OUSA Junior Development Team expands into Youth Development Program

As originally conceived, the Junior Development Team was intended to encourage and support kids who simply love orienteering – with competitive aspirations an option but not a requirement.  

The recent merger of the competitive Senior Team and the Junior National Team allows us to hone in on this original conception by expanding on existing training, coaching and Youth Mapping Program initiatives. We envision a Youth Development Program to support youth and young adults in developing their competitive interests as well as mapping, event direction, course design, sport journalism, or other aspects of orienteering that they love.  

The program can connect orienteers from all disciplines with peers, experts, and coaches as part of building Orienteering Development Model Stage 4 capacity and community across the sport. Youth participants will have the opportunity to increase their skills, connect with other orienteers, and develop relationships in the community that support their continued participation in the sport as they transition into independent adulthood.  All participants will have access to OUSA resources to work in areas such as mapping, sport photography and marketing, youth coaching, or competitive orienteering below the national team level. Participants will have access to existing education and coaching resources and can apply to use funding designated for Youth Development in their projects. 

Orienteering USA is  looking for people interested in both supporting and participating in this program. We especially need people who are well-connected within their local orienteering community to help build these important connections. Once we have identified a team of 3-5 people to support this effort, we will publish forms for youth and adults to indicate interest in participation.  Interested in helping us get started?  Let us know here.

US Team Merger Announced

Orienteering USA is excited to announce the merger of the US National Team, aka TeamUSA, with the US Junior National Team to create a single, unified US National Team beginning in 2022. This merger will provide a more streamlined pathway for competitive junior athletes interested in advancing to the elite level.

Starting in 2022, the National Team will consist of three tiers: the Elite Squad, the Performance Squad, and the Junior Squad. The Elite Squad will consist of those athletes who consistently perform at a high level and are deemed most likely to be selected for WOC, WC or TWG teams. Performance Squad athletes also perform at a high level but may not yet be consistent picks for international team selection. The Junior Squad will encompass all Team members age 20 and under but are fully eligible to take part in all team activities and to compete for spots on the international event teams. Team selection for races such as JWOC and WUOC will of course be subject to the age restrictions of the individual competitions.

Applications for the 2022 US National Team were announced in December and athletes interested in applying for this year’s team should have submitted their applications. The entry period for 2022 is now closed. Stay tuned for an upcoming announcement about the revised Junior Development Program which will include exciting new options for youth orienteers beyond the competitive track.

The World Games ’22 – Request for Athlete Intentions

Team USA will be sending a 4-person team (2 men + 2 women) to compete at The World Games this July in Birmingham AL. The event program will include Sprint, Middle and Sprint Relay disciplines pitting some of the best orienteers in the world against each other on American soil.

Athletes that would like to be considered for The World Games team should email their intentions to the Committee by March 1st.

  • Applicants for the team must compete in at least one of the following qualifying events:
    • Jan 14 – Georgia Navigator Cup Sprint WRE
    • Jan 15 – Georgia Navigator Cup Middle WRE
    • Jan 16 – Georgia Navigator Cup Long WRE
    • Feb 19 – COC Winter League Championship Middle NRE (M-21+/F-21+)
    • Feb 19 – TSN Southwest Spring Week Classic @ Catalina SP (Long course)
    • Mar 19 – DVOA Big Woods Classic NRE Day 1 (M-21+/F-21+)
    • Mar 20 – DVOA Big Woods Classic NRE Day 2 (M-21+/F-21+)
    • *Europe-based athletes may attend a national-level event in Europe
      • specify event with your intention

To recap: If you want to be considered for the US World Games Team, send Peggy (pdickison@nullcomcast.net) an intention email by March 1st, stating what qualifier race(s) you plan to run. Run at least one NRE day or European national-level event. Send us the results!

National Team Applications for 2022 now being accepted.

Starting in 2022, the National Team will consist of three tiers: the Elite Squad, the Performance Squad, and the Junior Squad. The Elite and Performance squads will reflect what the Selection Committee feels is the potential of an athlete making a WOC or WG team and the Junior Squad will be for all athletes born after 2001. Juniors are eligible to compete for and be a member of the WOC, World Cup, and/or World Game teams and to participate fully in all Team activities. Four of the nine members of our 2021 WOC Team were also Junior National Team members. If you normally run M/F 20 or M/F 21 then you are encouraged to apply to the National Team.

If you intend to apply to be a National Team member, please fill out the 2022 National Team Application Form as well as the 2022 Athlete Agreement Form and submit no later than January 8th, 2022.

WUOC ’22 Team Applications now open

The 2022 World University Orienteering Championships will be held August 16-21 in Biel/Bienne, Switzerland with the event center at Magglingen, the Swiss Federal Institute for Sport..

Selection of the 2022 WUOC Team will be by petition and applications are now being accepted. Please review the 2022 WUOC Team Selection Criteria document in the OUSA Library.

Important: Athletes interested in applying for the team should note that participation in at least two races from the following list* of events is required: 

The team selection petitions will be reviewed & decided by the WUOC Selection Committee. Anyone who wishes to apply to be part of the 2022 WUOC Team needs to fill out and submit the WUOC 2022 Petition no later than March 17, 2022.

