British Orienteering

Webinars

Our webinars are a great opportunity for you to learn more about how you can develop your Clubs, inspiring you to continue to drive development and aim to equip our members with all they need to know to continue to help our sport thrive. 
All sessions are free to attend and take place online. Register your place via the relevant sign up forms provided below. 
Subjects will be vary and 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. 

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. 

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

Sharing advice and support.

Upcoming webinars

We have now announced the dates for our autumn webinar series. 

Click on the tabs below to register your place on the upcoming sessions, or read our announcement for a full breakdown of the relevant sessions. 

Autumn webinar series: a guide to all sessions

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 Joe Fermor Worrell.

Previous webinars and recordings

Missed any of our webinars and want to catch up? Click on the relevant year below and access available recordings of sessions. 

New features of the British Orienteering website, local partnerships and welcoming newcomers

Monday 1 July 

Presenters: Alex Welch & Kay Hawke

A short introduction to the newly redesigned British Orienteering website, including an overview of all the marketing and promotional resources members can now access and modify. Then gain some quick tips for making newcomers welcome, and keeping them coming back for more, as well as exploring how partnerships can help widen your club’s reach for recruiting new members. With the upcoming World Orienteering Championships, this is an excellent time for all clubs to prepare for new, wider interest in our sport.

Watch the recording

Nutrients To Fuel & Sustain Your Body & Your Race (by Revive Active)

Monday 24 June

This 45-minute session was presented by Nicola Sainty from Revive Active. Nicole touches on vital nutrients & nutrition required across all ages of orienteers. So whether you are a junior orienteer, preparing for your next competition as a member of the GB squad, or a senior orienteer; come and learn more about energy and fuelling your body pre, during and post races.

Watch the recording

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

Monday 18 March

Forestry England join us to guide members through their new centralised permissions system, and take questions.

Watch the Recording

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

5 February 2024

Learn more about the lessons learnt from 2022 and 2023 Major Events, what is different about the 2024 Rules and Appendices and using the 2024 IOF Control descriptions in this webinar delivered by Alan Rosen, David May and Barry Elkington. 

Watch the Recording

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

12 February 2024

Discover more about Level A planning for older competitors, Controlling, Organising and Planning: best practice, and quick wins to improve Level A Events in this webinar delivered by Alan Rosen, Neil Crickmore and Simon Errington. 

Watch the Recording

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

19 February 2024

Want to learn more about having World Ranking Event (WRE) status and becoming an IOF Event Adviser? Listen in to this webinar delivered by Alan Rosen and Julie and Ronan Cleary.

Watch the Recording

A Club for Everyone Webinar Workshop

27 November 2023

This workshop, delivered by John Mills, Sports Structures, 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.

There is no recording available of this webinar. 

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

2 October 2023

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

Watch the Recording Here 

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Volunteer Experience webinar workshop

25 September 2023

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.

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Club Legal Structures

22 May 2023

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

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

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Access – The current environment

15 May 2023

Emma Monkham delivers a discussion session about the current challenges and successes when gaining permissions for events. There are also updates on negotiations with Forestry England and our major event (JK2023) ecological assessment.

Watch the Recording Here

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The Importance of Strength and Conditioning for the older orienteer

17 April 2023

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!

Watch the Recording 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. 

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A question of Access

5 April 2023

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 as we discover in this webinar.

Watch the Recording Here 

The presentation is found here

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Marketing and Communications for your Club

20 March 2023

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.

Watch the Recording Here

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Safeguarding

27 February 2023

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.

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.

Watch the Recording Here

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The British Orienteering Insurance Policy

30 January 2023

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. 

Watch the Recording Here

For the presentation slides click here

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

Coaching Journeys Research Project 2022Session 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 2022Session 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 & linkSession 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


Title & linkSession overview
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 2020In 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 MarchSimon Errington from Hertfordshire Orienteering Club (HH) presents all about Routegadget. Showing you the basics through to some more advanced techniques.

Title & linkSession overview
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 2019This 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 2019This 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 2019This 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 2019The 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 abilitiesPlanning for light green coursesDeveloping your club 

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