This unit of competency supports racing drivers and riders to identify and set goals to improve racing performance.

ELEMENT

PERFORMANCE CRITERIA

Apply skills to improve racing performance.

1. Current performance is objectively assessed.

2. Barriers to improving performance are identified.

3. Performance improvement goals are set.

Manage career and personal priorities.

4. Career goals are established and prioritised .

5. Lifestyle and personal welfare balance is planned.

Required skills

assessing racing performance objectively

communicating with employer, supervisor, co-workers and others using assertive communication techniques to gather, interpret and relay information related to setting goals to improve racing performance

completing duties in accordance with safe operating procedures and nominated time frame

distinguishing facts from feelings

identifying behavioural changes in self

identifying consequences of actions and responses

identifying and describing feelings

identifying impact of poor self-image on family, friends and workmates

observing emotional changes in self

planning leisure activities

planning lifestyle to include work, leisure, family and friends in an appropriate balance

planning strategies to maintain and improve confidence

practising relaxation and performance enhancing techniques

relating to people from a range of social, cultural and ethnic backgrounds and with varying physical and mental abilities

recognising factors that influence reactions and responses

recognising benefits to performance of good health, balanced diet and adequate sleep

setting and continually reassessing career goals.

Required knowledge

benefits and disadvantages of stress to performance

communication procedures within stable and wider racing industry

effect of human emotions on self and others

factors that can affect performance

impact of anxiety on performance

impact of self-confidence and self-esteem on performance

principles of self-management

probability of success or failure in racing

stress management techniques

racing industry safety requirements, including safe operating procedures

relaxation techniques

relevant rules of racing

strategies to manage weight problems.

The evidence guide provides advice on assessment and must be read in conjunction with the performance criteria, required skills and knowledge, range statement and the Assessment Guidelines for the Training Package.

Critical aspects for assessment and evidence required to demonstrate competency in this unit

The evidence required to demonstrate competency in this unit must be relevant to workplace operations and satisfy all of the requirements of the performance criteria, required skills and knowledge and the range statement of this unit and include evidence of the following:

knowledge of the requirements, procedures and instructions that are to apply when setting goals to improve racing performance

implementation of procedures and timely techniques to complete setting of goals to improve racing performance safely, effectively and efficiently

working with others to undertake and complete tasks related to setting goals to improve racing performance that meet required outcomes.

Evidence should be collected over a period of time and be focused on self-improvement strategies related to improving racing performance. Theoretical components can be assessed in a simulated situation but must be related to racing industry conditions and context.

Context of and specific resources for assessment

Competency may be assessed in an actual workplace or simulated environment that provides access to the required resources. Assessment is to occur under standard and authorised work practices, safety requirements and environmental constraints. It is to comply with relevant regulatory requirements or Australian Standards requirements.

Assessment of the practical components of this unit will be by observation of relevant skills.

The following resources must be available:

materials and equipment relevant to assessing candidate's ability to set goals to improve race performance

work instructions and related documentation.

Method of assessment

Assessment methods must satisfy the endorsed Assessment Guidelines of the Racing Training Package.

The suggested strategies for the assessment of this unit are:

written and/or oral assessment of candidate's required knowledge

observed, documented and firsthand testimonial evidence of candidate's application of practical tasks

inspection of completed work

simulation exercises.

Where performance is not directly observed any evidence should be authenticated by supervisors or other appropriate persons.

Holistic assessment with other units relevant to the industry sector, workplace and job role is recommended, for example:

RGRPSH411A Prepare to drive horses in trials

RGRPSH412A Prepare to drive horses in races

RGRPSH414A Ride horses in trials

RGRPSH415A Ride horses in races.

Guidance information for assessment

Assessment methods should reflect workplace demands (e.g. literacy and numeracy demands) and the needs of particular target groups (e.g. people with disabilities, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, women, people with a language background other than English, youth and people from low socioeconomic backgrounds).

The range statement relates to the unit of competency as a whole. It allows for different work environments and situations that may affect performance. Bold italicised wording in the performance criteria is detailed below.

The range statement provides details of how this competency can be used in the workplaces of the racing industry to set goals to improve racing performance. Workplaces include thoroughbred stables and racecourses, training tracks and public areas.

Barriers to improving performance may include:

frustration over decisions made by employer or others that affect own role and actions

illnesses and injuries

inability to objectively assess current skills and potential for improvement

lack of appropriate goals to improve performance

lack of exposure to adequate competition

lack of exposure to good role models

lack of fitness for driving or riding

lack of self-discipline to set and achieve realistic and relevant goals

lack of motivation

lack of practice of required skills

lack of suitable mentor

limited opportunity to drive or ride quality horses

not using specialist services that could help achieve goals, such as:

nutritionist

psychologist

driving or riding instructor

poor sleep and eating patterns

unhappiness in current personal or work life

self-talk that:

suggests current performance can be blamed on others when there is no evidence to support this

suggests current performance is good enough when statistics show it is not

suggests improvement is not possible due to negative perception of current and potential skills.

Goals are established and prioritised by:

considering self, family and peer group

identifying those persons or activities that could benefit performance

planning and establishing milestones

setting realistic short-term and long-term goals

reviewing goals at appropriate intervals.

Lifestyle and personal welfare balance may include:

importance of awareness of world affairs and local issues as well as general racing industry knowledge to be able to relate to other people

importance of positive relationships with family and friends to self-worth, social skills and self-fulfilment

importance of rest to performance improvement

value to performance of non-racing activities that can provide adequate switch-off time and/or provide skills and techniques that transfer to racing.

Unit Sector

Harness and thoroughbred racing codes

This unit contains employability skills.