Round we go

Lesson 12 – 60 minutes

Learning outcomes

• Attempt or perform an ironman/woman race transitions.
• Attempt or perform cameron relay race transitions.
  

Preparation

• Nipper Boards.
• Marker Cones.
• Water Safety Personnel (1:5).
  

IMPORTANT

• If you are not confident coaching the skills in this lesson, bring in a surf sports athlete or coach to help deliver the lesson.
• Start the lesson by discussing the surf conditions and safety considerations before entering the water.
  

Discuss

• Explain the rules of the Ironman/Ironwoman event:
• 4 members per team (1 Swimmer, 2 Runners, 1 Board Paddler)
• Order of legs (swim and board) are drawn ballot – see Junior Competition Events section)
  

Coaching Points

JUNIOR IRONMAN / IRONWOMAN TRANSITION

• Set up the board on a sand mound with front handle pointing high.
• When you get to your board bend down and grab the front handle, drive off the sand and prepare for the entry into the water.
  

Demonstrate

• Demonstrate to the participants how to make a sand mound and pick up their board during a swim to board transition.
  

Activity 1

• Have participants practice setting up a mound and placing their board on it.
• Set up a line in the sand 10m away from the boards.
• Participants run to their boards pick them up and then run 10m further along the beach.
• Repeat this exercise until everyone has had plenty of practice.
• After a couple of repetitions encourage the participants to complete the transitions as fast as they can to get used to doing them at full pace in a race.
  

Coaching Points

CAMERON RELAY TRANSITIONS

• Tag is made with hand (like giving a ‘5’ to someone).
• The receiving teammate must be behind their line.
  

Demonstrate

• Choose a participant to help with the demonstration.
• Demonstrate to the participants how to make the following transitions in a cameron relay:
  • Board Paddler to Runner (Runner waits at waters edge for Board Paddller to reach them and make the tag).
  • Runner to Swimmer (Swimmer is waiting on start line with hand behind them, Runner makes the tag).
  • Swimmer to Runner (Swimmer wades to waters edge and makes the tag with the Runner).
  • Runner to Board Paddler (Board Paddler is waiting on start line holding board in one arm with other behind their back, Runner makes the tag).

Activity 2

• Pair up the participants and give each pair a nipper board.
• Organise for them to practice one of the transitions at a time.
  

*AGE MANAGER TIPS

This can be difficult for some juniors so please modify the course so that all participants can participate in the lesson.

ASSUMED SKILLS
This lesson assumes participants have acquired previous skills from earlier awards:

• Surf swimming wading, dolphin-diving, body surfing, surf swimming techniques.
• Board positioning on a board and basic paddling technique.
• Entering the surf and bunny-hopping with a board.
• Sitting over a wave and paddling through a wave.
• Exiting the water with a board.
• Catching a broken and un-broken wave.