Scottish Orienteering Association

Young Coach Assistant 23rd November - Central belt
2025-11-23 10:00 - 16:00 (Europe/London) | Central Belt, United Kingdom
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
Book online through the Google form by Fri 7th Nov or contact Suzanne Robins-Bird with any questions

Emergency First Aid at Work Course
2025-11-29 09:30 - 16:30
An SOA Emergency First Aid at Work course is being run on Saturday 29th November at either Kinbuck village hall Nr Dunblane or in Edinburgh depending on best venue for participants. This course is suitable for L1/Club Coaches working in up to a Grade C area and those supplying First Aid cover at events.
The cost is £65 a head. Please register using the form or contact Suzanne with any questions.

Event Safety Workshop – online – 8th December 7pm – 9.30
2025-12-08 19:00 - 21:30 | Online
This online Event Safety and Welfare (ESW) workshop is aimed at all who orienteer – whether you are a coach, a competitor, an event official or helper. It is a suitable refresher for those who have attended the course before – there are some new materials!
Delivered online, using the Zoom platform and Google tools, this 2.5 hour workshop is a prerequisite for all event officials at SOA/BOF events and licensed coaches and is free to SOA members.

There will be a short pre-course task to enable us to make the most of the online time together which will be sent out one week before the course.

Please complete the registration form by 24th November 2025

Coaching Foundation (CF/26_1) – Blended Learning
2026-01-26 19:30 - 2026-02-16 21:00 | Online
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

Club Coach (L5/26_1) – Blended Learning
2026-01-26 19:30 - 2026-03-08 21:00 | Online
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 online over a 5 – 6 week period, this course comprises:

Four online, tutor led, interactive sessions online of 1.5 hrs each.
Exact day will be decided in consultation with learners to take other commitments into consideration.
1 full day in person practical which includes the assessment
The assessment may be split over 2 days in the winter due to lack of daylight or split into a North and South day
The first online session will be w/b 26th January 2026. All pre-course work will need to be completed prior to this date.
The pre-course work will be sent out before Christmas 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 over the weekend of 7th/8th March 2026
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

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.
BOOKING:
Email suzanne@scottish-orienteering.org for further information or use the Google form to register for the course. Closing date for applications is Monday 8th December 2025.

Coach CPD - physical preparation for orienteering 19th Feb
2026-02-19 19:00 - 20:30
The next coach CPD session is being held online. Dave Ellis, Orienteering Coach, UK Athletics Endurance Coach who has coached at Commonwealth Games and Olympics will look at aspects of physical preparation for orienteering including strength and conditioning. It will look at the different needs of the young orienteer, performance orienteer and older orienteer and consider what a year round training programme might look like. . Please register using the Google Form by Monday 10th Feb if you would like to attend.

Event Safety Workshop – online – 9th March 7pm – 9.30
2026-03-09 19:00 - 21:30 | Online
This online Event Safety and Welfare (ESW) workshop is aimed at all who orienteer – whether you are a coach, a competitor, an event official or helper. It is a suitable refresher for those who have attended the course before – there are some new materials!
Delivered online, using the Zoom platform and Google tools, this 2.5 hour workshop is a prerequisite for all event officials at SOA/BOF events and licensed coaches.

There will be a short pre-course task to enable us to make the most of the online time together which will be sent out one week before the course.

Please complete the registration form by 23rd February 2026

Coach CPD day Kinnoull Hill 21st March 2026 - CANCELLED
2026-03-21 10:00 - 16:00
A day for coaches to get together to learn from each other facilitated by our Coach Education Team.

In line with SOA strategy to provide lifelong pathways for members in the sport, the theme of this day will be bringing on youngsters at TD3 and 4 . Please bring along your ideas and an open mind to try out those of others.
The day will run from 10 am – 4 pm with a mixture of discussion and outdoor activities. Detailed joining instructions will be sent out nearer the time.
This training is free of charge. Please fill out the Google form if you wish to attend or email Suzanne with any questions.

Young Coach Assistant Glenmore Lodge - 26th April
2026-04-26 10:00 - 16:00 | Aviemore area
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 26th April 2026.
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; M/W14+
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 Glenmore Lodge near Aviemore
Book online through the Google form by Fri 17th April or contact Suzanne Robins-Bird with any questions

Coaching Foundation (CF/26_2) – Blended Learning
2026-05-25 19:30 - 2026-06-15 21:00 | Online
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
