Let me start by stating a fundamental truth: You are a Professional!
Stepping onto the range and taking responsibility for another person’s safety and skill development is a massive undertaking. It is a life-changing responsibility, and frankly, I am proud of you for taking it on.
However, with high stakes come high expectations. You will experience pressure in this job like never before. You will encounter challenging personalities, unpredictable weather conditions, and the physical demands of the environment. But here is the mindset shift you need to make: You must view these expectations as opportunities to excel, and these pressures as encouragement to sharpen your craft.
Without pressure, there is no progress!
Whether you are a seasoned veteran or a newly qualified instructor, you are the anchor on that range. Below is a guide on how to navigate the ten most common pressures you will face, ensuring you remain the leader your students need.
10 Strategies for Dealing with Training Pressures
1. The Late Arrival
Punctuality is the first step in discipline. If a rider arrives more than 30 minutes late, they cannot be allowed to participate. This is not just about rules; it is about safety and fairness. They have likely missed the safety briefing and the initial mental preparation. Furthermore, allowing a late entry is disruptive and unfair to those who respected the schedule. Stand firm: late arrivals must be rescheduled.
2. Managing Rude Behaviour
You are the captain of the ship—remain calm. Never meet aggression with aggression. If a student is disruptive or rude, take them aside immediately. Address the issue in a polite yet firm manner.
Use this approach: “We can’t go on like this. Please decide now if you want to stay and learn something amazing or leave without a refund. Personally, I’d love for you to stay and enjoy your time with us.”
Require a simple “Yes” or “No.” Do not engage in an argument. They are either part of the problem or part of the solution.
3. Personal Anxiety (Don’t Panic)
Never “show your hand.” Your students look to you for stability and guidance. If you feel overwhelmed or anxiety takes hold, do not let the class see it. Call a break, walk it off, and compose yourself. Decide on a course of action to resolve the issue. If you need help, pick up the phone and call your senior. You are never alone out there.
4. The Dropped Bike
When a bike goes down, the rider’s confidence often crashes with it. Remain calm. Assess the rider for injury first, then the motorcycle.
- If the rider is injured: Call for help immediately.
- If the rider is unhurt: Turn this into a teaching moment. Use the downed bike to demonstrate the correct pick-up technique.
Identify why it happened so the rider can learn from the incident. Do not judge them. Instead, point out the error and let them try again. You must allow them to regain their confidence. Remember:
Discipline is love in motion!
5. Heat and Dehydration
In extreme heat, you are the safety officer. Monitor your students closely.
- Prevention: Ensure high water intake.
- Symptoms: If a rider feels dizzy, sit them in the shade immediately. Have them sip water slowly and eat a banana (for potassium/energy).
- Emergency: If a rider passes out, call for help immediately. While waiting, remove their jacket, place them in the recovery position (on their side, one arm under the head, opposite leg pulled up for support). Remove socks and shoes, and slowly pour water over their neck and feet to lower body temperature.
6. External Interference
If you are interrupted by individuals not participating in the course, do not let it derail the training. Step aside to deal with it and, if necessary, call your senior. Remain professional, calm, and polite, but firm. Get back to training as soon as possible. Your time is valuable, and the lives of your course participants deserve your focus more than anyone else.
7. Bad Weather
You must assess whether the conditions are safe. Training in the rain can be an excellent learning tool to overcome the fear of riding in the rain or wet roads, but it can also be outright dangerous during more severe weather.
- Pause training for a few minutes to see if it passes.
- Terminate training if safety and learning are compromised.
- Explain to participants that if you terminate, they will be rescheduled to complete their training. Safety is a priority.
8. Space Restrictions
If you cannot fit the entire course layout into the available space, do not compromise the integrity of the exercises. Lay out one or two exercises at a time. Optimise your space.
- The Rule: You can reduce the number of cones (e.g., in a weave), but you cannot reduce the required speed or the space between the cones.
- All exercises must be executed strictly according to your Training Manual.
9. The “Too Easy” Factor (Progressive Difficulty)
Remember the coaching philosophy: Instruct (point out mistakes) only 3 times. Thereafter (attempts 4 & 5), ask the rider what they did wrong and how they must fix it.
If a rider finds an exercise too easy, it is your job to challenge them. Make it difficult by telling them to increase their speed (within safety boundaries) or tighten their turns. If they aren’t being challenged, they aren’t learning. Without pressure, there is no progress.
10. Jokes Aside
There is a time and place for humour, but the training range requires focus. Do not mix fooling around with training; it is a distraction that can lead to injury. Avoid getting pulled into foolish behaviour or gossip. Stay in control and stay professional. People’s lives depend on the quality of your instruction.
A Note for the Student: Advice for Your First Lesson
If you are reading this and you are about to head to the range for your very first lesson, here is some advice from the instructor’s perspective:
- Trust the Process: You are going to feel nervous, and that is completely normal. Your instructor is trained to keep you safe. Listen to them explicitly.
- Be Patient with Yourself: You will make mistakes. You might stall the bike. You might even drop it. This is part of learning. Don’t let your ego get in the way of your education.
- Look Where You Want to Go: This is the golden rule of motorcycling. If you stare at the ground, you go to the ground. Lift your chin, look through the turn, and the bike will follow.
Welcome to the world of motorcycling!
