A study of situational awareness in a small group of sea kayaking guides

ABSTRACT

Situational awareness, which informs the decisions made by sea kayaking guides, is a critical safety factor in guided sea kayaking experiences. This study examines the situational awareness of a group of sea kayak guides operating in moderate water conditions. Utilising virtual reality technology, a freeze probe technique was employed with a small group of sea kayak guides. The findings suggest that the guides’ recognition and understanding of key informational cues lacked both comprehension of their meaning and the ability to project their future impact on the situation. It is proposed that sea kayaking guide training needs to provide better comprehension of the (emerging) situations guides may experience as well as a capacity to predict the potential impacts of those situations. Improvements in metacognition and perception/action associations, rather than simple attention to the situation, are also a useful potential avenue to explore.

KEYWORDS:

• Guide development
• adventure leadership
• adventure-sport coaching

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Notes

1. A stretch of coastline with some areas where it is not easy to land, but there will always be straightforward landing points a maximum of two nautical miles apart. Crossings not exceeding two nautical miles. Up to 2 Knots of tide (but not involving tide race or overfalls). Wind strengths do not exceed Beaufort force 4. Launching and landing through surf (up to 1 metre, trough to crest height).

2. A broad deep undulation of the ocean caused by an often distant depression or wind.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Loel Collins

Loel Collins has worked in the adventure sport sector for over 30 years. He is currently the Director of Learning and development at Plas y Brenin, the National Outdoor Centre in the UK. His research interests are the specifics of coaching adventure sports, understanding professional judgment and decision-making, teaching and learning in dynamic environments, and the practical application of research in adventure sport coach education. He is a fellow of the Higher Education Academy and Royal Geographical Society.

Matthew Giblin

Matthew Giblin is a coach, leader and guide educator for British Canoeing. He has had a varied career which has includes working in outdoor education centres and teaching Physical and Outdoor Education at both secondary school and degree level. He co-owns Kayak Essentials which is an adventure sports coaching business based in North Wales. Having recently been awarded a Masters in Sports Coaching he hopes to blend coaching theory with practical applications to create vibrant and effective coaching sessions. His areas of interest include developing situation awareness in leaders and guides and fostering independence in learners.

John Robert Stoszkowski

John Robert Stoszkowski is a Senior Lecturer at the University of Central Lancashire. His research interests primarily centre on learning and development in higher education and sports coaching contexts. Previously, John held player and coach development roles at the Professional Golfers’ Association and England Golf in the UK. He was awarded Senior Fellowship of the Higher Education Academy in 2019.

Allison Inkster

Allison Inkster is a senior lecturer in the School of Sport and Health Sciences at the University of Central Lancashire in the UK. Her research interests include performer/coach development and education, Professional practice in sea kayaking and canoe guides and the demographics of participation in adventure sports. She is an active sea kayaker and canoeist and a fellow of the Higher Education Academy.