This week’s poll question: When’s a paddler not a paddler?
Dec 7
2009
The rules coaches and teams employ to manage competition vary widely, which should make this a lively discussion.
A paddler signs up for a September festival during early summer, then leaves for an extended 6-week holiday. The holiday ends a week or so before the festival, but the paddler does not return to practice with his or her team.
The coach disqualified the paddler for the event.
Another paddler signed up for another September festival, then left for an extended 8-week holiday. The holiday ends a week or so before the festival.
The coach permited the paddler to compete.
Should these paddlers have been permitted to race with their teams after an extended absence?
I’m looking forward to seeing what everyone has to offer, particularly coaches, since this issue goes directly to a coaches’ “buy in” prior to the start of the season.
Does a Coach have a responsibility to see to it that his or her team is as well prepared as they can be for a competition?
Should unfit paddlers be permitted to compete?
Who is legally responsible if an unfit paddler is injured during competition?
POLL QUESTION & RESULTS:
Should a paddler who misses more than 50% of practices in the month prior to a race be allowed to paddle in the race?
NO: 21 votes
YES: 4 votes
NEW QUESTION: Should a paddler who misses all practices in the 6-8 weeks prior to a race be allowed to paddle in the race?
Tags: 6 Week, Absence, Coach, coach's buy in, dragon boat paddler, dragon boat racing rules, New Question, Paddler, Paddlers, Poll Question, Poll Results, Question Results, Quot, S Poll, September Festival, Signs
How can a team hope to compete when they’re stuck with out-of-shape paddlers? Allowing them to race is ridiculous, because it makes the team less competitive.
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