TRAINING

	South African Sailing Gains ISAF Recognized Training Status
	Sailing Terminology
	Physics
	National Training Scheme
	Coach Course Costs

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NATIONAL TRAINING SCHEME

For many years, in South Africa and abroad, there has been a need for a standardised safe and effective sail training scheme. South African Sailing (SAS) has never had a training scheme that assures quality training and safety. There have been a number of attempts to establish training programmes but, due mostly to financial or political reasons, none were successful. In October 2009 it was decided that the best way to grow sail training in South Africa would be to join the ISAF Recognized Training Initiative.

What is the ISAF Training Scheme?

This initiative concentrates on the recognition of National Sail Training Programmes in its National Member Authorities (MNA's)
Qualified instructors working out of a well-structured training centre with good quality training equipment can offer participants new to sailing a positive and enjoyable experience in a safe environment. It is believed that this is the best way to grow the sport of sailing globally.

SAS Coach Structure
	Regional Coach/Assessor
	SAS Master Coach
	SAS Senior Coach
	SAS Dinghy/ Multihull Coach
	SAS Assistant Coach

Regional Coach/Assessor
These are coaches with at least a Senior Coach qualification who are selected by another Regional Coach/Assessor and appointed by the National Training Manager. They will be required to do a 3-day Regional Coach/Assessor's course run by the National Training Manager. The job of the Regional Coach/Assessor will be to train new coaches, inspect recognised centres annually, pass on new training information and maintain the scheme in their region

SAS Master Coach (Racing coach)
This is a coach with at least a Senior Coach Qualification and proven race experience. Senior Coaches wishing to become Master coaches should apply to their regional coaches with a racing CV. They will then be required to attend a 3-day Master Coach course run by a suitably qualified Regional Coach/Assessor.

SAS Senior Coach
This is a coach with at least Dinghy/Multihull Coach Qualification, who is over the age of 18 years and has at least two years intermittent, or one years full-time, training experience. He or she will also have completed the 5-day Senior Coach course presented by a Regional Coach/Assessor.

SAS Dinghy/Multihull Coach
This is a coach who is a competent sailor over the age of 16 years, with a valid basic First Aid Certificate and a powerboat qualification suitable to the waters on which they are working, i.e. restricted waters or 1 mile offshore. They will be required to attend a 2-day safety boat course and a 5-day Dinghy/Multihull Coach course as presented by a Regional Coach/Assessor.

Assistant Coach
This is a competent sailor with an SAS Learn to Sail advanced module under his or her belt. The Assistant Coach is trained by a Senior Coach and may only work (1) under the supervision of a Senior Coach and (2) in the centre where they were trained.

The Centre
Centres requiring SAS affiliation must have a Senior Coach on the premises at all times when training is in progress. The centre will undergo an initial assessment followed by yearly inspections from Regional Coach/Assessors to check safety issues (such as buoyancy aids), rescue and coaching craft, training boats, record keeping and staff qualifications. The inspection process is designed to create a safe professional training environment. A yearly affiliation fee is payable to the SAS National Training Scheme.

Scheme aims and expectations

The primary and most important objective of the National Training Scheme is to increase sailing participation in South Africa. Sailing is perceived elitist and inaccessible even to the middle class, yet that same middle class is prepared to pay around R2,000 for a 2-day scuba diving course.
A centre displaying the SAS and ISAF Recognized Training flags will have a product to market that is known for its standards around the world. The aim is to bring value to training so that more centres gain increased income from training people who are outside of sailing (with day and weekend courses).
It is believed that this will open the sport up to people who frequently drive past the Members Only signs wondering how they can try out sailing. Ideally a situation will be created where the trainers derive an income through coaching.
When the final structures are in place the National Training Scheme will provide a bigger, more impressive product to market to potential sponsors and organisations such as Lotto and various government bodies.

Affiliated clubs will benefit in many ways, not only from having well-trained coaches at hand but also from the new members wanting to join clubs as a result of the training.