Contractors have been approached about capturing LiDAR data for areas to be used for Strathearn 2019, the next Scottish 6 Days. Potentially additional areas across Scotland could be flown as part of the same mission. Clubs would have to fund additional coverage but it is hoped that the cost would be competitive with photogrammetric plots.
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With Megan Griffiths, our previous sportscotland Partnership Manager, taking on other responsibilities within the organisation, we are delighted to introduce Jane Scott, our new partnership manager, to the orienteering community.
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The Scottish contingent had a great weekend at the European Champs in central Slovakia over 29th June-2nd July.
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This week the Junior World Orienteering Championships (JWOC) are taking place in Tampere, Finland. It’s for M/W 18s and 20s and attending is the peak of a junior orienteer’s career. More information about this year’s competition can be found here: www.jwoc2017.fi/ Read More…
The SOA President’s Medal for 2017 was awarded to Robin and Sheila Strain at the AGM on 20th May, for their invaluable contributions at events over many years and particularly their involvement with the introduction and use of electronic punching.
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Rona Lindsay, SOA Regional Development Officer Central/South, offers some advice to clubs looking to bring in new members. Read More…
A recent e-mail from British Orienteering described the new coach education offerings south of the border. In Scotland we will retain THREE levels of assessed coach qualification.
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The SOA is delighted to announce the appointment of Pamela Carvell to our Board of Directors.
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Junior Pathway
– Club-based coaching is crucial. Continue recruiting & training as many quality club coaches as possible.
– Club coaches cooperate either in Area training or in informal local “clusters” – SOA to coordinate and encourage this to provide the missing step between club and ScotJOS.
– SOA should recognise ‘development’ as well as ‘talent’. Performance orienteering only one possible pathway amongst many others. Provide formal recognition of different types of development – e.g volunteering, event organisation, planning, SOA Star Awards.
– SOA to research possibility of a non-selective orienteering camp.
Junior Competition Structure
– Develop Jamie Stevenson Trophy to include longer courses, MW20 classes, plus some form of novice class to allow fairer scoring for newcomers. SOA to adopt this fixture and ensure it is rotated between clubs.
– SOA to recruit Competitions Convener, who will lead working group (including Junior reps) to review SOA calendar, particularly looking at an Autumn – Autumn SOL / SOUL season rather than Jan – Dec, and a cleaner calendar with no double-counting / piggybacking competitions.
– Explore representation at JIRCs as two regions – Scotland North & Scotland South, whilst retaining 3 separate regions for purposes of JIAs.
Schools Orienteering
– Some clubs have succeeded in recruiting active new family members through schools orienteering activity. Share these success stories throughout SOA to spread good practice.
– SOA to liaise with SSOA to help organise SSOF, particularly advertising orienteering within schools that haven’t been before, and doing follow-up work to link schools with their local club.
– Send schools packs out to clubs for WOD2017. From 2018, distribute directly to schools as part of SSOF support. Ensure schools use official WOD platform to register their events.
Miscellaneous
– New SOA website to give clear info on School Orienteering Pathway (including all local schools leagues / festivals) & Junior Development Pathway.
Maps can be collected at Glenmore Lodge (£1.50 each) or pdfs are available free of charge to SOA members. School and other groups are welcome to use the area for training or other events. A copyright charge of £1.50 for the first 30 maps (hard copy or pdf) applies thereafter £1 per map. Contact colin.matheson”at”scottish-orienteering.org for further information.