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  • Teaching kids / Wrist-arm exercises



    Walter & Group...

    From Phil Gay:-

    Gordy,
     
        Troy's points are right on.  I also have the younger ones use two hands on the rod.  One on the grip and the other on the butt.  Works very well.
     
    Phil
     
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    Message on SHOTGUN teaching by Troy Miller:-
     

    Regarding the shotgun teaching, I would simply not participate.  If the Parks Department thinks they know more about setting up effective learning opportunities for flycasting than I do, then they can have it.  But before it came to that, I’d try to plead a case for altering their approach.  I’d explain EXACTLY what my concerns are (which you and Gordy already stated, plus a couple more), and hope they’d listen to reason.  A few people enjoy whirlwind chaos, but I don’t see a place for it in a learning environment…

     

    I don’t blame that student one bit about asking to be left alone.  I could see doing that myself!  I’ve rarely seen two instructors that teach things consistently enough to be BETTER than if the student was learning from only one of them.  6 or 10??  No way!

    Regards,
    Troy Miller
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    From Pat Damico:-

    TEACHING CHILDREN:
    Joe Humphreys sits on the ground when casting, or lays on his belly. This is good for other teaching too. When asked at our Tampa fly casting clinic, Mel Kreiger said I tell them to remember two things, "Stop and Stop!"

    Pat

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    Followup note from Al Crise on teaching:-

    Howdy Gordy
      As I read last weeks posts a couple of things came to mind.
     
    Teaching tips.
    When they bring a outfit and are having trouble I do make a cast to about 50 ft just to check it out.
      I have found the wrong line and dirty line  I have even found the line on back ward so the 7 wt line head was wound on first all they were casting was the running line. Look for the taper to the head. in the first 8 ft of line.
     
      Every time I see a rod tip up to start I too lay my hand on the rod and say "START" or "Start a fly cast."
     
    I often will start a class saying: "There are two thing you have to learn to make a fly cast. Both are STOP. By the time you leave here every time you see a STOP sign you will think of me."
     
     I get the Stops named Stop ONE and Stop TWO That way I can say you missed stop 2 they know what I mean. Across the venue I can look at a person and hold up one or two fingers. They get the messages. 
      Some love to aim the yarn at me. I do were a big hat stops the leader knot from rippin' over my ears. I smile but give them a 'look' that stops that right a way.
      Small kids can make a two hand cast by using the off hand on the butt of the rod. with a rod hand finger controlling the line.
      On of my pet peeves is to see an instructor take the rod from the student and start casting. This is the only or maybe the few time they get to hold the rod. I keep the rod in their hand as much as can. I will place my hand over theirs and guide the elbow up, but they are doing the casting I am just GUIDING the motions. IF I have to make a cast to demo something I will use my rod or once in a while ask first to show it is not the rod.
     
     Best tip I can give I heard at conclave.  "Never show your best cast unless there is a Bet on it".
     
     We can cast slowly and show control that will be doing more that one that tails at 110 ft.
     
    Here is a link to an outline I use for teaching http://forums.southerncouncilfff.org/showthread.php?t=106  "Outline for beginners"
     
     
    ol Al
     
    More on teaching from Al:-
     
    Howdy Group
     From Rhea Topping  "To over analyze is to paralyze"  This was for the student that studies way too hard before moving the rod. Often happens with women. I would use this same phrase for the instructor.  Too much Information (TMI) is one killer of an otherwise Good instructor. Information given in small amounts is better that a Blast. Tip. They hear and remember the first and the last thing you say. STUFF in the middle is lost. Teaching in "Threes"  Introduce, Expand, Recap.
     
      AS for the Shotgun Class AS I see it that was just TMI from to many instructors. Giving Teams of two instructors to 3 or 4 student is a better use of time and talent.
     
    Break for head to process and the body to learn is needed. Muscles so not learn if they are just worked Resting is when they learn
     
     For kids that you have time to work with a water bottle, or Coke can, can be use as a weight for Wrist Exercise. They do not feel as self-conscious of moving the can/ bottle.  Remind them to NOT open. and when doing simple "Wrist Open-Wrist Closed". (They better do it slowly so as not to shake the soda up). Water bottles you can change the weight. This movement will build control in the wrist. Not a lot at a one time just 10 or 15 repeats in a set.
     
    I have enjoyed this thread Gordy Thanks
     
    ol Al
     
    Allen R. Crise
    FFF-Master Casting Instructor
    FFF-SOC VP Education http://forums.southerncouncilfff.org/

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    On excercising the wrist/casting arm with comment on casting with the "opposite" hand from David Leger:-

    Gordy,

     On the wrist exercise topic.  Most sports/activities train the arm, forearm and wrist muscles to accelerate: throwing a ball, casting a spinning rod, hitting a golf ball etc.

     What’s missing for most people and what is so vital for fly casting is the ability to stop the rod or rapidly decelerate and stop the arm and wrist once it has been accelerated.

     That is why it just takes time even for an advanced caster to switch to the non-dominate hand and have the cast look decent, even though being well versed in “the mechanics” (new MCI task). The stop strength has to be developed!

     I got this form John Breslin and I think it is one of the best ways to indoor strengthen the deceleration/stop strength of the arm and wrist.

     Get a 24 inch piece of steel re-bar put some grip tape on one end and while watching TV swing the thing forward and backward concentrating on the stop, until the wrist and forearm gets fatigued.

     Repeat until you feel like Pop-Eye the sailor man, remember to clear the back cast area to prevent broken windows and agitating Olive Oil.

     D. Leger

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     From Scott Swartz :-

    Gordy,
     
    Here is a strengthening exercise you can share if you choose.
     
    SHORT SUGGESTION: Try rehabilitation tubing and bands to offer resistance and strength training.
     
    LONGER RATIONAL: Try surgical bands and tubing used in rehabilitation exercises. These are available in all shapes, sizes and strengths. We recommend these to students for off-season strengthening, preparation for long angling trips, preparation for trips with rods larger than accustom and especially to students to build muscle memory when "practicing" casting indoors. The benefit they offer over weight is they can be used for resistance in the horizontal plane as if casting a rod whereas weights are resistance against vertical gravity. With these you can strength train and practice at the same time. They are wonderful to offer resistance while used in SLOW MOTION pantomime casting. The development of a new motor skill or what is known as "facilitation" is actually the development of new nerve pathways. The more often a certain group of muscles and nerves are use to the exclusion of others the more likely and easier to use the same path in the future...thus slow motion casting with resistance bands done with perfection will help groove in a casting stroke. The only drawback is practicing just the forward or just the backward stroke as the bands or tubing need to be affixed at should height to a stationary object. While it is easy enough to turn around to change the resistance it is more practical to practice a set of forward strokes followed by a set of back casts. Our snowbird students who are trapped indoors during winters and our students who travel for work and live out of hotels are especially keen on using these. They are light, small, inexpensive and truly simulate casting resistance except for the stop.
     
    Capt. Scott Swartz
    www.atlantaflyfishingschool.com
    www.floridaflyfishingschools.com
     
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