There's quite a lot of fatalism here.
Reasons why traditional ((ie forest/regional/district) orienteering could be more popular than in it's early 90's peak.
1) 5000 ranked orienteers out of a population of 60 million is 1 person in 12000. Pick 100 people at random and at least 1 (with correct encouragement) could get into orienteering, though that might mean TD3 for many, so lets say 1 in 1000 would like full on technical forest orienteering... still leaves plenty of room for growth.
2) The orienteering bit is still a great product. Brambles - part of the challenge. Mud ditto. No other sport gives such natural running with such a simple problem solving buzz when you find the control.
3) Population is increasing, and population is ageing. Many give up their sports in their 30's and 40's, but orienteers tend to carry on until well past 60.
4) Marketing of traditional orienteers, even to other orienteers such as those that have only gone to a few local events, hasn't really moved on in 30 years. Our 'marketing' generally consists of the online version of the flyer that was ok on the 80's but by modern standards isn't very inspiring. For a club's big event of the year we could easily do a lot better. SLOW set a good standard for the London City Race, though you could look at this triathlon club for an example of a smaller event: http://www.ashfordtriclub.co.uk/php/wordpress/
5) Facilities: Still off putting at some events, but could easily be improved with minimal effort. No toilets? - get permission from a local pub. No post event social - back to that pub?
6) Economics - can be rapidly improved by adding a running orienteering type race, TD1 + a map.
7) Accessibility. Public transport will always be a problem, but many clubs still don't have an effective car sharing scheme. Clubs could divide into sub-regions, then arrange to meet up at a point (eg a train station) to share transport.
8 ) Inter-club competitions, with the exception of the CSC and some relays, not very effective. Get better competitions and those motivated by team sports become publicity officers, persuading others to boost the team.
Reasons why traditional orienteering might decline rapidly
- influential members within clubs unwilling to accept change.
- small or disorganised clubs
- lack of belief/negativity ("we tried that X years ago and it didn't work)
- over-reliance on volunteering (eg difficulties finding people to do jobs such as publicity)
- governing body doesn't influence enough at a local level (too small/too remote/too poorly funded etc).
- ditto for regions (except Scotland maybe).
Is traditional orienteering dying?
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Re: Is traditional orienteering dying?
SeanC wrote:4) Marketing of traditional orienteers, even to other orienteers such as those that have only gone to a few local events, hasn't really moved on in 30 years. Our 'marketing' generally consists of the online version of the flyer that was ok on the 80's but by modern standards isn't very inspiring. For a club's big event of the year we could easily do a lot better. SLOW set a good standard for the London City Race, though you could look at this triathlon club for an example of a smaller event: http://www.ashfordtriclub.co.uk/php/wordpress/
Yes, very interesting Sean - Kings Wood Challock is one of Saxons better areas I think. A huge forest but one we consider too far into East Kent to attract a decent number of orienteers to an event! Food for thought.
Weather forecast for Sunday in East Sussex is sunny intervals.

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DaveK - green
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Re: Is traditional orienteering dying?
I've looked at the details for Hindleap.
It gives the impression that as it is a SEOA league event, I wont be particularly welcome there, as I am not from that region.
Marketing!!
It gives the impression that as it is a SEOA league event, I wont be particularly welcome there, as I am not from that region.
Marketing!!
- aiming off
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Re: Is traditional orienteering dying?
I have always found myself welcome at any orienteering event -and especially so at those out of my home region.
Possibly the slowest Orienteer in the NE but maybe above average at 114kg
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AndyC - addict
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Re: Is traditional orienteering dying?
Knee Deep Mud! wrote:On the average Sunday I have to make the choice between one of a number of different things, and much as I'd like to, it is impossible to do everything, and apart from a few major events, (forest) orienteering has largely lost out as a result.
So you're really saying that, given the choice, you'd rather do something else than go orienteering?
- roadrunner
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Re: Is traditional orienteering dying?
aiming off wrote:I've looked at the details for Hindleap.
It gives the impression that as it is a SEOA league event, I wont be particularly welcome there, as I am not from that region.
Marketing!!
I had a look at the details, since what aiming off says is something I've often worried about. Does an event being part of a league actually put off newcomers into thinking there's no point in just coming to that one event. I think there should always be some sort of statement aimed at reassuring newcomers in the event details for that reason (or a specific course for them).
We do have to be careful of that as organisers. FWIW I didnt think that was the case with the Hlndleap details when I checked.
