Basic Keelboat Instructor Trainer Evaluative Course
Prerequisites and course information
Overview
Prerequisites
Evaluation length
Validation of instructors
Swimming
Written testing
Course outcomes
Course capacity
Course materials
Evaluation fee
Cancellation Policy
Overview
The Three Day Instructor Trainer Certification Course is an extremely intensive EVALUATION of your ability to teach sailing to the US Sailing Keelboat Certification System Standard. This standard is the most rigorous in the country and requires practice, study, and preparation by even the most gifted and experienced professional instructors.
We are evaluating in great detail everything about your teaching and sailing knowledge, skills and ability. There is little formal training, education or time for practice. Active sailing instructors often assume their everyday instructor work will be sufficient preparation for them to perform well in these clinics. Due to the fact that students do much more sailing than instructors do in a sailing course, the instructors are often rustier than they might think. This situation may lead to difficulty, frustration, and failure.
Prerequisites for entrance into the course
1.Invitation and Selection
2. Current US Sailing membership.
3. You must be 18 or turn 18 within the calendar year of the course you are taking.
4. Proof of ability to swim 50 yards.
5. Current NASBLA Safe Boating Certification or current USCG full or limited Masters or OUPV license.
5.US Sailing Teaching & Coaching Fundamentals: Developed in conjunction with the US Olympic Committee (USOC), this course gives the building blocks of good instructional practices for becoming an effective educator on and off the water. A few Frequently Asked Questions about TCFO are answered here.
Evaluation length
3 days. Absence from any part of the course will exclude the Instructor Candidate from evaluation.
Validation of instructors
1. Competence in skills listed in sample IC evaluation form enclosed with course paperwork.
2. Sailing skills test Practical
3. Marlinspike Seamanship test – Practical
4. Demonstrative and communication ability – Practical
5. Basic Keelboat Instructor Exam and the Basic Keelboat Student Exam – Written, based on the
US Sailing Keelboat Instructor Manual and US Sailing’s Basic Keelboat student book.
6. The Instructor Trainer’s (IT) evaluation.
7. Current First Aid and CPR. A list of accepted courses can be found here.
8. SAFESPORT: This program, developed by the US Olympic Committee, is required training for all Instructors. This requirement is also being put in place for other National Governing Bodies. This free online training course must be completed every 2 years. Instructor certification is not active unless SafeSport training has been completed.
Validation will be for three years providing First Aid, CPR and US Sailing membership needs to be kept current. Instructors’ need to recertify their instructor status every 3 years.
Swimming
All candidates shall submit proof of their ability to swim 50 yards when submitting their application to the course. If a candidate has a current US Sailing Small Boat Sailing Level 1 Instructor certification, this will suffice as proof. US Sailing will accept swimming certificates issued by the American Red Cross or YMCA or PADI. US Sailing will also accept its Proof of Swimming Ability Verification form completed and signed by a swimming instructor certified by the American Red Cross or YMCA or PADI, or a lifeguard certified by the American Lifeguard Association or U.S. Lifesaving Association.
**All candidates who do not meet the criteria above must bring a completed Swim Check Form to the course.**
Written testing
1. Instructor Candidates will be provided with study questions in with their course materials.
2. The actual tests will be closed book. Questions on the Basic Keelboat Instructor and Student Exam are based on the reading material,
3. A passing grade for both the keelboat instructor exam and keelboat student exam is 80%.
Course outcomes
The IT determines whether the Instructor Candidate successfully completes the course. Absence from any part of the evaluation session will exclude the Instructor Candidate from evaluation.
Passing: The Instructor Candidate has successfully completed each of the items above. In order to pass this evaluation, the Instructor Candidate must pass basic keelboat instructor written exam and basic keelboat student exam with an 80%. If you fail either test, you will have to take the make-up exams for both the basic keelboat instructor and the basic keelboat student exam. The Instructor Candidate must also perform all teaching and sailing tests to the Instructor Trainers’ satisfaction.
Plan of Improvement: The Instructor Candidate has not yet successfully completed what is required and has been given a specific Plan of Improvement to complete with approved and assigned Training Program representatives within 90 days from its issue. Arrangements for re-testing and the completion of a Plan of Improvement must be done through the US Sailing training office. The responsibility for arranging completion of a Plan of Improvement rests solely with the Instructor Candidate. Instructor Candidates will get only one chance to pass their Plan of Improvement; should they be unsuccessful in this attempt, they will have failed the course. The fee to complete an “on the water” Plan of Improvement is $75.00. Written make-up tests are administered at no charge. The Instructor Candidate is responsible for any additional expenses.
