Coaching

The Club offers a variety of training and coaching throughout the year, catering for beginners through to more experienced paddlers. We are ideally situated at the confluence of the River Colne, the Grand Union Canal and Bury Lake; this allows the club to provide a wide variety of training environments.

In addition to our fleet of Carbon-Kevlar canoe polo kayaks, we have over 25 modern ‘plastic’ kayaks ranging from play to creek boats, these are all available for use during coaching sessions.

Training trips are run throughout the year offering the opportunity for members to improve their white water, rescue, canoe and surf skills. For those interested in becoming coaches, instructors and leaders, the Club may, on a case by case basis, provide a bursary towards coaching and leadership qualification costs.

We emphasise fun, safe training and have a very active core of both junior and senior members.

For more information about coaching, please email coaching@nomadkayakclub.co.uk.

British Canoeing Paddle Awards (Course Dates)

NKC regularly runs British Canoeing (BC) endorsed Paddle Awards, Paddle Start, Paddle Discover and Paddle Explore, they are the foundation qualifications of any canoeist and our coaches will guide you through both the theoretical and practical elements.

Paddle Start Award (Introductory Session – Prerequisite for Nomad Membership)
The first session on the water; learning useful skills for an enjoyable paddling experience. It aims to provide you with the basic knowledge to enable you to safely get in and out of your boat, make it move and return to your start point. This is your first step into the world of paddling, ensuring you feel safe, confident and ready to progress to the Discover Award.

Paddle Discover Award (Nomad One Star)
The Discover Award allows you to develop your decision making and practical skills for a fun and safe time on the water, taking you on the next steps towards becoming a proficient and independent paddler. Learn how to choose and effectively use equipment, whilst developing an understanding of the factors which affect your paddling; giving you the confidence to progress to making your own choices with the Explore Award.

Paddle Explore Award (Nomad Two Star)
The Explore Award gives you ownership; allowing you to choose where you move next in the world of paddlesport. Working with a coach you will be able to develop a programme that suits what you need. Learning to make confident choices with this individualised approach. Recognising your ability to independently paddle your chosen craft in a sheltered water environment. 

Canoe Polo Coaching

Nomad Mixed 2005 - Liverpool

The Nomad Kayak Club currently enters three full squads in the BC Regional Canoe Polo Leagues; every member of our squads can request coaching in order to improve. We are lucky to have many experienced canoe polo paddlers some having competed since the Club formed back in 1973. As well as the very experienced we also boast a number of current Great Britain paddlers; they are also available to coach / mentor Club members as required.

If you have the desire to improve your skills, technique and or ability then please make contact with our committee’s canoe polo officer by emailing polo@nomadkayakclub.co.uk, they will explain how to receive canoe polo specific training and who is involved in canoe polo coaching.

Health and Safety / First Aid

The Club will arrange health and safety or first aid courses to suit the needs of its members. To become a qualified canoeing coach there is a need to gain qualifications in this area, NKC is committed to developing more coaching members so please do speak with the relevant members of the committee for further information.