We are truly delighted to be able to publish Level 3 guidance for orienteering events and activities which sees travel restrictions on mainland Scotland removed and the resumption of local and regional events up to 200 people as of April 26th. Go forth and orienteer!
We are continuing dialogue with sportscotland and will publish guidance on event sizes permitted at Level 2,1 and 0 once we have further details.
As part of our support to restart the sport, the SOA Board of Directors last week approved that those joining or renewing their SOA membership as of the 1st May will do so at half price. We hope this will provide some incentive for new families and individuals to join, especially those that have recently started orienteering or those who have sampled it through MapRun activities. The price of adult membership will be £5 and Juniors £1 from 1st May (their membership will run until 31st December 2021). Sign up is easy online here
As part of restarting our sport the SOA Board of Directors felt it imperative that as we emerge from lockdown we also consider our key values as part of our Mapping The Way Forward strategy including Respectful, Welcoming and Inclusive. As we look forward to resuming events and club activities it also crucial for us to ensure volunteers and participants all have a positive experience. We collectively, and as individuals must recognise that we create the culture within the sport. Today we re-launch our SOA Code of Conduct, we hope clubs will share this with their members and event participants. Thank you to Tim O’Donoghue who has worked to help us re-work this document.
Not one but two paid development roles are now being advertised in Scotland. Both are part time positions, one working regionally for SOA and the other at a club level with Forth Valley Orienteers. Take a look at the role outlines below and get your applications in while the opportunities are available. A great chance to shape and develop the sport.
Scottish Orienteering’s Star Award Scheme is a personal performance award scheme aimed at encouraging and recognising skills development rather than event results. The L1 award can be delivered in a school or after-school setting, as well as by clubs, and can offer a great mechanism to help lead youngsters from participation at school towards their local club.
We have recently revamped the award to update the content and have developed a set of eye-catching resources for use by coaches, teachers and youth leaders. To help coaches understand the award and how they can deliver it we are organising a workshop for Thu 6th May at 7pm.
SOA would like to join with others in expressing our sadness at the death of Martin Hyman. He contributed so much over many years to the development of runners and orienteers at all levels, as well as having been an outstanding Olympic athlete in his younger days.
***** UPDATE Amended date for round 2 at Tentsmuir *****
Plans are now in place to host a Scottish Junior Cup league over three different races during the spring and summer of 2021. The league will offer a set of high quality, fun, and competitive races which will be open to all junior orienteers in Scotland with age classes from M/W12 to M/W18. The draft plan is as follows:
Sun May 30th, Auchingarrich, Perthsire
Sun Aug 29th, Tentsmuir North, Fife (changed from 22nd due to clash with British Sprint Championships)
Score is coming to you soon. The April issue has a focus on orienteering restarting: getting back to the sport we love but also how our enforced break has given us all the chance to reset how we think about, participate in and grow O for the future.
Sneak cover preview
Watch out for the latest Score available soon on the SOA website.