Re: [Paddlewise] Teaching a rolling class: Dealing with fear

At 05:24 AM 1/28/02 -0500, Blaauw, Niels wrote:
>Sometimes I am so happy with myself that I just HAVE to share...
>
>I have been teaching people to roll for a couple of years now, but always
>individual, never in a group. My club gave me the opportunity to give a five
>lesson rolling class to a group of 10 people. I decided to spend the
>complete first lesson on dealing with fear, and leave even the use of a
>brace or basic hipsnap for the second lesson.
>.

...

>After an hour of fooling around, all fears were gone. All students were
>comfortably trying to perform re-entries, trying to paddle swamped boats,
>trying to swim while trapped in an upside down kayak,  flipping and rescuing
>each other and trying to surf the waves (we have access to a swimming pool
>with waves!).
>
>I hope they are relaxed enough now to quickly learn their braces and
>hipsnaps. Even learning the most difficult part -getting your head out of
>the water LAST- might be easy for them. We'll see about that next lesson...

Sounds like the first class went well.  It's nice when you can incorporate 
games or exercises that might not seem like they're kayaking skills but 
will help learn kayaking skills.

Perhaps a logical progression for the next class would be to teach the hip 
snap using the bow of a partners boat. Then have them capsize and do bow 
rescues.  Getting them to slap the side of the boat after a capsize and 
wait for a rescue will not only make them more comfortable being upside 
down but will also save some time when they start practicing the rolls if 
they don't have to wet exit.


>Main lesson for me: It IS possible to have fun during a kayak class. For
>many trainers this might be an eye-opener.

I've got a book called "Canoe Games" (it was written in the UK so they're 
referring to what we in the US call kayaks) that has dozens of games that 
one can play in a kayak.  Some of them are pretty silly but a lot of them 
are good for balance or something that will improve their kayaking 
skills.  One of the first times I did a "combat roll" was during a game of 
ultimate frisbee in kayaks.  I had capsized and *had* to get back up to 
keep the other team from making a goal.


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