Star Awards

Registered Company No 2612775

Canoe England website

This new scheme for personal performance awards provides a balanced progression for paddlers, supports them as they move through their sport and, most importantly, encourages them to go paddling. The scheme has been developed around the needs of todays paddlers, with direction taken from the findings of the BCU Paddlesport Review and the BCU Long term Paddler Development Review.

Basically, this new scheme is based on 5 year's worth of research and reflects current best practice as defined by paddlesports leading experts.

Star Awards

The ‘new’ Star Award scheme provides the support and encouragement paddlers need to get out and go paddling. The initial awards (Paddlesport Start, One Star and Two Star) are generic, encouraging paddlers to experience the various disciplines of Paddlesport available - for example one and two stars will require kayak and canoe skills!

Paddlers 'specialise' at the Three Star Award (including separate awards for flat and white water, sea, canoe and surf). The emphasis of these initial awards is to develop personal skills and gain independence. The Four Star and Five Star awards are leadership awards and enable paddlers to lead groups in appropriate conditions. The Star Award Scheme best suits paddlers aged 16 and over.

You can find full details and the syllabus for the various star awards on the Canoe England website.

Paddlepower

The Paddlepower Scheme consists of 5 youth friendly awards all with a colourful and youth friendly approach to provide an appropriate pathway for
young paddlers. For the full details of the new awards go to the BCU website (www.canoe-england.org.uk) and follow the links for Personal Performance Awards.

What does it mean for you?

Well firstly, it is no longer possible to be assessed for the ‘old’ star tests

Secondly, any star awards you have now are still relevant, you don’t have to retake anything (although if you are moving into coaching the new awards will be the prerequisites).

Your coaches will be able to advise at what level it will be best for you to cross over onto the new awards should you want to take them.