SeanC wrote:EAOA is not exactly overrun with juniors doing TD4 courses if the ranking list is used as a measure? 8 M/W18s with more than 1 ranking list score, 7 M/W 20's. I'm sure that's not unique to EAOA but it's hardly healthy?
Indeed and that was one of the points made, but I think local leagues are a poor proxy for increasing/retaining participation. We (WAOC) are getting a lot of juniors to our Park-O events (optional on-the-day entry, easy to get to, a loyalty card, free junior coaching if you join the club); converting them and their families to woodland participants is harder, but has had some success (pushing us into the large club category in CSC for instance).
SeanC wrote:I think the juniors doing the same course (where appropriate) could be achieved through the EAOA junior squad or perhaps a whatsapp group for older juniors.
Yes, EAJS is the accepted pathway for future potential elites and is aspirational for that group. You woudn't fail to get selected because you happened to not choose to run up at an EAL even though.