Method Toolboxes for teachers

5.2. Successful dodging

Method ringing introduces the dodge, which takes practice to execute correctly. You will typically have to correct two problems:

• Poor striking, typically the bell is not moved sufficiently during the dodge.
• Not exiting the dodge in the correct direction.

Explaining the theory

Start by explaining the theory and terminology of the dodge. Emphasis that the dodge is a single step backwards in plain hunt. If you're hunting down to the front, you step backwards for one blow and continue to hunt in the direction you were hunting before. The converse, for hunting up.

The diagram shows the line of two bells dodging. The bell represented by the blue line is ringing a dodge while hunting down. This is known as a down dodge. The bell represented by the red line is ringing a dodge while hunting up. This is known as an up dodge.

Practising dodging

You can give someone dodging practise using specific kaleidoscope ringing exercises or by ringing Treble Bob Hunt. Both concentrate the dodges into a small number of changes giving them plenty of practice and ropesight is simplified.

Bell control and striking in the right place whilst dodging

To dodge successfully a ringer needs to be able to change the speed of their bell at both handstroke and backstroke. At first you might have to tell them when to ring quicker or slower in order to strike their bell in the right place. However you should encourage them to start doing this themselves by using their listening skills as soon as possible.

If someone is having difficultly moving their bell to the correct place during the dodge, try some dodging practice and encourage them to exaggerate the movement of the dodge. Give plenty of feedback about what they are doing well, what they need to improve and how they do that. If necessary, explain and practice how they move the bell at handstroke and backstroke.

When dodging 3/4 down they are hunting down from the back – all the blows are quick blows with the exception of one:

• A quick blow at backstroke down in to 4^th place
• A quick blow at handstroke down to 3^rd place – put a little more weight on the rope
• A slow blow back up to 4^th place at backstroke – put a little less weight on the rope
• A quick blow down into 3^rd place at handstroke
• Then continue with the quicker blows to the lead

When dodging 3/4 up they are hunting up from the lead – all the blows are slow blows with the exception of one:

• A slow blow up into 2^nd place at handstroke
• A slow blow up to 3^rd place at backstroke
• A slow blow up to 4^th place at handstroke – put a little less weight on the rope
• A quick blow down into 3^rd place at backstroke – put a little more weight on the rope
• A slow blow up to 4^th place at handstroke
• Then continue to hunt up to the back

Ropesight whilst dodging

Good ropesight whilst dodging takes time to develop. The first step is recognising which bell they are dodging with. They will always strike over this bell twice – at handstroke when dodging up and at backstroke when dodging down.

It is harder to see which bell they are striking over on the other stroke as this depends on the work that the other bell is doing. If they are finding this difficult ask them to study the method being rung by the other bells and learn what the pattern is. Eventually they will be able to see the bells without doing this.