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Training
OverviewDebriefing
At the end of the day, take a bit of time and talk about the day. If you are all in one car you can do this on the ride home. I know one team did this while doing stretches. (While stretches and warmups before the event cause sprains, stretches after the event reduce soreness.)
Like many other things, this has a structure and a routine:
- Overall well done.
Try to find something positive for the group as a whole.
- Smith, nice job on that hilltop spruce. Jones: slick, you finding that cutline this afternoon.
Find something praiseworthy for each person.
Now the critical stuff. Don't criticise the person, be critical about the action and the result. E.g. "John, you have to pay attention to where the rest of the team is." is the wrong way to do this at this time. If that needs tob e said, it should be said to John earlier.
Instead, say, "We lost a guy for 10 minutes. Can't do that. Everyone has to keep track of their buddy, and their captain. If you don't I might get lost."
Go from worst to least bad.
"Next: We had a cluster today: 4 bearings off a pylon. If you two new guys were any good with your compass bearings we could have done all four at once. I'd like to have a practice at the city park Tuesday after school. That work for everyone?
Ask for input:
Anyone else think of anything we can improve on?
Keep it brief. Anything you can't handle right away postpone for private discussion or for the next meeting.
Finish off with another group positive.
"Mr. B had his GPS with him today. Says we covered 40 km today. That gives you something to brag about this week."
This whole thing should take about 5 minutes.
There is a mroe detailed analysis that you and your navigator can do with the race timeline later.