Orienteering - its no walk in the park
- andypat
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Re: Is traditional orienteering dying?
That's the problem with the flier approach. It's hard to give information that appeals to all groups on one page. Everyone gets information they don't need and/or sees information that is potentially offputting.
The mini-website approach is much better, you can still have the boring bare bones details bit on one page, and other pages to generate some hype and interest for those that need it. Those that just want to find the car park location and courses can drill down to that bit.
I don't know if it's possible to construct a mini-website template, and share between clubs, or at least re-use within one club?
The mini-website approach is much better, you can still have the boring bare bones details bit on one page, and other pages to generate some hype and interest for those that need it. Those that just want to find the car park location and courses can drill down to that bit.
I don't know if it's possible to construct a mini-website template, and share between clubs, or at least re-use within one club?
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Re: Is traditional orienteering dying?
The other issue for me is that there are still too many events competing for attention.
Yes you can attract runners, but most of them will do a few events a year only, not one per week. Also the more events there are, the less marketing / other effort will go into each one.
That's partly the reason JK and S6D (as well as November Classic and some others) are holding up nicely. They are the few events per year that you know will be really good, and all your friends will be there too.
For now the majority of clubs still sticks to their age-old routine of 1 badge event, 2 colour codeds, which just isn't sustainable in my view (nor are there really enough areas to keep it interesting).
Yes you can attract runners, but most of them will do a few events a year only, not one per week. Also the more events there are, the less marketing / other effort will go into each one.
That's partly the reason JK and S6D (as well as November Classic and some others) are holding up nicely. They are the few events per year that you know will be really good, and all your friends will be there too.
For now the majority of clubs still sticks to their age-old routine of 1 badge event, 2 colour codeds, which just isn't sustainable in my view (nor are there really enough areas to keep it interesting).
- Arnold
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Re: Is traditional orienteering dying?
Also the more events there are, the less marketing / other effort will go into each one.
Yet this is exactly what BOF are pushing clubs to do. Their approach seems to be that the more events there are the better.
- SJC
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Re: Is traditional orienteering dying?
Actually on this one I think BOF have got it right. They are saying fewer "biggish" events (like colour codeds) but more smaller, easily accessible ones.
(While we're on our favourite topic of BOF has anyone read the latest board minutes? There is precious little talk about actual orienteering amidst all the efforts on recruitinh committee chairs, writing transgender policies, adding independent directors and the like).
(While we're on our favourite topic of BOF has anyone read the latest board minutes? There is precious little talk about actual orienteering amidst all the efforts on recruitinh committee chairs, writing transgender policies, adding independent directors and the like).
- Arnold
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Re: Is traditional orienteering dying?
Strongly disagree.
Where traditional orienteering is dying is in the 16-20 age group where numbers progressively drop off.
Picking, unfairly, on Hindleap, it is constrained to attract only 250 competitors due to the clash with a SCOA League event at Busketts Lawn. So that means only a dozen, at most, 16-20's, spread thinly across several courses, with no clearly defined competition. It also means no Ultrasport, no food, no friends, no "buzz".
We need events with 450-500 people in total to get a critical mass in the 16-20 age group, defined age group competition, an arena, traders, food, friends, socialising, and more.
Where traditional orienteering is dying is in the 16-20 age group where numbers progressively drop off.
Picking, unfairly, on Hindleap, it is constrained to attract only 250 competitors due to the clash with a SCOA League event at Busketts Lawn. So that means only a dozen, at most, 16-20's, spread thinly across several courses, with no clearly defined competition. It also means no Ultrasport, no food, no friends, no "buzz".
We need events with 450-500 people in total to get a critical mass in the 16-20 age group, defined age group competition, an arena, traders, food, friends, socialising, and more.
- aiming off
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- DIDSCO
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Re: Is traditional orienteering dying?
Great video - sums up the old-men's view of O perfectly......
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Re: Is traditional orienteering dying?
DIDSCO wrote:http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=26cq16X7kq4&desktop_uri=%2Fwatch%3Fv%3D26cq16X7kq4
Hitler sums it up pretty well I reckon.....
Brilliant!!

(But look what happened to him!).
Last edited by awk on Sun Dec 08, 2013 1:03 pm, edited 1 time in total.
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awk - god
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Re: Is traditional orienteering dying?
It is absolutely brilliant. Possibly the biggest threat to urban orienteering since the invention of wirecutters!
Orienteering - its no walk in the park
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