Topic:  The Kneeling Position

Student Objective:  To be able to execute getting onto the board and acquire the kneeling position both on the beach and in the water.

Teacher Objective:  To give specific congruent feedback to at least four students.

Lesson Description:  First of all the direction the wind is coming from is labeled 12 O'clock.  So think of everything as the numbers on the clock.
To begin the lesson you want the mast pointing towards 6 O'clock and have the board perpendicular to the mast and sail.  So if we used our thinking in terms of the clock the ends of the board would be pointing towards 3 and 9.  To obtain the kneeling position you must first get onto the board by placing both hands shoulder width apart one on either side of the mast and pull yourself up into a kneeling position.  Know you must make sure that your knees are straddling the mast and that they are as much over the center of the board as possible for stability.  The thick rope coming off of the boom is called an uphaul, and this can be grabbed at this point and used for extra stability.  Remember not to stand up yet.

Note:  If the students are struggling with this activity in waist deep water have them partner up with one board between the two of them and have one student at the front of the board stabilizing it while the other student attempts to obtain the kneeling position.

Tasks:
1.  Try this activity out of the water without a fin on the bottom of the board.
2.  Try this activity with the fin on and the centerboard down in waist deep water, which is the ideal conditions for obtaining the kneeling position.
3.  Try this activity with the centerboard down and in the water where your feet can't reach the bottom.
4.  Try this activity with the centerboard up in waist deep water.
5.  Try this activity with the centerboard up in water where your feet can't touch the bottom.

Cues:
Explode up onto the board
Centerline and Straddle the Mast
Uphaul tight for added stability

Challenges:
Perform Task one three times successfully with proper form
Perform Task two three times successfully with proper form
Perform Task three twice successfully with good technique and balance
Perform Task four twice successfully with good technique and balance
Perform Task five twice successfully with good technique and balance
If you can perform all of these challenges you might want to try getting into the standing position while having one foot on either side of the mast, just as you did with your knees.