In article , Ste
wrote:
On 3 Feb 2005 13:43:56 -0800, "ChipsCheeseandMayo"
wrote: snip

(Adapted from BCU Coaching Directory, Section 5/23)

The main purpose of updating is to ensure that coaches are kept up to
date with best practice.

Are you sure? Don't you mean 'ensure coaches are indoctrinated'?

You need to update at least every three years.

....by attending a single-issue course once every 3 years - that keeps you
up-to-date???

After letting my BCU membership lapse, I was told that my coaching
qualification was no longer valid, as I couldn't be up-to-date if I wasn't a
member.

Best bit

....but I could revalidate the award by paying the back-fees. Which,
amazingly, would bring me back-on-track with their current practice!

(BTW, I wasn't the only one in this situation)

In the meantime, I had done more technical research than anyone else, written
coaching newsletters, developed a new approach to teaching technique,
presented numerous lectures to packed audiences, run a development squad
(officially!), coached national champions and International team paddlers and
taught on level 3 courses by request...

I refused to pay, stating that I thought it was corrupt.

/Best bit


3. Self certification.

Ah, yes. BCU to a tee. Once certified, expulsion from the Union as
'mentally sick' - isn't that what happens?


Allan Bennett
Not a fan of the certified

--

On Fri, 4 Feb 2005 12:19:45 +0000, Allan Bennett
wrote:

In article , Ste
wrote:

(Adapted from BCU Coaching Directory, Section 5/23)

The main purpose of updating is to ensure that coaches are kept up to
date with best practice.

Are you sure? Don't you mean 'ensure coaches are indoctrinated'?

You need to update at least every three years.

...by attending a single-issue course once every 3 years - that keeps you
up-to-date???

I was intentionally trying to keep it factual. Whether or not I
actually agree with how the system is set up, in order to work I need
to have a valid BCU qualification so I have to satisfy the update
requirements in some form.

I seem to recall that three years were chosen as this coincides with
the validity of first aid certificates and three years is certainly
better than before 2002 when there was no requirement to keep up to
date once qualified, just to keep your membership paid...

After letting my BCU membership lapse, I was told that my coaching
qualification was no longer valid, as I couldn't be up-to-date if I wasn't a
member.

Best bit

...but I could revalidate the award by paying the back-fees. Which,
amazingly, would bring me back-on-track with their current practice!

(BTW, I wasn't the only one in this situation)
snip
I've heard that quite a few people have had the same problem and it's
these sort of policies that give the BCU a bad name. If people want to
coach surely the BCU should be encouraging it rather than trying to
screw as much money out of them as possible.

--
Ste, Ambleside

To be honest I'm not too bothered about the politics of it - I just
want to now how the revalidation works so I can keep getting paid...

On 4 Feb 2005 07:38:40 -0800, "ChipsCheeseandMayo"
wrote:

To be honest I'm not too bothered about the politics of it - I just
want to now how the revalidation works so I can keep getting paid...

That's pretty much how I see it. The system may not be perfect but
it's the system I have to work within so I just get on with it. I've
got better things to do than get involved in political arguments, like
going paddling!

--
Ste, Ambleside

"Allan Bennett" wrote in message
...
After letting my BCU membership lapse, I was told that my coaching
qualification was no longer valid, as I couldn't be up-to-date if I wasn't
a
member.
That is a requirement of most organisations that you stay a member for them
to confirm you are up to date.

...but I could revalidate the award by paying the back-fees. Which,
amazingly, would bring me back-on-track with their current practice!
The revalidation method adopted is not ideal but it is reasonably practical
and they are gradually strengthening it to bring it into line with what
operators want.

In the meantime, I had done more technical research than anyone else,
written
coaching newsletters, developed a new approach to teaching technique,
presented numerous lectures to packed audiences, run a development squad
(officially!), coached national champions and International team paddlers
and
taught on level 3 courses by request...

That's fine if you can persuade centres to accept this - and why shouldn't
they - then that is up to you. If you don't need it for a job, then it
doesn't matter anyway.

I refused to pay, stating that I thought it was corrupt.

HArdly

Broooz wrote:
"Allan Bennett" wrote in message
...

After letting my BCU membership lapse, I was told that my coaching
qualification was no longer valid, as I couldn't be up-to-date if I wasn't
a member.

That is a requirement of most organisations that you stay a member for them
to confirm you are up to date.

...but I could revalidate the award by paying the back-fees. Which,
amazingly, would bring me back-on-track with their current practice!

Do you think it's just /possibly/ something to do with a problem with
the ethical side of this that has caused him to let his membership lapse
in the first place?

