GBR Programme
The overall aim of the Performance programme is to maximise GBR success at the World and European Orienteering Championships (WOC and EOC). Here, you will find more details about the programme's levels, our team of coaches and further aims of the programme.
GBR Programme Levels
Level 5 – Performance Squad
Our Level 5 athletes are members of the Senior GBR Squad.
Core aims of the Squad
To win medals and achieve top-10 places at the World & European Orienteering Championships. The team should also develop their competitive performance with international experience at World Cup races.
Level 4 – Development Squad
Development Squad athletes are aged 19 and upwards.
Core aims of the Squad
Develop from Junior World Orienteering Championships standard to become regular members of senior World Cup teams. Develop their competitive performance through a supported British Orienteering programme of training.
Level 3 – Talent Squads
There are three Talent Squads within the programme: Talent Scotland, Talent North and Talent South. Athletes in our Talent Squads are 15-18 year old junior athletes.
Core aims of the Squad
Develop junior athletes with a programme of training, education and coaching which takes a holistic view of their development as athletes, orienteers and individuals. Encourage the athletes to take responsibility for their own plans to improve their orienteering. Squads act as a source of motivation and enjoyment for athletes.
Level 2 – Regional Junior Squads
Our Regional Junior Squads are made up of 13-18 year old junior athletes.
About the squads
Junior Regional Orienteering Squads (JROS) is the umbrella organisation for the 12 Regional Orienteering squads based on the British Orienteering regions. JROS was set up to further develop the junior orienteering talent which is nurtured by the Regional Squads. Their website is here.
Athletes compete in Junior Inter-Regional Championships and Junior Home Internationals.
Level 1 – Clubs
All ages
Core aims
Club coaches nurture athletes, encouraging and supporting them to progress in the development of their technical skills and physical abilities.
Aim of the British Orienteering Performance Programme
The overall aim of the Performance programme is to maximise GBR success at the World and European Orienteering Championships (WOC and EOC). WOC and EOC are our two “focus" competitions. The targets for these competitions are to win medals and achieve top-10 places.
The only other international competition with a performance target is the Junior World Orienteering Championships (JWOC), although this is secondary to WOC and EOC. The JWOC target, set out in our selection documents, is an aspiration; the real measure of our junior programme is how many athletes transition to the senior elite ranks.
For all other competitions, athletes are entered primarily for development and competition experience. There are no set performance targets.
The underpinning aims of the Performance programme, which contribute to our overall aim, are:
- Attitude:
- A professional programme of coaching, training and race preparation
- Athletes see themselves as ‘performance athletes’, committed to their improvement and working towards performance goals
- Progression:
- Junior athletes are prepared and supported to make the transition to senior competitions and squads
- Senior athletes continue to their build skills, fitness and experience to improve their competitive performance
- Welfare: Athletes, coaches, volunteers, British Orienteering, universities
- are engaged and enjoy their involvement with the programme
- feel valued and in control of their involvement and contributions
- understand what they need to do to get selected, and how the Performance Programme works
Support Team
- Pippa Archer – Performance Pathway Manager. Overall responsibility for the Performance programme
- Tom Bray – Development Squad Coach
- Emil Wingstedt (Consultant) – Performance squad coach
- Andy Kitchin (Volunteer) – Performance squad coordinator
- Rachael Handley –Performance Programme Administrator
- Talent Squad coaches (volunteers):
- Mark Saunders & Alice Bedwell (Talent South)
- Pete Tryner & Simon Hunter (Talent North)
- Judy Bell & Jon Musgrave (Talent Scotland)
- JROS team
- Many other fantastic volunteers