EUOC Performance Coach
We are delighted to award a grant to Edinburgh University Orienteering Club to help fund a performance coach
Edinburgh is one of the most active and successful university orienteering clubs at present, and has a long history of producing world class orienteers (as well as inspiring many that go on to pursue orienteering as a lifelong sport, including being part of the invaluable volunteer community).
The club have identified going to university as a key period in an athlete’s life where coaching support can have a big impact. It is also a period of great change with athletes often moving away from existing support structures, and becoming more self-dependent as they transition from junior to senior ranks. This can be a significant step-up and the performance coach will help individuals find their way through this challenging time, as well as providing consistency in the program, and helping people to train together effectively.
Athletes will sign up to the EUOC performance programme, and make a modest financial contribution, supplemented by our funding of the performance coach. This will allow the coach to deliver a couple of hours coaching time per month per athlete on the program, adapting to the needs, background and aspirations of each athlete on a 1:1 basis. The coach will also be a key contact with the wider university sports programme, making sure orienteering continues to have a strong voice.
EUOC have already appointed their coach - Mark Nixon - and are recruiting participants to the programme over the next few weeks. We wish EUOC and the athletes every success in the coming year!