Kingston Kayak Club is committed to providing paddlesport activities that are safe, enjoyable and appropriately supported by our coaches, leaders and volunteers.
Paddle UK’s Standards for Deployment establish the requirements for individuals involved in organising, supervising and delivering paddlesport activity within affiliated clubs.
These standards cover qualifications, competence, training, first aid, safeguarding and the responsibilities of those deploying individuals into particular roles.
Kingston Kayak Club has developed its own activity-specific deployment documents to explain how these national standards are applied in practice to the Club’s coaching and training sessions.
Our documents recognise that different activities require different approaches to coaching, organisation and supervision, while maintaining appropriate safety arrangements across all Club activities.
What does deployment mean?
Deployment is the process of determining whether an individual is appropriately qualified, trained, experienced and competent to undertake a particular role or activity, and identifying the supervision and safety arrangements required.
Kingston Kayak Club, acting through its Committee and agreed safety framework, is the deployer for Club activity.
For formal coaching sessions, a suitably qualified and current Lead Coach is responsible for the organisation and safe delivery of the activity. For informal activities, a designated Session Lead or Facilitator coordinates the session within the Club’s agreed safety arrangements.
KKC’s Approach to Deployment
KKC recognises that safe deployment cannot be determined simply by applying a fixed coach-to-participant ratio or counting the number of adults present.
Although British Canoeing Awarding Body provides suggested ratios for different paddling environments, these are guidance rather than automatic limits or guarantees of safe provision.
Deployment decisions must consider the circumstances of the activity, including:
- The qualifications, experience and current competence of coaches and leaders.
- The competence and agreed responsibilities of coaching assistants and session facilitators.
- The age, ability, experience and behaviour of participants.
- The nature, technical complexity and intensity of the planned activity.
- The number of participants and the supervision arrangements available.
- The characteristics of the venue, including access, visibility and environmental conditions.
- The applicable risk assessments, safeguarding, first-aid and emergency arrangements.
- Any additional requirements imposed by the venue operator.
Deployment decisions are reviewed dynamically. Activities, participant numbers, group organisation and staffing arrangements may be adjusted during a session whenever necessary.
KKC Deployment Documents
The following documents describe how Kingston Kayak Club applies the Standards for Deployment to its regular coaching and training activities.
They should be read by coaches, session leaders, assistants and other volunteers undertaking responsibilities within the relevant activities.
Indoor Pool Sessions
This document describes KKC’s approach to the safe organisation, supervision and delivery of junior and adult paddlesport coaching sessions at the indoor pool.
It covers the responsibilities of the Lead Coach, the deployment of qualified coaches and experienced coaching assistants, and the different approaches used for junior and adult coaching.
It also addresses the coaching of technical skills, supervision, participant ratios, poolside safety provision and the additional operating requirements of Hull Culture and Leisure (HCAL).
View Indoor Pool DocumentOutdoor Pool Sessions
This document sets out KKC’s approach to organising, supervising and delivering junior and adult paddlesport coaching at the outdoor pool.
It describes how qualified coaches and experienced assistants are deployed, how coaching groups are organised and how participant numbers are managed.
Particular consideration is given to the outdoor environment, including weather conditions, water and air temperature, access and egress, participant competence and the supervision arrangements required.
View Outdoor Pool DocumentCanoe Polo Training
KKC’s regular canoe polo sessions generally involve experienced paddlers undertaking player-led practice, training games and match play.
These sessions are normally classified as informal paddlesport activity, rather than formal coaching, because they are not primarily organised around structured instruction or individual skill development delivered by a coach.
The document explains the responsibilities of the Session Lead/Facilitator, the poolside coach/lifeguard and the Pool Controller, together with participant competence, safeguarding, first aid and emergency arrangements.
It also explains how the Club manages the contact and collision risks associated with canoe polo and applies appropriate safety arrangements at both indoor and outdoor pool venues.
View Canoe Polo DocumentCanoe Slalom Training
KKC’s regular canoe slalom sessions provide structured technical coaching designed to develop paddlers’ slalom skills and performance.
