ISA level 1 surf instructor courses 2023
is aimed at individuals over the age of 16, who have been surfing for at least ONE years ISA Level 1 Surf Coach Award is a great way to start your career.
The award is aimed at coaches who are currently working with novice to intermediate surfers who wish to develop their skills in order to coach beginner classes. It’s widely recognised as the most desirable qualification by the ISA regulated surf schools in the UK for appointing lead coaches. You’ll be able to work with junior squads, advanced and competitive surfers as well as being the minimum award required if you wish to start your own surf school in the UK. Although the exact schedule of this award may vary, the primary course content includes:
About the ISA Programs International Surfing Development provide ISA Surfing Programs throughout the world for Surf Instructors, SUP Instructors and Surf Judges. Recognised by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) as the world governing authority for the sport of surfing, the ISA Surf Coaching & Instructing Educational Program is the international standard for accreditation of Coaches and Instructors in the surf school industry. The ISA Coaching & Instructing Program is designed to develop the skills, knowledge and abilities of those individuals who wish to obtain a scientific approach to the Coaching and Instructing of surfing.
The objectives of the ISA Coaching & Instructing Program:
• To establish an international system of Coaching and Instructing Courses, improving the safety and efficacy of surf instruction around the world.
• To further develop, through educational programs, a body of knowledge on which Coaches and Instructors may draw.
• To provide Coaches and Instructors with employment opportunities, encouragement and support.
• To advance Surf Coaching and Instructing as a globally standardised and highly professional activity with stringent requirements.
Over time this program will expand to many other areas of professional development education for our great sport of surfing. All ISA Coaches and Instructors must abide by the local laws and regulations of the area in which they work. All ISA Instructors must be a minimum of 16 years of age to become an accredited ISA Instructor but must work under supervision of an ISA Instructor over 18 years of age. An ISA Instructor must be a minimum of 18 years of age to instruct without supervision.
ISA LEVEL 1 SURF INSTRUCTOR COURSE The ISA Level 1 Surf Instructor qualification is the only internationally recognised Surf Instructor qualification recognised by the International Surfing Association and member organisations. All ISA courses set the international standard for accreditation for Instructors and Coaches in the surf school industry.
The ISA Level 1 Surf Instructor Qualification is the basic Instructor accreditation and minimum requirement for professional instructors to hold. It covers the teaching of entry level and basic beginner surfers through to an early intermediate level. All level 1 Instructors must be a minimum age of 16 years old. Instructors under the age of 18 must work with a supervising instructor until they reach 18 years of age, at which time they are able to instruct on their own.
The requirements for accreditation and gaining the ISA Level 1 Surf Instructor qualification are ▪ Attend the 2 Day ISA Level 1 Surf Instructor Course
▪ Satisfactorily complete all requirements of the course including
▪ Venue Analysis
▪ Design a basic learn to surf lesson plan
▪ Deliver a basic learn to surf lesson
▪ Demonstrate basic surf skills (at the end of this document, there is an explanation of what is required to demonstrate for the Level 1 surf skills)
▪ Complete 20 practical instructing hours with a Supervisor Instructor who signs off a competency Check List for the Trainee Instructor
▪ Fully complete the Level 1 Surf Instructor Work Book
▪ Complete and be proficient in an Ocean Rescue Award
▪ It is also strongly recommended that all instructors are a member of their National Governing Body
▪ * Please note that there may be additional location specific requirements that must be met prior to the issuing of the Qualification. This may include for example, the requirement to have any working with children checks completed Once these are all completed, the Trainee Instructor submits their Work Book to the Course Organiser, the National Governing Body or to the person identified during the course to whom all completed materials must be submitted to.
Once this has been done, it will be submitted to the ISA Head Office for processing. At which time, the successful instructors will be issued with their ISA Level 1 Certificate and added to the ISA Instructor Register.
The 2 Day ISA Level 1 Surf Instructor Course will cover all the required material, both the theory and practical components. At the completion of the course, the participants must finish the requirements before they can submit their workbook to become accredited and qualified as an ISA Level 1 Surf Instructor.
Participants have 12 months to fully complete and submit to the ISA all requirements from the date of the start of the course to become accredited and qualified. If not completed within this 12 month time frame, the participant must complete the 2 day course again. Instructor and Member Registration lasts for 12 months from the date of registration with the ISA.
To reregister with the ISA, it is simply a matter of renewing online with the payment of the annual registration fee. Level 1 Surf Skills Assessment The Level 1 Surf Skills assessment requires the Course Participant to demonstrate the following techniques. These must be not only demonstrated but demonstrated with confidence and competence. It is expected that these are completed in waist to chest high waves.
• Paddle out to the take off zone behind the break
• Negotiate the impact zone paddling out/eskimo/turtle roll on a long board or duck diving on a short board,
• Take off on unbroken wave
• Perform a BASIC Bottom turn TO THE LEFT AND RIGHT,
• Traverse a wave both left and right that is on both forehand and backhand (front side, backside)
• Perform a basic dismount/flick-out (pull off the wave safely and in control)
• Return to shore safely These can be demonstrated either by video or live during the course.
Please note that during some courses, it will not be possible to have the opportunity to demonstrate these surf skills for the assessment. This may be due to location constraints, time constraints, prevailing surf conditions for example. Photo’s generally will not be accepted as evidence. A course participant will have 12 months from the start date of a course to demonstrate these skills. As part of the course, a participant will have 2 additional chances to send through videos at no extra charge if the initial videos do not demonstrate the required skills. If a participant does not meet the skill level, specific feedback will be provided explaining what was missing and what areas need to be worked on and redemonstrated. If after an addition resending of videos, the participant’s videos still do not meet the requirements, there will be an additional charge for further reviews. Please note that this is not intended as an income producing stream, rather to ensure that participants take note of the feedback and work on what is required before sending back more videos, rather than just sending copious numbers of videos through in the hope that one or two might demonstrate what is required.
