| Heads in the Boat | Everyone look forward, focus and wait for next command. |
| Prepare to Back It Down | Once clear of the dock – paddlers put paddles behind them but out of the water |
| Back It Down | From prepare to back it down position – paddlers back it down. Always waiting for ‘stroke’ (1st seat) position to begin first. And entering at the same time as the person in front of them. |
| Let It Ride / or Run | Stop paddling and rest paddle across lap and outside across gunnel |
| Paddles Up | Paddles in prep or recovery position / 5 inches off the water and 1 inch away from the boat |
| Take It Away | Beginning to paddle. Always waiting for stroke position to start if off and entering with person in front of you. |
| Flare the Boat | For stablilizing the boat ie. when paddlers are changing places or a wake is coming in broadside. Placing flat of paddle on top of the water broadside to the boat. |
| Hold the Boat | Stopping the boat by placing paddle in water straight down beside the boat with flat of blade facing forward |
| “Rudder the Boat | Holding the boat in position by placing paddle straight down in water with flat of blade facing out side |
| Left / Right Side Draw | To bring the boat along side dock or other boat one side reaches out from side of boat and draws water toward boat (all together) |
| Commands are held until the next command is given. | |
| Other Dragon Boat Protocols |
|
Unloading the Boat □ After returning to the dock paddlers stay in place while steers directs each seat to unload. □ Paddlers are reminded to turn around and help their team mates out of the boat. |
| Commonly Used Dragon Boat Commands | |
| “Heads in the Boat” | Frequently used just before leaving the dock or at the start line – meaning for everyone to look forward and focus (basically bring attention into the boat and wait for next command) |
| “Left / Right Side Hold the Dock” | At the dock before leaving left or right side is asked to put a hand on the dock (with reminder to not place fingers between dock and boat) |
| “Left / Right Side Walk It Back” | Leaving dock by having the one side back the boat down dock with hands |
| “Prepare to Back It Down” | Once clear of the dock – paddlers put paddles behind them but out of the water |
| “Back It Down” | From prepare to back it down position – paddlers back it down. Always waiting for ‘stroke’ (1st seat) position to begin first. And entering at the same time as the person in front of them. |
| “Let It Ride / or Run” | Stop paddling and rest paddle across lap and outside across gunnel |
| “Paddles Up” | Paddles in prep or recovery position / 5 inches off the water and 1 inch away from the boat |
| “Take It Away” | Beginning to paddle. Always waiting for stroke position to start if off and entering with person in front of you. |
| “Flare the Boat” | For stablilizing the boat ie. when paddlers are changing places or a wake is coming in broadside. Placing flat of paddle on top of the water broadside to the boat. |
| “Hold the Boat” | Stopping the boat by placing paddle in water straight down beside the boat with flat of blade facing forward |
| “Rudder the Boat” | Holding the boat in position by placing paddle straight down in water with flat of blade facing out side |
| “Left / Right Side Draw” | To bring the boat along side dock or other boat one side reaches out from side of boat and draws water toward boat (all together) |
| Commands are held until the next command is given. | |
| Other Dragon Boat Protocols |
| Unloading the Boat□ After returning to the dock paddlers stay in place while steers directs each seat to unload.□ Paddlers are reminded to turn around and help their team mates out of the boat. |
Our coach says — paddle at 30% then go to 90%– when asked what she means , she says put the paddle deeper in the water
can you explain, as the paddle blade should be in the water anyway, shouldn’t it?
We use 60% power for the warm up stroke intensity. Even at 60% the reach is long and the paddle is fully buried.
The paddle should always be fully buried. When we call for 90% or 100% we say it means not only more intensity/power but also to reach further and dig deeper. It doesn’t mean that you were holding back on your reach or bury at 60%. It just means that adding more power puts that added power into not only pulling more, but also into the effort of reaching further and digging deeper.