Drop out of teenage participants

[housewife]

This was an interesting read: https://newsportfuture.com/the-teenage- ... Lq82rQ38LI

Are we focusing on rules and performance above having fun with friends? Is this why there is such a big drop out rate?

[Big Jon]

I agree - and the longer I spend in coaching the more I agree! Make sure there is plenty of time for children to play, interact with each other in whatever way they choose, and have some orienteering thrown into the mix...
I believe this even at top junior level (eg aspiring to JWOC), make things too serious, fill every minute of the schedule with "work" and the participants will back off and go away.
I don't think it ends to be "organised fun", just have time for the children be with each other, they'll find ways to fill the time.

[tomgood]

I feel this is magnified in minority sports like Orienteering.

I'm sure most teens that play regular football at the weekend don't realistically expect to play at a county/national level - but enjoy the company of other's with similar interests.

If you're one of only a handful of teens in your club and not aspiring to a regional squad etc where do you socialise with like minded teens? How many clubs reach that 'critical mass' of juniors that makes socialising realistic?

[NickTaylor]

I think this article is spot on. I remember in 2012 endlessly hearing the phrase 'Inspiring the next generation of champions' and being infuriated by it. Something more like 'Inspiring the next generation of normal kids who just want to have fun and make friends' would have been a much better slogan. I do think the emphasis of sport in general in this country has long been focussed too much on performance. Maybe we should try something different.

Making orienteering sociable for juniors seems to be key and that just seems to be so difficult when there are so few of them around them in a small area. Can someone say very roughly what proportion of regular junior orienteers are in a regional squad?

It feels like the only way to really be part of a social scene as a junior orienteer is to be in a regional squad. I don't know how the squads operate but I imagine it wouldn't be easy to just increase the size of them. Is that right?

[SeanC]

Regional squads are typically volunteer intensive so wouldn't scale up.

Actually I think there is a good social scene for juniors at many local events, but mostly for junior school age children. After that numbers drop off.

This could be fixed quite easily IMHO if all events:
a) offered and promoted a score course.
b) encouraged competing in groups.

Older juniors would then have an alternative pathway to the 'serious'/more challenging yellow-orange-light green-blue route that generally requires being in a club with good junior coaching (rare) or having an experienced motivated orienteering parent as coach who is prepared to do shadowing (normal).

A well planned score course is a failure free option - everyone should be able to find some, whatever skill level, physical ability and motivation. Encourage juniors to compete with their friends if they want to, then they don't need to turn up to a dozen regional squad days to make some friends as they will be bringing their own with them.

Score courses and encouraging group participation could equally benefit many adult newbies.

[spitalfields]

Regional squads are typically volunteer intensive so wouldn't scale up.

Actually I think there is a good social scene for juniors at many local events, but mostly for junior school age children. After that numbers drop off.

This could be fixed quite easily IMHO if all events:
a) offered and promoted a score course.
b) encouraged competing in groups.

Older juniors would then have an alternative pathway to the 'serious'/more challenging yellow-orange-light green-blue route that generally requires being in a club with good junior coaching (rare) or having an experienced motivated orienteering parent as coach who is prepared to do shadowing (normal).

A well planned score course is a failure free option - everyone should be able to find some, whatever skill level, physical ability and motivation. Encourage juniors to compete with their friends if they want to, then they don't need to turn up to a dozen regional squad days to make some friends as they will be bringing their own with them.

Score courses and encouraging group participation could equally benefit many adult newbies.

Completely agree.