Start Squad

[Babybel]

is it possible that there are proportionally more scots/welshies because they're better than us???
(crazy idea i know)

on the subject of selections, there is always going to be some disappointments following selections + no one can ever quite work out the justifications for why one person is selected over another. you could try writing and asking why you havent been selected but from personal experience you are likely to get the most rubbish letter in the world ever in response-its a page of writing but it doesnt actually tell you anything!

i do think that phone calls are a step forward, as i think i would have appreciated one when i was dropped from the start squad.

at the end of the day not being selected for the start squad won't destroy your orienteering career. so just keep pushing for your longer term goals

[rob f]

actually if you write a letter you might get selected for a tour, when if you work your arse off to travel the length of the country to finish 2nd in your year at a selection race and then 6th at the british after having been ill, you'd feel hard done by if someone wrote a letter to complain about not being accepted and got on when as you took the selection on your cheek and accepted it and didnt get to go

[bedders]

is someone bitter?

[RogYoman]

deleted.

[Dave]

it doesn't matter which races they use, because when you run it, you'll know that selection will be based upon the result so your mentality will be pretty much the same.

[bexter]

Start Squad is aimed for people who have potential for results in the WORLD champs. If you don't have the mentalitly and fall apart at the British champs and JK, then how are you expected to cope with anything bigger?

[Babybel]

yes, the start squad is aimed at developing future world champions, but it doesnt do that by recruiting people who would acheive that now. surely it is there to find those juniors who have the potential and support them in developing physically/technically/mentally to fulfill their potential. my advice would be not to worry, enjoy your races (that is after all why we do this crazy sport) + try to stay as calm as you can. hopefully the selectors will recognise your potential, if they don't, missing the start program at 14 will not really be a significant problem to you when you're stood on the podium at woc in ten years time!

[Lizi Beee]

V well put Jo,
I was just gonna say i think the philosophy to go by (well mine now...) is just go get fit, run, enjoy it and if you get selected then good, if not them just keep enjoying the running. Don't pressure yourself to train for them, just do what feels natural. There is no point whatsover in getting worked up about them and pushing your body if it isn't strong enough. There are many many years ahead of most of you guys to get to world class standard, don't feel you have to do it now!

[rob f]

if you look at the british champions at M/W10/12 very rarely will they be the ones who succeed internationally. For instance Nadine wright, myself and martin jepson (not picking on people) are barely at that level. yet many who have come through a little later on (Hector, Doug, Kyle) had the potential when younger. Its one thing being able to run around paths at 12, its another coping with scandi style terrain, difficult route choices and high levels of technicallity at 18, as well as being fast enough to beat the most accurate (definately where i now fall down). Jo is right, finding the development. The problem is its so difficult to tell. A lot of this development depends on regional squads. A young lad in the west mids squad, alex roberts, came back from this years west mids tour of sweden and has won or been near the top of everything since. The training here, and with others, is where some potential is identified for future, not by selecting around 8 individuals out of 20 of the best at M/W14, and then seeing how others perform in races.
Another point is that Britain could possess the next simone niggli or jorgen martenson (applogies if ive spelt the names wrong), but they may have never done the sport. If everyone did the sport then maybe we would find more top quality orienteers, that we won more medals, and got more funding to develop the potential athletes, as well as the sport in the uk in general. It seems sad that we need money to develop and we cant get money until we have developed.

good morning all

[RogYoman]

deleted.

[Little Hoddy]

Don't pressure yourself to train for them, just do what feels natural. There is no point whatsover in getting worked up about them and pushing your body if it isn't strong enough.

Thats a bit defeatist isn't it?? Obviously you need to enjoy your training and keep it within your limits but if nobody pushed themselves then we wouldn't stand a chance in hell getting medals in WOC (or at our age World Schools etc)

[Babybel]

she's not saying don't push it t all.just don't push it too far!

[Lizi Beee]

thanks Babybel you get what i mean. I just think that pushing too hard now (or ever - TOO hard that is) is silly. Know thy limits. Not saying that you should think "if i can't win this race then i shouldn't bother". just saying don't force yourself to think you have to win everything at such a young age! hell you don't have to win everything when you're older but it sure would help!