People in the Sport

Dave Rugg 

Dave was chosen for the 1995 Instructor of the Year award. 

If you feel you might like to become a BPA Instructor, this interview will give you some tips…

When did you start jumping Dave?
My local DZ is Ipswich Parachute Centre where I have jumped regularly since 1987. I started jumping at Halfpenny Green in 1981 moving to the Midland Parachute Centre, then Long Marsden, and now Ipswich. I have now completed 1,500 jumps.

What made you decide you wanted to be an instructor?
I had thought about instructing for some time but was never willing to commit myself to regular weekend work whilst spending 14 hours a day Monday to Friday working and travelling. During 1994 I was made redundant and instructing at weekends became a realistic opportunity for me. I must have had about 1,300 jumps then.

Was your Bl (Basic Instructor) course easier than you expected or harder?
I attended the BI course at Netheravon in February 1995. I was a little apprehensive before going, not feeling too confident about my teaching skills. It became apparent soon after the course had started that everyone was there to help and encourage you. The BI course is an enjoyable course where you are coached rather than examined.

How about your exam course?
I did my exam course six months after the BI course. It is more stressful as obviously you are being examined but overall I really enjoyed it. There was a good team spirit amongst the course candidates and I found the examiners helpful and accommodating. They were not trying to trick you into making mistakes but to assess your ability on becoming a BPA Approved Instructor.

Congratulations on your award Dave! Why do you think you were chosen?
Thank you. I must say that I was more surprised than anyone on receiving the award. I don't exactly know why I was chosen but consider it to be a reflection of a lot of personal endeavour and sound coaching from the permanent staff at Ipswich during the six months between the BI course and the exam course.

What do you enjoy about instructing?
I enjoy all aspects of instructing from the ground training of first time students to the successful completion of a warp jump. The main satisfaction I find is in helping and encouraging people to achieve new challenges and objectives. I feel that obtaining an Approved rating is really only a start to instructing and that there is a lot to learn and experience to gain. Like most things you get out what you put in.

Is there a natural progression to other ratings or areas?
Obviously the Approved Instructor rating is a platform to build on, for example, Tandem and Advanced Instructor ratings are possible qualifications to be achieved. From a personal point of view I need to experience life as an Approved Instructor a bit more before deciding whether to pursue additional ratings. I would like to work full time, but unfortunately would not find it financially viable in the sport.

Do you have any advice to anyone who may be interested in becoming an instructor?
Yes. Have an honest chat with your CCI first to ensure that you will have their full support and ensure that on a personal basis that you are prepared to undertake what is realistically nine months of hard work. Begin by sitting in on student training sessions watching as many different instructors as possible and then start to compile your own lessons. Practice giving lessons to friends on your own DZ before attending the BI course. As a BI you need to stay current or else you will keep repeating the same mistakes. Ideally you need to instruct for a minimum of two weekends a month. Keep an open mind at all times as there are many ways to put over information. Be willing to learn from more experienced instructors around you. Prepare well for the exam course as you could waste a lot of hard work by making basic mistakes like not passing the written exam. Good luck!

Dave Rugg was talking to Lesley Gale

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