The PaddlerUK magazine March 2015 issue 1 | Page 36

ThePaddlerUK 36

Summary
Options

In my own coaching when working on new courses,
courses that I haven’t delivered for a while or having a new
challenge to solve then I need to put a bit more into the
planning.

There is the real formal approach where using a proforma
session plan can aid the coach. This helps with thinking
through variety of strategies such as timing, where, types of
practice, delivery strategy and space for our notes. By
having this written down aids the coach. The saying ‘ink it
don’t think it’ comes to mind here. This can be a lot to
hold in the head.

By spending time before the activity reflecting on existing
‘recipes’, looking at the ways to deal with the challenge,
writing down our thoughts it aids focus and forces the
coach to have a ‘plan’. Even if we don’t follow the plan we
have thought through our options.We have options – plan
‘B’ / ‘C’ / ‘D’ and so on. We have thought about our
questions and what we are asking them for.

Coaching is a messy unpredictable
beast. It is ever changing and the
challenges keep on coming. Be they
because the manufacturers keep
changing the boat design, harder pieces
of water are looking to be paddled, our
understanding of the sport is ever
increasing and as paddlers come to us
looking for different challenges /
problems to be solved. We, as coaches,
need to adapt and overcome.
We shouldn’t forget the ‘recipes’ of old
but we should be using them to help us
create new and exciting programs /
solutions for those that we coach.
So my question for you coaches out
there is, “How big is your ‘recipe’
book?”
Happy Paddling and hope to see you on
the water.

By having adopting this planning approach it can aid in
getting a good night’s sleep knowing that I can at least get
up and running with the session. Sometimes for the more
challenging courses or new courses these plans can be a big
mind map.

Being able to write it down and read it helps with my
thoughts and ensures that I follow the great coaches that I
have witnessed and have enough tasks / activities for the
paddlers that I coach.

One of the challenges to the formal approach can be the
sticking to rigid plans. Not allowing our natural decisions
making instincts to kick in can lead to the same frustrations
as the ‘recipe’ approach.

To help me overcome this and something that you see a lot
of the great coaches do is to write down in bullet point
format the top line information. Taking these bullet points
out onto the water with me gives me the starter of the
‘recipe’. If I am stuck or unsure of where next I have my
plan to go back too.

Keeping the ‘recipe’/‘ingredient’ analogy going.When you
watch the cooking shows we see the chef start of with a
recipe.They get the ingredients out. Missing ingredient or
different taste requirements no problem we see them
adapt to meet the specific need at that time. So it is with
coaching. We have the existing knowledge / plan and recipe
in mind. We write it down and check it over. Meet the
paddlers and adapt as required.

This more formal approach or writing them down in what
ever format builds on our existing experience. It starts the
process over as we have added to our ‘recipe’ book.

Dave Rossetter
Dave is the full time paddlesport instructor at Glenmore Lodge – Scotland’s National Outdoor Training Centre. He has
been involved in the development of the new awards and provides expert advice throughout the industry on all things to
do with coaching, safety, leadership and personal paddling. He is passionate about all things paddling and specialises in white
water kayak and open canoe where he will most often be found. He is supported in his paddling adventures and coaching
by Pyranha Kayaks, Mad River Canoes and Palm Equipment.
http://www.glenmorelodge.org.uk/ http://www.pyranha.com/ http://www.palmequipmenteurope.com/
http://www.madrivercanoe.co.uk/