Training & Support

Live sessions

Find out when sessions are running and catch up on-line. 

We have a busy plan of Webinars set out for 2023. We hope they will informative, stimulating and continue to drive development amongst British Orienteering clubs and equip members. 

We are planning on having at least one webinar per month throughout the year, so keep an eye out for our annual programme. 

Subjects will be delivered by many different guests. Some will draw on the experience of members from across the country, showing examples of successful club projects. In others we will hear from people outside of orienteering which will support your individual or club needs. 

The online platform we use may be dependent on the requirements of each presenter.

For each session, you will need to register using the details provided.

If you are unable to attend a Webinar, shortly afterwards we will upload the presenter slides and a recording of the session onto this page. 

This page will contain all the dates and live session information as they are confirmed. Each session will last approximately 45/60 minutes and is free to watch.

Sharing advice and support.

Coming up:

 

Title: Forestry England - an introduction to the new Connections system for permissions

Date/Time: Monday 18th March, 19:00-20:30

Presenter: Emma Monkman and Forestry England

 Join Here 

Forestry England will be joining us to guide members through their new centralised permissions system, and take questions, so please join us at 7pm on the 18th of March for a webinar.

 

Title: Creating an Inclusive Environment - Webinar workshop

Date/Time: Monday 4th March, 19:00-20:30

Presenter: John Mills, Sports Structures

Register Here

This course will help you to understand the different barriers that people face, broaden your reach to attract a diverse range of people and explore how you can create a positive environment to retain them.

By the end of this session, you will be able to:

  • identify how your club or organisation can create a positive environment that enables a diverse range of people to be engaged and retained as participants and volunteers.

This might be the course for you if…

  • you're part of a leadership team or committee
  • you have a senior position (e.g. head coach)
  • you're responsible for recruiting new members and volunteers
  • you're involved in supporting clubs or community organisations.

 

Title: The Participant Experience - Webinar workshop

Date/Time: TBC

Presenter: John Mills, Sports Structures

With everyone’s lives as busy as ever, how do you ensure your club/organisation brings participants back again and again? This workshop will explore what a great participant experience looks like, considering existing and potential members.

Workshop Outcomes:

By the end of this session, delegates will be able to:

  • Identify what constitutes a great participant experience
  • Review their current participant experience
  • Identify how to bring about change to positively influence the participant experience
  • Develop an action plan and understand how to access further support

 

Missed any of our webinars?

Follow the links below  (click on the session title) to watch any of the sessions back in your own time.

Major Events Webinar 1: Recent Level A events, revised Rules and Control Descriptions

Watch the Recording Here

Date/Time

Monday 5 February

19:00-20:45

Presenters

Alan Rosen

David May

Barry Elkington

Covers

  • Lessons from 2022 and 2023 major events
  • What is different about the 2024 Rules and Appendices?
  • Using the 2024 IOF Control Descriptions

Major Events Webinar 2: Planning for older competitors, running (even) better Level A events

Watch the Recording Here

Date/Time

Monday 12 February

19:00-20:45

Presenters

Alan Rosen

Neil Crickmore

Simon Errington

Covers

  • Level A planning for older competitors
  • Controlling, Organising and Planning: best practice
  • Quick wins to improve Level A Events

Major Events Webinar 3: Running a WRE event, some Jury scenarios, topics raised by attendees

Register Here

Date/Time

Monday 19 February

19:00-20:45

Presenters

Alan Rosen

Julie and Ronan Cleary

Covers

  • Having WRE status and an IOF Event Adviser
  • You are on the Jury and…
  • Topics raised in advance by attendees

 

Title: A Club for Everyone - Webinar workshop

Date/Time: Monday 27th November at 7pm

Delivered by John Mills, Sports Structures

This workshop equips clubs and organisations with tools that will help them to become more welcoming, friendly, accessible and inclusive which will benefit everyone. This approach not only helps groups of people who find it hard to engage but also helps clubs and organisations generally to attract and retain more participants and volunteers.

Workshop Outcomes:

By the end of the workshop, delegates will be able to:

  • Identify the barriers people face in accessing opportunities as participants and volunteers
  • Understand the need for positive action
  • Outline the building blocks of an inclusive club/organisation
  • Identify how your club can create a more positive environment that would enable a diverse range of people to be engaged and retained as participants and volunteers.

Title: The Winning Formula - From DISTRACTION to DISCIPLINE - Laying the Foundations

Date: Monday 2nd October 2023

Delivered by Rachel Collins - DFOK, BSc and MSc in sports psychology             

Rachel Collins from Meadow Wellbeing delivers a workshop series unique to orienteering by combining her knowledge of Sport Psychology and tools from Therapeutic Coaching.

