Adult Beginners Brave the Elements at Hazlehead Coaching Day
Eight adult beginners braved some very wet and wild conditions at Hazlehead Park, Aberdeen, on 25th October for a Scottish Orienteering adult coaching day designed to build confidence and skills for newcomers to the sport.
The session was organised by the SOA, planned and led by Katja Neumann (MAROC) and assisted on the day by Fiona McDonald (GRAMP). Among the eight participants were two AUOC (Aberdeen University Orienteering Club) members, who were fully funded to attend as part of ongoing efforts to support student engagement in orienteering.
Building from Map Basics to TD3+
The day followed the same structure as the recent adult beginners’ coaching session in Edinburgh, providing consistency across all SOA-organised adult beginner sessions, and reducing organisational burden.
The programme started with map basics and TD2-level exercises, such as:
- Setting the map
- Orientating the map
- Learning map symbols and colours
- Following line features
- Map walks and line courses
As the day progressed, the group worked through a series of progressive exercises, steadily building skills and confidence. By the end of the session, participants were tackling TD3+ standard challenges, with more emphasis on:
- Making route choices
- Using a compass
- Attack points and catching features
- Pictorial control descriptions
- An introduction to contours
- Putting everything together on short training courses
Despite the challenging weather, participants stayed positive and engaged, making the most of the opportunity to learn in a supportive environment.
“Useful and Exciting” – Even in the Rain
Feedback on the day was very encouraging. Participants described the session as “useful and exciting”, appreciating the chance to:
- Ask questions in a small-group setting
- Practise skills immediately on the terrain
- Gain confidence to enter more technical courses at events
The weather certainly added an extra layer of challenge, but also gave everyone a realistic taste of Scottish orienteering at its finest – navigating, concentrating, and enjoying the outdoors in less-than-perfect conditions!
Next Steps and Future Plans
To help participants put their new skills into practice, everyone was given information about upcoming local events, including the Hazlehead DNC event on 5th November, as a natural next step after the coaching day.
Katja has already expressed enthusiasm for running similar adult beginner sessions again, and SOA hopes to schedule another coaching day early next year, most likely when temperatures are slightly warmer and conditions a bit kinder!
If you’re an adult who’s new to orienteering – or looking to move beyond the easier courses – keep an eye on the Scottish Orienteering and local club channels for future adult beginner coaching opportunities. These sessions are a great way to build skills, meet other newcomers, and gain the confidence to explore more technical terrain and courses.
The next session in Edinburgh is currently scheduled for 28th March, and discussions are also taking place about hosting this course in the north, likely around Inverness.
If you want one in your area, then just get in touch!