TEACHING INTERMEDIATE & ADVANCED SAILORS


HOW TO RUN AN EFFECTIVE CLASS Much of the work of a sailing instructor takes place on the water, but proper


planning on shore will have a dramatic effect on how successful it will be. The ability to organize and run an effective class is at the heart of any successful sailing program.


An advantage of a well-organized class is that different facets of skill development can be practiced and repeated without any distractions or pressures. Using this approach allows you to work with your students during a focused skill development session to help them perfect their techniques. The following sections will help you understand how to run an effective class.


DESIGN THE SESSION TO FIT THE SAILORS Factors that are necessary to consider when organizing your training sessions: E Number of sailors E Experience/skill level of the sailors E Type of sailboats being used E Water comfort, overboard rescue, and capsize recovery skills of each sailor E How broad the gap is between most experienced and least experienced sailor in the group


E What are the goals and expected outcomes for the sailors


Topics, such as sail theory, rules, strategy, and seamanship will primarily be taught on shore with application of those concepts taking place within on-water practice sessions. When you are teaching a theory-based topic on shore, it is important to remember to minimize the distractions and maximize the interaction between you and the students. Though lecturing is the most comfortable method for many instructors, only a limited number of students learn best through auditory channels. Try to incorporate demonstrations, interactive presentations, Q&A, and visual props in your teaching sessions to create a more kinesthetic learning environment. By keeping the sailors actively involved in the presentation, you will be able to more accurately judge their comprehension of the material. Great on-land and classes are a direct result of you thinking about what you are going to teach, planning how to teach it, involving each student, and confirming their understanding of the skill.


RUNNING AN EFFECTIVE CLASS Based on your lesson plan, you will have a goal for the day – what it is that you are trying to accomplish.


It might be calendar dictated as in preparation for an event; it may be


building upon the last; or it might be in response to observed lack of proficiency in a skill set. Whatever the goal is, it is important to keep it and the expected outcomes in mind when designing and running your land drill, instructor demonstration, or on- water student practice.


Be consistent in the systems that you use and the behavior that you exhibit on a daily basis. If you pair your students for each practice, be consistent in how you select who sails with whom. If you post information about the on-water student practice (pairings, boat assignments, equipment checkin/out), try to be consistent with where you post the notices and do it in a timely fashion. Select on-water practice and games to reflect your goal for the day before you head out on the water to run them.


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