Make the Beach your office - qualify as a British Surfing Association Coach with Big Blue

Our Head Coach, Jon Price, is a British Surfing Association Level 4 coach and Trainer/Assessor. He runs regular courses in Bude, on behalf of the British Surfing Association (BSA), to train and qualify people as surf coaches. Jon has been a professional surf coach for over ten years. He has extensive knowledge of all areas of surf coaching from beginner to pro and regularly coaches the English and British Teams. Jon’s knowledge and experience will be passed on to you in order to give you the best possible start to your coaching career.

The BSA Level 1 Surf Coaching Award is the official qualification required to work as a surf coach in the UK. This qualification allows you to seek employment at hundreds of surf schools in Britain and all over the world. The course covers all aspects of surf coaching including surf safety, surfing techniques and group management. Successful participants will go on to coach surfers from Beginners (never surfed before) through to Intermediate Level (able to paddle out, catch green waves and ride right and left whilst performing basic manoeuvres).

Our BSA Level 1 Surf Coach courses are run from specifically designed lecture rooms using power point presentations on digital projectors. They are based close to local accommodation and shops so your own transport is not a necessity. The beach based aspects of the course are run from Summerleaze Beach in Bude using Big Blue Surf School equipment. This makes role play and coaching practice all the more realistic and offers you a more complete learning experience.

The course itself is split in to three sections:

1. A pre-course workbook.

2. A three day course, which includes: Lectures and workshops covering best practices and the theory side of surf coaching. Practical on the beach sessions which will teach you how to run beginners surf lessons. You will also be given a relevant topic, prior to the course, to present a ten minute lecture on and sit an hour long written paper. During this part of the course you will be assessed on your personal surfing ability, professional approach, communication andinterpersonal skills, as well as your written paper answers and lecture.

3. After passing part 2 you will need to spend 30 hours gaining real coaching experience with a BSA Approved Surf School or Activity Centre (candidates may be able to complete these hours with Big Blue). You will then be assessed on your coaching ability and hopefully become a fully qualified Surf Coach.

Before you sign up for a course you will need a current beach lifeguard qualification (SLSA Surf Coach Lifesaving Award, SLSA Beach Lifeguard Award, RLSS Beach Lifeguard Award) and at least two years surfing experience – you should be able to paddle out back in up to two meter surf and catch and ride unbroken waves both left and right showing good control and the ability to bottom and top turn consistently.

British Surfing Association Level 1 Surf Coaching Courses 2008 (Bude)

BSA Level 1 Coaching Courses cost £250 per candidate including a year’s BSA Membership. All awards are valid for three years.

Please contact us ( 01288 331764 or bigbluesurfschool@btinternet.com ) if you require any further information or would like to book.

Booking Conditions
1. A course must have a minimum of five participants in order to be run. Should a course be cancelled you will be refunded in full or moved to another course at your convenience.
2. In the event of adverse weather/surf conditions surfing assessments may be deferred. Candidates will then be expected to arrange another assessment at a later date.
3. If a candidate is unable to attend a course, they must give a least 7 days notice in order to receive a refund. If less than 7 days notice is given candidates will only receive a partial refund, the amount being at the discretion of BBSS.
4. In the interests of safety, participants must agree to abide by any decisions or instructions made by BBSS staff.
5. BBSS, its owners and employees will not accept liability for personal injury or loss/damage of personal property sustained by participants on any courses.