UTV - Basic Training

Background

Safe Physical Environment

SxS/vehicle to instructor ratio is 6:1. The instructor is responsible for providing a safe environment for participants. Teaching in a dynamic environment poses safety challenges, and instructors must take all practical and reasonable measures to keep participants and themselves out of harm's way. Inspect the range and surrounding area for hazards to evaluate the safety, and difficulty level before conducting training. A flat surface is best for the first three (3) training sections. Other training sections are self-explanatory. Make certain the speeds of skills exercises are appropriate for the range surfaces and participants' abilities.

Demonstration:(✅)

Skills exercise demonstration is provided for each exercise so participants know where to go and what to do. Demonstrations are indicated by check marks(✅).

Exercise Cones

Fishing poles (any other 6-foot pole) and/or cones are used to mark exercise locations.

Exercise Times

Manage time carefully. Use extra time as needed to accomplish critical skills development while remaining cognizant of the overall exercise schedule and maximizing participant engagement. Participants who are having difficulty with a particular exercise may need remedial help, you must take this into consideration. Provide adequate break time throughout the course and be prepared for challenging weather or other conditions requiring schedule flexibility.

Assessment: (👆)

Assessment points are provided to highlight key points for each exercise. Assess each participant's learning of critical objectives indicated by exclamation points (👆). Critical objectives become a teaching progression for subsequent exercises and cannot be skipped.

Participant Evaluation

The ability to coach a participant lies at the heart of a successful instructor. At the end of each skills exercise, the ability to watch a participant's performance and determine whether they are mastering each skill/exercise is critical. Whenever possible, provide additional coaching to a participant who may be struggling until all participants are demonstrating the skill of the exercise properly before moving on. Use a positive approach and ask open-ended questions to gauge participants' grasp of the skills exercise.

Read Aloud

All text in blue. All text in green are either open-ended questions or instructor information and should be presented to the participants.

Skills Exercise Assistant

The use of a "competent assistant" is permitted to ensure instructor-participant ratios are met. The more competent assistants you use, the more individual attention can be given and participants will progress faster.

EQUIPMENT, MATERIALS, AND INFORMATION NEEDED FOR TRAINING

RANGE EQUIPMENT

Range Equipment

  • Canopy/Shade
  • Table and chairs or stools
  • [ ] Training cones; 40 - 28" cones and 5 fishing poles or any other 6-foot pole with orange tips
  • [ ] Obstacles: 1 - 8"H x 12" W x 80" L railroad tie
  • [ ] Obstacles: 6 blocks
  • Fuel/Oil
  • Fire extinguisher
  • [ ] Air tank and or air pump
  • Low-pressure tire gauge
  • First aid kit
  • Clipboards/Pens
  • Extra PPE
  • Basic tools
  • Whistle
  • Trash bags
  • 300-foot tape measure(s), measuring wheel or rangefinder
  • Spray paint of spray chalk

Range Materials

  • Roster/sign-in sheet
  • [ ] SxS inspection checklist
  • Emergency telephone numbers
  • Range Cards

Classroom / Briefing

  1. Introductions
  2. Rules & Expectations
  3. Loading Unloading Video

Section 1: Before You Drive

Section 2: Basic Driving Skills

Section 3: Intermediate-Driving Skills

Section 4: Advance Driving Skills Trails Environments

  • Rocks and Off-Camber
  • Sand
  • Water
  • Mud
  • Up and Down Hills
  • Traversing Sidehills

Section 5: Wrap-up and Review

Before you Drive Exercises

Driving Exercises

Wrap-up and Review

Creating a Safe Training Environment

  • You must mitigate the human nature to operate these machines recklessly
  • This can be achieved/mitigated by demonstrating each drill at a safe, prudent speed for each specific drill
  • It is essential to start participants off slow and have them progressively increase speed as they gain experience and their skills improve
  • Reckless behavior by a participant shall result in a warning, and continued reckless behavior must result in dismissal from the course (participants must be warned of this before the course begins)