Interestingly the rules of orienteering fall into the same trap for middle distance events, labelling M/W14 as light green, M/W12 as orange.
The BO guidance I am thinking of is more generic. Something like:
"Junior competitions should provide meaningful competition at courses with appropriate technical difficulty for juniors. At age based competition, juniors should be expected to compete at the following technical difficulty:
M/W10 (aged 10 or below): 2
M/W12 (aged 10 to 12): 2
M/W14 (aged 12 to 14): 3
M/W16 (aged 14 to 16): 4
M/W18 (aged 16 to 18): 5
Advanced juniors could be expected to run courses with the following technical difficulties:
M/W10 (aged 10 or below): 2
M/W12 (aged 10 to 12): 3
M/W14 (aged 12 to 14): 4
M/W16 (aged 14 to 16): 5
M/W18 (aged 16 to 18): 5"
Of course this is just my opinion.
Do people really read the rules of orienteering? There's things in there that I know are widely ignored. I think BO could communicate such new advice direct to regions and competitions via meetings or BO news, that would be more widely read.
I agree it's advice, and helpful advice from an expert committee should be received constructively, and of course ignored by clubs and regions with different strongly held opinions.
Junior Age Classes - when and why
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Re: Junior Age Classes - when and why
pete.owens wrote:British Schools Champs and Yvette Baker Trophy also use easier courses for the age classes.
They do. But this generally results in experienced orienteers running courses that they are vastly over-qualified for, rather than giving an opportunity to the less experienced to be competitive. The YBT rules in particular are clearly designed with the best of intentions to provide an inclusive experience. But the definition used of 'an experienced orienteer' is such that any club hell-bent on winning will be able to put regular green runners on orange, completely within the rules. And many do.
The schools champs are also clearly designed with the intention of engaging non-orienteers. But does it achieve this- or is it simply another opportunity for club juniors?
And as for A and B classes at major events, if this isn't demotivating, why not use this for senior classes as well, instead of L and S?
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Re: Junior Age Classes - when and why
As long as there is clear guidance and support for newcomers to run an appropriate course (rather than being to compelled to run a particular course because of their age) I can't see a problem with the current mapping of ages to TD at standard events, with JST/YBT/CSC Schools champs etc dropped a TD level in the interests of inclusivity.
No, given the choice, advanced juniors run up - and smash the old folk https://www.britishorienteering.org.uk/ ... &course=3&
This is really sad, but then IMHO any parents who talk about the "school run" should be forced to run it...
SeanC wrote:Advanced juniors could be expected to run courses with the following technical difficulties:
No, given the choice, advanced juniors run up - and smash the old folk https://www.britishorienteering.org.uk/ ... &course=3&
SeanC wrote:It's not hard to find information showing that the majority of 10 year olds still don't walk to school on their own, yet alone run off into a massive forest looking for flags. (eg https://www.schoolhousemagazine.co.uk/q ... ool-alone/)
This is really sad, but then IMHO any parents who talk about the "school run" should be forced to run it...
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greywolf - addict
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Re: Junior Age Classes - when and why
But this generally results in experienced orienteers running courses that they are vastly over-qualified for, rather than giving an opportunity to the less experienced to be competitive.
An inexperienced junior is never going to be competitive at a national schools championship in any sport. But what the event does do is allow everyone to take part and for the vast majority of juniors to successfully complete their course. This would not be the case if the courses were set at normal BOF championship standards. The best competitors still win, so the event achieves its objectives.
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Re: Junior Age Classes - when and why
spitalfields wrote:And as for A and B classes at major events, if this isn't demotivating, why not use this for senior classes as well, instead of L and S?
We used to do that.
I suspect that novice adults are mature enough to accept "B" suggesting that to get good they must develop technical skill, the suggestion that they're incapable of running long distances is a better demotivator.
SeanC wrote:The BO guidance I am thinking of is more generic. Something like:
In regular events, juniors are competitive on all courses until they have won an event on that course. For league competitions, eligibility is remains the same as for the first race.
(where some thought is given to defining "won")
The rationale is that juniors are motivated by winning and very demotivated by losing: we need a structure where everyone can, at some point, get to win.
SeanC wrote:In championship events
M/W10 (aged 10 or below): 2
M/W12 (aged 10 to 12): 3
M/W14 (aged 12 to 14): 4
M/W16 (aged 14 to 16): 5
M/W18 (aged 16 to 18): 5"
WOC2024 Edinburgh
Test races at SprintScotland (Alloa/Falkirk) and Euromeeting (near Stirling).
Test races at SprintScotland (Alloa/Falkirk) and Euromeeting (near Stirling).
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