Teaching MSF tomorrow and sunday

[Ken C]

I'm teaching the first class of my 13th season as an MSF instructor, um I mean, COACH.

I'm teaching about 4 or 5 classes this year, which is plenty with all the other stuff I do.

Doc, one thing that will get you booted from the RCP is not keeping the student's safety at the top of your priority list. That means never having your back to the range (common when talking one-on-one with a student or trying to get their stalled bike going again) or if you can't maintain control of staging (parking) or traffic flow (reversals, etc.). They'll expalin all this.

When coaching in the classsroom or on the range, make your point as briefly and clearly as possible, using the MSF keywords.

You're not expected to be perfect, so don't worry too much.

[Degsy]

...another thing when you are doing the exercises with your assigned partner is to think quickly and react positively to any unexpected events. You will tell the person at the front of the line of students EXACTLY how you want them to stage and they will go off in a completely different direction. Don't panic when this stuff happens. Quickly assess the situation and as long as the students are all following each other, range safety is not compromised. They know where the parking area is and they will eventually get there. Also, if you screw up and lay the path of travel wrong and only find out halfway through the exercise, don't change anything. Complete the exercise, then be prepared to face the music from the trainer. If the objective of the exercise is met, you should be ok.

I have a few things that I typically do to relax the students:

Just as we start exercise 2, I ask them who has never ridden a motorcycle before. After exercise 2, I ask again. The same hands will go up. I say to them "Hey, whaddya mean? I just SAW you ride a motorcycle". That always makes them smile. They are so wrapped up in the exercise that they don't realise that they have just taken their first few yards as a rider.

When a student drops a bike I always say "Hey, at least it wasn't YOUR bike".

Never, never, pull a student aside for remedial teaching in front of the other students OR on their own. Try to always take 2 or 3 students aside to emphasize a point that one of them is not getting.

Be sure to keep watching to make sure they are covering the clutch through the first 9 exercises.

Always check all students for proper gear before letting them on a bike.

More to come. Don't want to overwhelm you.

[Doc]

This is SWEET but we are starting to take over the thread.

Really good tips! I need to go home and study.

[Karaya One]

Oh, and one more thing....

Some seriously hot chicks take the rider course.

[TBOX]

Didn't realize how many instructors (coaches) were on here.

[wingerdor]

Another important tip.... DON'T DRAG YOU KNEE ON THE DEMO FOR Ex 13 unless you are going NOVICE speed!

One of my coaches did the 135 to the right at 1.8 secs. He took out all the inside cones with his knee. (not during the course) Funny as hell.

[rodneyc]

Hey Derek. I took my MSF with Dan last fall and it was awesome. Is he still there?

[Doc]

Another important tip.... DON'T DRAG YOU KNEE ON THE DEMO FOR Ex 13 unless you are going NOVICE speed!

One of my coaches did the 135 to the right at 1.8 secs. He took out all the inside cones with his knee. (not during the course) Funny as hell.

I'll have to try that one day. In the future, when no students are around.

My ERC coach remembers me from the class because I was doing endo's/stoppies during the panic braking. (just lil ones)

[Degsy]

Hey Derek. I took my MSF with Dan last fall and it was awesome. Is he still there?

Not sure. I haven't worked with him ever.