PROTECTION DRILL


AIM:

To teach surfers how to protect a lead towards the end of a heat.


PREPARATION: 

Ask the surfers to go for a light jog on the beach followed by stretching exercises, if it’s the first drill of the day.


DRILL: 

  • Send the surfers out for 15 minutes. 
  • The surfers are asked to surf a normal heat. 
  • At the fifteen minute mark they are required to return to the beach where they are split into pairs.
  • The “leader” is asked to defend their lead by stopping the “challenger” from achieving a score allocated by the coach. 
  • They are then required to return to the surf for the last five minutes to defend their lead or achieve an allocated score depending on the task set.
  • (The five minute period does not start until the surfers are back at the peak.)

NOTES TO THE COACH

With computer scoring normal in all major competitions, surfers know what their position in the heat is at all times.

If a surfer is placed second with a few minutes remaining and the third placed surfer only needs a small score to get into second place for example, the first surfer can “sit” on the second surfer to protect their position.

The “leading” surfer should be instructed to stay close to the “challenger” for the duration of the last five minutes.

 Mark lesson complete