The Blades Pool Awards Course

The Cwmbran Junior Blades club offers its members the opportunity to participate in the Welsh Canoeing Association (WCA) Pool Blades Award. The awards, through from level one to level five, are for the swimming pool sessions only and are separate from the  Welsh Canoeing Association/British Canoeing Association Star Awards Scheme for open water coaching.
LEVEL ONE.

Take part in an organised pool session.
Swim the length of the pool wearing a buoyancy aid.
Capsize kayak and exit.
How to get in and out of a kayak.
How to paddle forwards.
How to paddle backwards.
How to turn the kayak using sweep strokes.
How to stop - in both directions.
Understand the theory relating to the Level one- including some knowledge of outdoor paddling, some ideas of the history of canoeing, equipment used and basic awareness of canoesport.
Theory test relating to level one.

LEVEL TWO

 

 

 

 

 

 Take part in a minimum of 4 pool sessions.
Know how to handle a paddle correctly and understand the use of the control hand.
Get in and out of the kayak, unassisted.
Paddle forwards, in a straight line, the length of the pool.
Turn the kayak, through 360 degrees, using sweep strokes, in three strokes or less on each side.
Paddle backwards half the length of the pool, in a straight line.
Stop in both directions in less than four strokes.
Low support stroke - both sides - kayak off balance.
Sit on the back of the kayak with legs either side and paddle.
Capsize and exit (with spraydeck) and empty the kayak, with assistance.
Theory test relating to level two.
LEVEL THREE

 

 

 

 Take part in a minimum of 8 pool sessions.
Capsize with spraydeck and swim to the side of the pool (self rescue)
Support strokes - water on deck and on both sides.
High support.
Simple draw.
Sculling draw.
Stand upright in boat from sitting position, without assistance.
Exit boat - leaving it upright and re-enter.
Dribble the width of the pool with aa ball (polo or football).
Perform an eskimo rescue as casualty and rescuer - demonstrate two methods.
Perform an X rescue.
 Theory test related to level three..
LEVEL FOUR Use a reaching rescue to recover a swimmer.

Paddle  two lengths of the pool with a swamped kayak.
Bow rudder/Box turn.
Recovery on both sides with shoulder in the water.
Perform one of the following - Screw roll - Put across - Blade roll - Pawlata.
Demonstrate a throwline rescue of a struggling swimmer - 10 metres away. Time limit 60 seconds - the line must land within reach of the swimmer.
Take charge of an all-in rescue of 4 kayaks within 3 minutes (spraydecks on).
Cross deck paddling across the width of the pool - perform on both sides.
Pass the catch the ball (polo or football) on the move - three times out of five.
Roll on the move.
Wriggle test.
Supervise and coach a Pool Blade Level One group for two sessions.
Theory relating to level four.
LEVEL FIVE Screw roll forward and reverse on both sides.
Hand roll.
Perpendicular paddle roll.
Re-entry and roll.
Clock roll.
Capsize, pass paddle over kayak and roll.
Draw stroke 5 metres in 8 seconds on both sides.
Scull for support, both sides, shoulder must be in water, manoeuvre boat through 360 degrees.
Perform an overhead stern rudder - run 5 metres in a straight line.
Controlled scull down and up, both sides, from upright to horizontal.
Rescue upturned, unconscious casualty.
Paddle the length of the poll using J strokes on both sides.
Supervise and coach a pool Blade level Two group for four sessions.
 Theory relating to level five. 

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