ABOUT

What is the West Midlands Junior Orienteering Squad?

The WMJS is a group for young orienteers in the West Midlands to develop their orienteering skills. It is open to all junior members of West Midlands orienteering clubs who regularly attend West Midlands League events and have successfully completed Light Green courses.

What does the squad do ?

The main focus of the squad is undertaking high-quality orienteering training sessions. These provide members with an opportunity to mix with other orienteers their own age and develop their orienteering skills.  Training takes place both remotely and in-person:

• 'Technical' Zoom sessions are generally held once a month, focussed on developing map reading skills and decision-making;

• We aim to hold a terrain session once a month in different parts of the West Midlands.  These  typically focus on navigation skills and race techniques;

• We also have weekends away and a summer tour most years, giving squad members the opportunity to train in high quality terrain in other parts of the UK or abroad.

The training is designed to improve everyone's skills to the highest possible standard. This includes preparing those who are interested for selection to attend the Junior Regional Orienteering Squads training camps, and for international competition with the GB squad in the future.

Each year the squad sends a team to compete at the Junior Inter Regional Championships. This is a weekend away with the squad where we compete against all the other UK squads in both an individual and a relay race. The team consists of up to 24 orienteers (12 boys and 12 girls) so there is a good chance of being selected. Selection is based on commitment to both the squad and orienteering events (in particular regular attendance at West Midlands League events), as well as performance at regional and national orienteering competitions.

Other Opportunities

Membership of the squad and regular attendance allows access to the Junior Regional Orienteering Squad tours, British Orienteering Summer tour, and the British Orienteering talent squad.

We regularly have three or four members on tour and have members who run in international teams e.g. World Schools (WSCO), Interland, Junior Home International (JHI), European Youth Orienteering Championships (EYOC), Junior European Cup (JEC), Junior World Orienteering Championships (JWOC).

How do I join?

The squad is always keen for new members.  To qualify, you will be:

• a member of a West Midlands Orienteering Club;

• at  least a second year M / W 12, and no older than M / W 18;

• committed to the sport and be regularly attending West Midlands League events;

• at least at a standard where you  are confident and capable on Orange courses, and comfortable undertaking Light Green courses. 

If this sounds like you, then (ask your parent or guardian to) contact the squad to find out more by emailing wmjsquad at gmail.com