Participants will be provided with information and the necessary skills to narrow their focus to just navigation whilst orienteering. Allowing you to produce a race you can be satisfied with!

The presentation is found here

The recording of this session is found here

Title: Volunteer Experience webinar workshop

Date: Monday 25th September 2023

Delivered by John Mills, Club Matters, Sport Structures

This workshop equips clubs and organisations with tools that will help them to become more welcoming, friendly, accessible and inclusive which will benefit everyone. This approach not only helps groups of people who find it hard to engage but also helps clubs and organisations generally to attract and retain more participants and volunteers.

Due to this session being hosted by Club Matters, we are unable to share the recording of this session.

Link to the presentation to be uploaded soon.

Title: Club Legal Structures

Date: Monday 22 May 2023

Delivered by John Mills, Club Matters, Sport Structures.                     

Information into what might be best for your club needs, with regard to it's legal set up.

The session was recorded and materials will be provided for members shortly afterwards.

Title: Access – The current environment

(15/05/23)

Deliverered by Emma Monkman,

British Orienteering, Access and

Environment Officer

 

A discussion session about the current challenges and successes when gaining permissions for events.

Also updates on negotiations with Forestry England and our major event (JK2023) ecological assessment.

The recording of the webinar can be found here.

Title: The Importance of Strength and Conditioning for the older orienteer

(17/04/23)

Delivered by Dr Sarah Rollins, Consultant in Sport, Exercise and Musculoskeletal Medicine.

This webinar explains why strength and conditioning is important as you get older.  As part of the Webinar, Dr Sarah Rollins demonstatrated a typical programme and demonstrate the exercises to equip and support us in our own personal training, allowing the older orienteer to thrive. 

The session looked at how to:

  • Develop strength, balance and control for orienteering and running
  • Reduce muscle and joint aches and pains as we age
  • Restore strength to a muscle or lower limb after previous injury
  • Potentially reduce the risk of falls (only potentially, because if you move faster (because you can), you may be more likely to fall!

The recording of the webinar can be found here.

Here is also a transcript along with stills of the presentation - thank you Jim Butterworth for doing this and making it available. 

Here is a link to Dr Rollins suggested exercise programme - remember tailor to your ability. 

Further supporting information will be available soon, including a demonstartion exercise video and answers to some attendees questions. 

Title: A question of Access

(03/04/23)

Emma Monkman, British Orienteering, Access & Environment Officer

The Ramblers, Britains Walking Charity. 

The freedom to roam gives everyone the chance to get out walking, connect with nature and explore the beautiful outdoors. It gives us all the right to walk in nature without fear of trespassing.

But, right now, it only covers 8% of England. And it is not equally distributed.

The Ramblers are calling for the freedom to roam to be expanded to cover woodland, watersides and more grassland. This would have a huge impact. Woodland alone would more than double the coverage of the freedom to roam in England.

Apologies if anyone wishing to attend was unable to log on, we had a technical issue which we identified to late to fix ahead of the webinar.

The presentation is found here

The recording of this session is found here

Title: Marketing and Communications for your club

(20/03/23)

Alex Welsh, British Orienteering, Communications Officer

and Kay Hawke

British Orienteering, Partnerships Manager

Guidance on how to increase your reach via social media, community promotion and appealing to different groups.

Information on how to improve how you communicate your events, training and club to local audiences. Hear from leading clubs in this area, British Orienteering’s new Communications Officer, Alex Welsh and get hints and tips on how to engage participants new and existing.

Click here for a copy of the presentation.

The recording of this session is found here

Safeguarding

(27/02/23)

Peter Brooke,

British Orienteering Lead Safeguarding Officer. 

The Safeguarding webinar is aimed at all club welfare officers, coaches and those involved in supporting our clubs at training sessions, activities, and events.

The webinar was delivered by Peter Brooke, British Orienteering Lead Safeguarding Officer.

Peter set out the British Orienteering action plan for the year.

Also covered was the profile of safeguarding within clubs and an overview of the processes we follow in the case of the raising of a concern/ incident.

The recording of the session is available here.

The British Orienteering Insurance Policy 

(30/01/23)

Amanda Wynne-Jones,

DipCII AMInstLM, Associate Director, Sport and Entertainment at Howden Insurance Brokers Limited

The session was delivered by Amanda Wynne-Jones DipCII AMInstLM, Associate Director, Sport and Entertainment at Howden Insurance Brokers Limited who provide the British Orienteering Insurance cover. Amanda provided an overview of the insurance cover in place and answered questions from club members to support their understanding of what is covered.

