Instructors & Coaches

Programs for Instructors and Coaches are available to help develop these roles within an MNA. Covering material for an Instructor to teach Learn to Sail sessions through to performance coaching, there are options available to suit everyone.

World Sailing aims to facilitate the safe growth of sailing in both the participation and performance domains through the development of new coaches and instructors as well as the continuing up-skilling of existing coaches.

Instructors and coaches are the most vital part of a sailors journey, they create the fun and enjoyable atmosphere for someone to safely begin or expand their sailing participation. The programmes outlined below aim to assist with this strategy.

Technical Courses for Coaches

World Sailing offers three courses designed to develop the core skills required to instruct and then coach sailing at different levels. They may be organised and funded privately by the MNA (Member National Authority) or in conjunction with the relevant National Olympic Committee, who will assist in gaining Olympic Solidarity funding from the IOC (International Olympic Committee).

World Sailing Coach Developers run the courses which include both practical and classroom modules, as well as safety assessments and coaching skills. Courses run for between five and seven days, with Coach Developers running the course in the host country.

World Sailing Coach Scholarships

World Sailing is pleased to present the 2025-2028 Coach Scholarships, supported by the International Olympic Committee’s Olympic Solidarity fund.

The updated programme will see two separate Coach Scholarship options, each providing different in-depth skills development for those who attend. The new Scholarships available are:

  • Performance Coach Scholarship
  • Development Coach Scholarship

This means there are two options for Member National Authorities (MNAs), one supporting grassroots development and one for elite performance.

The scholarships will be run separately, with separate application processes.

World Sailing Coaching Framework

The development of a World Sailing Coaching Framework aims to provide all World Sailing Member National Authorities (MNAs) with a common ground for developing and evaluating coaching qualifications / certification, encouraging coach education and training, working across international boundaries and establishing ethical guidelines and models for standards of international best practice.