Any questions should be directed to Linda Kohn: wornerkohn at gmail.

JWOC ’22 Team Applications now open

The 2022 Junior World Orienteering Championships will be held July 10 – 16, 2022 in Aguiar da Beira, in the center of Portugal.

Selection of the 2022 JWOC Team will be by petition and applications are now being accepted. Please review the 2022 JWOC Team Selection Criteria document in the OUSA Library.

Important: Athletes interested in applying for the team should note that participation in at least two races from the following list* of events is required: 

The team selection petitions will be reviewed & decided by the JWOC Selection Committee. Anyone who wishes to apply to be part of the 2022 JWOC Team needs to fill out and submit the JWOC 2022 Petition no later than March 17, 2022.

Any questions should be directed to Andrea: andrea.schneider@nullorienteeringusa.org.

2022 Iain Wilson Award Applications

Iain “Dawg” Wilson was an accomplished orienteer who represented the USA in the World Cup in Norway and Denmark, in the Swiss Alps for the World Student Champs, and in the Scottish 6 Days. Although his life was cut tragically short in 2008, his legacy survives through the annual Iain Wilson Character Through Competition Award and Wilson Community Growth Grants.

Now entering its ninth year, the $1,000 Iain Wilson Character Through Competition Award is now accepting applications. This award recognizes junior athletes who demonstrate a competitive spirit, friendship and qualities that leave others feeling good about the world. Funds may be used to support travel and training opportunities.

Applications for the $1,000 Wilson Community Growth Grant are now being accepted. This grant helps to “develop and implement programs aimed at expanding access to orienteering for youth.” Applicants of all ages partner with an Orienteering USA-affilitated club, OrienteeringUSA or a registered nonprofit organization, which will disburse and administer funds. Funds may be used for equipment, transportation and other appropriate uses.

Applications are now being accepted for both awards and will be open through March 31st, 2022. More information about both awards can be found on the Recognition page and includes links to both online and downloadable applications.

Please contact Marc at iainwilsonaward@nullcomcast.net for additional details. Contributions may be tax-deductible and are administered by Orienteering USA.

2021 Wilson Community Growth Grant winners San Benito NJROTC

2022 World University Orienteering Championships

The 2022 World University Orienteering Championships are scheduled for August 15-22 in Biel/Bienne, Switzerland. It is not too early to start thinking about competition in 2022. The main criteria for eligibility are as follows:

  • Athletes must be a citizen of the country they represent;
  • Athletes must be at least 18 and less than 25 years of age on January 1st in the year of the event; for 2022, athletes must be born between 01/01/1997 and 12/31/2004.
  • Athletes must be students who are currently officially registered as proceeding towards a degree or diploma at a university or similar institute whose status is recognized by the appropriate national academic authority of their country;
  • Athletes may be former students of the institutions mentioned above, who have obtained their academic degree or diploma in the year preceding the event.

If you are interested in going you should contact Linda Kohn as soon as you have checked your calendar! The team selection will take place by petition. Performance at past events and rankings will be considered.

Please let Linda know of your interest by emailing wornerkohn at gmail dot com.

Link to Bulletin 1 & 2

Seeking ORIENTEERING Volunteers for The World Games 2022!

Be a part of The World Games! The best elite orienteers in the world will compete in Sprint, Middle, and Sprint Relay events in Birmingham, Alabama at The World Games, July 7 – 17, 2022. Vulcan Orienteering Club (VOC) will need a lot of volunteers to make this a success. There’s something for everyone: start and finish crews; course testing; control watching and traffic control; arena setup; spectator event planning; and orienteering sport demo booth.  We are seeking volunteers of all skill levels including a couple volunteer Team Leader positions.

Here are links to the official FAQs. Please read them to ensure that you understand what is involved. They contain more detailed information, such as meals, transportation, training and information about complimentary tickets to events.

Registration is LIVE so NOW is the time to sign up. Instructions to sign up are provided below as well as the link to register. Use the code SORIENTEERING so you will be assigned to our volunteer pool. 

Here is a brief summary of requirements and perks:

Requirements

  • Have knowledge of the specified sport
  • Complete online application
    • Input referral code SORIENTEERING
  • Accept invitation for Sport Volunteer Team Assignment
  • Complete required training modules
  • Volunteer at least 20 hours during the games.

Perks

  • Headwear
  • Uniform Shirt
  • Lapel Pin
  • Water Bottle
  • Closing Ceremony Invitation
  • Tickets to select events based on completed shifts
  • Invitation to Volunteer Appreciation Party

  • Click this link and create account in Rosterfy – https://twg2022.com/volunteer/.
  • Receive link to application via email. {may take a few minutes to arrive}
  • Begin filling out application. {application is separate from the Rosterfy account creation}
    • Input sport registration code: SORIENTEERING on application.
  • Complete and submit application.

Thank you for helping us to make The World Games 2022 Orienteering a truly World Class event!