World Sailing Opens Applications for Courses for Women Coaches and Officials

After the success of the five Race Management Clinics and four Technical Courses held in 2023, World Sailing is once again opening applications for Member National Authorities (MNAs), events, Class Associations and sailing clubs to develop women coaches or race officials. 

With Gender Equality Month under way, applications are being invited for the courses which are aimed at encouraging more women to consider a career or volunteering in sailing. 

World Sailing Race Management and Technical Coach Courses provide a fantastic opportunity to engage and inspire staff and volunteers from an MNA or club with ambitions of hosting a regatta or event later in their calendar as not only will attendees develop their skills on a course, but this would also offer them the opportunity to put their skills into practise. 

The Coaching Pathway allows participants to take the first steps towards becoming an instructor or build on existing experience to be a sailing coach. Each course will teach participants how to safely prepare boats and equipment, develop sailing skills, and tactics and strategy, while also helping to set performance goals and training plans for sailors at all levels. 

The Race Official Clinics are intended to introduce the different disciplines to countries where there no formal Race Officiating Certification and provides a ground level for improving their race management, judging and umpiring. 

World Sailing is therefore inviting applications from MNAs, Class Associations or sailing clubs to host a course. The application process requires the applicant to confirm the host venue, number of attendees and what the expected costs would be. Courses and clinics will be funded by World Sailing, and applications will remain open until 30 March 2024. 

Catherine Duncan, World Sailing Training & Development Executive, added, "The courses in 2023 showed the commitment from World Sailing to continue to develop more women instructors, coaches and officials so we are thrilled to offer this opportunity again in 2024. These courses are designed to equip a participant to begin on their pathway in the sport, either as a career or a committed volunteer and open the door to the range of opportunities available." 

Available Courses – Instructing & Coaching 

• Level 1 Technical Course for Coaches – Sailing Instructor - This entry level of training courses 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 - The next level of Technical Course teaches coaches 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. The Performance Coach course will challenge the skills of a club race coach to think at an international level. This is a five-day course. 

Available Courses – Race Officiating 

• Race Management Clinic - Candidates should have some experience of race management. The clinics are based on the World Sailing Race Management Manual and the Racing Rules of Sailing. Courses must be a minimum of two days. 
• Judging Clinic - Candidates should have some experience of judging. Clinics are based on the World Sailing International Judging Manual and a knowledge of the Racing Rules of Sailing is required. Courses must be a minimum of two days. 
• Umpiring Clinic - Match Racing / Team Racing / Fleet Racing Clinics - The World Sailing Clinics are intended to introduce these disciplines to areas where there is little experience of these kinds of sailing. The clinics teach umpiring to sailors who have knowledge of the Racing Rules of Sailing but have little or no knowledge of umpiring.