Overview

Paddlesports provide a safe, enjoyable educational experience that builds personal responsibility, teamwork, and self-reliance in a new environment. Participants will develop progressive skills in self-propelled travel, improving confidence and independence.
Key benefits include a sense of achievement, teamwork through shared responsibility and trust, and heightened safety awareness. Participants will gain a deeper understanding of water environments such as tides, currents, and winds, and be introduced to paddlesports as a potential lifelong activity requiring relatively little equipment.

Pre-session:

This checksheet can be used to ensure equipment and participant are ready to launch.

The Activity Lead must hold an authorisation in the appropriate craft. Authorisation can be achieved through a sign-off process that involves experience, local induction, rescue training and assessment by a designated person. However, a more desirable pathway is through NGB qualification (Paddlesport Instructor for Area 1, Paddlesport Leader trained for Area 2 or BCU Level 3/4 * Leader for Area 3) supported by activity induction and evidence of experience working in this environment.

Participant:

Standard practice is for all participants to be wearing appropriately fitted buoyancy aids. If lifejackets are to be used instead then an additional risk assessment will be required considering measures taken to reduce the potential of capsize and entrapment. This will need the authorisation of the EDO.

Have waterproof/windproof layers available - participants wearing appropriate clothing for conditions.  Standard practice where immersion is likely (paddleboarding for example) would be for participants to be dressed in wetsuits. Cold water shock is a potential hazard in waters below 15oC, i.e. UK waters on most occasions. If not wearing a wetsuit and likely to fall in, consider limiting the scope of the activity (stay in the dock) and ensure adequate safety cover is immediately available

Helmets should be worn as standard where there is significant risk of head injury from falls or capsize into shallow water or from being struck by someone-else’s paddle. This would include during canoe and kayak paddle games, balancing games on paddleboards or perhaps in tandem canoes with inexperienced or excitable participants. If helmets are not worn, then care should be taken to manage falls and/or capsizes near the water’s edge and games involving paddles should be avoided.

Equipment:

Paddlesport activity leaders should be carrying a VHF, whistle, knife and suitable releasable towing system.

When paddlecraft are being operated without cover from a powerboat, a first aid kit should be carried.

Paddleboards

Should be correctly inflated (15 PSI) and fin(s) attached.

Leash if used should be a quick release waist belt, unobstructed. Entrapment release Velcro set to minimum at both ends. The participant needs to be briefed on how and when to release and deemed competent to do so.

Paddles should be selected and adjusted to be appropriate length for student so that they are able to hold the handle and put blade in water efficiently from whichever position they intend to adopt on the board (kneeling, seated, standing)

Closed cockpit kayak

Ensure airbags inflated/buoyancy fitted as appropriate.

Adjust footrests to correct length so that paddler can engage.

If using a spraydeck, ensure it is appropriately sized for the boat and that the release handle is outside of the boat. Check the participant is capable of releasing if needed.

Sit-on top kayak

Use back-rests for better postural support

Canoes

Ensure buoyancy blocks are secured in place

If rafting, ensure boats facing in same direction and pole secured across both boats with the minimum protruding at each side

Make sure bailers are available.

If canoe sailing, ensure a releasable sail system is used.

During the session:

Safety Briefing

There should be a briefing for all participants each time they go paddling. With experienced people, the briefing might take the form of question and answer, however regardless of whether they have been on the water before, the activity leader must ensure that all are aware of key safety information.

Typical boat briefing

Hazards relating to lifting and carrying boats

Hazards relating to venue – dock edge, pontoon, other users, rocky/seaweedy beach

Group signals and operating area boundaries

What to do in the event of a capsize

Paddle handling

How to release spraydeck

Paddleboarders should be trained to kneel whilst in shallow water