2015 Steersperson Manual

Transcription

1 2015 Steersperson Manual Steersmen Coordinators: Sherrie Chaney Dyan Quinones Presented by: 1

2 Presenting Sponsor Host organization: Partners In Education Partners In Education, a community based 501(c) (3) non-profit organization, has initiated and developed programs and services that support and expand the academic success of students in the Toledo Public School District and the Catholic Diocese of Toledo. In 1993, the Rotary Club of Toledo commissioned the Corporation for Effective Government study to examine the need for an organization to promote and support school-community partnerships. The study found that in communities where a funded and staffed organization existed to support the development of school-community partnerships, those relationships thrive and make significant impact on student achievement. As a result of the study findings, in 1994 Partners In Education of Toledo, Inc. was founded. Partners In Education is dedicated to the purpose and mission of enhancing student success through community engagement with underserved at-risk youth being a priority by implementing programs and services that are program driven and under Partners In Education Academic Initiatives. These initiatives actively engage students in the learning process, from elementary age through high school to ensure that students move toward postsecondary opportunities. Festival Presenting sponsor: BP-Husky Refining As a global energy provider, BP-Husky Refining and its employees recognize the importance of education. Given the current focus on increased student achievement in the nation and globally, energy education can become an exciting way to help students learn about energy while supporting content standards. BP Husky Refining also invests in community programs and projects, focusing on those that promote science, math and environmental education. BP Husky Refining encourages its employees to participate in community projects and volunteer activities such as building playgrounds and partnering with schools on environmental projects. As the Presenting Sponsor of the Dragon Boat Festival their financial contribution and provision of safety and medical assistance provides for the smooth running of this unique event. Thank you to BP Husky for your continued support! 2

3 TEAM FACTS: Each team is comprised of a 25 person roster. Teams may be mixed gender - having at least 8 females paddling at all times, with the option of a male or female drummer and Steersperson. If a team does not have at least 8 female paddlers they will be ineligible to race. This will be checked in the staging and dock areas. At the present time, Partners In Education does not adhere to the IDBF requirement to have a female team Steersperson on an all female team. That said, for the 2015 race it is not mandatory for an all female team to have a female Steersperson. Each 40 ft. long boat can carry 20 paddlers, a Steersperson and a drummer. All Personal Flotation Devices, paddles, steer oars and drums are provided to the teams. A team may not compete with fewer than 16 paddlers. SAFETY / RACE COURSE: The race course will be approximately 400 meters in length. Individual lanes may be marked with a series of floating buoys. The 4 outside corners may be marked with large floating buoys and will also mark the start and finish. Four (to five if needed) boats on course at one time, Steers must keep 10-yard spacing between boats, or remain in the designated, marked lane at all times. Avoid collisions at all costs. Please see attached map. Race Officials and Partners In Education have the power to suspend or cancel the event if they feel the conditions are unsafe for the participants. Prior to entry into boat steers will ensure: 1) all crew members are wearing appropriate PFD; 2) crew members are aware of the Emergency Response Plan and commands in the event of a a) medical emergency, b) paddler overboard, c) swamping, or d) capsizing; 3) all crew members have identified their "buddy"; and 4) he knows the total number of crew members on board. Only rescue personnel trained in in-water rescue techniques should enter the water to perform a rescue. EMERGENCY PLANS: Steer Water Emergency Safety Plan: The Steer or Drummer shall use the command "EMERGENCY" to indicate that an emergency exists. At this command, the front and rear pair of paddlers will raise their paddles straight up into the air; all other paddlers will go to "hold the boat" position. The command "EMERGENCY" will be used to signal a paddler overboard, a medical emergency, or swamping. If the Steer is unable to issue the command the Drummer will take over. Steers practice this with each team on the way to the start. A First Aid Emergency is any medical emergency or physical emergency that takes place onboard the boat. The injured paddler or his buddy signals the Steer by raising his arm. The Steer will issue the command "EMERGENCY". If a paddler falls overboard, the Steer will issue the EMERGENCY command; keep the crew member in sight pointing to him for safety personnel. Should the paddler swim back to the boat, he should be floated on the windward side of the boat until help arrives. DO NOT ATTEMPT TO REBOARD THE PADDLER. COLLISIONS: A dragon boat collision can put many people in the water and in danger. Collisions should be avoided at all costs. In the event of a collision, the race may be stopped immediately by the race official. Other dragon boats are NOT to assist with the rescue. All dragon boats not involved in the collision give the collision site wide berth and return to the dock. All crewmembers make a buddy check and report to the Steer any injuries or missing paddlers. The Steer and the emergency crew are in charge of the rescue; all other members remain calm and quiet so they can hear instructions from the emergency crew. Paddlers stay in the boat. Those in the water, DO NOT attempt to reenter the boat. If a paddler is injured, their buddy should secure them and hold onto the boat. Upon arrival of emergency personnel the Steer will inform them of missing or injured members. 3

