World Sailing: Training for women

The initiative of the International Olympic Committee for there to be gender balance among athletes and officials at the Olympic Games has motivated International Sports Federations to heighten training and opportunities for both.

For World Sailing, this was a driving force when devising the Paris 2024 Olympic Sailing Program to ensure the events, equipment, and entry quotas permitted the same number of medals and athlete entries for men and women.

As the world governing body for the sport of sailing, World Sailing has now turned their attention toward training courses for women designed to broaden skills for umpiring, race officiating, coaching, and instructing.

Courses and clinics will be funded by World Sailing and available to Member National Authorities (MNAs), Events, Class Associations and Sailing Clubs.

Each module of the courses aims to introduce different disciplines in officiating, coaching and instructing and provide qualifications to women in countries where there are no formal certifications, as well as providing the foundations for improving coaching, race management and judging within the national and regional competition system.

“This series of clinics is the perfect opportunity for existing coaches, race officials, umpires, measurers and instructors to further develop their skills and for new attendees to take their first steps towards a career on the water,” said World Sailing Training & Development Executive, Catherine Duncan.

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 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.

The Race Official, Umpiring and Measurers Clinics are intended to introduce the different disciplines to countries where there is no formal certification and provides a ground level for improving their Race Management and Judging.

Available Courses – Umpiring and 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.

• Introductory Workshop – This workshop would cover an overview of all types of officiating at a very introductory level, giving participants with no experience in officiating the chance to learn more about the pathway.

• 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. The World Sailing Match, Fleet and Team Racing Clinics last for two or three days with one day in the classroom and two or three days on the water. The focus in a clinic is on training and there is no formal assessment or exam.

• International Measurer Clinic – Clinic must allow for a minimum of 12 hours of instruction followed by a practical measurement session. There are no particular requirements for candidates who wish to attend an IM Clinic but it is advisable that they have racing experience. World Sailing recommends that an IM Clinic is held immediately before a national regatta.

To register your interest for the Race Officials clinics, click here to complete the form. The deadline for applications is May 7, 2023.

Available Courses – Instructing & Coaching
• 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 center, 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 register your interest for the Instructor and Coaching clinics, click here to complete the form. The deadline for applications is May 7,2023.