Planners and future planners – we have offerings for you as well. Our tried and tested Planners’ workshops series ( adult and junior) are being run again this winter by Colin Eades and his team of trainers. In addition we are delighted to say that some experts have volunteered to give existing and new planners the benefit of their experience by hosting 3 planners discussions. We also have a range of ESWs to suit all. All these workshops are free to SOA members.
Junior planners having a goGuess the area!Read More…
A course combining theory and practical for juniors with some knowledge of orienteering (TD3 standard ), who are interested in helping with coaching in a club, squad, camp or school setting. This course is a fun and sociable introduction to aspects of coaching and is in 2 parts:
1.5 hours online (one evening during the week before the practical day)
A fun practical day (10am – 4pm) on Sunday 23rd November 2025.
You are required to attend both parts to complete the course.
Cost:
The training is provided free of charge but you will be required to commit to a period of mentored volunteering.
Course Content:
Discussion around what to coach and how to coach orienteering; practical self and peer evaluated exercises.
Pre-requisites:
Competent orienteers at least at TD3; age 14+
OTHER NOTES:
This course counts as a pre-requisite for the SCCO Level 5 Club Coach course.
MORE DETAIL:
This course will be held in Stirling or Edinburgh depending on location of participants
A Scottish Coaching Certificate in Orienteering fully accredited by the SQA, this course blends theory and practical providing the knowledge and skills to run single sessions within a framework set up by a more experienced coach.
INTENDED FOR:
Active Foundation level coaches or Young Coach Assistants interested in furthering their experience to gain a licenced coaching qualification.
COURSE STRUCTURE
Delivered mainly in person in Edinburgh over a 1 week period, this course comprises:
A mixture of online, tutor led, interactive sessions and in-person sessions.
The exact timetable will be decided in consultation with learners to take other commitments into consideration.
2 full days in person practical and theory which includes the assessment
The first session will be w/b 8th Sep. All pre-course work will need to be completed prior to this date.
The pre-course work will be sent out in late July giving the learner a good amount of time to complete the work.
ASSESSMENT:
Written tasks and observation of practical coaching sessions by a qualified assessor. The practical assessment will take place during the week of 8th September 2025
COURSE OUTLINE:
The focus of the Level 5: Club Coach is the single session usually progressing a skill within the session. Building on the basic skills and knowledge covered in Coaching Foundation, the course includes the theory of what and how to coach, practical exercise planning and delivery including risk management and developing yourself as a coach.
PRE-REQUISITES:
Attendance at Coaching Foundation course
Aged 17 or over
Evidence of competence at orienteering at TD4 or above
Current member of British Orienteering for insurance purposes
SOA PVG
COST:
£170 per person, £200 non-members. sportscotland funding is now administered through SOA and may cover part of your course fee depending on your circumstances. Please consult your club treasurer if you are expecting your club to pay your fee.
An initial, unassessed course for orienteers who are interested in getting involved in coaching. This fun course will give you the basics and get you on the pathway to becoming a coach. Also useful for qualified coaches in need of a refresher.
COURSE STRUCTURE:
•
Run mostly online, with a practical club supported element, this course will be held over 4 sessions.
•
Weeks 1, 2 & 4 – 1.5 hrs online weekday evenings.
•
Dates are w/b 25th May, 1st & 15th Jun 2026 .
•
Exact day will be decided in consultation with learners to take other commitments into consideration.
•
Week 3 is a club based self-evaluated practical session. Practical session by negotiation with club mentor.
COURSE CONTENT:
Discussion based learning around what to coach and how to coach orienteering.
Practical self and peer evaluated exercises.
PRE-REQUISITES:
•
Competent orienteers at least at TD3
•
Age 16+ (open to negotiation for exceptional candidates)
•
You must be able to arrange a practical exercise with either a club coach or a local school/youth organisation within the time frame of the course, ideally between online sessions 2 & 3 but anytime before session 4. You will be supported in this process.
COST:
£50 per person (non-members £75)
OTHER NOTES:
This course is a pre-requisite for the SCCO Level 5 Club Coach course.
