During practice, take the boat in "S" turns while the team is going full-bore. Maybe the team won't like it if water comes in on a tight turn, but if their steersperson can master the technique, it may one day save their finger, hand, arm, or life. Especially have the team go full-bore, then have the steersperson make a sharp turn - then correct themselves. This is especially important for the team to develop their ability to recover from an unexpected "incident" and keep their focus.
And how many coaches will actually let a steersperson do that in practice? After all, it takes away from valuable time coaching the paddlers.
I've been fortunate to have worked with a coach that likes having the steersperson put the boat through a series of "S" turns while doing a 100% power drill or calling "Hold the boat" in the middle of a drill. His view is get the paddlers use to focusing on their paddling no matter what the steersperson is doing (ie trust your steersperson), but always be ready to respond instantly to any commands from the steersperson.
I know there have been suggestions that there should be a more intensive course for steerspeople with 3 or 4 on the water sessions, but that is only going to work for local teams. What about all of the out-of-town teams with novice steerspeople who have never seen False Creek or been in a race with more than 4 boats?
Perhaps requiring other certifications is the way to go, but the small craft operator's certificate is a theory couse only and then you're allowed to operate power craft?
Or perhaps some interested parties should take the Alcan certification process, improve on it, and push it at the provincial level to start.
StraightLine
