Level 1 Bodyboarding Instructor

Level 1 Bodyboarding Instructor

Become a certified ASI Bodyboarding Instructor qualified to teach beginner to intermediate level bodyboarding in small waves, with confidence and safety.

This internationally recognised ASI qualification is the essential first step for anyone wanting to work professionally in the bodyboarding industry.

What This Course Qualifies You To Do

You’ll be able to teach: beginner to intermediate level bodyboarding lessons

Teach beginner level: 
  • Manoeuvres:  ride whitewater, trim along small green waves, small turns
  • Plus: other essential bodyboarding skills and knowledge at the ASI Bodyboard Wise beginner level
In the following conditions:
  • Surf no larger than 1½ft (½ metre)
  • Water depth of chest deep or less
  • Sandy beach, free from rocks, rips and currents

Teach intermediate level: 
  • Manoeuvres: below the lip. Trim, left & right turn, bottom & top turn, rail to rail S turns, 360 spin forward & reverse, roll 
  • Plus: other essential bodyboarding skills and knowledge at the ASI Bodyboard Wise intermediate level
In the following conditions:
  • Surf no larger than 3ft (1 metre)
  • Sandy beach, free from rocks, rips and currents

After completing the course, you can:
  • Run safe, structured bodyboarding lessons for beginner and intermediate level
  • Manage groups in the water 
  • Assess beginners & intermediate level bodyboarding ability and help them progress

Note:
If you are under 18 years old, an adult instructor must be at the beach or close enough for direct supervision. 
You still count for making up student to instructor ratios.

Where Can You Work?

With your Level 1 qualification, you can work as a bodyboarding instructor or bodyboard coach:

  • At bodyboard and surf schools around the world
  • In tourism and adventure sport programs
  • At surf camps and holiday resorts
  • As a freelance bodyboarding coach
  • At your own Bodyboard School.  Apply to become an ASI Accredited School, allowing you to operate professionally under ASI’s global standards.

ASI qualifications are internationally recognised, giving you the freedom to work and travel.

What You'll Learn

This course covers essential skills for teaching beginning to intermediate level bodyboarding lessons, including:

Laws & regulations:  that apply to conducting bodyboarding lessons

Risk management & safety: ASI guidelines, identify and assess risks, strategies to minimise risk, conducting location and dynamic risk assessments,  emergency response

Environment:  social & natural environmental impacts and minimisation strategies

Logistics planning:  locations, equipment, back up, student types

Session planning: structuring beginner & intermediate lessons, creating lesson plans, teaching progression, ASI Bodyboarding Wise beginner & intermediate level programs  

Group management:  communication, positioning and client supervision 

Client instruction:  instruction techniques for beginner & intermediate level, methods to get beginners bodyboarding with ease,

Client assessment:  ASI  beginner & intermediate level bodyboarding criteria, beginner common mistakes, correcting technique

Professional standards: duty of care, codes of conduct, evaluating your own performance as a bodyboarding instructor,  industry expectations

Entry Requirements

To enrol, you must meet:

Minimum age: 16 years

Bodyboarding experience: 250+ hours of bodyboarding

Bodyboarding knowledge and skills: equivalent to ASI Bodyboard Wise Intermediate level

Bodyboarding ability: able to perform right or left hand turn, bottom turn, top turn, rail to rail S turns, roll link manoeuvres, in the top half of wave, below the lip, in 3ft surf. Before you can be certified, you’ll need to complete the below: 

Note: for Bodyboarding Wise Intermediate level, you only need to state on enrolment form you have these knowledge & skills

Course Requirements

Before you can be certified, you’ll need to complete the below: 

Personal Bodyboarding Ability:  
Demonstrate intermediate level bodyboarding manoeuvres:  able to perform right or left hand turn, bottom turn, top turn, rail to rail S turns, roll link manoeuvres, in the top half of wave, below the lip, in 3ft surf.

Knowledge:  
(1) Complete multi-choice online test
(2) Submit a written assessment for delivering lessons

Practical: Hours Experience
Complete 25 hours practical work experience, assisting in the delivery of beginner and intermediate level bodyboarding lessons, at an ASI accredited bodyboarding or surf school or other approved bodyboarding surf school.  Submit logbook of hours/experience. 

Submit Required Certificates:  Time to complete:  12 months 

Study Options

Workshop: Ideal for people who like to complete most of the course requirements at the workshop and interact with the trainer.

  • Face to face (in-person) training. 
  • Duration:  2 days 

Course requirements:

  • Bodyboarding ability – trainer to take video at workshop if possible (or submit video after wshop)  
  • Written assessment (full lesson plan) – complete at workshop
  • Multi-choice online test - not required 
  • Practical hours experience:  complete 20 hours (25 hours less 5 hours signed off in workshop)
  • Submit current surf rescue and first aid certificates

Online Learning: Ideal for people who would like flexibility to complete their training.

  • Work at your own pace.
  • Face to face (in-person) practical hours experience required
  • Submit video of the practical assessments

Course requirements: 

  • Bodyboarding ability - submit video  
  • Written assessment (full lesson plan) 
  • Multi-choice online test 
  • Practical hours experience: complete 25 hours 
  • Submit current surf rescue and first aid certificates
  • 2 free video assessments 

What Is Included

All study options receive online access to:

  • Level 1 Bodyboarding Instructor manual & assessments
  • Downloadable instructor logbook (for practical hours)

In addition: at the workshop, you also receive a paper copy of: 

  • Level 1 Bodyboarding Instructor manual
  • Instructor logbook (for practical hours)

Plus:  ASI membership for 12 months.

ASI’s E-learning Platform 
Provides access to training manuals, videos, reference materials and assessments, includes built-in language translation.

Equipment

The following equipment and clothing is required to complete the training:

  • Bodyboarding clothing
  • Bodyboard, fins, leash to demonstrate intermediate bodyboarding skills

In addition for online learning: 

  • Computer or device to access ASI e-learning platform  
  • Video camera or mobile phone to take video of practical skills

Certificate Issued

ASI Level 1 Bodyboarding Instructor 

Valid for 12 months

Renewal

Each year, ASI Instructors renew their ASI Bodyboarding Instructor certificate.   
More about renewal requirements

Progression Pathways

You can continue your bodyboarding coaching development with:

Why Choose ASI?

  • Globally recognised bodyboarding coaching qualifications
  • Industry leading safety and coaching standards
  • Flexible online and in person training
  • Clear career progression
  • Trusted by bodyboarding and surf schools worldwide
READ: 10 Reasons to Become an ASI Instructor

FAQs

Read FAQ’s: click here