 

This session is appropriate for any British Orienteering Club official, mapper or member who is interested in the personal and club insurance cover provided. 

To view the recording of the session click here. For the presentation slides click here

An updated Q&A document will be provided in due course. 

Coaching Journeys Research Project 2022 Session Overview

Session 1 - Journeys into orienteering coaching

(18/10/2022)

Dr Thomas Leeder

Lecturer in Physical Education & Sport Pedagogy at the University of East Anglia

The aim of this first session is to introduce a collaborative research project between British Orienteering and the University of East Anglia, entitled 'Understanding the coaching journeys and biographical learning of British Orienteering coaches'. Following an introduction to the project, this first session will begin to share data related to how and why coaching journeys in orienteering commence, with a specific focus on the role of previous athletic experiences and the development of a coaching philosophy.

To view a recording of the session click here. For the presentation slides click here

Session 2 - The holistic nature of orienteering coaching

(17/11/2022)

Dr Thomas Leeder

Lecturer in Physical Education & Sport Pedagogy at the University of East Anglia

During this second session, the manner in which wider life experiences structures coaching, in addition to how coaching influences wider life will be discussed. The session will highlight how individuals learn from and for orienteering coaching, while also outlining the reasons why coaching journeys end or transition and evolve into different roles.

To view a recording of the session click here. For the presentation slides click here

Session 3 - Coach education and development for orienteer coaches

(13/12/2022)

Dr Thomas Leeder,

Lecturer in Physical Education & Sport Pedagogy at the University of East Anglia

This final session will focus explicitly on the learning and development of orienteering coaches. The role of critical incidents on coach learning will be discussed, while positive perspectives and critiques of British Orienteering's current coach education provision will be outlined. Finally, recommendations from orienteering coaches to enhance current courses are presented.

To view the recording of the session click here. For the presentation sliides click here

Development Conference 2022 Session Overview

Engaging and retaining young people

Presenter: Fran Loots,

Scottish Orienteering Association

Monday 10 January

The workshop will explore the various pathways that can be used to engage and retain juniors and young people including:

Non-performance-based approaches such as club coaching, STAR awards, area teams, juniors planning and organising workshops and opportunities, Young Leaders Award.

Attendee discussion ideas can be found in the files attached:

Session Recording

Creating a whole club experience

Presenter: Pauline Tryner,

SYO

Thursday 13 January

In this session we will be looking at what makes a successful club which is more than just putting on quality events.

Session Recording

Retaining beginner orienteers

Presenter: Neil Cameron,

The Orienteering Foundation

Monday 17 January

Neil will present the key points from the Orienteering Foundation’s newcomer retention project, including Good Practice recommendations; results from a survey of club websites’ beginner/newcomer content; and the findings of three “mystery visits” made by beginners to club events.

Session Recording

Supporting club development through the employment of a Club Development Officer

Presenters: Andrew Evans,

The Orienteering Foundation and Caroline Mackenzie

and Mary Fleming,

Cleveland Orienteering Klub

Tuesday 18 January

Andrew would like to explain the help the Orienteering Foundation can offer to support club development; an example of this is the employment of a Club Development Officer (CDO). We will look at CLOK as a case study, Caroline will explain how the club came about shaping a plan and recruiting a CDO, and Mary will set out the ideas and programmes she has recently been involved with. 

 Session Recording

Access and Permissions – An Ecologist and Landowner’s Perspective

Presenters: Leanne Sargeant and Richard Burke,

Forestry England

Wednesday 19 January

This session will allow clubs the opportunity to look at and understand the land and access issues from the perspective of a landowner and ecologist; in particular the special qualities of the New Forest. It will also look at how Forestry England is planning on managing recreation in the future which will hopefully advise clubs on future event applications.

Session Recording

WOC 2024 Development Opportunities

Presenter: Sarah Dunn,

Scottish Orienteering Association

Monday 24 January

The workshop will explore ideas for using WOC 2024 as a platform around which to create some specific lead-in opportunities for new participation in orienteering, especially for young people and in a sprint (urban park) setting.

Feedback and input will be sought from clubs and members in relation to some specific ideas that will be outlined ahead of the workshop.