Failing: The Instructor Candidate did not meet the standards to become a Basic Keelboat Instructor will be failed. The Instructor Candidate, who fails an evaluative course and would still like to become certified as a Basic Keelboat Instructor, may re-apply for a future course, at full cost, one year from the original course date.
Plan of Completion: US Sailing and US Sailing Instructor Trainers assume no responsibility for lack of wind or other acts of nature. If the Instructor Trainer’s were unable to complete the evaluation, Instructor Candidate’s are issued a Plan of Completion. Arrangements to fulfill the Plan of Completion must be done through the training department within 90 days of its issue. There is no fee for completing a Plan of Completion. The Instructor Candidate is responsible for any additional expenses.
Course materials
Materials will be sent directly to the Instructor Candidate. There are approximately 300 pages to read. You are required to read the entire manual before arriving for the course, and you should plan on studying prior to and each night of the course.
Instructor Candidates will receive the following:
1. Basic Keelboat Instructor Manual
2. Basic Keelboat student book
3. Review questions for Basic Keelboat Instructor Exam
4. Other handouts and course information as applicable
Evaluation fee
$350.00 per Instructor Candidate not including US Sailing membership. Candidates that enroll 1 week or less from the course date, pay an additional $50 to cover expedited processing and shipping fees.
Please note: Certified Basic Keelboat Instructors can only issue US Sailing student certifications through a Certified US Sailing School.
Cancellation and Transfer Policies
Course fees are nonrefundable but are transferable to another course up to 1 week prior to the course start date.
Fees are not transferable to another candidate.
WAIVER AND RELEASE OF LIABILITY
For and in consideration of the undersigned’s participation in any US Sailing instructor course (“Event” or “Events”), sponsored by US Sailing (the “Organization”), hosted by various Host Clubs/Organizations (the “Hosts”), and taught by a US Sailing certified Instructor Trainer (“IT”), I, for myself, and on behalf of my spouse, children, heirs and next of kin, and any legal and personal representatives, executors, administrators, successors, and assigns, hereby agree to and make the following contractual representations pursuant to this Agreement (the “Agreement”):
- RULES AND REGULATIONS: I hereby agree to abide by the rules, regulations, and policies of the Organization, Host, and IT including any and all COVID-19 related safety measures required by the Organization and/or Host.
- ACKNOWLEDGMENT OF RISK: I knowingly, willingly, and voluntarily acknowledge the inherent risks associated with the sport of sailing and attendance at an Event, and that participation in any Event involves risks and dangers including, without limitation, the potential for serious bodily injury (including broken bones, head or neck injuries), sickness and communicable disease, trauma, pain & suffering, permanent disability, paralysis and death; loss of or damage to personal property; exposure to extreme conditions and circumstances; accidents involving other participants, event staff, volunteers or spectators; contact or collision with other participants or natural or manmade objects; adverse weather conditions; facilities issues and premises conditions; failure of protective equipment; inadequate safety measures; participants of varying skill levels; situations beyond the immediate control of the Event organizers and competition management; and other undefined, not readily foreseeable and presently unknown risks and dangers (“Risks”). Special note regarding COVID-19 and other communicable diseases. Risks under this Agreement include the potential for exposure to communicable diseases such as COVID-19, an extremely contagious virus that spreads from person-to-person contact. The Organization has taken preventative measures to reduce the spread of COVID-19; however, attending or participating in an Event could increase your risk of contracting COVID-19 which may result in personal injury, illness, permanent disability, and death.
- ASSUMPTION OF RISK: I understand that the aforementioned Risks may be caused in whole or in part or result directly or indirectly from the negligence of my own actions or inactions, the actions or inactions of others participating in the Events, or the negligent acts or omissions of the Released Parties defined below, and I hereby voluntarily and knowingly assume all such Risks and responsibility for any damages, liabilities, losses, or expenses that I incur as a result of my participation in any Events. I also agree to be responsible for any injury or damage caused by me or any agents under my direction and control at any Event.
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