Team Job Descriptions

Coach

  • Must be dragon boat division approved, or in training with and accompanied by an approved coach.
  • Attends all coaching clinics, courses, as required by the Club.
  • Has leadership and good communication skills.
  • Is willing to commit time, energy, and emotion.
  • Is sensitive, supportive, motivating, positive and encouraging.
  • Must be co-operative and encourage co-operation.
  • Is able to work closely with the Team Manager.
  • Is aware of any paddlers’ongoing health issues.
  • Develops a training schedule to take individual paddlers, at different fitness levels, and meld them into a team.
  • Helps each paddler realize the benefit of exercise, year-round.
  • Adheres to Club’s “Safety Policy”.
  • Shows respect for governing sport rules, officials, other coaches and all members of dragon boat division.
  • Mentors new/potential members as coaches.

Team Manager

  • Must be computer literate/proficient
  • Ideally, is elected at the last team meeting of the current year, and if not, at the first team meeting of the next year, prior to the first practice on the water.
  • At first team meeting, helps the team select or appoint other members to specific duties i.e. safety, warm-ups, socials, fundraising, etc.
  • Ensures that each team member has completed a registration form and waiver and that they do not paddle until both are complete and submitted to the Membership Director.
  • Maintains the team roster in conjunction with the club’s Membership Director, with names, addresses, phone numbers and emails using Team Snap and roster functions.
  • Maintains communication with coach, team rep and all paddlers to ensure practice times, locations and details of special events are known. Ensures information is passed on to those without email.
  • Obtains names of those paddling in advance of each practice and advises to coach.
  • Attends team practices and keeps a record of attendance. Informs captain if unable to attend practice.
  • Liaises with other team managers to facilitate sharing of paddlers with other teams. This ensures sufficient paddlers for practices and aids in forming composite teams for regattas.
  • Ensures that guest paddler waivers(and optional fees)are collected.
  • Helps team decide which regattas they want to attend in the season.
  • Makes sure the shed where lifejackets/paddles/steering oars are kept is locked when on the water and after practices.
  • Follows up at end of year to see if members will be paddling again next year.

Team Treasurer

  • Receives, deposits and disperses all team monies pertaining to team funds, expenses, regattas, fundraising. Keeps accurate financial records and submits a copy to the Club Treasurer at the end of each team year (November).

Team Representative

  • Must be computer literate/proficientin order to communicate information with and to the board.
  • Is responsible for keeping a “pulse” on the team, and reports to the Team Representative Liaison on the board of directors if any problems cannot be solved at the team level.
  • Conducts a survey from the team for suggestions and feedback at the end of the season and provides to the board prior to the AGM.
  • Fills in as assistant manager (primarily practice attendance) if the Team Manager is unable to come to practice.
  • Communicates highlights of ongoing board activities/minutes to team members.

ON THE BOAT

Steersperson

  • Must be dragon boat division approved, or in training with and accompanied by an approved steersperson.
  • The steersperson is responsible for the safety of the boat from the time the crew starts to load until the boat is unloaded at the completion of the practice/race.
  • Maintains the sign out/sign in sheets (log) each time a boat/team goes out.
  • The steersperson is the first into the boat - always checks the steering oar is secure in bracket, all water bailed, crew seated, and boat balanced before leaving dock.
  • Takes a head count and advises coach of number.
  • Remains standing while steering, scanning 360 degrees of the water, checking for traffic. Is the eyes and ears of the crew - safety is paramount.
  • Knows the rules of the marine road i.e. keep right, give right, big is right, no one is right (Maritime Law)
  • Works with crew using a loud voice and a set of clear and consistent commands so everyone understands and follows them quickly.
  • Is aware of changing weather and prepared to return to dock if water gets rough.
  • Works together with the drummer, echoing calls. Ensures paddlers at the back of the boat feel included with those at the front, and encourages everyone.
  • If steering at the Rio Tinto Alcan Dragon Boat Festival, must have passed the Rio Tinto Alcan steering accreditation test before the festival.

Note: Please also refer to the dragon boat division safety policy and steering guide.

Safety Persons (2 per team)

  • At the beginning of the season reviews all safety notices
  • Ascertains which members of crew have current First Aid training
  • Identifies non-swimmers on the crew and ensures they have a buddy
  • Ensures that approved lifejackets/PFD’s are worn by all paddlers at all times – MOT requires the wearing of an approved and zipped uplifejacket/PFD of appropriate fit.
  • On every boat at each practice there must be on board:

-3 or 4 bailers

-emergency kit with, whistle, air horn, heaving line, float line in a water proof bag

Revised December 2017