btw, I don't agree with the "pushy parents" bit. That's a simplistic phrase to wriggle out from facing up to the problems affecting the sport.
having a supportive parent seems to be a pre-requisite of success in orienteering, very unlike the situation I grew up in , where parents just knew I was doing sport, might have been very proud of me, but didn't get personally involved. (typical 1960s/1970s)
But if you bill orienteering as a family sport, spatter selection races across the country to make it fair for those who can actually get to them, have such a small pool of juniors that selection becomes such a major issue and have a website set up to discuss O in free and frank manner, then the parents' postings are a natural part of the sport.
If you want to get rid of that, and give equity to those whose families are financially stretched, then you have to fund juniors equally to get to selection races without the aid of their parents. Any takers?
Selections and selection criteria
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- ifititches
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PorkyFatBoy wrote:I do however agree with Klebe that the criteria should be clearly defined and stuck to, and those that are not selected should be given good reason as to why not, so that they may improve.
Go get a coach if you want to know how to improve. Coaches should speak with selectors if needs be & they can explain things in a positive way to athletes. That's what a good coach is there for, to turn things around. A good coach isn't about teaching technique etc... it's about KNOWING the athlete, the strength, weaknesses etc etc.
If GB had a decent coaching structure a lot of the points in this discussion would be covered. It's not upto parents to ask the questions... it's the athletes & coaches & then use the answers to progress in future & achieve the goals & dreams you aspire to:)
- gross2006
pushy parents means parents who are more bothered about kids' results than the kids themselves, parents who see results as the only reason for orienteering.
does it matter if a kid orienteers or not?
No. It matters that a kid enjoys what they do, be that orienteering or something entirely different.
Now orienteering is a cometitive sport and with that come success and failure, failure is not enjoyable, but learning to deal with failure is valuable. Being able to see the good things that came along the way in trying to reach a goal, being able to say, "I didn't make it but I enjoyed trying, I learnt stuff, I had fun, I went to good places, made friends etc."
Being able to look at where it went wrong, learn and improve for next time, or being able to say thats as good as I can be and move on.
Parents who show their kids this side of the equation are being truly supportive.
does it matter if a kid orienteers or not?
No. It matters that a kid enjoys what they do, be that orienteering or something entirely different.
Now orienteering is a cometitive sport and with that come success and failure, failure is not enjoyable, but learning to deal with failure is valuable. Being able to see the good things that came along the way in trying to reach a goal, being able to say, "I didn't make it but I enjoyed trying, I learnt stuff, I had fun, I went to good places, made friends etc."
Being able to look at where it went wrong, learn and improve for next time, or being able to say thats as good as I can be and move on.
Parents who show their kids this side of the equation are being truly supportive.
Last edited by Kitch on Fri Jul 29, 2005 2:56 pm, edited 1 time in total.
If you could run forever ......
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Kitch - god
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ifititches wrote:having a supportive parent seems to be a pre-requisite of success in orienteering
I wouldn't necesarily agree. I think what is needed is a supportive person,be it parent, coach or teacher. There are several people in the national team whose parents do not orienteer (although I'mnot saying they aint supportive), but they have had either a supportive teacher or coach.
You need someone who knows what they are doing.
I was lucky, my dad was a Regional manager, but he also tried his best to make sure everyone in our squad was informed about selections. if every region had someone as motivated as him it wouldn't be a problem.
I think you should leave hassling the selectors (not that it needs to be done) to people like Regional Squad managers, they know far more about the whole situation and about dealing with BOF etc.
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mharky - team nopesport
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to back that up. i know someone in the squad who is really good and their parents hadn't even seen sheep before about last year or even heard of the forest of dean for example. i think they think all this outdoors and exercise is all a bit weird. but anyway that person has been almost top 20 in a woc.
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harry - addict
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That feels better; lots to agree with there, and good news that there's still routes in from the outside.
If the sport gets more juniors then people will get more used to selection, just like they do in other sports where it occurs throughout the season at a much more local level.Personally, I think one problem here is that it happens so high up the system that people don't get much practice at understanding the significance. Significance is usually very little if you're determined to do well and enjoy your sport long-term; with a bit of committment you can put together a good home-based training programme to make up for missing a week away.
Post just brought latest personal tutor stuff from med school. Detailed break down of everyone's exam results to use in personal detailed feedback sessions, and FIVE A4 sheets of detail about complaints procedure, including a flow-chart...
See (some of) you at 6 days, if I can ever get the family (not going for selection you'll be glad to hear) to pack their bags.
Oh, and Mharky, I'm still going round my courses, despite smashing up one knee and right ribs on Lickey Hills five weeks ago. No selection for me either!
If the sport gets more juniors then people will get more used to selection, just like they do in other sports where it occurs throughout the season at a much more local level.Personally, I think one problem here is that it happens so high up the system that people don't get much practice at understanding the significance. Significance is usually very little if you're determined to do well and enjoy your sport long-term; with a bit of committment you can put together a good home-based training programme to make up for missing a week away.
Post just brought latest personal tutor stuff from med school. Detailed break down of everyone's exam results to use in personal detailed feedback sessions, and FIVE A4 sheets of detail about complaints procedure, including a flow-chart...
See (some of) you at 6 days, if I can ever get the family (not going for selection you'll be glad to hear) to pack their bags.
Oh, and Mharky, I'm still going round my courses, despite smashing up one knee and right ribs on Lickey Hills five weeks ago. No selection for me either!
- ifititches
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