Session Recording

Women’s Sporting Journeys

Presenter: Hannah Sprake, Sports Marketing Surveys

Thursday 27 January

Hannah wishes to share with you the ‘Women’s Sporting Journeys: How to keep women engaged in sport throughout their lives’ report.

With a specific focus on Orienteering, we will look at how women’s experiences change through their life stages and identify opportunities to help more women enjoy a longer and more connected sporting journey.

Session Recording

Safeguarding

Presenter: Peter Brooke,

British Orienteering

Tuesday 1 February

This is an opportunity for clubs to look at this area of their governance to ensure there is a sure foundation for the club to be a safe place for its members.

Session Recording

Engaging and retaining young people - Additional Session

Presenter: Fran Loots,

Scottish Orienteering Association

Wednesday 2 February

The workshop will explore the various pathways that can be used to engage and retain juniors and young people including:

Non-performance-based approaches such as club coaching, STAR awards, area teams, juniors planning and organising workshops and opportunities, Young Leaders Award.

Session Recording

Title & link Session overview

Mapping Webinar - Part 2: An Introduction to surveying and creating base maps

Tuesday 4 May 2021

This webinar is aimed at beginner mappers.

The main content of this session introduces the various products and packages available for you to create base maps. It provides an introduction to setting up a map, from selecting the area to generating a base map as well as the basics of contours and georeferencing.  

Martin Hore (SUFFOC), Simon Starkey (LEI), Ben Mitchell (SBOC) and John Moody (Kerno) all present and share their knowledge and skills using different mapping software, providing an an overview of creating base maps using Open Orienteering Mapper and OCAD. 

QGIS and LiDAR are also demonstrated and other sources discussed.

 

Mapping Webinar – Part 1: Background Basics 

Tues 20 April 2021 

 

For beginner mappers and those interested in learning about mapping this session brings you some background basics to Orienteering mapping including what makes a good orienteering map, the methodology of updating/improving an exisiting map and practical demonstrations and exercises.

Martin Bagness (WAROC) and Ian Cooper (SYO) present the content and were also joined by experienced mapper panellists David Olivant (NOC), Rod Postlethwaite (WRE) and chair of map group Terry Smith (SOC).

Getting Started with Orienteering Mapping – An Introduction

Orienteering Mapping – An Introduction to Generalisation

 

Sharing return to Orienteering club experiences

From experiences of returning to traditional events to virtual leagues - hear about club experiences and get the latest National picture from British Orienteering.  We heard from a selection of club speakers including Jon Eaton (WCOC), Colin Dickson (BAOC), Jason Falconer (WSX), Phill Batts (CLOK), Martyn Roome (SROC). DVO example not featured on the eve is also below.

 

British Orienteering AGM 2020

Saturday 1st August 2020

This years AGM took place virtually due to the current restrictions surrounding COVID-19. 

Q&A on the Back to Orienteering guidance.

Tuesday 21st July 2020

This session outlines the key points resulting from the published guidance for each nation and took live questions. We hope this session provides the confidence and practical understanding to support clubs as they continue to move forward in planning their return to local level event delivery.

 

Entries, Booking & Contactless payment systems.

Tuesday 23rd June 2020

This session provides a recap of fully integrated entry with payment systems - Fabian, SI, Eventrac etc followed by some excellent examples of individual club booking systems from CLOK, POTOC & HH.  An overview of the most common contactless card payment systems - Izettle vs Sumup vs Square is provided along with a helpful experience of using iZettle from SLOW.  LVO also provide a helpful iZettle user guide handout.

 

Introduction to the UsynligO Virtual App

Monday 15th July 2020

Simon Bailey from BOK demonstrates how the UsynligO app can be used to set up virtual courses, the practicalities and functions of the platform as well as taking questions.

 

Q&A on the next steps of the Back to Orienteering plan

Tuesday 9th June 2020

Join British Orienteering CEO Peter Hart and the Development team to discuss the Back to Orienteering action plan. Peter and the team answered your questions live and heard your thoughts for how local events and the sport may look when local events and activities resume.

Bitesize Webinar session

Using OCAD for Map Run

In this recorded session, Pat discusses using OCAD with MapRun. Pat provides support for users of the MapRun App on using OCAD maps/exporting courses.

 

Bitesize Webinar session

Map Run Administration

In this recorded session, Pat follows up his earlier Map Run webinar by explaining the local administration role associated with Map Run.

 

Open Orienteering Map
Tuesday 19th May 2020

This session sees Oliver O'Brien demonstrating how to use Open Orienteering Map, the practicalities and functions of the platform as well as relating its use for creating virtual Orienteering and it's more familiar use in urban/ street orienteering.

