Angling Coaching

What is the PAA?

The PAA stands for the Professional Anglers Association. It was set up and funded by the Angling Trades Association in 1998 to create a body of professional coaches who would train and encourage people in the sport of fishing.

The PAA’s mission is to ensure that every credible fishery and tackle shop in the UK will have a dedicated professional coach. The PAA’s role is to offer a full range of support for coaches across all three disciplines - coarse, game and sea.

How do people join?

Firstly, an applicant must be a capable angler, and then he or she will apply to attend the 1st4Sport courses. The PAA directs people to the coaching courses held at Pershore College, near Worcester. Download information on the Certificate in Coaching Angling (Level 2) from Pershore college as a PDF file.

Following the assessment towards the end of the course, each successful candidate will be awarded a so-called Level 1 (assistant coach) or Level 2 (full coach) qualification. He or she is then eligible to join the PAA. There is no other way to join. To date, more than 350 anglers have become PAA coaches, and several of them now earn their full-time living through coaching.

Back-Up

Each qualified coach receives a PAA Marketing Manual, posters, colour leaflets, window stickers, stationery, business cards and sew-on badges. Tackle is available free or at cost to help a new coach build up a reserve of teaching materials.

This is backed by a website on which PAA coaches’ services are advertised, a coaches Council with direct influence on the running of the Association, regular newsletters, special coaching events, etc.

For further details visit www.paauk.com.