HOW TO START A NEW TEAM

WHO CAN ATTEND
 Men, women, and high school children can participate.  Thousands of paddlers have participated in the past. You could be employees that work together, friends, family, a high school, college or university student, from an athletic club, from the police and fire department, from research laboratory, bank employees, software company, non-profit group, newspaper, etc. etc. or just an individual.

WHO CAN ATTEND (spectator sport)
--Everyone! It is a great spectator sport...exciting to watch.. It is a wonderful opportunity to have a picnic with the family. Grandma's, Grandpa's moms, dads and children of all ages, Aunts, Uncles, Cousins...

Dragon Boat Racing began in southern China over 24 centuries ago but today it has become one of the fastest growing team sports in the world. Festivals are an opportunity to promote your company or organization within the community while participating in a true team sport. For it is not the strongest team that will finish first, it is the team that paddles in synchronization to the beat of one drum. Your team should consist of 20 paddlers, one drummer, one steer person (it is good to have a few alternate paddlers as well) It is a great way to meet new people in the community and to bond closer with the ones that you already know. All ages and fitness level may participate. Your team could be people who work together  or friends and family.  What a way to build group spirit, enhance unity and improve communication!

WHAT YOU NEED TO HAVE

• You need 24 keen people who want to paddle, of which at least 8 should be female,
• One steer person  (steers people can usually be supplied by the festival organizers but they need to be told in advance)
• One drummer (someone light and vocal with the enthusiasm to motivate your team to excel, Children 12 and up often relish the chance to tell you what to do)
•  Everyone must properly wear a life jacket (provided)
• Signed waivers (provided)
• Enthusiasm to participate and have fun
• Registration fee 

How to gather team mates
Talk...talk...and talk about this fabulous sport. It is a non-contact coed sport that is exciting and truly a lot of fun.
Put up a sign up sheet at work. Gather names of interested parties, emails and phone numbers.
Have a meeting during your lunch break at work or meet for a social gathering so everyone can meet one another and get to know names and faces. ...contact Lively Dragon for a power point presentation with information on the sport. They will gladly attend your meeting or provide more detailed information
ramsaydy@yahoo.com  or jackie@dragonboats.ca

THE FESTIVAL ORGANIZERS WILL PROVIDE  YOU WITH

• Loads of fun
• The ultimate TEAM experience
• A place to promote your company or organization within the community
• A new avenue to meet new people in a fun environment
• All the equipment, the boat, paddles, life jackets for practice and race day
• Information on how to paddle
• Information on team strategy
• Information on how to arrange your crew in the boat
• Help to find a few extra paddlers if needed
• Other entertainment on race day
• A minimum of three races is guaranteed and some times more
• Awards and prizes

Organizers provide whether you are a serious athlete, weekend warrior, or brand new to the sport....

• with on-the-water paddling and safety instruction. 
• Teams  will get one- 1 hour practice free with their race entry (usually). 
• Dragon boating offers everyone an opportunity to participate.

Once you have registered a team for a  Dragon Boat Race and Festival, you may schedule
 practices for your team by contacting  the race organizers .  

Before coming to practice  please have all paddlers complete and sign a waiver and return the completed waivers to the practice captain that will be on-site for your practice. Paddlers should come to practice dressed appropriately and ready to paddle - ie  wear shorts, t-shirts, loose pants such as jogging pants or wind pants...clothing that is appropriate for the weather and being on the water (paddlers will get wet, and thus may wish to bring a towel and a change of clothes).  We advise that each paddler bring a bottle of drinking water. Some paddlers may wish to wear paddling gloves.  Paddlers will be provided with paddles and Personal Floatation Devices during the practice - the practice captain will go over safety procedures prior to your team going onto the water.  

Ramsay Drummond Young, ramsay@dragonboats.ca
Copyright © 2001  [ Dragon- Boats.net Race Festival]. All rights reserved.
Revised: January 05, 2008 .