Pathway Club
What is a Pathway Club?
Underpinning “Racing for Life” with a clear aim of delivering fun racing, developing great fundamentals and creating a lifelong love of racing, Pathway Clubs create fun, accessible environments where young people develop as racers and feel part of a bigger team.
Encouraging a team culture, club activities develop junior sailors so they can race and train together, representing themselves and their club at regional and national events.
Championing the junior classes across the UK, Pathway Clubs enable young people to access affordable, high-quality racing and race coaching, without the need to travel long distances, once they have learnt to sail.
The British Sailing Pathway Club programme inspires junior racers to have fun, develop great fundamentals and embrace a lifelong love of racing.
The hallmarks of a Pathway Club
- The provision of an easily accessed, high quality, and most importantly, fun race training programme that leads to regular participation and racing.
- An active junior community, fostering a lifelong love of sailing, that enables participation as a “Team” to represent their club/hub at regional events.
Does your club meet the Pathway Club criteria?
Governance and Documentation
Essential
Desirable
Safeguarding Policy with a named Welfare Officer (1)
Young people represented on your club committee.
Criminal Disclosure Checks for staff/volunteers in regulated activity (1)
Safety Management System (1)
Equality Policy (ED&I Policy) (1)
Complaints Handling Process (1)
Anti-doping awareness in line with the RYA Sail Clean Strategy (1) - Poster on display in club/venue
Nominated Club / Hub contact
Nominated lead coach/instructor for liaison on Coach Support and Development (this could be the same person as above)
Nominated Club / Hub contact
Nominated lead coach/instructor for liaison on Coach Support and Development (this could be the same person as above)
In the case of a Pathway Hub - A signed agreement/terms of reference between the Club / Hub
A plan for a long-term, sustainable junior and youth racing programme
Performance development plan as part of a wider club development plan
Your club agrees to deliver racing activity in line with the RYA Racing Charter
Equipment and facilities
Essential
Desirable
Club-owned fleet of Pathway boats available for junior racing and the race coaching sessions (2) (6 boats minimum (3))
Selection of single-handed and doublehanded pathway boats available for hire.
Powerboats (at the RYA recommended standard)
A selection of powerboats so that training can continue in more challenging conditions and with faster dinghies
Training Marks
Access to a minibus to enable sailors to attend events as a team
Training room with a whiteboard / TV and training aids
Multi-stack trailers
Suitable sailing area available for nine months of the year (2)
Links with other clubs to provide more experienced sailors with a varied experience of sailing conditions.
Changing areas, toilets, etc.
Separate cubicles for changing/showering.
Activity
Essential
Desirable
At least two Race Coaches or Race Coach Level 1 endorsed Dinghy Instructors/Senior Instructors, with at least one being a Race Coach Level 2 or 3.
Equal split of male/female coaches.
At least ten junior sailors regularly participating in junior coaching and racing activities.
At least one RYA Junior Pathway Class being raced and trained at the club.
Various RYA Junior Pathway Classes being raced and trained at the club.
Regular Race Coaching and Racing delivered throughout nine months of the year for Junior / Youth sailors (2)
Use of school holidays for longer training camps potentially joined with other clubs.
Evidence of a comprehensive coaching programme that uses the RYA Racing Scheme as a framework and progresses sailors from start racing to club and regional racing levels.
A RYA Recognised Training Centre (RTC)
A clear Pathway structure at the club from Learn to Sail> Race training > Start to Race> Regional Racing > National Events.
The club is an RYA OnBoard club.
Regular junior and youth racing, which can be either club or coach-led. (4)
The club has an appetite to trial new engaging race formats.
Annual Pathway Club hosted open event for junior sailors that will (when established) form a series amongst the other Pathway Clubs in the region. (5)
The club creates a team identity.
The club actively encourages and supports attendance at class-organised events, as well as the RYA Eric Twiname Junior Championships and other RYA Events.
The club has initiatives to support junior and youth sailors in progressing to adult club racing.
Supports young sailors in developing skills to become RYA Instructor/Race Coach Level 1/2.
- Part of the RYA Affiliation expectations.
- This may be achieved by making arrangements with a neighbouring club.
- Either 6 boats of the same pathway class OR 6 boats consisting of two different pathway classes, with evidence of high participation in both classes through members who own their own boats.
- Regular = Clubs should aim for this to be weekly during the summer and, for the more experienced sailors, at least monthly during the coldest winter months.
- This may be an already established open event that is being delivered by your club and can be held in the form of either a class or a handicap race. In the case of a handicap race, this may include non-Pathway class boats.
Support and Benefits of being a Pathway Club
- Your club is seen as a Centre of Excellence for Developing Junior Racing.
- Discounted coaching courses (RCL2 / RCL3) prioritised at Pathway Club.
- Coach and Club Mentoring / Club volunteer support.
- Access to British Youth Sailing (BYS) coaching resources (good practice videos, class-specific tuning / set up guides, exercises provided centrally by RYA Lead Coaches)
- Access to regional BYS Learning and Development programme of CPD for coaching workforce (training weekends and online).
- Online workshops for coaches and sailors with webinars on – rules, tides, tactics, meteorology, fitness, hydration, nutrition etc.
- Access to a list of accredited coaches and support navigating the professional coach model.
- Team/club rash vests for use at events.
- A chance to qualify and enter a team for The RYA Junior Club Championships Grand Final
- Access to prizes for hosted Pathway Club events.
- Advice on the creation/development of the performance/racing section within the club development plan.
- Advice on the creation of a Pathway Hub, if necessary.
- Support with promoting your club’s Pathway Club status award with posters and press release templates.
- A pack of sample RYA publications for use and reference when race coaching is taking place.
- Pathway Club plaque and flag.
Application Process
- All clubs interested in the programme can formally apply through the RYA Portal (Just Go). Upon application, the club will meet with the RYA Pathway Club Manager or RYA Representative to consider the application and agree on how the club and the RYA can work together to help achieve the RYA Pathway status criteria.
- Once the Pathway Club criteria has been met, the status will be awarded, and a programme will commence with ongoing RYA support and guidance, where necessary. February 2025 Please note that we anticipate the application process will vary in duration depending on the club and its current activity level. We intend to visit a club within three months of receiving its formal application submission; however, the final approval may take longer based on the actions the club must complete following the visit.
Revalidation Process
- Pathway Club status will be an annual appointment. Clubs will be expected to ensure they maintain any stated standards/criteria.
- The annual return will be administrated through the RYA Portal (Just Go).
- The aim is for the Pathway Club Manager or RYA Representative to meet with the club at least every two years to review progress against their junior development plan and identify any additional support needs.
