Canoe & Kayak Ltd Syllabus Syllabus January 2011 Canoe & Kayak Syllabus Contents Confidence Routine .................................................................................................................. 4 Eskimo Rolling........................................................................................................................... 7 Paddle Strokes........................................................................................................................... 9 Basic Strokes Article .................................................................................................................. 11 Rescues .................................................................................................................................... 13 Paddle Float Rescue Article ........................................................................................................ 15 T Rescue Article ........................................................................................................................ 15 Surf Article ............................................................................................................................... 17 Sweep Strokes ......................................................................................................................... 18 Stern/ rudder draw stroke ....................................................................................................... 19 Work in Progress .................................................................................................................. 20 SYLLABUS This manual is to be read in conjunction with all other manuals and is designed as a resource for the Operations Manager to start the building process of specific plans for each on water activity. The primary aim of this manual is to ensure that each Centre runs courses to a similar standard and covers the skills and knowledge outlined, so that consistency is maintained throughout the Canoe & Kayak Licensed group. Care is needed to ensure that the skills outlined in this Manual are taught in a safe progressional manner. January 2011 Syllabus 2 | Page Canoe & Kayak Syllabus Confidence Routine As this is the starting point for all people getting into kayaking it is imperative that all staff appreciate the importance of a well thought out structure to teaching the Confidence Routine. There are many levels going on while teaching this skill and if done correctly the results for the Customer, Instructor and the Canoe & Kayak Centre are great. The customer is often stressed by the idea of capsizing and being caught or trapped under the kayak. This following session has been developed to minimise the customers discomfort and terror while maximising the feeling of achievement and confidence that they can do it. During the session you are working on; Team work: Buddies. Pair up like minded and size customers. This is often done by talking to the group and saying “we are going to be working in the pool in Buddies, this is done so while one person is learning a new skill, the buddy will be standing beside the person in the kayak and performing the roll of an instructor”. “This has two advantages they are” “1/ that the person in the kayak can only handle so much effort before they will slow down physically. This in turn slows the learning progression, so when you get out of the kayak and take up the teaching roll your muscles can recouperate”. “2/ while teaching someone your mind is picking up lots of detail that while upside down you will not be getting, so when you get back in the kayak those new observations are naturally incorporated into what you are doing”. Camaraderie: While the customers are working in their Buddy pairs, the Instructor circulates around the group teaching each new step to the pair and watching and assisting till the Customer instructing can perform the new roll confidently. The Lead Instructor will give words of encouragement and ask questions rather than give instructions once the customers understand the basic concepts. For Example, Instructor “was it easy to right their kayak” Customer answer “no” Instructor “What do you think your buddy could do to make it easier” Customer answer “lean forward more?” Instructor “yep that will do nicely, well done” This approach builds a relationship and understanding between all parties making for the start of friendship or camaraderie and builds a much deeper understanding of the skills being passed on. Peer pressure: as an Instructor you need to stay well away from this as you are not an equal with the customers and any pressure you put on the customer will be received in a negative way i.e. the customer will feel that they are not achieving to your satisfaction and this starts decay in the customer’s confidence. Encourage the customers to give each other feed back i.e. Instructor “did that pick up feel easy?” Customer “yes”, Instructor “can your buddy improve what they are doing in any way”? customer “no”, Instructor “well done team” When the other customer is in the kayak he/she will be much more receptive and will know that it is a positive learning environment and will feel a good pressure to keep the team working well. Confidence Building: As each step is taught with the above focus the customers will develop stronger and stronger personal confidence that the things you ask them to do will be achievable and they will be more and more willing to give it a go feeling that the success will come. Personal Achievement: anyone who has been challenged and excelled gains a feeling of achievement, this feeling is life altering for most people and many instructors will talk of people starting of as mice and ending up as lions over a period of time while they are building their kayaking skills and their life skills at the same time. Skills Development: Funny how this is left to the end, the skills development is critical to the end result of a safe kayaker, but unless the other areas are treated as importantly the customer will probably not continue kayaking and so the skills will be wasted any way. January 2011 Syllabus 3 | Page Canoe & Kayak Syllabus Confidence Routine One hour duration maximum On Land: Go through a briefing of what we are doing for the next hour including the following points; explain boat, seat, footrests, bulkheads and methods of lifting boat. Getting in and out of boats Putting on and taking off spray deck from self and boat including getting out without using the Pull Tag. Show how to remove deck if tag missing (punch in, push with knees or grab at neoprene and pull) Check hatches. Buddy up. In the water: Throughout this session, think more about teaching clients to become instructors than as beginners. The instructor needs to position themselves so that at no time they have their back to clients. They must also be able to get to anyone in difficulty quickly. With their buddy standing in the water beside the kayak the kayaker gets into the kayak using the paddle across the back of the kayak and onto the ground, the fingers go into the cockpit and the thumb secures the paddle from moving, the hand closest to the ground holds the paddle shaft allowing the customer to lean gently onto the shaft to gain stability while entering the kayak. Once in the kayak practice again the putting on and removing of the Spray Deck. Now with the buddies holding their kayaking mates, ask for a volunteer to demonstrate the Water Confidence Routine. A volunteer will be among the more confident in the group and hopefully will be a good role model for the group. Take over the buddy’s position and ask the customer to lean forward as far as comfortable holding the hull of the kayak in front. Using the correct hand grip (fingers in the side of the cockpit) lower the customer till their head is on the water. And then with a gentle pull on the hand in the cockpit and a push on the other side of the kayak with your other hand right the kayak. With the customers approval then progressively lower them over further until they are happy capsizing themselves and being picked up. At this stage you need to clearly demonstrate the process of being able to jump on top of the hull of the kayak with your stomach on the hull and reaching over the kayak with one hand for the cockpit rim and then righting the kayak in the normal way. Once this has been demonstrated then start working with each buddy group to ensure they can right their friend’s kayak before they are left to practice Work clients through the following: Tap 3 times for rescue, moving gradually to tapping in a sequence around the front, back, side to side of the upturned kayak ending with the Three Tap Rescue and pick up. This will orientate the paddler spending longer underwater. January 2011 Syllabus 4 | Page Canoe & Kayak Syllabus Wet Exits - completely upside down and controlled exit with buddy and instructor watching. A dry pretend run is often a good idea as it lets the paddler think clearly though the process with their eyes closed to give them more of the real feeling. Empty boat - Show everyone how to empty the kayak taking care to point out the risks when it comes to damaging themselves or the pool sides on the sharp/hard parts of the kayak. Ensure that everyone has completed a minimum 6 wet exits before the evening has finished The Instructor should demonstrate the following, using the Sea Kayaking Skill Course syllabus to teach the following; T Rescue X Rescue Paddle float rescue John Wayne entry At the end of the session the Instructor