A. PREREQUISITES FOR ENTRANCE INTO THE COURSE

1. Swimming skills that enable the instructor candidate to successfully complete the US SAILING Swim/PFD Test and be comfortable and effective in the water.

2. Intermediate to advanced windsurfing skills, including rigging, de-rigging, general board handling and maneuvering, and leaving and returning to a dock or beach (in addition to US SAILING's Minimum Water Skills for the Basic Windsurfing card).

3. Intermediate to advanced knowledge of windsurfing related subjects such as theory (how a sail works, steering a sailboard), no-go zone, points of sail, sail trim and tuning, wind, weather, tides, currents, safety, hypothermia, heat emergencies, rescue techniques (in addition to US SAILING's Minimum Knowledge Skills for the Basic Windsurfing card).

4. Necessary skills and knowledge to meet the standards for the US SAILING Safety Boat Operation Skills Test (Optional).

5. Current American Red Cross Sport Safety Training with Adult CPR or current American Red Cross or Green Cross (National Safety Council) First Aid and Adult CPR. We will also accept American Heart Association Adult CPR. The CPR requirement can also be met by holding a current American Heart Association (AHA) CPR card, "Heartsaver-Course A". While the First Aid portion is good for three years, the CPR portion must be renewed annually (through one of the above systems). A state licensed EMT or M.D. whose CPR certification is renewed annually is also accepted.

6. Current US SAILING membership.

7. Completed application form accompanied by $275 course fee.

8. Completed Medical Form either received at the office prior to a course or given to the Instructor Trainer at the course before the course begins.

NOTE:  REGISTRATION FOR ALL US SAILING TRAINING COURSES ARE ON A FIRST COME, FIRST PAY BASIS!
FIRST AID AND CPR CARDS MUST BE CURRENT AND BROUGHT TO THE COURSE.

B. CURRICULUM AND TIME ALLOTMENTS

A four-day format is standard, but other approved formats may be offered which also accomplish the 36 to 40 hours of instruction.

C. SUCCESSFUL COMPLETION OF THE COURSE INCLUDES PASSING THE FOLLOWING

1. Swim/PFD Test - Practical Evaluation

2. Windsurfing Skills Test - Practical Evaluation

3. Safety Boat Operation Skills Test (Optional) - Practical Evaluation

4. Simulator: Demonstration & Communication Skills - Practical Evaluation

5. Teaching & Communication Skills - Practical Evaluation

6. Teaching & Coaching Fundamentals for Sailing (Optional) - Written

7. Level 1 Windsurfing Instructor Knowledge Test - Written

8. Instructor candidates are required to attend the course in its entirety in order to be evaluated for qualification. Absence from any part of the course will exclude the instructor candidate from evaluation.

Written tests will be handled in the following manner:
1. Instructor candidates will be provided with review and study questions. These questions can be used for open book studying prior to testing.

2. The actual tests will be closed book and will consist of 33 questions taken directly from the review questions.

3. A passing grade will require answering 27 out of the 33 questions correctly on the Level 1 Windsurfing Instructor Knowledge Test and 32 out of the 40 questions on the TCF Test.

Practical evaluations and written tests each stand on their own. Each one must be passed in order to pass the course. The Instructor Trainer determines whether an instructor candidate successfully completes the course.

D. LEVEL 1 INSTRUCTOR CARD

A Level 1 Instructor Card will be issued to each instructor candidate who has successfully completed the instructor course and met all requirements (i.e. proof of current First Aid, CPR and US SAILING membership). Normally, the card will be issued by the Instructor Trainer at the end of the course if these conditions have been met.

The Level 1 Instructor card will be valid for three years providing First Aid, CPR and US SAILING membership are kept current. Instructor validation is renewable.

E. MINIMUM AGE LIMIT FOR LEVEL 1 QUALIFICATION

             1. A US SAILING-recognized Level 1 Windsurfing Instructor must be at least 18 years old.

2. To attend a US SAILING instructor course, the instructor candidate must be at least 16 years old. Upon successful completion of an instructor course, the 16 year old will be designated a Sailing Assistant until turning 18, at which time he/she must contact the Training Office to obtain an instructor card.

F. TRAINING MATERIALS

The training materials for the Level 1 Instructor Course include the following:

1. Start Windsurfing Right! (student manual)

2. Teach Windsurfing Right! (instructor manual)

3. Teaching & Coaching Fundamentals for Sailing

4. Review questions for Instructor Knowledge and Teaching & Coaching Fundamentals for Sailing tests

5. Written tests for Instructor Knowledge and TCF (TCF optional). Distributed and administered at course.

6. Other handouts and course information as applicable.

To receive course materials for pre-course study, US SAILING must receive the completed application and course fee payment at least 2 weeks prior to the course. Otherwise, a late fee will be charged and materials may not arrive in time for pre-course study. There are approximately 400 pages to read, so plan on studying each night of the course.

G. EQUIPMENT REQUIREMENTS AND PREPARATION FOR THE COURSE

Each instructor candidate is expected to bring an appropriate sailboard and equipment in keeping with BASIC instruction. These include:

1. Regular recreational board (without foot straps) with a rig suitable for basic maneuvers.

2. Suitable clothing, including footwear, appropriate to the weather and water conditions. The condition of the clothing and equipment should be what is expected of a qualified instructor.

3. Other equipment should include an approved life jacket (PFD), tow rope, whistle and knife/marlinespike.

Each instructor candidate is responsible for production of teaching aids/props, graphs, flip charts, etc. as required in the presentation of his/her assigned lectures. Lecture subjects will be assigned upon receipt of course application and fee. Late applicants will have the same responsibilities regarding lecture preparation.

H. NUMBER OF INSTRUCTOR CANDIDATES PER COURSE
The recommended number of candidates are 4 minimum and 8 maximum. Under special circumstances, other options (less than 6 and up to 10) may be permitted at the discretion of the Instructor Trainer.

I. COURSE FEE
The course fee is $275 per instructor candidate, plus US SAILING membership at $50, which includes Instructor General Liability Insurance. Payment must be received at least one week prior to the course or a late fee of $50 will be charged in addition to the course fee.

 Register Now!

Register online for a course from our calendar.