Services - Coaches' Corner

The Body Stroke

Uncompromised core body position is the key to PaddleCore's core body stroke. One of the most difficult stroke aspects to develop and perfect for dragonboat coaches is a deliberate recovery phase. Regardless of the team's experience level, developing this part of the stroke is tricky because in order for athletes to execute the initial stages properly, they have to 'low down' and be deliberate about their body movements while the paddle is in the air. Instinctively, athletes will try to race through this phase of the stroke so they can get the blade back into heavy water where they can re-establish traction. Unfortunately when this happens the core usually gets left behind and the stroke loses its primary, and most effective source of power. A slow and deliberate recovery helps ensure athletes achieve correct core body position and set-up in preparation for the catch connection phase of the next stroke. Athletes need to take the time to establish an effective "A" frame starting with their lower core body position.

Recovery Drill

'Gates', or check-points, encourage proper body position during the recovery phase. For example, if each number below represents a segment of the stroke cycle, athletes must stop after performing each segment and ensure their body position is correct. (The more control and awareness of your body position during the stroke phase, the more athletes will be able to contribute.)

The "Gates" drill can be done in four or five phases. This example below is four phases.

The Body Stroke

The Right (or Left) Paddle for You!

To measure your paddle, follow these steps...

1. Comfortably sit on a solid bench or chair (similar to a dragonboat seat);
2. Place the blade tip of the paddle beside your inside hip on the bench (left hip for right-sided paddlers and vice versa) ;
3. With top arm paddling position (slight elbow bend), reach to the handle of the paddle and comfortably curl your palm around the handle, similar to how you would hold the handle in the catch position.

Going through this exercise will identify the right paddle for you under perfect conditions - where the top of the bench is flush with the water level. However, perfect conditions are not always possible, which is why paddlers must also consider external factors that impact size selection...

Boat Design and Weight
Some boats sit higher in the water and call for longer paddles, and some sit lower.

Seating Position
Depending on where the paddler is sitting the water level may be higher or lower, calling for different lengths (i.e. near the back of the boat paddlers are closer to the water.

Technique and Experience
Varying techniques can require different sized paddles and paddlers with high levels of experience sometimes increase (or shorten) their paddle for personal reasons.

Whatever the factors are for your crew, consistency is the key and all paddlers in the same crew should use the same Rule of Thumb; and we encourage you to adopt PaddleCore's Paddle Sizing Rule of Thumb!

Happy Paddling from PaddleCore!

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