Pre-Instructor Training
We have been offering In-House Pre-Instructor Training for many years. In effect this system sees a potential Dinghy Instructor Course candidate assist and shadow our current instructor team for two seasons to gain the requisite skills and knowledge to undertake and successfully complete the Dinghy Instructor Course. Sailing Skills, Powerboat Skills and Personal Development Skills will all be worked upon. We are pleased to say that every single candidate who has taken this training programme and gone on to undertake the Dinghy Instructor Course has been successful.
There is no real secret to the high level of success - consistency and preperation over a long period (24 months) will equip the candidate with the necessary wherewithal to pass the primary hurdle (The Pre Entry Test) and the ultimate hurdle, the Dinghy Instructor Course itself.
Commitment and maturity on the part of the candidate are key to their success or failure - motivation, a 'can do' attitude and enthusiasm are what we need to see in a young sailor for us to take them on. Lack of knowledge is not a problem - that can be addressed over the course of the 24 months. As part of the programme we cover countless areas, including:
- Sailing Skills to the standard required for Dinghy Instructor Course.
- Presentation Skills - Public Speaking, Confidence Building etc.
- First Aid, VHF, Navigation, Code of Ethics and Powerboat Courses.
- Respect for Equipment: How to care for Boats, Wetsuits, Lifejackets etc.
- Clubhouse Cleaning - Gents / Ladies, Classrooms, logistics.
- Hospitality - Meet & Greet, Problem solving, Liaising with parents and children.
- Understanding the transition from being a Sailing Student to becoming a Sailing Instructor - I am no longer the priority - the children I am teaching are.
- Punctuality, Appropriate Dress, Responsibility, Attitude, Respect.
Candidates for this programme are selected from the 15+ section of the Junior Club by us, and are trained on Saturdays from September to May over a two year period. The Candidates are monitored by a Senior Instructor who briefs the Chief Instructor on their progress on a weekly basis.
Many candidates have failed Pre-Entry and Dinghy Instructor Programmes and much of the time this is attributable to one key issue: Preparation! Like with an exam, generally those who do best are the ones who have consistently worked over a long period - those who don't plan and cram the week before are at a severe disadvantage!
So if you are interested in one day being an Instructor with us or elsewhere, our training programme is tried and tested and recommended by the experts and the coaches who will be running your Dinghy Instructor Course!