BOF Vision for orienteering

[RJ]

...... I do understand that people don't want to gain international success just to use as a tool to boost participation-that's certainly not what i meant!

Interesting example in Tennis and Rugby Union. International success and TV exposure (eg Andy Murray, Tim Henman, Johnny Wilkinson) certainly put the name of the sport in lights, and loads of people want to WATCH it on TV and FEEL GOOD inn the warmth of the success.

But the sport only moves on and increases participation by the use of PAID professional officers.

We all, all members of clubs, have our vision of orienteering. The youth and the fitter/better orienteers have the vison that matters! When committees are populated with more younger members then the sport will move forward. All the talk of vision is of little value if there aren't committed minds in clubs who will implement it.

[tendon]

"Create a thriving sporting community that capitalises on it's diversity"?

[AndyO]

There may be some confusion creeping into this thread. BOF has started this consultation on a vision for "British Orienteering". I am taking that as a vision for the whole of the sport in the whole of the country, for Governing Bodies (BOF, SOA), Associations, Regions, Clubs and individuals to buy into. Clubs may well have their own vision, but it won't, surely, be at odds with what the rest of the sport accepts?

[RJ]

.......as a vision for the whole of the sport in the whole of the country, for Governing Bodies (BOF, SOA), Associations, Regions, Clubs and individuals to buy into. Clubs may well have their own vision, but it won't, surely, be at odds with what the rest of the sport accepts?

It will end up being a wooly, generic, jumble of words that will give a wonderful image to the writer.... but open to endless interpretation in the clubs.

What's wrong with..... A SPORT for ALL.... as it used to be advertised as.

[Paul T]

So do any UK clubs have anything like a vision written down already ? I've just joined our club committee and had already begun to feel the lack of something like that.

Our Norwegian exchange club have had such a thing for 10 years or so and, whilst it may not meet the Harvard Busines School definitions of a vision, they do find it useful. It helps them decide between the many great and worthwhile opportunities there are for spending limited time and resources. If my pidgin Norwegian is OK, it says things like "we will become one of Norway's foremost relay teams" and "we will be known for organising good races" all the way to "people will be proud to be members of this club". I'm not sure of NOF has anything equivalent but I'm the club probably never felt the need to ask.

[rocky]

Don't know about NOF but I remember at O-ringen last year SOFT, the Swedish federation, were promotoing their vision:

Svensk orienterings två huvudmål under verksamhetsperioden är:

Världens bästa landslag
Växa genom att vara öppen för fler

(from http://www.orientering.se/t2.asp?p=342066)

a translation? i know the first one is "The Worlds best national team" but my swedish isn't up to the second.

[Gnitworp]

The youth and the fitter/better orienteers have the vison that matters! When committees are populated with more younger members then the sport will move forward.

The existing older members have got to get the younger members available and motivated to populate the committees. Committee positions within clubs are seldom contested. The people available and motivated to take office are doing so. Few are prevented from doing so if they want to. They're normally welcomed with open arms.

So do any UK clubs have anything like a vision written down already ? I've just joined our club committee and had already begun to feel the lack of something like that.

Write one for them.

[Paul T]

I have, but there's the rub. It is my vision for what a club might be doing in a few years time. To be any use in helping a group of individuls move in the same direction, it needs to be a concensus and owned by a critical mass of people. That's the demanding part.

[Jon Brooke]

Johnloguk said

I would go so far as to say that not only do we need a national vision that is achievable and that we can all sign up to, but maybe we should think about what to do about the people who simply ignore it or even work against it.

This is a bit melodramatic isn't it? Do you think BO has been infiltrated by fifth columnists?

Surely it would be wrong if some clubs/committees/individuals didn't promote orienteering in a positive way, work towards increased participation and all the other shared goals that most of us accept?

Likewise. Can you think of an orienteer who has ever promoted orienteering in anything other than a positive way?

Why should residents of Xtown not have the chance to discover the greatest sport on the planet, just because the local club committee thinks it's time is best spent organising a night league for a small number of addicts?

Because the only people interested in organising ANY kind of orienteering in Xtown are likely to be the local club comittee and you can't force them to do what they don't want to because they are VOLUNTEERS.

Really, the point I was alluding to in my last post is that BOF would be better off considering a vision for itself before it starts on a vision for orientering generally to be delivered top down. Why shouldn't, for example, part of BOF's vision be:

"To facilitate, encourage and support new ideas from the grass roots membership"?

Just to put this in context, I consider myself fairly new to orienteering (only been doing it properly for about 5 years, so still don't know what Gallopen means), and actually crossed over from MTBO when BOF had zero interest in promoting that bit of the sport, just to learn how to use an O-map, but almost all of the things that keep orienteering fresh, varied and interesting for me (and I don't exactly live in prime orientering territory) have been to do with the actions of individuals or clubs, not (unless I've missed the unseen hand) BOF.

