World Sailing to fund coaching courses for female coaches and instructors

World Sailing’s ‘Steering the Course’ women’s sailing festival is in full swing and to further promote opportunities within the sport, the global governing body has launched a female coaching initiative to introduce more women to sailing.

Available to Member National Authorities (MNAs), Events, Class Associations and Sailing Clubs, Technical Courses will be fully-funded by World Sailing to support women to become Sailing Instructors, Club Race Coaches and Performance Coaches, while also offering a route into officiating.

The coaching pathway allows participants to take the first steps towards becoming an instructor or build on existing experience to be formally qualified as a sailing coach. Modules of each course have tailored to the requirements of each level and include teaching how to safely prepare boats and equipment, develop sailing skills, tactics and strategy, while also helping to set performance goals and training plans for sailors at all levels.

Catherine Duncan, World Sailing Training & Development Executive, said, “This is an important step forward in creating more opportunities for women at all stages of the sport. In its debut year, we witnessed the impact Steering the Course had on introducing women to sailing all around the world and this year’s edition has already set a new participation record. Many women tried sailing for the first time while many more returned to the sport. Now we aim to inspire women to become coaches and instructors in order to share their experience with the next generation of aspiring sailors. These coaching courses will be the start of that process for more female coaches and sailors.”

Available Courses

• Level 1 Technical Course for Coaches – Sailing Instructor – This first level of training covers all of the skills for a candidate to be able to teach someone to sail. Candidates will be confident sailors who wish to pass on their knowledge and passion to others. At the end of the course, Instructors will be competent in running a Learn to Sail program, as well as being equipped to run a sailing centre, manage other instructors and maintain a safe sailing environment. This is a seven-day course.
• Level 2 Technical Course for Coaches – Club Race Coach – This second level course teaches coaches all about the first step in competitive racing. This course will provide attendees with the skills to coach at club race level.  Including developing an understanding of tactics, safety, goal setting and developing your coaching philosophy. This is a seven-day course.
• Level 3 Technical Course for Coaches – Performance Coach – This course aims to prepare coaches for working in a performance environment or with sailors on a performance pathway. Performance Coach course will challenge the skills of a Club Race Coach to think at an international level. This is a five-day course.

To apply for any of the three courses, applicants should complete and return this form by Friday 17 June 2022. Course eligibility is detailed within the application form. All applications received will be assessed and successful applicants will be informed. Please contact catherine.duncan@sailing.org for more information.

Promoting Equity

A recent World Sailing Trust Strategic review found that:

“Increasing the number of female coaches will support a number of positive impacts: female coaches provide leadership and inspiration for young female sailors, they bring additions skills and styles to coaching, and will develop career longevity for female sailors post-racing, in particular ex-Olympians. Research shows that same sex role models positively influence self-perceptions and challenge stereotypes around gender and leadership. They also offer diverse perspectives, insight and advice to their athletes.”

World Sailing has made gender equity and inclusivity a priority and the Paris 2024 Olympic Games is set to be the first Olympic Games where two of the three Chief roles in the sailing event will be held by female officials.

Achieving this goal is another mark of the progress made within the sport, especially ahead of the LA28 Games and the campaign to regaining para sailing’s place at the Paralympic Games.