For ACA Instructors
Course Curriculum
Introduction to Paddling
Coastal Kayaking
- Skills
- Assessments
- Assessors and Training Guides
- Instructor Criteria
- Trip Leading
- Specialty Courses
- Level 2: Essentials of Kayak Touring
- Level 2: Essentials of Sit-On-Top Kayak Touring
- Level 3: Coastal Kayaking Basic Strokes and Rescues
- Level 3: Coastal Kayaking Strokes and Maneuvers Refinement
- Level 3: Sit-On-Top Coastal Kayaking
- Level 4: Open Water Coastal Kayaking: Open Water Skills
- Level 4: Open Water Coastal Kayaking: Tides & Currents
- Level 4: Open Water Coastal Kayaking: Surf Zone
- Level 5: Advanced Open Water Coastal Kayaking: Rock Gardens & Sea Caves
- Level 5: Advanced Open Water Coastal Kayaking: Rough Water Maneuvering & Towing
- Level 5: Advanced Open Water Coastal Kayaking: Advanced Surf Zone
- Level 2: Essentials of Kayak Touring Trip Leader Training Course
- Level 2: Essentials of Kayak Touring Trip Leader Assessment
- Level 2: Essentials of Sit-On-Top Kayaking Trip Leader Training Course
- Level 2: Essentials of Sit-On-Top Kayaking Trip Leader Assessment
- Level 3: Coastal Kayaking Trip Leader Training Course
- Level 3: Coastal Kayaking Trip Leader Assessment
- Level 4: Open Water Coastal Kayaking Trip Leader Training Course
- Level 4: Open Water Coastal Kayaking Trip Leader Assessment
River Kayaking
- Skills
- Assessments
- Instructor Criteria
- Trip Leading
- Specialty Courses
- Level 2: Essentials of River Kayaking
- Level 2: Essentials of Sit-On-Top River Kayaking
- Level 3: River Kayaking
- Level 4: Whitewater Kayaking
- Level 5: Advanced Whitewater Kayaking
- Level 2: Essentials of River Kayaking
- Level 2: Essentials of Sit-On-Top River Kayaking
- Level 3: River Kayaking
- Level 4: Whitewater Kayaking
- Level 5: Advanced Whitewater Kayaking
- Kayak Rolling Skills Course
- Kayak Rolling Endorsement Criteria
- Level 2: Essentials of River Kayak Hand Paddling Skills Course
- Level 3: River Kayak Hand Paddling Skills Course
- Level 4: Whitewater Kayak Hand Paddling Skills Course
- River Kayak Hand Paddling Endorsement Criteria
- Level 1: Introduction to Kayak Polo Skills Course
- Level 1: Kayak Polo Skills Assessment
- Kayak Polo Instructor Endorsement Criteria
Stand Up Paddleboarding (SUP)
Canoeing
Rafting
- Skills
- Assessments
- Instructor Criteria
- Guide Certifications
- Level 2: Essentials of Rafting – Paddle Guide Certification
- Level 2: Essentials of Rafting – Oar Guide Certification
- Level 3: Rafting – Paddle Guide Certification
- Level 3: Rafting – Oar Guide Certification
- Level 4: Whitewater Rafting – Paddle Guide Certification
- Level 4: Whitewater Rafting – Oar Guide Certification
- Level 5: Advanced Whitewater Rafting – Paddle Guide Certification
- Level 5: Advanced Whitewater Rafting – Oar Guide Certification
- Level 4-5: Instructor Endorsement
Safety & Rescue
Packrafting
Surf Kayaking
Surfski
Universal Paddling
Paddlesports Fishing
Moving Water and Whitewater Equipment and Gear Policy
Proper equipment is essential for safe paddling. ACA’s Safety and Rescue Committee recommends the following equipment for paddlers on moving water or whitewater:
Helmets
- Helmets are recommended for all paddlers on class II or harder sections of rivers
- Helmets are required for:
- All participants in Swiftwater Rescue (SWR) classes
- Any paddler in moving water using a skirt, thigh straps, or other systems that would prevent immediately falling out during capsize
- Any paddler on class III- or harder whitewater
Life Jackets
- Life jackets are required for all paddling activities. Life jackets must be appropriate for the venue as shown on their label, must be in good shape, and must be fitted properly
- Whistles should be secured to every life jacket as a sound-producing device
Throw Ropes
- All river paddlers should carry a throw rope and learn how to use it. The minimum standard for a throw rope is 40 feet of 1/4″ diameter floating line, stored in a nylon or polyester bag, or a bag of similar material, with flotation adequate to keep the bag at the surface. Longer lines and thicker diameters are preferred. 75 feet of 3/8″ diameter line is the largest that might reasonably be carried by most paddlers.
- Throw rope line must float and should be brightly colored.
- Polypropylene and Dyneema/Spectra lines are the most commonly used materials. Each has advantages and limitations:
- Polypropylene lines are dynamic, stretching under load, and reduce strain on the rescuer and the person or object in the water
- Dyneema/spectra lines have much less stretch, and thus do not stretch very much under large loads. These lines are more appropriate for unpinning boats.
Cutting Tools
- All paddlers should carry a readily accessible knife or another cutting tool capable of cutting commonly occurring and potentially entrapping materials such as fishing lines, ropes (3/8 inch or larger diameter), and webbing
- Cutting tools should be immediately available and stored on or in a paddler’s life jacket
Unpinning kits
- Paddlers should learn to unpin boats and how to carry an appropriate pin kit. The minimum pin kit should include one throw bag, one 15 to 20-foot length of webbing, one prusik, and three locking carabiners. A more thorough kit would contain at least one throw bag, one length of webbing, two prusiks, 3 pulleys, and 4 locking carabiners.
- Paddlers should store their pin kits and related gear in a secure location. Ideally, unpinning gear should be stored on a paddler’s person, rather than in the boat, to ensure it is available if a paddler is separated from their boat. However, paddlers must balance factors including ease of access, risk of separation from their boat, and the impact of adding hardware in/on a life jacket – and choose a storage system that works best for their circumstances.
Clothing
- All paddlers should wear close-toed shoes
- All paddlers should have thermal protection appropriate to the paddling venue, as well as the weather and water conditions
Boat Design
- All boats in moving water should have secured flotation or sealed bulkheads