ACT WOMEN’S CLINIC

Women’s Coaching Clinic a big success

Anthony Scott and Nicki Taws (ACT)

In 2004 a series of coaching clinics for women and girls were held in the ACT in conjunction with existing Saturday events. The clinics were funded by a grant from Sport & Recreation ACT. In total, 50 women registered for the clinics, their level of experience ranging from beginners to intermediate standard. The clinics aimed to encourage new participants to the sport in a social, noncompetitive environment, and also to encourage existing participants to improve their skills.

Eight experienced female orienteers and coaches assisted at each session, providing advice on navigation and map reading skills. Each session ended with morning tea to provide an opportunity for coaches and participants to chat about their runs, and to meet each other on a social basis. Some typical comments from participants are shown below. Their comments indicated a need for local events that are convenient for beginner and recreational orienteers who are reluctant to drive long distances to events or spend the whole day orienteering. They also demonstrate the advantage to beginners and new club members of having some friendly faces at each event who make them feel welcome, and can provide some coaching advice. • “I really enjoyed the coaching clinic. I guess I would not have gone to Orienteering again if it wasn't for the clinic. I find it always difficult to turn up alone to groups and events, especially if you are unsure about the skills required. I particularly liked being able to discuss 'the plan of attack' before setting out, to learn to think like a real orienteer.” • “Having a coach run with me made the event more enjoyable as she made me think about new ways to navigate. It certainly made a favourable impression on me as I have now become a member! Your willingness to have a chat with me at the events has certainly been a big factor in my decision to join as it gave me a sense of "belonging" despite being a newbie.” • “The clinic has been really useful in terms of giving me tools to understand where I've been going wrong, and how to improve. So overall, it's boosted my confidence and motivated me to keep participating.” • “These Orienteering events have the advantage of being held close to the city and as they take place every week there are heaps of opportunities for practice which is (I think) what really helps improving my navigation after knowing the basics. Those handouts on the basics have been very clear and handy for me, also the hints that the coaches gave me during the sessions. I think the idea of organizing the clinic for women and girls periodically is fantastic.” • “While the lessons gave a great introduction to the basics of

Orienteering, it was the one-on-one coaching that, for me, had the biggest impact. Getting techniques and tips directly from elite orienteers was extremely beneficial. The coaching clinic was also a great way for newcomers to get to know some of the other club members. This makes you feel more like a 'real' orienteer and I think will encourage people to keep coming back to events.” • “I really enjoyed learning a new sport and am excited about being able to mix physical activity with some thinking. As a long term triathlete, Orienteering will be a welcome change from long miles in the pool, on the bike and running.” • “I thought the way you organised the clinic was excellent. Your individual coaches were delightful; I had the pleasure of Valerie's help for two of the weeks and she was just lovely. The welcome provided to "drop ins" was also great. There was no pressure to "sign up" for any long term commitment, although I'm sure, like me, others will become members of ACT Orienteering and the clubs.” This was the first time Orienteering ACT had run such a program and it’s great success has demonstrated the benefits of holding women and girls coaching clinics every year. The success and enthusiasm of the participants has also encouraged the coaches to continue providing informal support at future Saturday events.

Nicki Taws advising Michelle van der Voort – one of the participants at the Women & Girls Clinic.

Books on orienteering

There are a great number of books on all aspects of orienteering. For a list and prices contact: Orienteering Services of Australia 44 Alexandra Parade, Clifton Hill VIC 3068 Phone (03) 9489 9766 Email info@macson.com.au

POCKET PROFILE

Vanessa and Mike Round

W18 & M55, Tintookies Orienteering Club, South Australia

Vanessa competed in school champs from 2000 but commenced weekend events in 2002 after getting involved through school in the Readii group organized by Kay Haarsma (who taught at her school). An O-trip to Victoria run by Kay “was lots of fun and made me take a real liking for the sport.” Mike (Dad) got involved through taking Vanessa to events. Vanessa: I do cross country running with the school team but I like the decision-making and the mental as well as the physical challenge. I like going to interesting places and running in rugged bush terrain. Mike: ditto, and because O has a very good social scene. Vanessa: My fave map in SA is definitely the Flinders because it’s “tricky country”, and while her Dad agrees on that point he likes the open grasslands, granite and gums of Marne Gorge because “you can see the lay of the land”. Vanessa’s best events are 2nd Senior Girls Australian School Champs 2003 and 1st NSW champs W18, 2004. The W18 and M55 are often the same course and so the two can compare times “I used to take over an hour longer than Vanessa to get home, but I recently came back less than 10 minutes behind!” Mike said. Mike: Janet and Phil Davill did a great job editing SAO for many years but I was really surprised that no-one else seemed to want to take on the job when they decided to call it a day. I had no idea I’d be new editor but when no-one else came forward I put my hand up. It is a fair time commitment but I like the job. I want SAO to continue being something that members really enjoy to see in their letterbox. It has to Winning Partnership have wide appeal, elites to walkers and be entertaining as well as informative. Our printer is fellow orienteer Bob Smith and that’s great. The Australian Sports Commission is the Federal Government agency Vanessa: What I most liked about the Aus Champs this year was the responsible for the funding and development of sport in Australia. Through its two main terrain - very challenging and very different to SA. The schools relays programs – the Australian Institute of Sport, and Sport Performance and Development – the were exciting because of the team spirit and maybe because you feel a Australian Sports Commission supports a wide range of initiatives designed to bit of extra pressure to do your best. Staying with the other teams and catching up with interstate friends is the other highlight”develop sporting excellence and increase participation in sport by all Australians. Orienteering Australia is one of 85 national sporting organisations that have formed a winning partnership with the Australian Sports Commission to develop their sports in Australia.

INJURY OF THE MONTH Glenn Meyer (NSW)

I was stretching my calf muscles at the start area of the third day of the Easter 3-Days in Ipswich, Qld, doing the pushing-against-a-tree stretch, when from nowhere a kangaroo burst out of the bush right in front of me and ran straight into me. Obviously it was spooked by the starting crowd and was moving really fast down the hill. Its head went straight into my ribs, really knocking the wind out of me. Within half-a-second, it was out of sight, on its way down the hill. A couple of people laughed, a couple asked if I was alright. It was quite painful as I was called to my start less than a minute later. Once out on the course, I couldn’t get going properly - it was too painful to breathe heavily. After two controls I just had to give up and head for the finish. Back in Sydney the doctor told me it was probably a small parting of the cartilage, but not a break. The main effect was not being able to exercise properly for a few weeks. Luckily it was OK for APOC’04 in Kazakhstan about 6 weeks later. Funny thing - it was the only kangaroo I saw all weekend. I think it must have been a setup because I had a sixpack of beer on the line with Glenn recovered well enough from his kangaroo encounter to be able to race at APOC in Kazakhstan in May.

someone who I was just a couple of minutes ahead of going into the last day! (Ed. Did anyone see a guy in a kangaroo suit?)

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