Club Toolkit
The Scottish Orienteering Club Toolkit has been created to support clubs in their successful development and ongoing operation. It’s a resource for clubs which brings together a wide variety of helpful information, tools and ideas in one place which is easily accessible for those who need it.
If you have any comments on what could be added or amended to make this toolkit even stronger, please contact info@scottish-orienteering.org
Club Governance
Policies and Procedures
- Mapping the Way Forward – Scottish Orienteering Strategy 2020-24
- sportscotland guide to good club governance
- sportscotland recommended policies and procedures resource centre
Club Committees and Constitutions
Club Accreditation
- Scottish Orienteering Club Accreditation Scheme – Our accreditation scheme helps clubs to demonstrate high operational standards and to increase their credibility with official bodies, funders, landowners and other partners. There are three levels of award: bronze, silver and gold.
Good Conduct and Orienteering Rules
- SOA Policies
- SOA Code of Conduct – What is considered good and correct behaviour by members of the SOA.
- British Orienteering Code of Conduct
- British Orienteering Rules of Orienteering – Registered events in Scotland are governed by British Orienteering’s Rules of Orienteering.
- Scottish League and Championship Rules – Rules and guidelines for major Scottish championships, and leagues and events
Wellbeing, Equality & Child Protection
- Child Protection and the PVG scheme – Information on the SOA’s role in helping to safeguard the welfare of all children.
- Scotland’s Mental Health Charter Toolkit – This toolkit helps guide you on how to promote mental as well as physical health amongst orienteers.
- Parental Permission form – An editable example of a parental permission form for those taking part in orienteering activity.
- Photography Permission form – An example of a form to be completed when taking photographs of individuals.
- O-safe – Safeguarding Children & At-Risk Adults in Orienteering – British Orienteering’s reference document for safeguarding.
- Equality and diversity
- Anti-doping
Club Activities
Covid-19 Guidelines and Resources
- Scottish Orienteering Guidance March 2022
- Combined Risk Assessment March 2022
- British Orienteering Code of Conduct (Apr 2021)
Staging Events
- British Orienteering Resource Library – All orienteering events in Scotland are governed by British Orienteering. The BOF resource library includes guides on many aspects of organising and planning events.
- Land Access information for Scotland – Documents relating to access for orienteering in Scotland: Forestry & Land Scotland, Capercaillie agreements, and more.
Orienteering Event Key Roles
Events are usually co-ordinated by three main officials, although smaller low key events may have just one or two.
- Organiser Role Description – from British Orienteering
- Planner Role Description – from British Orienteering
- Controller Role Overview – (description is being updated by British Orienteering)
Larger events may also appoint lead volunteers to various other roles
For Organisers
- Useful SOA documents – Event Officials and Rules
- Organising a Local Event Summary – Summary of tasks and responsibilities
- Organising a Local Event – Detailed Guide
- Complete Organisers Checklist – A checklist of actions for event organisers
- British Orienteering Risk Assessment Form and Completed Example
- SOA Incident Reporting – Link to Google Form, Or PDF
- List of qualified event controllers in Scotland
- Guide to Age Classes and Courses
- SOA Levy form 2024 – form for completion for all regional and national events
For Planners
- Useful SOA documents – Event Officials and Rules
- Basics of Orienteering Planning – How To Guide for new planners
- Complete Course Planning Guide – A comprehensive guide to good orienteering course planning.
Club Coaching
- Club training – suggested formats and ideas
- SOA Coaching Resources – including essential coaching info, session plans, incident report forms etc.
- Club Coaching Session Plans – set of 12 example session plans covering a range of skills and techniques
- SOA Star Award Scheme – personal performance award scheme. Resource pack.
- Other Resources for Coaches
- Training to become a orienteering coach and SOA Coaching Pathway
- Basic resources for new members – ISOM 2017 Orienteering Map Symbols; IOF Control Description Guide
Smartphone Orienteering
- MapRun smartphone orienteering app – Information on existing courses in Scotland and how to go about setting up new courses for club and personal use. Developers website.
- MapRun Risk Assessment Form – For MapRun course planners.
