Become a watersports instructor

With an ever increasing focus on taking time for ourselves or spending more time in outdoor settings, we have had an increase in the amount of people wanting to get into watersports. Many of those people just want to come and enjoy some time on the water, but for some, they want that little bit more. You might see watersports as a one off experience, a relaxing hobby, a chance to get into teaching watersports, a career change or break or simply a change in the pace of life. At Lagoon Watersports we have a growing selection of pathways, enabling a route for almost anyone to get into a dream job of teaching watersports.

Through this article I will simplify some of the ways you can become a watersports instructor.

Let’s get straight into it ..

We Offer 4 schemes, each designed for candidates with different requirements. The first three options are suitable for candidates with no or a little previous watersports experience.

1. Fast Track Instructor Scheme – all ages
2. BTEC Extended Diploma in Sport and Outdoor Activities – 2 year educational course ages 16 – 19
3. The watersports instructor training programme – combine education or work with training over 23 Wednesdays.
4. Individual Instructor training courses – suitable for candidates with watersports experience.

Fast Track Instructor Scheme 

Our Fast Track Instructor scheme is something we created several years ago, and was so successful it is something we wanted to continue with. 

This is for those who want to get their foot in the door to the outdoor industry; a great way to gain a qualification and get yourself working for the summer. 

The Fast Track offers a subsidised Instructor qualification for those who join the Lagoon Watersports team for a minimum of 6 weeks employment during the summer months. At the end of that period you’ll be rewarded with 50% of the course costs back, paid at the end of the season.

We offer you the opportunity to develop your skills in Stand up Paddleboarding for free, followed by a subsidised BSUPA Level 1 SUP Instructor Course. You also receive a subsidised RYA First Aid and RYA Safeguarding course. 

What happens? Candidates come to Lagoon Watersports for a selection day where we have a tour of the centre, meet some of the team and get on the water, followed by an informal chat with one of the senior team for any questions you may have.

Successful applicants will then arrange dates to come and practice should they need to get their ability up and then booked onto one of our SUP Instructor courses.

On completion of the course, and a First Aid course you’ll be on your way to becoming one of the team. Once you’re in, you’ll be able to teach paddleboarding as well as some of the other in-house activities we will train you in.

You’ll also be able to come and practice in the other activities to see if you wish to diversify your qualifications. 

The SUP Instructor is a great first qualification for anyone wanting to get started and develop confidence with delivery and group control. 

This is a great cost and time effective option for those wanting to get into instructing watersports and especially wanting to work at Lagoon Watersports. Some of our best instructors have come through this course and have been returning to us ever since.  

For a list of the course costs and details click this link. 

BTEC Extended Diploma in Sport and Outdoor Activities.

This amazing course is fully funded for students from 16-19, and a full time two year course, based at the esteemed Newman College. This BTEC is a vocational equivalent to 3 A Levels, where the students study different modules which are relevant to the sport and outdoor adventure world. The course can lead to employment, further study, national governing body qualifications and university.

Our partnership with Newman College has allowed us to facilitate this course where students spend two academic years combining theory and practical elements to achieve a BTEC Extended Diploma in Sport and Outdoor Activities, as well as an increased personal ability in a variety of water and land based sports. The course develops the leaners ability to work independently and increase their research and thinking skills, whilst assessing in a variety of formats from reports and assignments to podcasts, presentations and videos. The course offers the potential to develop personal skills in sports and turn them into National Governing Body Instructing qualifications and give the students a unique chance to develop a holistic view of their intro to the outdoors. By the end of the course the students will have finished full time education, gained valuable work experience of a working outdoor centre and could also have a handful of instructor qualifications, ready to travel the world, or Lagoon Watersports, for now. Any of the instructing qualifications are subsidised by Lagoon Watersports to give the learners a greater opportunity to be able to gain as many as possible and diversify their teaching cv.

This is a great option for those wishing to combine their required learning for the next two years alongside a desire to be active and out in the outdoors, the only downfall to this course, is that it wasn’t available to me at 16.

For more information on this course click this link.

Watersports Instructor Training

The watersports instructor training programme is our intensive course where we aim to develop participants personal ability and enable you to gain instructor qualifications once you are ready. You can turn up with no watersports experience, just a passion for learning and as long as the effort goes in you’ll see the rewards.

This course is perfect for those people wanting to develop their skills over time and maintain another job, continue education or adapt to part of their lifestyle. Age restrictions are 16 years old and above due to the requirements of governing bodies.

The ‘WIT’ runs over 23 Wednesdays from September to December and April to June. We cover a range of different activities including Stand up paddleboarding, Wakeboarding, Windsurfing, Sailing and WingSurfing. The course has been designed to increase the personal ability of the individual to reach the basic prerequisites required for the majority of the instructor qualifications.

As the course focuses on personal ability, we have included add ons to the course, which allow the individual to decide which direction they wish to take their career. Previously we have had individuals moving towards SUP Instructor and Windsurf Instructor and more recently people have been finding a passion for the relatively ‘new’ Wing Foiling.

This course can be purchased as one upfront cost or a payment plan can be arranged.

For more information on this course click this link.

Instructor Courses.

What on earth do I mean? Each activity we offer has a national governing body, (NGB), who oversee qualifications, quality control and provide us with rules and guidelines for the sport. 

These governing bodies, usually allow organisations like ourselves to host Instructor Training Courses to allow people to become instructors. 

If you have a fixed sport in mind and you already have a good ability in that sport, the most direct route to gain an instructor qualification is to book directly on to one of these courses. I.e RYA Windsurf Instructor. 

This is as simple as checking the prerequisites with us or the NGB, getting in touch with the centre, booking on and attending the course. 

Before you do so, you will need to make sure you meet the pre-requisites for the course, this means being a certain standard of personal ability before you attend. 

You will also require a First Aid Qualification, a recognised Safeguarding qualification. 

Once you complete the course, you are given a result and discussed how to progress from there. 

This option is great if you are already a certain ability and already have a certain pathway in mind. 

Different governing bodies demand a different costing of their courses, due to duration of course, content and location. There can be a range from £200-500 depending on the activity that you wish to complete and where. 

RYA Start Windsurf Instructor – the entry into teaching windsurfing. You need to be a non planing ability with a Powerboat Level 2. This 5 day course gives you all of the information, time and guidance to become a Start Windsurf Instructor.

RYA Intermediate Windsurf Instructor – The next step for windsurfing, split into two levels depending on personal ability.  You need to be an Advanced windsurfer to gain the Intermediate planing certificate. This also a 5 day course designed to hone your teaching skills and develop those skills and knowledge of the FastFWD formula to accelerate coaching and learning. 

RYA Wingfoil Instructor – The RYA Instructor certificate to be able to teach Wing Foiling, the latest edition to the watersports world. You must be able to have a sustained flight on your foil before this course. The four day course allows you to teach Wingsurfing, the use of the Wing, and WingFoiling, use of the foil, depending on your personal ability during the course. 

BSUPA Level 1 SUP Instructor – This 2 day course, gives you all the information and coaching you need to be able to deliver the BSUPA’s Ready to Ride course, for intro to SUP. A great first instructor qualification to get on the first rung of the ladder, and entering the world of watersports. 

For a list of the Instructor Courses and prerequisites for each, click this link.

For any more information on any of these courses, please get in touch with us at the Lagoon. You can try the website lagoon.co.uk, call the office 01273 424842 option 2 or even drop us an email at info@lagoonwatersports.co.uk.

So, what are you waiting for? Start your adventure.