Not exactly an activity in its own right, more a tool for feedback that I've been playing with.
The premise is simple, once a paddler has done a task (or let them know in advance what you'll be focusing on), ask them to give themselves a score out of ten, either for the whole task, or for a section of it. Possibly ask why they gave it that score, and then ask them what a slightly higher score would look like, then set them off to try it.
Examples of recent conversations
Stagger
"Give yourself a mark out of ten " (for that stagger sequence
"Six"
"Why?"
"I think my turns were in sort of the right place and I managed to turn before the gate"
"OK, what would an eight look like?"
"Similar, but I'd be less hesitant with my strokes"
"OK, show me..."
Whole Task (6 gate course)
"give yourself a mark out of ten for that one"
"Six"
"Why?"
"I didn't miss any gates, but I hit one and I hit a rock"
"Great, what would a seven look like?"
"I won't hit the rock"
"Show me..."
(on finishing the next run): "Yaay! A nine!"
This is easily adapted to the paddler, with different focuses on different outcomes. Last night I had 4 paddlers, all paddling the same 5 gate course. One was focusing on a strong exit from a breakout into the flow, another on a stagger sequence, the third on the course on the whole and the fourth on making the first cross upright!
I like the idea of putting the problem solving and feedback back on the paddler. Even if their idea for a higher score is misguided I'll let them go and explore, maybe suggesting hints if frustration is starting to creep in.
photo by Chloe Holmes
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