REGISTRATION:
Book online through the Google form or contact Suzanne Robins-Bird with any questions. Closing date for applications is Friday 8th May 2026
An initial, unassessed course for orienteers who are interested in getting involved in coaching. This fun course will give you the basics and get you on the pathway to becoming a coach. Also useful for qualified coaches in need of a refresher.
COURSE STRUCTURE:
•
Run mostly online, with a practical club supported element, this course will be held over 4 sessions:
•
Weeks 1, 2 & 4 – 1.5 hrs online weekday evenings.
•
Dates are w/b 26th Jan, 2nd & 16th Feb .
•
Exact day will be decided in consultation with learners to take other commitments into consideration.
•
Week 3 is a club based self-evaluated practical session. Practical session by negotiation with club mentor.
COURSE CONTENT:
Discussion based learning around what to coach and how to coach orienteering.
Practical self and peer evaluated exercises.
PRE-REQUISITES:
•
Competent orienteers at least at TD3
•
Age 16+ (open to negotiation for exceptional candidates)
•
You must be able to arrange a practical exercise with either a club coach or a local school/youth organisation within the time frame of the course, ideally between online sessions 2 & 3 but anytime before session 4. You will be supported in this process.
COST:
£50 per person (non-members £75)
OTHER NOTES:
This course is a pre-requisite for the SCCO Level 5 Club Coach course.
REGISTRATION:
Book online through the Google form or contact Suzanne Robins-Bird with any questions. Closing date for applications is Monday 12th January 2026
An initial, unassessed course for orienteers who are interested in getting involved in coaching. This fun course will give you the basics and get you on the pathway to becoming a coach. Also useful for qualified coaches in need of a refresher.
COURSE STRUCTURE:
•
Run mostly online, with a practical club supported element, this course will be held over 4 sessions.
•
Weeks 1, 2 & 4 – 1.5 hrs online weekday evenings.
•
Dates are w/b 22nd Sep, 29th Sep & 13th Oct .
•
Exact day will be decided in consultation with learners to take other commitments into consideration.
•
Week 3 is a club based self-evaluated practical session. Practical session by negotiation with club mentor.
COURSE CONTENT:
Discussion based learning around what to coach and how to coach orienteering.
Practical self and peer evaluated exercises.
PRE-REQUISITES:
•
Competent orienteers at least at TD3
•
Age 16+ (open to negotiation for exceptional candidates)
•
You must be able to arrange a practical exercise with either a club coach or a local school/youth organisation within the time frame of the course, ideally between online sessions 2 & 3 but anytime before session 4. You will be supported in this process.
COST:
£50 per person (non-members £75)
OTHER NOTES:
This course is a pre-requisite for the SCCO Level 5 Club Coach course.
REGISTRATION:
Book online through the Google form or contact Suzanne Robins-Bird with any questions. Closing date for applications is Friday 9th May 2025
The April session in the SOA’s monthly online Community Conversations series brought together club members from across Scotland to talk about coaching education and support. The session was introduced by Suzanne Robins-Bird, the SOA’s Coaching & Volunteer officer, with an open forum for questions and ideas submitted in advance as well as during the session.
Are you getting the most as a coach from your planning software? Technical competency can really help with planning good sessions, but obviously involves learning an additional set of skills. SOA has a wealth of support available amongst its active members, ably demonstrated at the most recent online Coach CPD session on Wednesday evening. We had an excellent session led by Lynne Walker (BASOC) on using Condes for coaching, with coaches from clubs including FVO, Interlopers, INVOC, Moravian and TAY getting together to learn some very useful tools and tricks.
It’s that time when British Orienteering recognise the contribution that all our wonderful volunteers have made to the sport during the preceding year. 2024 was a busy year for all of us in Scottish Orienteering from major events including WOC, through to local events, club and squad coaching, mapping and all the hard work that goes on in committees to keep our clubs running. If you know someone who deserves recognition for all their hard work please nominate them for one of the awards. Nominations are open for the following categories and close on Monday 17th March
Our wonderful sport relies heavily on volunteers who have built up loads of experience over the years in a multitude of roles – coaching, officiating at events, serving on the committee, running SI, organising weekends away and generally helping out. All of you who do these jobs have a lot to pass onto new people coming into those roles. Working with experienced volunteers complements the training that formal courses provide and is a vital part in ensuring succession on the volunteer front.
