Now the date and location have been announced
( http://www.bsoa.org/bsoc04/prelim.asp),
I am tempted to take a team from my school - we have never entered before. We have around a dozen keen souls - all beginners but some are becoming quite confident and one or two show signs of being really fast. I think aiming for a weekend in November would provide motivation for them to get out there and do some club events before then and I think it could be fun.
What I am mildly worried about is the risk that others will be so good that going to the event is completely demotivating - it is clear that there are about three schools that dominate.
Any advice?
British Schools
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Are you talking primary or secondary. In the primary anyone with a grasp who is fast can do well - look at Neville he came fourth as a year 5 having only ever been to a couple of events before. that's how we all got started. Obviously the technical side starts to tell more the further up the school years you go - but schools competitions are consistantly less technical than main stream badge a Classes - if what you say is true about them being keen and fast - i very much doubt they will come last - is there not some local schools comps that you could test out the standard of the opposition ( and yes certain schools do dominate - but in a few years time yours could be one of them - that would be refreshing!)
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Mrs H. - nope godmother
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Being from one of the schools that dominates, we have a few 'mainstream' orienteers and thats about all you need to 'dominate' but the large majority of the people that we take are not of a particularly high standard, and just do it either because of enjoyment, or for the duke of edinburgh award scheme. I don't think that anyone would feel intimidated apart from possibly on the year 12+13 classes where the numbers have diminished leaving only the 'mainstream' orienteers.
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Dan - green
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Go for it, as Dan said the schools that do dominate do so mainly by taking loads of people, there's usually a wide range of abilities and it is a great experience for kids. Also the more competition there is, the less likely it is that any school will be able to dominate.
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cj - yellow
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It would be secondary school students - mostly Years 7-10 though there is one lass in Y12 who is an Army Cadet and beginning to place in their closed events (which are physically tough but I am not sure how technical).
I would like to go, but want to make sure students have a good time and want to do more! We have had mixed experiences trying to involve youngsters in new sports - e.g. in Sailing there are some places and events that are brilliant at building confidence and enthusiasm and others which are cliquey and elitist and make people decide they never want to sail again.
I would like to go, but want to make sure students have a good time and want to do more! We have had mixed experiences trying to involve youngsters in new sports - e.g. in Sailing there are some places and events that are brilliant at building confidence and enthusiasm and others which are cliquey and elitist and make people decide they never want to sail again.
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chrisecurtis - red
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We're members - apart from it being a good thing to join, you get worthwhile discounts - they do a cheapish kit with mini-control flags, punches etc.
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chrisecurtis - red
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Take them. They are the perfect age. I have taken kids and assisted at many schools events. They are generally much more social than normal orienteering events and a real sense of team spirit is normally infused into the kids. You'll find, as I have done in the past that no matter how long the kids take or whichever position they end up in the sense of achievement at finishing and the congratulations they get from their team mates for just doing that over-rides any sense of loss at not getting a top placing.
Yes some teams with 'mainstream orienteers' as Dan says do tend to dominate the winners podium. As in any sport though there is some ebb and flow as various ability students move through the ranks so there is always a chance at some point of causing an 'upset'.
Our top junior, guaranteed to win mis-punched one year. Twice we have been at the point of or actually went out looking for a late returner who we considered must have got lost. In both cases they turned up at the finish having successfully found all controls. They were not harmed by the experience and are still as keen today to compete as they were three and four years ago. Go For It.
Yes some teams with 'mainstream orienteers' as Dan says do tend to dominate the winners podium. As in any sport though there is some ebb and flow as various ability students move through the ranks so there is always a chance at some point of causing an 'upset'.
Our top junior, guaranteed to win mis-punched one year. Twice we have been at the point of or actually went out looking for a late returner who we considered must have got lost. In both cases they turned up at the finish having successfully found all controls. They were not harmed by the experience and are still as keen today to compete as they were three and four years ago. Go For It.
- Guest
I'd back Guest up, on this. Do take them. The British Schools is like no other major O-event in this country, and is aimed primarily at relatively inexperienced youngsters. Yes, the best are often there, but they are (aside from the oldest classes) in the definite minority, and the atmosphere is one of school teams coming together, not individual experienced competitors. I know it was primary , but I took a school team a couple of years ago comprising mostly youngsters with only the minimum events under their belss, and they loved it.
Incidentally, the World Schools is every two years, so the BSOC is not a selection race this year, which has in the past affected the number of 'good' orienteers who turn up, so there is likely to be even less emphasis on the m than usual.
Go for it Chris, and I'm sure your youngsters will enjoy themselves.
Regards, Andrew
Incidentally, the World Schools is every two years, so the BSOC is not a selection race this year, which has in the past affected the number of 'good' orienteers who turn up, so there is likely to be even less emphasis on the m than usual.
Go for it Chris, and I'm sure your youngsters will enjoy themselves.
Regards, Andrew
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awk - god
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If you can get age group teams, either boys or girls it gives a real sense of team work as their are awards in each age class and these don't all go to the schools that are big in O. We took a primary team to Watford a few years ago. We had reasonably good boys and a few girls. The year 6 boys won and the year five boys were 3rd I think. It was a great moment for them, I think the school were 3rd overall and a lot of the boys got medals. The unfortunate thing was they moved up to two secondary Schools and the teams were broken up, this meant the team bonding was lost and all but two stopped orienteering.
I now try to get a team from my sons secondary school and have managed to take a few each year. There has been no major team success but there has been a lot of personal success. Last year we got a year 8 boy into 9th place on his first solo run. I find it easier to get the younger boys to take part. However I'm not a teacher within the school, so don't have the same opportunities to 'O wash' the kids.
I now try to get a team from my sons secondary school and have managed to take a few each year. There has been no major team success but there has been a lot of personal success. Last year we got a year 8 boy into 9th place on his first solo run. I find it easier to get the younger boys to take part. However I'm not a teacher within the school, so don't have the same opportunities to 'O wash' the kids.
Diets and fitness are no good if you can't read the map.
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HOCOLITE - addict
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