I refused to pay, stating that I thought it was corrupt.

HArdly

So it's Perfectly All Right for an organisation to declare you Safe and
Completely Up To Speed purely because you've given them some money?
Surely it should require evaluation of the coaching skills (which could
quite reasonably involve a fee) to decide if the person was still
acceptable as a coach, rather than simply an evaluation of their bank
account?

Pete.
--
Peter Clinch Medical Physics IT Officer
Tel 44 1382 660111 ext. 33637 Univ. of Dundee, Ninewells Hospital
Fax 44 1382 640177 Dundee DD1 9SY Scotland UK
net http://www.dundee.ac.uk/~pjclinch/

On Tue, 08 Feb 2005 09:17:24 +0000, Peter Clinch
wrote:

Broooz wrote:
"Allan Bennett" wrote in message
...

After letting my BCU membership lapse, I was told that my coaching
qualification was no longer valid, as I couldn't be up-to-date if I wasn't
a member.

That is a requirement of most organisations that you stay a member for them
to confirm you are up to date.

...but I could revalidate the award by paying the back-fees. Which,
amazingly, would bring me back-on-track with their current practice!

Do you think it's just /possibly/ something to do with a problem with
the ethical side of this that has caused him to let his membership lapse
in the first place?

I refused to pay, stating that I thought it was corrupt.

HArdly

So it's Perfectly All Right for an organisation to declare you Safe and
Completely Up To Speed purely because you've given them some money?
Surely it should require evaluation of the coaching skills (which could
quite reasonably involve a fee) to decide if the person was still
acceptable as a coach, rather than simply an evaluation of their bank
account?

Revalidation is rife with problems, at least in paddling we have
options that include further training, assessment and aknowledgement
of coaching record ( although each and all of them can be fudged by
those with a will).

We put in about 500 coaching hours each year, that is hours times
pupils, we can revalidate through our log book. However, so too can a
Coach who does 20 hours a year. I'm not saying we are perfect, but
that makes for a big variance in experience and I'm not sure how
revalidation on that basis alone can be valid.

HST, I'm not even sure that attending a coachin conference will make
that much difference anyway.

Ewan Scott

So you can revalidate solely on the basis that you have been
continually coaching? That sounds a bit dodgy to me - I am learning
that a lot of the things I was initially first taught may not be best
practice now. But because I have ben ontinually coaching using these
methods for the 3 year period I am considered to be up to date?

It seems to me (yes you guys have turned me political) that the whole
revalidation scheme has been very poorly thought out, and in many cases
is pretty pointless. PArticualrly as you can continue to coach as a
non-validated coach?

"ChipsCheeseandMayo" wrote in message
oups.com...
So you can revalidate solely on the basis that you have been
continually coaching?
No - that is not how the system works - it is set out on the website but you
have to show that you have updated your knowledge.

That sounds a bit dodgy to me - I am learning
that a lot of the things I was initially first taught may not be best
practice now. But because I have ben ontinually coaching using these
methods for the 3 year period I am considered to be up to date?
Agreed - noone said the system was perfect, but to test everyone every 3
years would not be practicable either. Now, driving is a much much higher
risk activity and we don't have any revlaidation of that. The BCU is
developing their procedures in line with other organisations.

It seems to me (yes you guys have turned me political) that the whole
revalidation scheme has been very poorly thought out, and in many cases
is pretty pointless. PArticualrly as you can continue to coach as a
non-validated coach?

Well you can do what you want if you are not paid so many club coaches do
not revalidate but they cannot issue stars either. Otherwise it is unlikely
anyone will pay you to coach if you dont.

Whilst what you say is reasonable, it is not correct to say that the system
is corrupt - there is a lot of difference between a corrupt system and one
that needs to improve. Rather than being political, how about suggesting
some sensible practical suggestions for improvement.

On Wed, 09 Feb 2005 23:05:27 GMT, "Broooz"
wrote:

"ChipsCheeseandMayo" wrote in message
roups.com...
So you can revalidate solely on the basis that you have been
continually coaching?
No - that is not how the system works - it is set out on the website but you
have to show that you have updated your knowledge.

It's as good as...

Mandatory requirements for revalidation and keeping coaching awards
valid...
* Current Membership doh!
* Current First Aid Certificate as appropriate fair enough.
* Attendance at one regional or Local Coach Update and Development
Forum in every three years. see definition
* Remain active as a coach no definition
available
* Remain upto date with current best practice. read CODE?


It is hardly arduous. But I guess i'd better attend a regional
Coaching meeting, my other half managed to get to one, soshe's okay -
not that she learned anything from it :-(

Ewan Scott