I was doing my sport psychology reading and it seems that what makes people stick with a sport, especially young people, is having fun. So I'm wondering what makes practices fun for you? Why do you keep coming back for more? Are there specific things that coaches do to make things more fun? Does your coach let you catch waves? Why/why not?
I guess I'm thinking more of sixman, but can be for oneman too.
Submitted by keizo on Mon, 11/15/2004 - 5:03pm
feeling the glide
#1 Tue, 11/16/2004 - 4:38pm
most people never get to feel that glide that you guys had every single day.. i think thats what hooked me on to paddling forever, the day i got to steer your crew... i still dont think i've ever gone faster
I think we were lucky enough to have one of the best coaches in the sport. He taught us how to train, not by forcing us to go out and be in the water when we didn't want to, but by letting us learn that it was up to us if we trained or not. There was never an attendance policy and anyone who didn't want to paddle never had too. But we learned that if nobody showed up we wouldn't do well, and if we did then we would do well. So, for me at least, i learned that there is no easy way to winning. I think another huge part is respect.. if the coach doesn't respect the paddlers than they will never perform well. Our coach was always on our side, even if it meant sticking up for us after pissing off some of the other coaches at Ke'ehi lagoon...... So mutual respect kept us all coming back.
we usually couldn't catch waves but if we did there was never really a punishment, but because of the mutual respect we (normally) wouldn't...
I also think a huge thing is encouraging the kids to goto the mens practice. They can have fun at kids practice and learn how to train hard at mens practice. For me, there is almost no feeling in the world as good as flying in a six man, when the rhythm and everything is perfect. Let a kid see that and they will keep on coming back forever.
#2 Tue, 11/16/2004 - 5:44pm
[b] The glide is great, and catching waves is great, but what is truely fun at off season practice is paddling and seeing the beautiful sea life in the ocean that we live in. Spinner dolphin, honu, and an occassional Humpback that really does it for me. And another aspect is the togetherness and respect we have for one another. Paddling makes it worth while to enjoy these beautiful things. I have enjoyed this on my one man also..
Aloha
[/b]
#3 Sun, 11/21/2004 - 9:13am
Hot chics make practices fun.
#4 Wed, 11/24/2004 - 11:55am
too bad there aren't any hot chicks at your club poopoopaddler. Maybe that why no one ever goes to practice there. But I do remember the day we saw three whales and a shooting star. That was cool...
#5 Thu, 11/25/2004 - 8:09pm
Wait the terrestrial type whales or the ocean going type whales?
Haha I had forgotten about that night. Yes that makes paddling the best sport ever.
Poopoo
#6 Thu, 11/25/2004 - 9:27pm