Club Development
Club Development Plans
Club development plans are valuable tools to help translate the purpose and vision of a club into tangible actions. Here is some information and examples to help prepare a plan for your club. Please contact your Regional Development Officer for more advice.
- Preparing a Club Development Plan – How To Guide
- Basic Development Plan – A relatively simple plan based on a real example.
- Detailed Development Plan – A more complex plan, based on a real example.
- SportScotland example Development Plan – Another way to create a development plan.
Attracting New Members
When aiming to attract new members, it’s worth taking steps to create a focused plan and target one or two specific groups. Here are some resources to help you build your plan:
- Know your audience – Tools and resources to help you understand your existing audience and ones you could reach out to.
- Organising a block of club introductory sessions – How To Guide plus examples from Maroc and FVO.
- Resources for new members – a range of resources you can use to help bring newcomers into the sport.
- Running an after-school club – How To Guide plus example from Aboyne
Working with Schools
- Encouraging buy-in from schools – Examples from Strathearn 2019 and Deeside (COPE project) 2017
- Orienteering and the Curriculum for Excellence – Orienteering Experiences and Outcomes and Experiences and Outcomes related to specific activities
- Introducing Orienteering (IntrO) Courses – Scottish Orienteering offers a course to give teachers, scout leaders, outdoor centre instructors and others the skills to teach orienteering.
- Scottish Orienteering Young Leader Courses– Scottish Orienteering offers a practical outdoor training course for 14-17 year-olds who want to help run school or club events.
- Resources for Schools, Teachers and Outdoor Leaders
- Let’s Get Started Orienteering Resources – Scottish Orienteering animated set of videos to help teachers and parents introduce basic orienteering concepts to children.
- Self-help 5 Lesson Plan for Primary Schools
- Tri-O – “Orienteering made easy” – British Orienteering’s pack of introductory orienteering activities, designed for teaching orienteering to children.
- Library of puzzles and challenges
Club Profile and Marketing
- Using Social Media – From giving you a basic understanding of how to use each social media platform to guidelines and examples of how others have done things, check out sportscotland’s resource page.
- What makes a story – Great stories help your club and the sport stand out from others. Have a look at this guide and think of the great stories your club can tell.
Funding Opportunities for Scottish Sports Clubs
Looking for and securing funding for orienteering – How To Guide
Sports Funding:
- Scottish Orienteering Club Development Fund – Scottish Orienteering has a small pot of money available each year for clubs, to support the development of grassroots orienteering.
- The Orienteering Foundation – a charity that promotes and supports orienteering, to bring all the benefits this amazing sport has to offer the people of the UK
- sportscotland DCI – Direct Club Investment is a key component of sportscotland’s commitment towards the development of Club Sport and their business case guide and template outline how you can apply.
- Awards for All Scotland – National Lottery Awards For All gives groups a chance to apply for a grant between £300 and £10,000 to support what matters to people and communities.
- sportscotland UKCC subsidy for coaches – Coaches can apply for funding using sportscotland’s online application portal.
Other Funding:
- Funding Scotland manages many of the smaller community grant schemes, such as windfarm community grants. You can use their search engine to find grant schmes available in your local area.
- Tesco Bags of Help Community Grants – Grants are available for projects which bring benefits to the local community close to Tesco stores.
- Scotmid Co-op Community Grants – Grants are available for projects which bring benefits to the local community close to Scotmid Co-op stores.
- sportscotland – sportscotland has lots of very useful information on funding, including further sources and examples of how other sports have gained funds.
Attracting, Developing & Supporting Volunteers
- sportscotland – Engage, Develop & Retain – a useful resource page outlining tools to help with inducting, developing and retaining volunteers
- Managing volunteers – Helpful advice from the Scottish Council for Voluntary Organisations
- Scottish Orienteering Volunteer Strategy (content to follow)
Training and Mentoring
- Coach Education – Scottish Orienteering manages a portfolio of progressive coaching qualifications awarded by the Scottish Qualifications Authority.
- Event Safety Workshop – Attendance at an Event Safety Workshop is mandatory for all volunteers wishing to fill a key role in staging any event.
- Controllers Course – Attendance at a controllers course is required for anyone wishing to become an event controller.