These sessions are classified as formal paddlesport coaching and are delivered under the direction of a suitably qualified, current and experienced Lead Coach.
The document covers the management of participant numbers, small-group coaching, training rotations, technical exercises, gate sequences and individual progression.
It also sets out the responsibilities of the Lead Coach, the use of coaching assistants, supervision arrangements, environmental considerations, safeguarding and emergency provision.
View Canoe Slalom DocumentFormal Coaching and Informal Activity
An important feature of KKC’s approach is the distinction between formal coaching and informal paddlesport activity.
Formal coaching involves an identified individual taking responsibility for structured instruction, coaching or the development of participants’ skills and knowledge.
KKC’s general paddlesport coaching sessions and regular canoe slalom training fall within this approach. These activities are delivered under the direction of appropriately qualified coaches who meet the relevant deployment requirements.
Informal paddlesport activity involves organised Club activity where the principal purpose is not the formal instruction, coaching or leadership of participants.
KKC’s regular player-led canoe polo sessions are an example. Although a formal coaching qualification is not automatically required simply to facilitate such activity, the Club remains responsible for ensuring that competent individuals are deployed and appropriate safety arrangements are maintained.
If structured coaching or instruction is introduced into an informal session, the relevant formal coaching deployment requirements will apply to that activity.
Activities taking place at the same venue do not necessarily require identical coaching and supervision arrangements.
KKC’s activity-specific documents recognise these differences while maintaining consistent responsibilities for safety, competence, safeguarding and appropriate decision-making.
Coaches, Assistants and Session Leaders
KKC values the knowledge, experience and contribution of its coaches, paddlers and volunteers.
Our deployment arrangements recognise the difference between individuals who currently meet the requirements to operate autonomously and those who support sessions within an agreed and supervised role.
Experienced coaching assistants may have considerable practical coaching experience, historic qualifications or specialist discipline knowledge.
Such individuals may support coaching activities where the Lead Coach is satisfied that they are competent to do so and appropriate supervision can be maintained.
Assistants are not automatically regarded as equivalent to current autonomous qualified coaches when assessing coaching provision.
Similarly, individuals facilitating informal activity must have the appropriate competence, training and understanding of the Club’s safety arrangements for their role.
Everyone undertaking a designated role is expected to recognise the limits of their own competence, seek advice where necessary and stop or modify activities that cannot be safely managed.
Safety and Risk Assessment
The Standards for Deployment form part of KKC’s wider safety framework.
They explain how people are deployed into roles but do not replace the operational arrangements required to manage the risks associated with individual venues and activities.
KKC’s deployment documents must be read alongside the relevant Club risk assessments, safeguarding policy, emergency procedures, operating arrangements and any requirements established by the venue operator.
The individual responsible for a session must consider the actual circumstances on the day and has the authority to modify, restrict, postpone or stop activity where necessary.
Paddle UK Standards and Supporting Guidance
KKC’s deployment documents have been developed within the framework provided by Paddle UK and the British Canoeing Awarding Body (BCAB).
The following documents provide the underlying national requirements, environmental definitions and supporting guidance.
Further information about qualifications, training, safeguarding and deployment requirements is available from Paddle UK .
Ongoing Review and Dynamic Management
Safe deployment is an ongoing process rather than a decision made only before a session begins.
Participant needs, staffing arrangements, environmental conditions and the activities being undertaken may change during a session.
KKC expects those responsible for sessions to respond appropriately, including changing activities, adjusting supervision, reallocating coaches or assistants, reducing participant numbers or stopping an activity when required.
The objective is to provide enjoyable, high-quality paddlesport activity while ensuring that everyone involved operates within an appropriate level of competence, supervision and support.
Document Governance
Kingston Kayak Club’s Committee retains responsibility for the Club’s deployment framework and the approval and review of its activity-specific documents.
Documents are reviewed periodically and following significant changes to relevant national guidance, venues, activities or safety arrangements.
Kingston Kayak Club’s Standards for Deployment documents are Club operating documents. They supplement, and do not replace, the current Standards for Deployment requirements issued by Paddle UK, the guidance of British Canoeing Awarding Body or applicable venue-specific safety requirements.