Surf Coach Progression Award

Take your surf coaching to the next level. 

Essential coach training for guiding surfers beyond the whitewater, delivering ‘improver / progressor / intermediate’ lessons or courses, this new certified award training from your surfing National Governing Body is built for you.

Why take this course?

“The intermediate customer in surfing is the fastest growing and developing market in surf coaching, at Escape it’s the majority of what we do.”

– Mike Young, Surf School owner and coach Trainer Assessor 

• Tap into the improver and intermediate lesson market 

• Earn more!  Many surf schools pay extra for coaches with higher level qualifications 

• Increase job satisfaction with more coaching and less beginner instruction 

• Ensure you’re qualified to coach ‘out back’ and in deeper than waist depth water (not covered by Level 1 awards) 

Surfers are increasingly recognising the value of quality coaching to help them navigate the line up, develop their technical skills and progress from foamie to performance minimal, better preparing them for shortboarding or longboarding. This course empowers you to meet that demand – and raise your coaching game in the process. Speed up the learning and enjoyment of your surfing customer.  

What will I learn?

The course will equip you with all the tools, techniques and insight you need to work with intermediate surfers in a variety of settings, from 1:1 sessions to group courses.  The content includes: 

• The latest coaching theory and fundamentals 

• Getting out back – paddling technique, turtle rolls and more 

• Coaching out back – positioning, manoeuvring and wave selection 

• Wave catching – take offs, popping up and setting up 

• Wave riding – a deep dive into types of turn and associated body mechanics  

• Feedback and progressive lesson preparation with principles for different clients and session types 

You’ll also get into warm ups, fitness & conditioning, equipment, ocean conditions and more!  

The award and training programme sets a new standard for depth, breadth and practical skills in progression surf coaching.  “There is nothing else like this in the world” – Reubin Pearce, Head Coach, Escape Surf School

 

The progression award package: 

• In-person training only from some of the best senior coaches in the country  

• A comprehensive coaching manual and reflective practice logbook  

• High quality multimedia content analysing intermediate-level surfing 

• Support throughout the process 

• Surf Coach: Progression certificate on completion  

Format: 

• 2-day classroom course including 2 water sessions (conditions allowing) 

• Assessed questions at the end of the classroom course  

• 20 logged lessons (30-40hrs) reflective practice at your own surf school  

• Final assessed lesson with your Trainer Assessor at their school 

• Flexible timeframe: up to 1 year to complete your competency assessment  

Pre-requisites: 

• Recognised level 1 surf instructor qualification (Surfing England or ISA)  

• 1 year experience teaching beginner lessons   

• Personal surfing ability: Abilities in up to head-high waves consistently demonstrating a range of turns and water competency out back and through the impact zone on performance mini-mals 

• NVBLQ – lifeguard qualification 

• Certificated safeguarding training (Surfing England, NSPCC or other equivalent) Can be done alongside your coach course 

 

Cost: £375 

As part of your course booking you will need to take out Surfing England coach membership where you can complete your enhanced DBS, upload your pre-requisite certificates and access other coaching resources (First year £1 use voucher code  coachonboard2025  DD, £35 p.a. or Enhanced coach for £70 ) 

Where can I do the course?   

We have 8 Surfing England Trainer Assessors based at centres of excellence located nation-wide ready for your course bookings: 

Devon 

• Damon Beveridge Surfing Croyde Bay  

• Gary King Woolacombe Surf Centre 

Cornwall  

• Reubin Pearce, Mike Young Escape Surf School , Towan Newquay 

• Peter Abell King Surf Mawgan Porth 

• Tia Larson, OA Surf club schools, Bude area 

• Ben Warner, St Ives surf school 

North East 

• Victoria Gower, Scarborough surf school  

 

For more info contact nick@surfingengland.org