Become an Instructor
Interested in taking the next step in your sailing career and becoming a sailing instructor? Great! The Alberta Sailing Association runs all the necessary courses for our province’s future coaches to get their Sail Canada and National Coaching Certificate Program certifications.
The Instructor Institute typically runs in April and May to prepare young instructor candidates for the upcoming summer season, though courses are occasionally run in September. For pricing information and to register for coaching clinics, please go to https://albertasailing.checklick.com/, or email ASA’s office at info@albertasailing.com.
The ASA’s Instructor Institute
Sail Canada and the NCCP demand a high level of training and certification from their coaches and instructors, so in order to streamline the process of becoming certified, ASA has developed the Instructor Institute. The Institute is designed to be taken by instructor candidates who have already done their Fundamental clinic, and it combines three coaching clinics: Coach Boat Safety, the WetFeet/Young Sailors module, and the CANsail Technical clinic. Other clinics, such as CANsail 5/6 certifications, Chutes and Wires, and Coaching Athletes with a Disability, are run on a case-by-case basis according to the needs of our candidates.
The full process of becoming a CANsail-certified instructor through the Institute is outlined below. For more information, click on the clinic or category name.
These courses must be completed externally by the candidate before attending certain instructor clinics. Some can be taken online, some cannot. Though not all Institute clinics require all prerequisites beforehand, candidates are strongly advised to complete all prerequisites before the beginning of the Institute.
- Sailing Prerequisites
|
Instructor Certification Level
|
CANsail Prerequisite |
| CANsail 1-2 Instructor | CANsail 4 |
| CANsail 3-4 Instructor | CANsail 5 |
| CANsail 5-6 Instructor | CANsail 6 |
- Other Prerequisites
| Prerequisite |
Approved Providers
|
Expiry |
| Pleasure Craft Operator's Card | Sail Canada Instructors or other accredited providers | Does not expire |
| Standard First Aid and C CPR | St. John's Ambulance, Red Cross, or other accredited providers | 3 years |
| Police Check (if over 18) | Sterling Talent Solutions, Local police department | 5 years |
The first required course to become a sailing instructor. This course requires a minimum of CANsail 4 and candidates must be 14 years of age or older. The Fundamental clinic introduces pedagogical and coaching theory, and the Long Term Athlete Development framework as it is applied in sailing.
- Cost: $250
To see current offerings: Alberta Sailing Checklick
The first week of the ASA Instructor Institute includes Coach Boat Safety and the Wetfeet module. Candidates must be at least 16 years of age by December 31 of that year, and must have completed all instructor prerequisites including their First Aid and PCOC.
- Total cost for two-week Institute: $450
To see current offerings: Alberta Sailing Checklick
The second week of the ASA Instructor Institute includes the Technical coaching clinic and an evaluation for either CANsail 1-2 Instructor or CANsail 3-4 Instructor. Candidates must be at least 16 years of age by December 31 of that year, and must have completed all instructor prerequisites including their First Aid and PCOC.
- Total cost for two-week Institute: $450
To see current offerings: Alberta Sailing Checklick
All instructors are required to go through periodic evaluation in order to maintain their certifications. Trained instructors must evaluate within two years of acquiring trained status. Certified instructors must evaluate every 3 years.
To schedule an evaluation, please email our program director at info@albertasailing.com