LEVEL / TIME: Level 2 or three coaches wishing to develop their ability to improve a performers development be it for club development or PDP purposes. 3 Hours.

BACKGROUND: This module intends to develop a vocabulary in coaches to understand how to articulate a three phase breakdown of the performers needs. Firstly the accurate breakdown of the type of paddling in focus, secondly complete a performance profile of a paddler and thirdly to the construction of a development plan to move the paddler accurately forward in the desired context. This ambition is not a narrow one and might be based purely a desire to be a ‘better’ paddler physically, skilfully or mentally or it may have competitive intentions. For instance it could be based on a future holiday trip for which fitness is an issue, a first attempt at a slalom event or the Exe decent or it may be that the jump to the next class of water needs a stronger mental attitude which at the moment is lacking. The detail will be closely aligned to chapters 2 and 18 of the coaching handbook.

AIMS/OBJECTIVES: At the conclusion of this module coaches should understand:

• The accurate science based description of the activity in focus i.e. DW long distance, 24 hour aerobic and endurance event
• Terminology in the context of physiological profiling
• Terminology in the context of skill based profiling
• Terminology in the context of psychological or mental profiling
• Periodisation and its application in improving performance
• Some of the age and gender issues when improving performers
• The key issue of prioritisation or targeting weakness’s

LEARNING OUTCOMES: The ability of a coach to accurately profile a paddler and then using a judgment based on priority and ambition create a development plan underpinned by training and sports science principles is invaluable to the coaching world.

This module will identify the basic vocabulary necessary to complete the above. Using sports science and accurate terminology based on current best practice.

The level of this module is intended to be the initial attempt of a coach to assess and plan for development of a paddler. The emphasis in this short module is to describe the type of activity involved in accurately; assess the profile of the performer matched against the activity and develop a coherent development plan or schedule to allow for improvement.

This is the initial step in organising performance development

LEVEL / TIME:  Level 1 and 2 Coaches and anyone following a CPD programme in Paddlesport.
3 hours

BACKGROUND / AIMS: To introduce paddlers to the role of mental skills in paddlesport development and performance  and  To relate the area of mental skills training to coaching and paddler development and provide some working definitions.

• Introduce the concept of mental skills training to coaches in the paddlesport environment.
• Introduce the basic concepts of imagery training
• Introduce the basic concepts of concentration training and styles.
• Introduce the basic concepts of optimal arousal and arousal control strategies.

LEARNING OUTCOMES

By the end of this module participants should be able to:

• Paddlers should understand the place and value of mental skills training in paddlesport
• Paddlers should understand processes and practices necessary to develop mental skills
• Describe applications of imagery in paddlesport training and performance arenas.
• Understand multi sensory nature of imagery & internal/external perspectives
• Experience exercises in imagery training.
• Understand the various styles of attentional focus and the appropriateness to paddlesport situations.
• Experience exercises in concentration training.
• Understand the concept of optimal arousal and its application within paddlesport.
• Explore strategies for lowering arousal and practice a basic relaxation technique.
• Explore strategies for raising arousal and practice a basic ‘psyching up’ technique

LEVEL / TIME:  Level 1 and 2 coaches – 3 hours

BACKGROUND / AIMS: This module is designed to introduce racing and recreational paddlers to the key concepts of fitness for canoe sport – training, nutrition and physiology (TNP).  It is intended as a standalone module such that paddlers and coaches can attend with no prior knowledge of sports science should be able to attend and access all the delivered material.  The terminology used by deliverers should be based around maximising access for all participants. The trap of using terms such as VO2max, anaerobic threshold etc. should be avoided, unless working with specific groups who have prior sports science knowledge.

LEARNING OUTCOMES:

By the end of this module participants should be able to:

• Provide the details of a normal balanced diet
• Explain the links between diet and performance
• Discuss conditioning training for their canoesport discipline(s)
• Identify the benefits of strength training for canoe and kayak
• Describe the reasons behind planning for and regularly monitoring a fitness programme for a paddler.