2025 SOA Coaching and Volunteering Training Opportunities – Are your diaries at the ready?
One of the main skills we use when orienteering is planning. To allow you to plan for the year ahead and develop your skills we have drawn together a list of the current coaching and volunteer training opportunities for the year ahead. To avoid disappointment, get them in your diary now!
Sign up forms can be found on the SOA Website and will be advertised in due course or contact suzanne@scottish-orienteering.org for more details.
Our article “SOA Annual Training Programme” details the annual cycle for our training programme but if there are any courses you would like to see or want to know more contact our Coaching and Volunteer Officer, Suzanne Robins-Bird. It helps us to plan and provide the courses you want if you sign up in plenty of time and communicate your needs to us.
Coaching Courses
| Level of Course | Date of commencement | Details |
| Foundation Coaching | Thursday 30th January | 3 online evening sessions and one club based non assessed practical session (Weeks 1,2 & 4 online evening sessions (30th, Jan and 6th & 20th Feb)) – sign up by 16th January – more info via this link |
| Club Coach (formerly UKCC Level 1) | Monday 24th February | 4 weeks online evening sessions (starting on w/b 24th February) and a 1 day practical assessment (over the weekend of 29/30th March) – sign up by 13th January – more info via this link |
| Young Coaching Assistant | Saturday 8th March OR Sunday 30th March | Stirling – 1 day in person – more info via this link Glenmore Lodge – 1 day in person – more info via this link |
| Foundation Coaching | Monday 26th May | 3 online evening sessions and one club based non assessed practical session (Weeks 1,2 & 4 online evening sessions (w/b 26th, 30th May and 9th June)) – sign up by 9th May – more info via this link |
| Lead Coach (formerly UKCC Level 2) | TBD | 6 online evening sessions, 2 day face to face session and practical coaching delivery sessions over 2 years. Next course starting 2026. Contact suzanne@scottish-orienteering.org for more information and if interested. |
In Person Coaching CPD Opportunities
| Central Belt location | June – date to be determined | In person – 1 day – Location to be determined depending on applicants |
| Northern location | Autumn – date to be determined | In person – 1 day – Location to be determined depending on applicants |
Mentoring Workshops
| Online sportscotland mentoring workshops | 20th and 27th March 6 – 7.30 pm | Run by sportscotland national trainers, these workshops are for anyone who undertakes a mentoring role in coaching, officiating at events or committee roles. More information via this link |
Organisers Courses
Aimed at helping provide guidance for those looking to organise a local or regional event
| Online Junior organisers workshop | Monday 3rd March | An online evening workshop followed by practical experience and round up online evening meeting on 2nd June – sign up by 17th February – more info via this link |
| Online organisers workshops | Monday 10th March | An online evening workshop followed by practical experience and round up online evening meeting on 31st March – sign up by 3rd March – more info via this link |
| In person ESW and organisers | See below for details |
Event Safety and Welfare Workshops
| Online Event Safety and Welfare Workshop | Monday 3rd March | An online evening workshop for organisers, planners and coaches – sign up by 24th February – more info via this link |
| Online Junior Event Safety and Welfare Workshop | Monday 24th February | An online evening workshop for junior organisers and planners – although juniors are of course welcome at any event safety workshop – sign up by 17th February – more info via this link |
Controllers Grade C Course
Grade C Controller courses are run twice a year with the precise location dictated by the learner location
| Grade C course | 9th March – Central Belt | In person – 1 day – Location to be determined depending on applicants – more info via this link |
| Grade C course | Autumn – Northerly location | In person – 1 day – Location to be determined depending on applicants |
Controllers Grade B Course
Grade B Controller courses are run on an as required basis. If you are interested please contact suzanne@scottish-orienteering.org to register your interest.
Planners courses
| Adult Planners | Autumn 2025 | 4 weeks online evening sessions – for more information contact suzanne@scottish-orienteering.org |
| Junior Planners | next course available Jan/Feb 2026 | 4 weeks online evening sessions – for more information contact suzanne@scottish-orienteering.org |