Attention all junior orienteers – you’re invited to join the JT Squad - a training group based on friendships, fun, fitness and navigation. The JT Squad kicks off in 2017.
For a taste of the JT Squad – for regular orienteers and newcomers - there will be open coaching sessions for all students in Grade 5 or older participating in the Schools Series in Term 4 2016 and again in 2017. To participate simply by join in from 4:45 – 5:15 pm at any event.
Our Coach in Residence Michal Hubacek will lead the JT Squad with the help of Zoe Dowling, Luke West, Jacinta McKay, Rachel Allen and Josh Allen. Miriam Whittington will be the administrator, handling the paperwork and parent liaison.
JT Squad is for upper primary and high school aged juniors. Any junior in grade 5 (born 2006) or over is welcome. It is not an elite squad and there are no performance based criteria. All that is required is enthusiasm, commitment and an agreement to abide by our Codes of Conduct.
Initially JT Squad will be based in Hobart but there will be opportunities and benefits for juniors from the north and north-west.
Coaching sessions will last for about 30 minutes and will coincide with a selection of regular orienteering events including Saturday afternoon events, Sunday events, TOS events and championships to enable state-wide participation. Juniors will do their regular orienteering course at these events and will then join the coaching session. The dates will be announced soon after the release of the 2017 event calendar.
As a bonus for families of JT Squad members there will be informal coaching available for you at the same time (but not with the JT Squad). This means parents and younger siblings can also learn how to orienteer and not just be a taxi service or be dragged around.
Benefits of Membership:
- Special Orienteering Thumb Compass
- Training Top with OT logo
- Membership of a club of your choice that covers your whole family
- Coaching by qualified and engaging youth aged orienteers
- Calendar of events with selected coaching sessions highlighted (to include Saturday Afternoon, Sunday Local and State-wide events)
- An opportunity to meet other children and families with similar interests including throughout the state
- The chance for parents and younger siblings to also have a go
- Exploring local parks, bushland and suburbs, as well as farms and forests
- Orienteering encourages independence, builds resilience and provides opportunities for young people to be actively involved in a community sports club as well as travel
Cost of Membership:
$125 for one child*
$45 for each additional child per family**
*This is the same amount as a family membership. This means that having a child in the JT Squad will not cost you any more than if your child does not want to join and you take out a family membership as usual. We believe it is important that the cost of joining the JT Squad includes membership for a child’s whole family because we want to encourage family members to also try orienteering. The reality is, juniors need parents to come along and a wider family involvement is more likely to lead to longer term involvement.
** The benefits of JT Squad membership are significant and the fee for each additional child is reasonable and represents good value.
To Join the JT Squad
To sign your child up to JT Squad:
1. apply for or renew your family membership for 2017 as per normal; and
2. email your child’s name to JT Squad administrator Miriam Whittington on JTSquad@tasorienteering.asn.au
3. Miriam will then email you with a JT Squad membership form to complete and send back. If you have more than one child you will need to fill out a form for every child.