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New Coach Training Opportunities for Orienteers

Clubs need to attract newcomers and retain members. One way to do this is through coaching. With the needs of clubs in mind, at the Coaching Conference in January we launched new training opportunities for orienteers who would like to help newcomers and assist coaches with club or squad training and for those who have had some coaching experience and want an orienteering coach qualification. What better way to enjoy your sport than the satisfaction of passing on skills and knowledge to others?

The National Steering Group for Coaching decided last year that there needs to be a more simple and flexible route into coaching for the sport to replace the UKCC Level 1 & UKCC Level 2 training from 2017. Existing coach qualifications are still OK – these are for people who have not started or completed an orienteering coach award before 2017!

The new training opportunities will be available in England, Wales and Northern Ireland as the Scottish Orienteering Association have decided to write their own coach pathway and qualifications.

Replacing the Level 1 Orienteering Coach 3-day training and assessment, two half day practical workshops will be available for active coaches to deliver to their club members:

  • Coaching to the Start Triangle

    • For those who want to help newcomers at events or club activity sessions

    • Good practice introductory map walk and star exercise to help people get started orienteering in a fun and interactive way without a lot of ‘talk’ and ‘jargon’

  • Route to Coaching

    • A progression for those who want to learn more about helping at coaching sessions

    • How to give a short safety briefing at the start of a coaching session

    • How to lead a ‘fun’ warm-up and deliver a short coaching session from a plan

These workshops can each be delivered in an evening, half day or as a one day introduction to coaching. This flexibility will be less costly in time/money for clubs and will be a good introduction for orienteers who want to help with coaching at their club.

Coaches who want to deliver these workshops should contact: info@britishorienteering.org.uk and the delivery material will be emailed to them.


UKCC Level 1 Orienteering Coach: Training will be offered for those who work outside the sport e.g. outdoor centre staff, rangers in country parks/National Trust etc. This gives a good grounding in working with beginners for those who require an assessed qualification.


UKCC Level 2 Orienteering Coach:

  • This will be the entry level coaching qualification for our clubs

  • A Level 2 Coach will be qualified to deliver a series of progressive sessions as the lead coach

  • There will be 3 short pre-course tasks to check the learners’ understanding of an orienteering coach’s role

  • The training is very similar to the pre-2017 UKCCL2 – usually 3 days training & assessment followed by practical coaching

  • Some changes to the written tasks in line with the new National Occupational Standards; some tasks are unchanged

  • Following the initial training & formative assessment the coach will plan, deliver and evaluate a series of 4 progressive technical sessions and 1 fitness coaching session before their final observed session

  • Trainee coaches have two years in which to complete their qualification
     

Personal Development Coaching Modules:

These will be offered so that qualified coaches can access further training so as to enhance their knowledge and understanding. Some examples are:

  • Coaching Safety in Remote and Exposed areas – 3 workshops were held at the recent conference to enable coaches to work in more challenging terrain

  • Planning & Periodisation for coaches who are planning an annual programme

  • Further workshops on topics about fitness training such as those delivered by Paul Murgatroyd for East Midlands coaches in 2015 and at the recent national conference

The most successful orienteering clubs are the ones which work hard to recruit and retain members and coaches play a vital part in club development programmes. We hope that this new structure will help clubs to train their coaching volunteers and that clubs will continue to offer coaching for all their members – remember, even experienced orienteers can benefit from practising their techniques and our trained coaches can help them.

Finally, this year we have trained some more tutors and assessors who will be able to deliver the Level 2 Coach courses but if there is anyone else who would like to find out more please contact Hilary Palmer, Chair of the National Steering Group.

So, the development of coaches will be simpler and more closely meet the needs of clubs. Coaching is a great way to develop the sport and we expect to attract more people who want the satisfaction of passing on their knowledge to others.

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