4 CAPSIZING: A capsized dragon boat is one that has turned upside down with hull skyward. Buddy check. Stay with the boat. Buddies secure injured buddy. SWAMPING: A dragon boat is swamped when it takes on large amounts of water. A swamped boat floats upright just below the surface of the water. If boat can be bailed, it should be. If it cannot, Steer issues command to "feather paddles" in order to stabilize boat until rescue arrives. Buddy check. STAY WITH YOUR BOAT; DO NOT SWIM TO SHORE OR RESCUE BOAT UNLESS INSTRUCTED TO DO SO BY RESCUE PERSONNEL. STAGING AREA: The announcer will call teams to Lane 1, 2, 3, or 4 of the first staging area approximately 30 min prior to their race. Once there, each captain will count heads and issue instructions. When called, they will move to the second staging area, where their Steer, or the one assigned from the Steer pool, will take control approximately15 minutes prior to their race. They should be in the seating order for boarding the boat. Those in the first staging area are those that will race. When the boats on the water come into the dock, the paddlers will be instructed to walk to this staging area, find a paddler of similar size and turn over their life jacket and paddle to that person. When a boat is available, the Steer, as directed by the Dock Master, will walk his team to the dock and either he or the Dock Master (Steer s discretion), will give the paddlers instructions for loading the boat. This must be done in an expeditious manner to insure timely races. Only paddlers from team roster may enter boat and paddle. BOAT NUMBERS: Boats will be numbered and teams will be assigned to specific boats to assist in accurate recording finishing place for each team. LOADING THE BOAT: Proper boat loading is critical for good stability and speed. The boat should be loaded from the center seat first. The boat is divided into three groups: forward 6, middle six and engine room, last 8 paddlers. The most powerful paddlers should be positioned in the engine room. Weight should be kept middle to aft, so line up and load your paddlers accordingly. The "stroke" position is the forward two paddlers and they are who to watch for the stroke cadence. Note that the aft seat is a narrow one; assign "small paddler" here. The Steer will put the paddlers in the proper seating order in the final staging area. The Steer is responsible for proper loading and weight distribution. (If your loading instructions differ from the previous Steer's, for sound reason, so be it. You are responsible for that boat and team during their time with you.) *PLEASE SEE THE ATTACHED MAP FOR DETAILS UNDERWAY: Review stroke form, cadence, and the various commands. Insure the paddlers relay the stroke s commands so the forward paddlers can hear them. While underway the Steer is in control and authority of the boat and paddlers. DRUMMERS: In the better performing boats, you will see the Drummer keeping the team in cadence and executing ENGINE ROOM commands etc. Use your Drummers, your team can hear and see them better than you and it will save your strength! Drummer may repeat the Steersperson commands to assure all paddlers hear and understand. 4

5 **PROTESTS/DISPUTE RESOLUTION PROCESS: False starts - the Starting Official will notify the finish line s Chief Official and a penalty (usually 2 seconds) will be given to the team. It is important that teams and steersmen listen closely to the starter's instructions. The Starting Official can also impose a time penalty if he/she feels teams are deliberately ignoring instructions to get an advantage. If there is any type of protest, the Steersmen ONLY can speak to the High Five Officials at the finish line tent. Decisions made by the Starting Official, Referees and/or the Chief Official are rarely ever changed. High Five Officials will try to explain the decision that was made and why it was made. COMMANDS: > Attention in the Boat To get paddlers undivided attention > Butts to the rail all paddlers position themselves against outboard rail > Sit up paddlers sit upright, with paddles across their laps, ready for next command > Paddle up paddlers assume paddling position (paddles raised above the water, bodies leaning forward in position to paddle). They will hold this position until the next command. > Take it away Signal to commence paddling, and it should be preceded by instructions as to whether this is a racing start, a slow and easy effort to get the boat moving, or even a given number of strokes by all or part of the crew to maneuver the boat, for example, bow six, five easy strokes forward, take it away > Hold the boat Paddlers thrust blades vertically into water and dig in to bring boat to halt. > Feather the paddles Paddles horizontal with flat blades resting on top of the water to stabilize the boat. > Back paddle Paddlers stroke in reverse to move boat backwards. > Let her run Paddlers stop paddling with paddles out of water > Pull with paddle Paddlers on one side of boat, Steer to specify, lean out and paddle sideways to move boat sideways. > Stretch it out Paddlers should lean forward and stretch to get a longer, more powerful, stroke > Ready Ready Used to start race, rower leaning forward with paddle in the water waiting for the starter to start the race >EMERGENCY Per safety instructions, front and rear pairs of paddlers put paddles in air and hold until told by Steer Strategy Command: "Engine Room" Used to get paddlers to give it everything they have for a limited number of strokes, usually 10. For example, Steer, or Drummer on Steer s direction will yell, Ready, Engine room in 4, 3, 2, 1 (counting down with the strokes), and then everyone counts ONE!, TWO!, THREE!, FOUR!.. etc. as they apply pressure. CADENCE: Paddlers should be communicating with each other and the Steersperson and drummer so they don't start off too fast and burn out. Start like the tortoise and finish like the hare. Steers and Drummer coordinate the cadence. Crew may choose to count the cadence loudly, "1, 2, 3, 4" "1, 2, 3, 4" Cadence to be set by the forward two paddlers in the stroke position as guided by the Drummer and Steer who work as a team. ALIGNMENT, START, FINISH: There are typically four lanes in the racecourse. Lane 1 is outboard (near the center of the river) and Lane 4 is closest to The Docks. Steer will steer his boat to the lane that corresponds to the lane of the staging area in which the team was assembled. Alignment of the start line will be between the 3 rd rooftop air conditioner on the Owens Corning Building and the start tent positioned on shore on The Dock side or as dictated by conditions on race day. Final alignment will be by starter on shore. The Starter may assign your boat to a lane other than the one you were staged in. The Starter will advise boats when aligned and will start the race with an audible signal, horn or shot and the word "Go! Start should be 5 strokes, short and slow to get that big boat moving, 10 more at faster pace to pick up the pace then stretch it out to the normal cadence. Finish line will be marked on shore, and crews should paddle across line and through two buoys placed about 10 yards after the finish line, to insure complete crossing of the line. Paddlers: DO NOT STOP PADDLING UNTIL TOLD "Let her run" BY THE STEER. 5

