Coaching sub committee launch

Words by Brodie Nankervis

The first Orienteering Victoria coaching subcommittee was formed in September 2020, with the broad aim to improve the provision, quality, and effectiveness of coaching across for not only high-performance orienteers but also beginners and regulars.

Led by Brodie Nankervis, the Orienteering Victoria Coaching Coordinator, this committee has already; provided feedback on two national coaching development projects, developed a draft participation framework for orienteering in Victoria, accredited and reaccredited several orienteering coaches, ran an education session for coaches on the use of Purple Pen for course setting and more!

In May 2021, members of the coaching subcommittee will be piloting a new “Learn to Orienteer” coaching program, a consecutive five-week orienteering program designed for beginners. Participants will learn about an orienteering map, skills for navigating, how to use a compass and the different types of orienteering courses. It will use small, scaled maps and SI electronic timing, partly in conjunction with Saturday Park and Street.

The aim of running this pilot program will be to turn it into a package that can be replicated by coaches/clubs around the state, and even the nation! Looking forward to the rest of 2021, the coaching subcommittee plan to run the new “Session Coach” accreditation (previously Level 1), organise a group to attend the national junior development camp, run a development/schools camp in Victoria, publish the Victorian Participant Pathway and develop more coaching resources that can be used across Australia.