"Aspirant"

[Essveekay]

What does this mean to the sea kayaking community? It leaves me a little confused especially when looking at coaching outfits and symposium bumph. Most people seem to be "Aspirant" BCU 5*. I'm not aware of this award.

Aspirant when looking at the online dictionary means:

noun. One who aspires, as to advancement, honours, or a high position.

The Thesaurus has some examples....
aspirant - an ambitious and aspiring young person; "a lofty aspirant"; "two executive hopefuls joined the firm"; "the audience was full of Madonna wannabes"

So if someone is an "Aspirant" 5* they are simply a BCU4*? Do we have Madonna wannabes in our midsts or am I missing a real definition from the Sea Kayaking Community?

[Taran Tyla]

As I understand it is is a level 4 coach who as started towards their level 5.
Nothing to do with leadership star awards ;D

[Fast Pat]

It used to mean someone who had compleated their L5 Coach Training - nothing to do with 5* as such an individual would have to already hold their 5*.

As with all things it appears to be subject to grade inflation and on a recent traing course I was most amused when someone introduced themselves as a Aspirant L2 rather than L2 trainee - they were soon cut down to size when some wag commented that "everyone should aspire to something".

[TechnoEngineer]

Yep - between training and assessment. Usually related to coaching rather than star awards (where people usually say "Trainee").

[Essveekay]

Thanks folks, so it only applies to coaching and is for those who have completed their training in the level they aspire to, are yet to be assessed and have an award in the level below the one they are aspiring to.

I do think on principle people should "qualify" themselves with what they have been awarded than what they aspire to be, especially when marketing themselves.

[Rdscott]

But trainee emplies you will become something.

Aspirant just impliesyouwantto be something.

Remember there are no garantees

[Jim]

The term 'aspirant 5*' or 'aspirant level 5 coach' is useful in assessment criteria to describe the people presenting for assessment, I think from such an origin it has moved into everyday usage amongst assessors and is often used to describe the level of candidates in the dissertations presented in the coaching magazine, and even given to describe the people writing the dissertations as they are part of the level 5 aspirant route to level 5.

The spread to listing it in peoples qualifications does seem to be a step too far, I don't think anyone would expect a career coach to deliberately end their own progression at level 4, so why do we need to know that the coach is on the way to level 5, surely that's to be expected?

As for 5* aspirant, just read through the St Davids rescue thread to get an impression of the difference between having been trained and passing the assessment, it's certainly not a foregone conclusion so again, is it really relevant to know.

The next thing we'll have fitters calling themselves engineers!
Doh!

[TechnoEngineer]

I do think on principle people should "qualify" themselves with what they have been awarded than what they aspire to be, especially when marketing themselves.

I don't agree. I've worked with L3, L4 and L5 "aspirant" coaches. You get as good a service from them, if not even better, than those who are established providers.

Coaches who are at that stage of development are usually looking for "long term students" to work with and develop them over a number of sessions. They usually provide such a service at little or no cost to the student, albeit the price to pay is one of a certain level of commitment. So for such coaches to say they are "Level X Aspirant" is completely fitting, and if you come across one who you like and work well with, I'd totally recommend that you jump at the chance to work with one.

[Voodoo]

I am a aspirant Lv 1 coach with with aspirant 5* these days

I perfered my Old SI satus but alass due to the unique way in which the BCU only allow you to be a coach if you give them a kick back (pay membership) I no longer hold my quallies


I only have ever heard " aspirant " used in the contects of a aspirant Lv5 it was almost was used as a stepping stone in the sence they where a Lv4.5 coach I have never heard anyone else use it ie aspirant lv2 and I think I would just laugh loudly in there face if they interduced them selfs as one,

Its a bit like the old joke, how do you know if theres a Lv 5 coach in the room ? .....They will tell you !