Sweep Development

DBQ Sweeps Coordinator

Cathy Barnes - sweepcoordinator.dbq@gmail.com

Regional Sweep Coordinators

SEQLD - Heather Day, Kerry Seymour

Central QLD - Jenny Shapland - sweepcoordinator.cqld@gmail.com

NQLD - Lewis Fuller

Sweeps Corner - Aug 2024

Thanks go out to the Gold Coast Dragon Boat club, Varsity lakes for the use of their equipment and facilities for the sweeps workshop held on the 21st July.
It was attended by 22 sweeps, 10 level 1 and 2, 12 level 3 which were split into 2 groups, Heather Day and Kerry Seymour (Manly) instructed the Level 3 sweeps with the assistance of Corina Bradley (BRD), Cathy Barnes (Manly) and Geoff Holdsworth (Tweed) Level 1 & 2.
We hope everyone who attended came away learning something new about sweeping and/or how to improve on their current skills. As the course progressed during the day however, we became aware of inconsistencies in a sweeps’ understanding of who has overall responsibility for safety on the boat.
Whilst on the boat, a sweep usually has the clearest situational awareness of the paddlers and the environment surrounding a training session, regatta or corporate event. As such, a sweep should have the confidence and ability to take charge of all paddlers/coaches/drummers if it is deemed necessary by the sweep for the safety of all on the boat. To be able to do this a sweep will need to learn how to command the boat with authority and with commands which are understood by the paddlers. If a club has more than one sweep, then consistency with these calls is essential for paddlers to avoid confusion when a request is made – e.g. Easy/Let it run, Drag your paddles/Slow the boat – it is recommended that one set of commands for all sweeps to use should be agreed on.

Demonstrating rules for 2k                                                 L1 & L2 Safety rules on the water

In addition, it was also noted that apart from steering a few times a week – overall strength and fitness was not considered as part of a sweeps training schedule. As paddlers get stronger, boats become more powerful, additional strength and fitness training could enhance a sweeps skill set.
The next sweeps workshop will be held on Sunday October 13th at the Bundaberg Dragon Boat Club, Bundaberg. Thanks in advance to the Bundaberg club for hosting the event, EOI’s will be sent out in September for registration

There have been some queries about progression from Level 3 to Level 4 and the State Sweep Coordinators have provided the below as a guideline.
Sweep Criteria to progress from Level 3 to 4

Mandatory:
•Complete a minimum of 3 years at level 3
•Sweeping regularly at your own club a minimum of 12 times a year (recorded in your log) in a range of conditions
•Sweeping at least 3 times for an affiliated club in different conditions
•Sweeping at 3 Regattas without incident in different locations (regionals to discuss options with coordinators)
•Sweeping a Standard boat at regattas with a minimum of 18 paddlers.
•Sweeping a minimum of 2 Turn races without incident
•Being part of the sweep pool at club and state regattas

Desirable:
•Encouraging paddlers to become steerers and mentoring them to progress through the Steerer
Program.
•Attending a Level 3/4 Sweep workshop within the last 12 months and advising the trainer you are wishing to progress your accreditation. It is best to attend the course after completing the mandatory criteria.
•Strongly recommended to maintain fitness focusing on strength and balance (e.g. single leg sit to stand, standing on a Bosu plus upper body)