Marathon Update, May 2020
The Marathon Racing Committee met online on 9th May to make as many decisions as possible for 2020, given the current situation. Many could be reviewed if the pandemic doesn’t ease, or if the Government, British Canoeing, or any of the bodies overseeing the water we use change their position.
The headlines are:- Continue reading “Marathon Update, May 2020”
Race Coach Course – MRC/SRC Bursary
As we move into the summer and the MRC/SRC bursary for the British Canoeing Race coach award continues, it would be helpful to know how many clubs would still like to put coaches forward for the award and the bursary.
We have had 60+ coaches complete the Race discipline specific course so far, and are now starting to allocate funding for the assessment to finish the qualification. As the funding is from a finite amount, we need to spend it in the most effective and beneficial way for the clubs and sport.
If your club is wanting to put coaches through the award – or if it has already done so and is now wanting to arrange an assessment – then let us know so we can plan to help out accordingly, as it is on a first come, first served basis.
A reminder – the original information on the bursary and the course can be found here. As the BC course finder isn’t working fully at the moment, we also have a list (not exhaustive) of course providers and assessors that we can put you in contact with.
Finally, a big congratulations to the clubs and coaches who have undertaken the course, and to those that’ll be passing this year – well done!
Junior Development Squad Skills Day
Around 70 young athletes from 24 clubs attended the first MRC Junior Development Squad event on Saturday. This was a skills development day, focussed on group paddling and wash-hanging, kindly hosted by Elmbridge CC and led by BC President and multiple World Champion, Ivan Lawler.
The emphasis of the day was on having fun and enabling the paddlers to develop skills in a non-race environment, thus allowing them to take risks and not worry about making mistakes. There was a good mix of on- and off-water sessions, with the “classroom” time led by Ivan. Complete with cardboard cut-out boats on a whiteboard, he demonstrated wash-hanging and group dynamics from the simplest two-boat scenario, up to the large groups encountered in international races. The morning’s paddle was done in small groups, but the challenges were increased by the high winds and strong flow on the river. Luckily the winds dropped for the afternoon session, when there were various drills and challenges, this time in bigger groups, such as having to find a place in a big group immediately from a start-line.
Paddlers and coaches came from clubs as far afield as Lincoln, Chester, Swansea and Cornwall. In addition to developing the paddlers, it was a training day for coaches of all levels, providing an opportunity for them to work together and learn from each other. The subsequent feedback on the day has been very positive, with all those involved taking back new skills and knowledge to their clubs.
There are now over 90 paddlers enrolled in the squad, which will continue to grow as more meet the qualifying criteria following promotions throughout the year. This ensures that all the progressive juniors around the country are able to benefit.
Many thanks to Ivan and the team at Elmbridge for putting up with an extra 100 or more people taking over their clubhouse, and to the paddlers, parents and coaches who were all prepared to turn up on a very windy day. We are now looking forward to the next MRC JDS event – the two-day training camp at Longridge in April.
Coaches with legacy qualifications
Coaches with qualifications which predate the new Race Coach and Performance Coach awards can continute to use these to coach racing, and enjoy the same rights and protections as before. However they should make sure that the following remain up to date: Continue reading “Coaches with legacy qualifications”
MRC funding for club race coaching
British Canoeing have launched a specific Race Coach Award (level 2) in January 2018, with the first course be planned for spring 2018. The MRC is able to offer funding to support courses provided in canoe clubs by unsupported, volunteer coach tutors to similarly unsupported students.
Full details and application forms below.
Kayak stability ratings
A great guide from the Purple Paddler website, listing stability ratings for different boats:-
K1 list
K2 list
Interested in the new Racing Coach award?
A new, canoe racing-specific course has just been developed at the “Coach Award” level, targeted at the Club Race Coach and will be rolled out during 2018. So if you’re interested in a racing-specific coaching qualification please contact BC Coaching Department coaching@britishcanoeing.org.uk. The MRC Coaching rep Jim Taylor-Ross is available if you wish to talk through any ideas or issues.
Rudder Design
It’s not your rudder that slows you down, it really isn’t. But if the science of the perfect rudder is your thing, this is an interesting read:
Your First Race
A practical guide to getting yourself organised for canoe racing