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you end up with one or two videos or photos that you ’ re proud of , this is far more confidence-boosting that lots of videos showing the same thing needing to be fixed over and over again .
THE HIGHLIGHT REEL
These highlight reels from well-known top paddlers aren ’ t hard to find , and the footage isn ’ t hard hits and big swims ; it ’ s all the highs and all the clean lines and good times . If it works for you , why not put together your own using the above-gained footage and put it to the upbeat tune that became your paddling earworm .
Coaching tip … If you ’ re going to use a feedback session where the videos are analysed away from the environment ( classroom , for example ), make sure this is done when people are full of as much energy as possible . Before paddling rather than afterwards works well on our rolling courses .
You can do this as a coach , too , make sure it ’ s agreed and that the learner is happy with it . It obvious this , send it to them and only make it public if they ’ re happy with that .
There we go , a few ideas and methods you can use to help build confidence and find the correct headspace . The big point here is these methods and ideas aren ’ t gospel ; they work for some and not for others ; find the things that work for you and concentrate on those . As you develop , these threads may change , and your motivations or home lives may change as well or become a factor that plays on your mind ; that ’ s ok too , be as methodical as you can with your approach to tackling them .
My last thought ( hopefully not a soapbox style rant ) is aimed at coaching ; venues are key . Previously my naive approach was ‘ take people into the environment , and they naturally become more confident , simple !’ Utilise venues with many options and encourage people to ‘ step it up ’ when they feel ready and not before . This stops the feeling of being dragged , kicking and screaming into the next environment .