210_zoom 0 #1 November 26, 2007 I am curious to what anyone has opinions on as improving your skills to become a coach and a future AFFI. I have 76 jumps to date and am wondering what would be good skills to improve and work on. Thanks for your time and comments Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
livendive 8 #2 November 26, 2007 In no particular order, relative work, no contact slot flying, teaching skills, listening skills, general awareness & observation skills,. Blues, Dave"I AM A PROFESSIONAL EXTREME ATHLETE!" (drink Mountain Dew) Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
HUSHPUPPY 0 #3 November 26, 2007 add also patience and objectivity! "You made my panties wet!" Skymama (Fitz 09) "Never argue with an idiot. They will bring you down to their level and beat you with experience." Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
monkycndo 0 #4 November 26, 2007 QuoteIn no particular order, relative work, no contact slot flying, teaching skills, listening skills, general awareness & observation skills,. Blues, Dave What Dave said plus being able to remember what you saw during the jump and relating it in a constructive way to help the student improve. I found the prejump instruction and post jump debrief are the hardest things to master. Just takes practice. I've been lucky to have good instructors to emulate. The coach rating is like any other, a license to continue learning.50 donations so far. Give it a try. You know you want to spank it Jump an Infinity Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Andrewwhyte 1 #5 November 27, 2007 Just work on being a better skydiver at this point. The biggest challenge for most new coaches and instructors is to be able to devote enough of their attention to the student/novice while they are themselves skydiving. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
210_zoom 0 #6 November 27, 2007 U would like to thank everyones comments. I appreciate the time u took to provide your input. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
UDSkyJunkie 0 #7 November 27, 2007 Quote I have 76 jumps to date and am wondering what would be good skills to improve and work on. Everything!More seriously, what helped me more than anything else in getting my AFFI rating was doing a lot of 4-way. NOTHING else teaches you flying skills as quickly/efficiently. I understand that joining a team isn't everyone's cup of tea, but above-average RW skills are essential to being a good coach/AFFI, and if you want to be one you need to focus on RW. Freefly, wingsuit and all that other stuff is cool and fun, but not very helpful when you've got a student spinning on their back. If you've got some RW competitors at your DZ talk to them about the "mantis" flying style and start working on it now, while your muscle memory is still forming... everything about it is 1000% better than the way most people fly, but you'll rarely see a non-4-way guy using it. Other than that, I'd say try to pay attention to the instructors/coaches/organizers around you... make a note of who does a great job and who does a not-so-great job and why, and make mental notes to emulate the behavior of the good ones. Good teaching skills are as important as good flying skills."Some people follow their dreams, others hunt them down and beat them mercilessly into submission." Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Fast 0 #8 November 27, 2007 Quote Quote I have 76 jumps to date and am wondering what would be good skills to improve and work on. Everything!More seriously, what helped me more than anything else in getting my AFFI rating was doing a lot of 4-way. NOTHING else teaches you flying skills as quickly/efficiently. I understand that joining a team isn't everyone's cup of tea, but above-average RW skills are essential to being a good coach/AFFI, and if you want to be one you need to focus on RW. Freefly, wingsuit and all that other stuff is cool and fun, but not very helpful when you've got a student spinning on their back. If you've got some RW competitors at your DZ talk to them about the "mantis" flying style and start working on it now, while your muscle memory is still forming... everything about it is 1000% better than the way most people fly, but you'll rarely see a non-4-way guy using it. Other than that, I'd say try to pay attention to the instructors/coaches/organizers around you... make a note of who does a great job and who does a not-so-great job and why, and make mental notes to emulate the behavior of the good ones. Good teaching skills are as important as good flying skills. I feel that almost all of my in-air belly skills are based on doing 4-way. Made significant improvements in everything I did. ~D Where troubles melt like lemon drops Away above the chimney tops That's where you'll find me. Swooping is taking one last poke at the bear before escaping it's cave - davelepka Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
riddler 0 #9 December 3, 2007 Tunnel. Tunnel. More Tunnel. Tell your tunnel instructor what you're trying to do, and they will help you. Belly flying skills, and talking skills. Sit in on as many AFF ground schools as you can - offer to help teach parts (under supervision).Trapped on the surface of a sphere. XKCD Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
zuluguy 0 #10 December 8, 2007 great advise from everyone, besides, I sat in some FJC at my DZ which helped me a lot Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
airathanas 0 #11 December 14, 2007 I agree - 4 way really teaches you to be a disciplined flyer. They biggest problem that most people have doing RW in groups is levels and fall rate. People who say, "I fall fast" haven't learned to control their fall rate yet. Oh yeah- tunnel with coaching. That is all.http://3ringnecklace.com/ Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