6 RETURN TO DOCK: Return to the same dock you departed from, unless directed otherwise by Dock Master. Follow Dock Master's instructions. Returning boats will nest outside the boat alongside the dock and when that one pulls out, the boat will be pulled in next to the dock. After unloading, Paddlers will walk to the final staging area, when directed by the Steer, and turn over their life jacket and paddle to someone of similar size. Assistance will be on the dock for loading and unloading. REMINDERS: Dragon boats are more stable when weight of the paddlers is outboard against the gunnel. Steers should remind and ensure that the paddlers are so positioned before leaving the dock. Run through all commands and a couple practice starts on the way to the start. Remember that we are running these races on 15-minute centers, so it is important to warm up your team while moving to the starting line without delays. Short choppy strokes all in unison are the winning combination. Long canoe type paddle strokes do not work. Upper hand high, looking under upper arm at the paddler across the boat and in the next seat forward, down and out motion, in unison, at a high cadence will really move these boats. On race day, each team will race three times. The Steersperson is responsible for loading and unloading the boat. The boat should be unloaded from the end first. Opposite of loading! When the team reaches the docking area, during loading and unloading and while on the water, The Steer is the authority of the boat and is 100 percent in charge and responsible. Good Luck, Be Safe, and Have FUN!!! Race Commands - You may take this page with you to practices and race day if needed. 6

7 EMERGENCY Attention in the Boat Butts to the Rail Sit Up Paddles Up Ready, Ready Take It Away Hold the Boat Feather the Paddles Back Paddle Let Her Run Pull with Paddle Stretch it Out Race Commands Rescue services needed Paddlers go silent, wait for Steersperson/drummer command Slide butts against outboard rail Paddles across lap, sit up tall Assume paddle position, with paddles above water, lean forward Get ready, paddle in water, leaning forward, wait for start command Commence paddling; Drummer makes the count Thrust paddles vertically in water to stop boat Paddles flat on top of water; Stabilizes boat Paddle in reverse Stop paddling paddles in the air, in lap One side pulls water with paddle to go sideways Paddlers lean forward and pull powerful for racing Steersperson Duties and Responsibilities: *Steersperson is First Command on the Docks and on the water! 7

8 - Must be the VOICE of the boat! - Must attend all Steersmen Training Meetings - Must be able to maneuver the boat in and around the docks and race course - Must be able to steer and handle boats to race ready position - Must run the boat with proper commands and actions to paddlers and drummer - Must be aware of winds and currents in the river - Keep the boat under control and in the lane during the race - Must be aware of race rules and regulations - Must be properly trained and tested before race day - Maintain silence and keep order on the boat at all times - Must be able to load/unload team from the docks properly, safely and efficiently - Must follow directions around the docks from the Staging Director - Must balance the boat and be able to make adjustments between practices - Must know and maintain all safety precautions and remain calm during emergency ***MUST AVOID COLLISIONS AT ALL COSTS! Drummer Duties/Responsibilities - ACT AS SECOND IN COMMAND - Follow the lead of the Steersperson - Maintain eye contact with steers in order to keep the boat balanced and maintain timing - Maintain proper and consistent pace for the paddlers - Act as the rear view mirror for the steers and paddlers - Communicate commands to the front of the boat on behalf of the Steersperson in the back of the boat - Be the team cheerleader! Keep the team pumped up! 8

9 9

10 10