Where can I find a really good coach for next year for my team? How much money should we expect to pay for one?
How would you decide if the coach is right for your team? Flatwater coach vs true dragon boat coach who is better? National Coaching certificate is it important?

Any advice would be appreciated.
Thanks

The best coaches you either can't get or cannot afford.

Can't get meaning they already have their top team and they probably cannot give you the care and attention they give to their current teams.

Can't afford meaning the teams they currently coach probably pay them more than you are willing to spend (upwards of $10k a year).

The coaches in this category include: Blake Hara (CLife), Max Larose(Scotia), Scott Ford (Baycrest), Jim Farintosh (Mayfair), etc.

Your best bet is to go with what Rob Chang said in a previous post somewhere and get a coach who has coached a team to surprisingly high levels but may not be as well paid as the upper tier guys (perhaps you can steal them with money?).

These guys include: Rob Chang (Piranhas), Steve Leung (Tempest), Bo Ellesworth (Red October) and whoever coaches Mowat.

Next you can get a coach that is supplied to you by either TCBA or GWN. These are all excellent coaches (Based on results I personally believe the TCBA ones are a little bit better) but the problem you might run into is the coach might not put as much effort into coaching you as best he/she can.

Lastly you can get the guy/girl that talks a good game but hasn't coached much or has coached a little. More often than not these people are terrible and will hurt more than help. Too bad this is the most popular method.

Good Luck young grasshopper.

Scott Madill (spelling?) coaches Mowat and mBanx and is an excellent coach. I give him the credit for bringing Mowat up to the level they're at. I don't think you could take him from Mowat however, since he happens to be a teacher there.

To get to the next level and play with the big boys and girls you definately need great coaching and a good quantity of quality time on land and on the water.

First of all, I would treat this as any other project. If you were getting the roof done on your house you would probably get 2 or 3 quotes and the contractors you call would COME TO MEET YOU AT YOUR CONVENIENCE and pitch their product, service and pricing knowing that a competitor lurks around the corner.

Remember that GWN and TCBA exist to make money and therefore will compete aggressively for your business. Use this to your advantage. Tell them what your budget is for coaching and boat time, explain the goals of your crew and ask BOTH OF THEM develop a package/quote for you.

Consider where and when you want to train. GWN and TCBA may have different hours of operation. Maybe your crew wishes to train in the morning or on weekends rather than week nights. Which location is more convenient for your crew members, east or west of the downtown core? Your crew may prefer the Outer Harbour or the western beaches water? Factor in costs for parking (if any) and the time and gas your members spend to get to the site. Do you need TTC?

Most important will be your gut feeling on which organization can ultimately deliver what they promise... to motivate your crew and to deliver results based on your initial goals.

Good luck. See you in the 'A' Final!

The best tip is to get a coach that will fit your team and understand what type of season you want to have....they can then tailor your season to fit.

Some Coaches can supply great technique standards, but cannot supply the drive that is needed in a team, or the confidence.

I thought Baycrest was a community team...how can they pay Scott Ford 10k?

I think that it would be nice for a coach to have their NCCP (National Coaching Ceritificate Program) level 1 so they at least know some coaching theory.

I don't know how much extra value you'd get from a level 2 coach - since there really is no benchmark to compare their idea of training for dragon boat racing since I highly doubt there have been many previous DB coaches who have gone through the 3M program.

personally i think Bo is a really good coach
but i know he wont trade Red October in for another team
Red October is supposed to be one of the top ranked team next year
i dont think Bo is coaching Red October for money, but just for fun
I am a red october paddler and i know he wont change teams
i dont think any coaches will change teams unless they arent happy with their current teams
good luck looking for a coach though

Hey, What does Larry Cain do? He might be interesting in coaching. He is actively involved in the DB community...ya never know if you don't ask...

Thanks for the advice, everyone! Where / How can I get a hold of Larry C.? Gerry

I'd like to know what he does to and where he is , I won't mine picking up some hints on the C-1 from him!

but I'll never tell how. It appears as though he is a very busy guy.

Hee, Hee, Hee (in sinister voice)

Larry Caine and you.. Can I offer you a few beers Rich and I think I can whip up some pasta salad. Maybe then you can tell me your secrets! Why didn't you tell me this on the weekend when we had this place to ourselves?

Which email box?

Richard .... You dirty pig... If yanick ever saw that email... Anyway, sounds good !

are you kicking butt now?