Look along the casting direction. Tracking is the lateral path of the rod tip, and a view down that line shows the tip drifting left or right; from square to the side, the same drift can look like straight travel. Task 19 says tracking, hooking and casting across the anchor are difficult to see in a side view from the caster, so move around for a view close to in front of or behind the caster. A side view is still the best angle for other features — arc, stroke length, wrist — so it is the tracking check that moves you, not a position to avoid on principle.

Close in front means close enough to see, not close enough to be hit. Stand offset to one side of the caster–target line rather than on it: from behind you are looking up the back cast, and from the front the delivery comes at you. Stay out of the plane of the line, and watch the tip against the target line rather than where the line lands.

If you still cannot see it, ask the student to cast again; Task 19 allows that within reason. The fix to teach is keeping the reel in one plane and pointing at the target through the whole casting cycle.

Source

From the CI Study Guide (2025) (PDF) — Task 19; terms from the FFI Fly Casting Definitions (Tracking).