Things like:

The White rose MTBO/foot O weekend
The micr-O event by SLOW last year
The Dartmoor long-O
Night-O
Round Aldershot (on bike and foot)
Summer evening informals
Nopesport
Various other O websites and blogs

I also note (sorry to go on about it, but it is such a good example of what I'm on about) the MADO initiative - nothing to do with BOF or an overarching vision, but the best bit of O recruiting I've come across.

Also, for the future, the idea of the Nopesport city race series sounds great. I probably won't do any, but it sounds as good an idea as any I've heard for drawing in fresh blood - and it doesn't seem to me like the sort of thing that would have come out of a vision for the sport developed by BOF.

Sorry, but orienteering is a sport that comes out of the actions of individuals, working together to create something. It's not like a commercial organisation that can be driven from the top down.


[/quote]

[awk]

to everyone who sees International Success as a tool to boost participation or enhance the image of the sport, you've totally missed the point of orienteering. It's not a excersise in administration, it's a sport, where everyone goes out, and tries their best. For some that means turning up on a sunday and fighting not to be last, for others it means treating the sport as a profession.

The fact that there is a World Championships is what defines this. The desire to be better orienteers should be what drives the sport forwards at all levels, but primarily towards international success.

I don't think I have (missed the point of orienteering). The focus on participation is not incompatible with the concept of orienteering as a competitive sport (which I totally agree with). But to my mind it still has to be the primary focus of British Orienteering. International success is an important part of ensuring that numbers do increase (limited success = limited interest; need to provide route for those who aspire etc.), but however successful we are internationally, we aren't going to have a sport if people don't do it. True, we aren't going to help ourselves attract people if there isn't success, but as a sport (rather than as individuals) the international side of things has to be subsidiary to participation.

What you have emphasised to me though, is that part of that vision has to include the 'competitive sport' bit: orienteering without that would simply be trogging around the countryside, and that I'm sure isn't part of anybody's vision here!

Jess - increasing numbers is not woolly or generic. It's highly measurable for starters! It can, of course, be more tightly defined if so desired (numbers, ages etc.).

[SeanC]

Jon Brooke wrote

"Really, the point I was alluding to in my last post is that BOF would be better off considering a vision for itself before it starts on a vision for orientering generally to be delivered top down. Why shouldn't, for example, part of BOF's vision be:

"To facilitate, encourage and support new ideas from the grass roots membership"? "

I think your being a bit hard on BOF Jon. Surely there's a place for BOF initiatives with specific aims. Suppose this vision is to double numbers in 5 years. Sure its the the clubs that will do this, but BOF initiative can support. For example publicity can make a massive difference, but many club publicity officers would welcome some advice from those with more journalism/marketing experience. BOF could therefor put on publicity courses. BOF could also help foster the innovation that you describe by providing grants that are likely to increase membership.

If BOF were a private company, it would no doubt just do these things and we'd have to accept it, but because it isnt it seems to me that Mike is sensibly trying to build a conscientious on the way forward through this vision thing. Then if the implementation of the vision requires something more painful, to extend my example - an increase in levies to pay for grants and publicity, then we are less likely to spend years arguing over whether it should happen or not because the conscientious has been reached that the aim is worth the pain.

[Mrs H.]

Well if there's one thing I've learned from MADO it's that it pays to advertise - and that is why I included that in my vision stated earlier. I think it would be very do-able for clubs to improve on this - and I'm not talking posters in the library - i'm talking good old fashioned paid for advertising in the What's on this weekend section of the local paper.

Clubs seem to flinch at the thought of paying for advertising - but i have built it into my budget. And get as many free news column inches as you can. I sent in a story last week about us using buses for the first time at the Malvern hills C3 so as not to block up the public car parks and it got used (complete with the plug for MADO2 on saturday).

I really think the most significant improvement we can do is make sure as many people as possible know about the sport (not just what it really is - but where they can do it in the immediate future) It doesn't matter whether you piggy back that on to international success or a local league report.

Just seen your post Sean and I agree - BO do actually give grants to development work like mine - I have had 2 of £500 each - one for the initiative and one for the mini-league.
I also agree about the publicity course - the trouble is they would try and do it themselves and I'm not sure they are best qualified in that department

[Jon Brooke]

Actually I did include national marketing as something BOF shoudl be doing in my first post and I'd include providing resources / training to be used on a local level in that as there is obvious synergy there.

[RJ]

An offering.....

We are trying to develop

• A sport that is open to all ages and all abilities

• A sport that will be attractive to, and available to, everyone

• A coherent event structure that provides competitive opportunites for all ages

• Heightened profile as a school sport - and specifically provide competitive opportunities

[Godders]

I think that for too long some clubs, or more accurately their committees, have been more interested in organising a night league, and basically looking after the existing addicts, rather than thinking longer term about the future health of orienteering.

Nothing wrong with clubs doing things for their existing members. With a massive focus on attracting newcomers there is a danger of losing existing members (and hence planners/organisers/controllers) who don't want to run round a park for 15 minutes. Personally I'd rather go running in the hills. Looking forward to the night league race tonight!