Steering Certificate

In 2008/09 a Steering Certificate was introduced by Thames RC for any member of the club who wishes to either steer a boat or coach. This steering requirement applies to coxes, steersmen and scullers. Likewise, any coach who wishes to drive a launch at Thames RC must (amongst other things) complete up to Level 2 of the Steering Certificate. For further information on launch driving at Thames RC see the Launch Driving page.

All active members of the club are required to complete their Basic Safety Awareness. This is separate from the Steering Certificate.

To start the Steering Certificate, members must join the programme at “Level 0”, to register that they have read all the relevant safety documentation. Coxes, steersmen and scullers are expected to progress through the levels during their time with Thames, as their skill, experience and local knowledge improves. Your level determines what kind of conditions you can steer in, and what level of coaching you need to have with you.

Details of everyone who has passed Level 0 or above of the Steering Certificate, and their current level of certification, is available to coaches on the computer in the office, and will be available online in the near future.

Note that, beyond Level 0, levels for coxing, sculling (1x and 2x) and foot-steering (4x, 4- and 2-) will be assessed separately – reaching Level 3 as a cox does not necessarily mean you are of Level 3 standard in a scull, and vice versa!

Level 0 - Beginner 

In order to be certified at Level 0, you are required to read the following documents:

Once you have read and understood all the above documents, please email the Safety Committee on safety@thamesrc.co.uk to confirm this. You will then be added to the safety mailing list, and will be able to use club boats. 

At Level 0, you may only go out in good conditions, on a one-on-one coach-to-crew basis. 

Level 1 - Basic

Assessment for Level 1 is done by your coach. There is no set number of outings you must complete to be certified at this level and the time it takes you to reach Level 1 will be largely dependent on your knowledge and experience both of the sport and of the Tideway. However, your outing log book will be reviewed by the Safety Committee, or a suitable person approved by them, so it is important to keep records of all your outings and ask your coach to sign your log book straight after every outing.

Required competencies for Level 1 are as follows:

  • Get the boat out of the boat house safely across the road and onto the water, having made any adjustments on the bank before pulling out.
  • Steer the boat on a curved course round a bend a steady distance from the bank.
  • Steer to port and starboard on request using either rudder and/or rowers.
  • Successfully execute an emergency stop.
  • Turn 90 degrees on the spot.
  • Back it down.
  • Get the boat into the boat house safely across the road, off the water and washed down.

At Level 1, you may go out in good conditions as part of a coached group of boats. You may also go out in “Difficult Conditions” on a one-on-one coached basis, but only after performing a risk assessment with your coach before the outing. You will need to develop the skill of doing your own risk assessments right from your first outing. “Difficult Conditions” count as any one of: high stream; high wind; poor visibility (e.g. mist or heavy rain); extremes of temperature; beginner rowers.

Level 2 - Competent

Assessment for Level 2 is by written mainly multiple-choice test, sat at the club and marked by persons approved by or on the Safety Committee.

At Level 2 you may:

  • Go out in good conditions without a coach
  • Go out in Difficult Conditions as part of a coached group of boats
  • Go out in two Difficult Conditions occurring together with a one-on-one coach
  • Go out in the dark with a one-on-one coach

Level 3 - Advanced

Assessment for Level 3 is by log book and oral assessment with a member of the Safety Committee. You are required to have completed 10 outings, of which 3 are in the dark. When you have had the required number of outings signed off by a coach, please contact the Safety Committee to arrange your assessment.

As part of your assessment, you will be required to identify the hazards on the Tideway between Wandsworth Bridge and Richmond Lock. A list of these can be found here.

At Level 3 you may:

  • Go out in good or Difficult Conditions without a coach
  • Go out in two Difficult Conditions occurring together as part of a coached group of boats
  • Go out in the dark as part of a coached group of boats
  • Go out in the dark plus one other Difficult Condition (e.g. dark and windy) with a one-on-one coach

It is important to remember that even if you are certified to go out in a certain set of conditions, you do not have to go out in them. For example, you might be a level 3 cox who normally coxes a men's 8. You might have done all your assessments to get to your level 3 in that crew, and would be perfectly happy to take them out on your own in difficult conditions. One day, a coach asks you to take a women's 4+ out when it's really windy, as he has to take out a less experienced cox one-on-one. You know your men's 8 would be fine in the wind, but you don't know the girls in the 4+. You don't know how strong they are, how experienced they are, or what skill level they are. You need to perform your own risk assessment of the outing and decide if you can take the crew out safely. The TRC Tideway Steering Certificate is not designed to replace a full risk assessment of every outing - IF IN DOUBT, DON'T GO OUT!

Level 4 - Expert

Assessment for Level 4 is by log book and practical test. In addition to your Level 3, you are required to complete 30 further outings, of which 10 are in the dark. When you have had the required number of outings signed off by a coach, please contact the Safety Committee to arrange a practical test.

The practical test will examine the theory covered in the Level 2 and 3 tests, and consist of a minimum of two outings observed by a member of the Safety Committee. The outings should demonstrate your ability to steer in a variety of conditions and may include (but are not limited to) high tide, low tide, busy weekend mornings and an outing in the dark. There will also be time for feedback and discussion with the member of the Safety Committee who observed your outings.

At Level 4 you may:

  • Go out in good, Difficult or two Difficult Conditions occurring together without a coach
  • Go out in the dark without a coach
  • Go out in the dark plus one other Difficult Condition (e.g. dark and windy) as part of a coached group of boats 

Summary

Level Ability Assessment

0

Beginner

Confirm reading and understanding of all relevant safety docs

1

Basic

Assessed competent by a coach

2

Competent

Passed written test

3

Advanced

Completed 10 outings, of which 3 are in the dark, and passed verbal test

4

Expert

 Completed 30 further outings, of which 10 are in the dark, and passed practical test

 

Coaching
Conditions

1 to 1

Group

None
Normal

0

1

2
Difficult

1

2

3
Dark or 2 x Difficult

2

3

4
Dark + Difficult

3

4

n/a

 August 2009