Coaching sessions are organised periodically for junior members of the six East Area orienteering clubs (ELO, ESOC, Interlopers, KFO, Roxburgh Reivers and Tayside Orienteers). These are usually held roughly monthly, linked to club events on Saturday afternoons to give juniors opportunities to develop skills and meet other young orienteers, before going off to participate in the events. There are also occasional separate training events. Groups are structured in such a way as to provide the progressive development of skills and confidence to successfully complete an orienteering course - from the easiest to the most difficult junior course. Junior sessions are aimed at young orienteers who have some basic introduction to the sport (e.g. through family, school or youth-group activities) and are of an age and stage to be able to go round a Yellow course independently and so build on the fundamental skills.
The programme has continued despite the disruptions experienced by everyone in 2020 and 2021, with forays into online sessions as well as face-to-face training when allowed. Autumn 2021 will see some joint training with West Area juniors too.
Details on forthcoming events are circulated via club juniors' contacts from the ESOA juniors' coordinator (Katherine Ivory, Interlopers).
Any queries? Email ESOAjuniorsATtusks.org.uk
For many years an annual competition weekend has been held for juniors from all Scottish clubs to compete together as Area teams. There are three Areas in Scotland: East, West and North. This is usually held in the autumn and is one of the highlights of the junior orienteering calendar. The weekend starts with team relays on the Saturday and individual races on the Sunday, with an overnight stay in a youth hostel or similar. Obviously this weekend hasn't been able to happen in 2020 or 2021 but hopefully will re-start in 2022.
Other junior-specific competitions usually held each year include: