DRAGON BOAT TRAINING POLICY

1. To reserve a training slot on line, please go to Teams > Sign up for Practice. Training sessions are on a first come first serve basis.

2. All participants will be required to complete a "Training Waiver" before they are allowed to participate in any training related activities. Training staff at each site will be collecting this form.

   All Youth Teams will need to complete an additional Training Agreement. One copy of this form should be completed by the Team Captain/Manager before arriving for training sessions. Training staff at each site will be collecting this form.

3. Each training session will be one and a half [1.5] hours in length (1/2 hour for admin and 1 hour for boat time). Please make sure all participants arrive early, waiting time for late participants will be deducted from the alloted hour-long training session.

   Captains/Paddlers: Please have all necessary waivers and forms completed before arrival and ready to be collected by the training staff.

   *** We strongly advise against bringing any additional guests/children down to the training sites. Guests are NOT ALLOWED near the dock areas. training staff has the sole discretion to ask any guest to leave the training site immediately!

4. There are two training sites! See our "Directions to Training" page for more infomation. The boat, paddles, and all personal flotation devices will be provided. Individuals are responsible for bringing their own water, sun glasses, sun block, change of clothes, etc.
   

5. There must be a minimum of 12 paddlers per session and a maximum of 20. If there are fewer than 12 paddlers present, the coach has the discretion to cancel the practice, with no rescheduling.

6. Upon request of a team, steering training will be provided as part of the team training. We suggest that at least two individuals from each team learn to steer. Steering training need not occur during the individual's team practice.

7. Training will begin on April 3rd and end May 23/. Training sessions will be held on Saturdays and Sundays with the earliest time slot being 10:00 a.m. and the latest time slot being 4:00 p.m.

8. Training sessions must be scheduled one week in advance.

9. There will be no additional training sessions given for teams interested in more than 3 sessions.

10. Training Cancellation Policy: Cancellation of a training session requires 48-hours’ advance notice. It is the team's responsibility to find a replacement session for any canceled session.

11. During inclement weather (lightning, high winds, excessively strong current, and flooding) training will be held indoors. If the boathouse or the roads are deemed unsafe then the training will be rescheduled, if possible. If a team has been forced to have indoor practice three [3] times than one [1] make up session will be allowed. Note: the team must show up for all three previous sessions to qualify for this extra practice.
    

    For teams practicing at the Anacostia Community Boathouse, if there is inclement weather, please call 703-585-8652 to confirm training attendance.

    For teams practicing at Gangplank Marina, if there is inclement weather, please call

    202-556-1606

    to confirm training attendance.

12. Consumption of alcohol before or during races or practice is strictly prohibited. Even the hint of alcohol on the breath of a participant will lead to immediate disqualification of the individual. The disqualification of 3 or more individuals on a team may lead to the disqualification of the entire team.

13. Each Festival Team is allotted 3 training dates on a first come, first served basis. Please make your selection accordingly and carefully to avoid delays. Please allow 24 hours for practice request to be processed.