Coaching day review Nov 2021
Credit: Lakeland Orienteering Club
We were very pleased to support a fourth Orienteering Foundation coaching day in the Lake District in November 2021, kindly organised again by Derek Allison.
Derek took charge of the organisation at the wonderful Summerhouse Knott, as used for the British Middle Distance Champs earlier in the year. See details for the day here. 8 individual adult participants were coached by Derek, another 108 in groups from HOC, LOC, EMOA, PFO, SROC, NEJS and WMJS, as well as another 50 from the Junior Regional Orienteering Squads using the area as part of their "Hawkshead" weekend.
This was the fourth coaching day we have run (previously in February 2018, November 2018 and November 2019). The weather started out nice, although the rain set in later, so it paid to make the most of the morning with an early start. However the forest provided excellent terrain for practicing detailed navigation through complex rock and contour detail.
As with previous coaching days, Derek secured permissions, chose and checked control sites, provided OCAD map files, Purple Pen course files, a risk assessment template, and hung and collected the controls on the day. All the group leaders had to worry about was planning exercises appropriate to their group, then getting their group members and then concentrate on delivering the best possible coaching to their group!
Once again we ran a short survey aftewards to gather feedback, and all the comments were been positive and constructive, with high degrees of satisfaction. Respondents said it was value for money, they'd come again, and particular attractions were quality lake district terrain, coaching laid on for them, and an event the following day to make a weekend of it.
Some selected comments from individuals, group leaders and group members:
I only wish there were more of these; juniors and beginner adults are often well catered for by club coaching but there is little for adults at TD 4+5.
All my group enjoyed the day, and greatly appreciated the effort which Derek (and others) had put in to plan, hang controls, and collect them in. The superb terrain and courses of Great Tower made for an excellent weekend. Thanks to the orienteering Foundation for supporting this.
Another great training day put on by OF - thanks. Access permissions and control hanging is appreciated. The costs per person were very fair value for money
It is the quality of the terrain and an event the following day that makes the trip worthwhile.
Rewarding day with plenty of experience to practice and hone some orienteering skills in challenging terrain without the pressure of an event
Thank you so much for this truly inclusive training opportunity.
Given the sustained interest in coaching days, we would hope to stage further ones in the Lakes. We would also be interested in supporting days in other parts of the UK - if you might be interested in organising such a day with our support, please get in touch with Duncan Archer (email hidden; JavaScript is required), one of the Orienteering Foundation ambassadors.