British Triathlon copied Orienteering

[bewildered]

I heard a presentation by Jack Maitland the other day.

In case you haven't heard of him, he coaches the Brownlees and Non Stanford (World Triathlon champion 2013). In his younger days he was an orienteer and went through the Regional Squads system. He went on to be a very successful fell and mountain runner before taking up triathlon and then coaching.

One of the interesting things he said was how, when starting to develop a squad structure for triathlon, he used the orienteering junior regional squad system as a model. He set up regular weekend training camps for the more "talented" athletes and, I think, similar week camps to the Lagganlia/Badaguish camps. His view was that this structure gave the right environment for athletes to both train and develop the social infrastructure needed to get the best out of budding junior athletes.

Nice to know we have been useful to another sport!

[buzz]

Haven't seen Jack for years I didn't even know he was back in Leeds let alone coaching the Brownlees - will have to get in touch.

Perhaps the current BOF regime could learn something from Triathlon! BOF seem to have lost the plot with Junior development - distancing themselves from the regional squads and dispensing with the values and ideas that I expect inspired Jack.

[JK]

As I recall Jack won all the classes C, B, A and E in the KIMM in consecutive years, winning E with John Baston on Dartmoor in 1982. In the years after he was British Fell Champ, won Island yacht races and then moved into Tri.

[frog]

I used to go and watch Jack win the Ed new Years day triathlon in the late 80s/early 90s. Tried to find the results from then but early triathlon results didn't come up, probably on paper somewhere. Glad to hear he's doing so well.
The only trouble with taking away elite juniors for special training is that whilst it's good for the top end of the sport it does mean the not so good juniors can feel left out and that they will never catch up so may reduce junior participation overall when they reach 14+ when the distances become longer and the navigation tougher.

[SeanC]

I don't think that's such a problem if the local club has a junior squad/club that's open to all, and there is good local competitions/events. See what Southdowns are doing with 'SO Juniors', looks the sort of thing other clubs could copy. http://www.southdowns-orienteers.org.uk/index/juniors

[frog]

I like the idea of events being fee for junior members. I suspect you're a much bigger club than us though, we only have a handful of junior members and not more than 1 per age group in general plus are geographically spread. We keep debating whether we need to target juniors or adults and then any sprogs follow.

[SeanC]

How about forming a junior squad with a neighbouring club? Got to be easier now with Facebook etc

[frog]

Our neighbouring club has 2 juniors I think. We're working on a different scale to you!

[buzz]

The only trouble with taking away elite juniors for special training is that whilst it's good for the top end of the sport it does mean the not so good juniors can feel left out and that they will never catch up so may reduce junior participation overall when they reach 14+ when the distances become longer and the navigation tougher.

Having 'stars' who are able to perform at a high level doesn't stop kids enjoying playing football etc. In fact I suspect quite the opposite - it gives credibility to the sport - makes it cool, and if you enjoy the sport you find your own level of competition against your peers.

I think the idea with a 'club' -> 'region' -> 'national' squad structure is that at each level it gives kids a chance to meet other kids from outside their family / school/ club/ region/ country etc and also gives them something to aspire to at each level. Very few go on to win international medals, but many learn an awful lot about orienteering and life and are inspired to become mappers, planners, organisers and coaches (like Jack).

[JK]

As I recall Jack won all the classes C, B, A and E in the KIMM in consecutive years, winning E with John Baston on Dartmoor in 1982. In the years after he was British Fell Champ, won Island yacht races and then moved into Tri.

Sounds like he was wong and didn't win the C - my mistake.

[Sloop]

On the other hand, he did win the Mow Cop Killer Mile, in what was a record at the time.

[Gross]

Hold this sortof thing up as the fun elite athletes have.... that'll help keep youngsters interested:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nCPyD2wTeYE

[graeme]

... not so good juniors can feel left out ....

Having 'stars' who are able to perform at a high level doesn't stop kids enjoying football...

but there's a huge difference between having a tiny minority of "stars", with most footballers in the "also-rans", and the orienteering situation where the also-rans are the minority. Temporarily.

[buzz]

... not so good juniors can feel left out ....

Having 'stars' who are able to perform at a high level doesn't stop kids enjoying football...

but there's a huge difference between having a tiny minority of "stars", with most footballers in the "also-rans", and the orienteering situation where the also-rans are the minority. Temporarily.

Not sure the 'also rans' are the minority in orienteering. How do you work that one out?

I'm not sure 'also rans' is an appropriate term for the majority of participants in football or orienteering who enjoy competing at their own level, try to beat their peers each week and hopefully look up to and respect those at the top of the tree. The only difference is that in orienteering we occasionally get the opportunity to run the same courses as the 'stars' - but isn't that a good thing?

[JK]

Hold this sortof thing up as the fun elite athletes have.... that'll help keep youngsters interested:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nCPyD2wTeYE

I thought that blonde one looked familiar: looks like biathletes don't have the same dress code as orienteers when running in the forest. I suspect we've just been watching at least one Sochi medallist.

Maybe this one gives a better idea or O in the forest:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c-_3rH0oOh8