Learn to surf - Using rewards with beginners
- Posted: Tue, June 23rd, 2009
- Post by: Martin
- Posted in: Blog, Learn to Surf
Using rewards to help surfers advance from the whitewater to catching unbroken waves.
Usually beginner surfers have plateaus in performance which they must pass through to become a competent surfer. The step from only catching whitewater waves to catching unbroken waves is obviously one of these. And it can be a BIG step for many.
There are a number of reasons why it is difficult for many, but for the very young or people with little ocean experience, it seems that fear or apprehension is the primary cause of taking the next step. I am not privy to where people surf, but a softer wave location is important at this stage. Somewhere where they can take this progessive step to riding unbroken waves, without fear they may be hurt. But it is also important that people progress at their rate, but a little encouragement always helps.
One thing that people can try when helping others, is to offer some sort of reward for catching an unbroken wave. Or turn the catching of green waves into a competition. Kids love competition, so in this case they will only be scored for their rides if they take off on their waves before they break.
So a session could be [ in 1-2ft surf maximally ]:
1. Let the surfer surf for a short time in the whitewater
2. Call them in and tell them that you will score them on how long they can stand up on their surfboards on whitewater waves - and the scoring is you counting: 1000, 2000, 3000, etc. Call them in and give them feedback on their rides after a set period.
3. Then, lets do that again, but this time they will only be scored if you take off on the unbroken wave. And score them again using the same critera. Or the scoring could be - one point for every unbroken wave they catch.
After the session, give them some reward, not for who won, but for their participation. Sometime in the future, at some future session, you can reward the winner. But ultimately, the goal is that they won’t need rewards anymore, as becoming a better surfer will be rewarding enough in itself.
Often I find that generous praise of the best performer and encouragement for the rest of the group that they can attain that standard of performance is enough prize.It seems bragging rights is the best prize of all.