAYAKING instructor requirements:
Comfortable performing strokes, recoveries, and group management in waves and seas to 2 feet, winds to 15 knots. 

LEVEL 4: OPEN-WATER: Performs  strokes, recoveries, and group management in seas 3-5 feet, surf to 3-4 feet, currents to 3-4 knots, winds to 15-20 knots.   

LEVEL 5: ADVANCED OPEN-WATER: Performs  strokes, recoveries, and group management in seas to 5 feet, surf to 5 feet, currents to 4-5 knots, winds to 25 knots.   

Suggested preparation for Levels 3 and 4: Complete formal class instruction as a student in an intro to kayaking course, an intro to surf zone, and intro to tides and currents (or the equivalent experience).  

6. GROUP MANAGEMENT and SAFETY ON THE WATER, ETC.:    Top

Maintains group integrity (keeps group together)
___ maintains visual/verbal contact
___ communicates paddling plan clearly (gives specific headings, communicates changes in plan)
___ maintains awareness of group members and their comfort levels
___ makes safe, sane, fluid decisions
___ towing—able to set up/unhook tow system quickly and fluidly in rough water; able to perform variety of contact and swimmer tows
___ good “follower-ship” (stays with group and follows directions when not in leadership role)

Navigation underway
___ can follow compass course, recognize landmarks, take effective ranges and communicate them to students   
___ reads water for currents and eddies and takes appropriate ferry angles

7. ACA SAVVY:

___  Good general understanding of the ACA organization and instructor policies
___  Has explored the ACA website and downloaded “required” materials
___  Has obtained and read a copy of Instructor Manual
___  Has joined ACA and paid SEIC dues

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