Liverpool University Canoe Club

Leader skills / Group skills / Safety skills

As our club does a lot of river running and as it is a Uni club rather than a local community club, formal or informal training which helps river trips and safety are very important to us. Formal L2 training (see seperate section) is one way forward, but it is not the only route – there are many other ways you can improve your river group skills which will help you and the club. Consider doing some of the following, to help yourself and others.

Go out paddling a lot! The best way that you can improve your skills is to do lots of rivers. As an intermediate paddler, let people know that you want the opportunity to improve your river leading skills. Try to take opportunities to paddle in small groups and concentrate on being group-aware and knowing your role in a group. You can benefit from all paddling situations and will naturally take different roles, depending on if you are paddling an easy river, with novices, where you may take on a river-probing or individual-supporting role, through paddling with equals, and sharing out the jobs, up to where you are paddling a harder river with people more highly skilled than you.

Practice safety stuff in the pool. Throwlines, rescue techniqes etc. Ask others to show you, we’re happy to help.

Practice safety stuff at White Water Safety Training Will, and others, run White Water Safety sessions from time to time, especially in the run-up to big trips like the Alps and Scotland trips. Make every effort to attend these, so that you learn how to look after yourself and your mates. They are also very good fun.

BCU Student Symposia / training The BCU run two very good courses aimed specifically at students. One is at Plas-y-brenin, Wales, in October. The other is near Fort William, Scotland at easter. The whole aim of these is to improve the skills of anyone who is involved in leading trips or on the committee of student kayak clubs. You don’t have to be a brilliant paddler to benefit from these courses – they are run at whatever level the participants happen to be. The course is heavily subsidised by the BCU (i.e. very cheap). Ideally, 3 or 4 of the committee / those who are going to be involved in running trips should attend. The club may well decide to subsidise participants’ fees further, so ask the captain about it.

Commercial Rescue and Swift water rescue courses, as those run by Canolfan Treweyn or Tom Parker coaching are great ways to become a better paddler and a useful paddler, and are also very fun to do.

Personal skills training through 3* 4* and 5* are also good to do. We have club members who are qualified to teach you and assess you up to 3* level. For 4* and 5* training and assessment, recommend weekend training courses from commercial outfits such as Tom Parker Coaching, Canalfon Treweryn, Plas y Brenin. Try to hook up with others, in order to bring down cost of course and transport.

L2 training (See seperate section) helps to think about safety issues, group leadership, teaching and developing people’s skills. It is also necessary if you want a holiday job teaching kayaking in an outdoor centre.