 

How to use the MapRun app for virtual courses Tuesday 12th May 2020

In this webinar Pat demonstrates how the app can be used to set up virtual courses, the practicalities and functions of the platform as well as taking questions and answers.  

 

Using Routegadget to set up virtual courses Thursday 8th May 2020 In this webinar, Simon demonstrates how to use Routegadget to set up virtual courses (without SI results), the practicalities and functions of the platform as well as an taking questions to provide further insight into its practicalities.
Getting to know Routegadget Thursday 5th March Simon Errington from Hertfordshire Orienteering Club (HH) presents all about Routegadget. Showing you the basics through to some more advanced techniques.
Organising successful events Thursday 28th November 2019 In this webinar, Helen Errington (HH) unpicks the key functions involved in organising different types of orienteering events event. Throughout the session Helen discusses ways to ensure events are delivered as successfully as possible and considering the criteria by which an event might be considered to be successful relative to its aims.
Top tips for club promotion Thursday 10th October 2019 This short, 20 minute webinar looked at some important tips for promoting your club and event. Looking at how to source the ideal promotional photo, to overlaying the right text and then some key hook words to help sell your event.
University Orienteering - Getting the most from your clubTuesday 10th September 2019 Are you involved in running your University Orienteering Club? Would you like new ideas to grow your club and find out more ways to get out orienteering? Then look no further than our live webinar for University clubs. 
Understanding purple pen Tuesday 23rd July 2019 Simon Errington from Hertfordshire Orienteering Club (HH) provides an insight into understanding purple pen. Showing the basics through to some more advanced techniques. It will be useful to ensure you have Purple Pen downloaded onto your computer to practice afterwards or as you view the session.
Delivering participant focused events
Thursday 27th June 2019

This session drew on current insight to better understanding what makes an excellent experience for participants at local and regional events.

Led by Martin Chester, author of 'Getting Active Outdoors' and former Director of Training at Plas y Brenin, the session looked at the specific needs and expectations of different participant groups. The webinar shared what has been successful in this area and highlight practical ways that events can be adapted and tailored.

This webinar will provide support for those planning and delivering club events and looking for different ways to put the participant at the heart of this process.

Growing your clubs volunteers 23rd May 2019

This session looked at what clubs can do to help increase the numbers of volunteers within your club. Alongside recruitment, there was dicussion looking at how you can both sustain and develop your volunteers.

Jenny Betteridge, Strategic Lead for Volunteer at Sport England joined the session to providing excellent insight, knowledge and experience away from Orienteering which clubs can look to adapt within the sport.

Attracting and retaining juniors 25th April 2019 This webinar shared one club’s experience of planning and implementing a new junior programme. 
SARUM started a successful new junior club in 2017, offering a fun and enjoyable programme for local families. 
Club members recounted how they planned the project, acquired the funding, recruited and retained the families.  
There is also an interview with a mother about her family’s experiences with orienteering as part of a busy life.
Coaching newcomers 28th March 2019 This session shared DVO's experience of running parks series and introducing new families and individuals to our sport. What needs to be in place at the first event and how you might develop this to encourage newcomers into mainstream orienteering and club activities.
Communication social media v traditional methods 14th March 2019 This session discussed the different methods clubs have used to promote themselves and their events. Utilising the experiences of TVOC, there is advice on avenues to try, how to get there and discussing just what it is the club want to achieve and get out of any promotion.
Planning focus 28th February 2019 The session looks at planning, from where to begin, tips and advice as you move forward creating your event. Barry Elkington will lead the session. Barry is an extremely experienced and highly regarded planner. The session is for everyone who is looking to start planning and for those who are experienced and are looking to give advice to others, continue their learning and share ideas. 

To revisit our pilot webinars from 2018, follow the links below;

Coaching for mixed abilities Planning for light green courses Developing your club 

All our sessions and other videos are also available on British Orienteerings YouTube channel

How do the sessions work?

After you've registered, you'll receive a confirmation email with the link you need to follow at the time of the session. Simply click the link at the right time and you're there. 

Each session will be unique to the subject discussed. However, for each one, you'll be able to ask questions throughout through the question or chat functions. In some cases, you'll be able to raise your hand and verbally ask a question. Short polls and multiple choice questions may also feature, providing you with the opportunity to play your part at the click of a button.

How can you get involved?

Should you have a subject you'd like to hear about or would be interested in contributing too or delivering a session, please contact Peter Brooke on pbrooke@britishorienteering.org.uk.