This is a list I found of things not to do this summer when you’re out on the water. These are just some reminders of things to do to help out a junior sailor and make sure that the summer is enjoyable for all. We all want to be supportive, and make sure that everyone is having a great time. But there are always limits somewhere. This is from Bill Sandberg who is a writer from WindCheck Mag.
Instructor Don’ts
1. Don’t play favorites. It’s easy to spend time with the sailor who wins all the regattas, but it can be far more rewarding to watch a young sailor come out of his or her shell and develop a real love for the sport.
2. Don’t forget that as a role model, the kids will look up to you. If you smoke or show up hung-over, they will think that is cool.
3. Don’t overcoach. At most Opti regattas, the kids do not need to be told the mistakes they just made on the racecourse.They need a water bottle anda hug.
4. Don’t forget that this is not school. It’s meant to be fun. OK, now that I’ve beaten up on the instructors, let’s move to potentially the worst problem – overzealous parents.
Parent Don’ts
1. Don’t help your child rig or unrig their boat. This is something they need to learn themselves, and they’re probably embarrassed by your “help.”
2. Don’t berate an instructor, especially in front of the sailors. This immediately undermines their authority and thus their ability to do their
job. If you have a problem, seek out the program chair or a member of the committee. It will be far more effective.
3. Don’t go to regattas and scream and cheer when your child or your program’s child rounds a mark in a high position. How do you think this makes the kids at the end of the fleet feel? Like losers.
4. Don’t make the first question you ask your child after a regatta, “How’d you finish?” It should be, “Did you have fun?” There are some exceptions to this. If they are older and committed to (racing), it’s OK to ask how they did. These are committed racers, and winning is fun. However, don’t grill them for information. It will come out. Discuss, don’t preach.
I fully realize that the vast majority of instructors and parents are very effective in raising kids to have a lifelong love of the water, but it’s that minority that can ruin a summer for all. If it isn’t fun, then we are not helping to grow our sport.
MUCH MORE: Bill Sandberg has lived his entire life on Long Island Sound, and his sailing resume includes involvement with youth sailing and US SAILING.Bill is not all about the DON’Ts , with the balance of his report providing some of the DOs and the Junior Sailing Association of Long Island Sound http://tinyurl.com/2upz7oz
While we’re on the subject of things not to do….
As a photographer I would add this:
Never get in the way of someone who is working. All the time, somebody sets up right in front of somebody else. It’s one thing if they don’t mean to block your view, but a lot of the time they do it on purpose. There’s plenty of room for everyone. In my opinion, the boat that gets there first should have priority. Can’t we all just get along?
Have a great weekend!
