Orienteering Queensland
The information that you will find here will assist you at various levels. Whether it is to help you with your fitness, your diet, to update your skills, Orienteering Queensland hopes that you find it useful.
If you would like to comment on this information please contact Orienteering Queensland's State Director of Coaching simply by clicking here.
For those starting out these are the basic tools to help you with your orienteering.
For advance orienteers these tools will assist you in elements of concentration, technique and fitness.
Note: (click on the relevant article of interest to view PDF)
To view the Australian Edition of the IOF Control Descriptions please click here
An interactive Orienteering Game you can play at home - Catching Features Home Page
An interactive online quiz for learning or reviewing IOF symbols - Fortnet Home Page
You can learn to orienteer by attending your Local Clubs event series. Most local clubs hold an event each month, from February through to October, which is especially designed to encourage newcomers. There will be coaches and instructors available to assist you in the basics of orienteering. They can help you get started, and talk to you later about the course, and how you went.
Most people try a Blue course first, which follows tracks or fences, and helps you get used to map reading. Once you have mastered Blue courses, you can progress to slightly harder courses, such as Green, and then Orange. Local clubs also hold special series on park and street maps over the summer months, particularly October to December. These are usually quite easy for beginners, and a good place to start.
There is also the opportunity to learn to orienteer at most of our State Events, held on Sundays from March to October. Blue, or Novice courses are almost always on offer. Check the Event Details to be certain. Again there are instructors available to assist you in getting started. At most events, there is a range of courses of graded difficulty, from Very Easy, (Blue) through to Advanced. (Red courses) There are various course lengths, as well, to suit the age and experience of the participant. After your first novice, or Blue Course, you can ask for a Starter Pack, with vouchers for 3 more events at novice prices. After this, events are much cheaper if you take out membership.
For more information, look at About Orienteering, particularly Getting Started.
Once you have become confident with Green Courses, you can further improve by attending the Coaching Sessions run by Orienteering Queensland on Saturday afternoons. There are approximately 6 per year. Check Events for more information. Each session tends to focus on developing a couple of different navigation skills.
Becoming a proficient orienteer usually takes several years of practice and experience. The only way to gain this effectively is by attending as many events and coaching sessions as possible, each time attempting to improve your basic navigation skills, until they become automatic. You can also practice many of these skills at home, or when you go jogging or walking. See Coaching Resources. If you wish to be competitive, you need to work on your fitness and agility, and gradually improve your terrain running. At an advanced level, orienteering is a very demanding and challenging sport, both physically and mentally, as competitors try to maintain a fine balance between speed, and smooth, error free navigation.
Orienteering Queensland funds several coaching and training squads. These cater for different age groups, and have various levels of entry criteria and support offered to members.
Each year Orienteering Queensland runs a Junior Camp, usually in the June-July school holidays. This is open to juniors aged 11-20 years, able to complete an Orange course unassisted. They must be members of a club or school affiliated with Orienteering Queensland. Look for the booking form in the March newsletter.
Orienteering Queensland has four Athlete Development squads to cater for Junior and Senior members who are interested in competitive orienteering. They are structured to cater for the needs of various ages, and receive financial support from Orienteering Queensland. Certain criteria and expectations of members are summarised below. If you would like more information, please contact the relevant Squad Manager or the State Director of Coaching, Email Fiona Calabro
Manager: Jen Woods
Manager: Rob Simson
E-mail: robinsimson5@bigpond.com
Manager: Joan Sheldon
Email: joanasheldon@yahoo.com.au
Manager: Mathieu McGuire
Contact: Fiona Calabro
Email: coaching@oq.asn.au
Course dates: A course can be arranged at a mutually convenient time, preferably weekday.
A minimum of 4 participants is required.
This course is designed to cater for teachers, parents, or outdoor education centre staff wishing to introduce orienteering to students on schoolground and park maps. It is particularly recommended for teachers of Primary School children. The course is entirely sport specific, and the syllabus has been designed by the Orienteering Federation of Australia. There are no prerequisites for enrolment. It is not designed to cover the requirements for forest orienteering. Persons wishing to instruct under these conditions should have additional orienteering experience and preferably Level 1 accreditation in orienteering.
At the completion of the course, participants should be able to:
Duration: 6 hours minimum. Participants receive a certificate upon completion of the course.
Cost: $66.00 ($44.00 for OQ members and students), which includes two course manuals, "Elementary Orienteering Instructors Handbook" and "Games Orienteers Play"
Bookings: Please email Fiona Calabro
Course dates: Can be arranged on any date suitable to the participants and the presenter. This course is designed by the Orienteering Federation of Australia and accredited under the National Coaching Accreditation Scheme. It is designed for beginner club coaches, and teachers wishing to teach orienteering in a bush setting, or as part of the Year 11 & 12 PE course.
A minimum of 4 participants is required.
Pre-requisites: Club coaches: must be able to complete an orienteering course at OFA Bronze standard (Moderate navigation) and have completed the NCAS Level 1 General Principles Course.
Teacher/Instructor Course: Recognised teacher qualifications or in the process of completion OR recognised Outdoor Education qualification or equivalent.
Course Content: The course has a heavy emphasis on practical skills and is conducted in the field, on an orienteering map. It includes sections on the role of the coach; planning and preparing training sessions and skills sessions, and sequential programs for individuals or groups; risk management; and basic orienteering skills.
Pre-course Preperation (Approx. 3 hours) Course candidates will be advised of this upon enrolling for the course.
Course Duration: 8 hours. Club coaches without a teaching certificate will also need to complete the Level 1 General Principles Course by correspondence or at TAFE.
Accreditation: upon satisfactory completion of the above requirements, candidates receive OFA Level 1 Orienteering coaching Accreditation Certificate, NCAS ID card, updating logbook and bi-annual newsletter. Accreditation must be renewed every 4 years.
Cost: $88.00; $66.00 for OQ members and full-time students under 25 years; $44.00 for junior OQ members. This includes cost of accreditation, and compulsory texts: the OA Level 1 Orienteering Coaching Manual and the ACC text: Beginning Coaching
Bookings: Please email Fiona Calabro