National Squads

Providing elite athletes with support and guidance through access to national training camps and OA High Performance coaches

Orienteering Australia National Squads

Two squads have been established within the OA High Performance structure.

  • High Performance Squad: designed to meet the needs of athletes aiming to excel at the World Orienteering Championships.
  • National Development Squad: designed to meet the needs of developing orienteers aiming for representation at Junior and University World Championships.
Membership to a national squad provides athletes with support and guidance through access to national training camps and OA High Performance coaches. Completion of anti-doping education is a mandatory requirement for squad selection.
 

National team selection and team preparation activities sit outside, but complement, this structure. Athletes do not have to be a member of a squad in order to be selected in a national team. However selected athletes will be invited to join applicable squad if eligible at the time of selection.

OA will continue to support states to provide a squad structure to athletes who are not in the OA squads.

High Performance Squad (HPS)

To support athletes who striving for top 30 placing at world championships or top 40 placing in a world cup round in the following 3-5 years. Discipline specific groups (e.g. sprint group and forest group) within this squad will assist athletes optimise their performance for their preferred event.

National Development Squad (NDS)

To support athletes who are striving to represent Australia at a Junior or University World Championships in the following 3 years. Where appropriate, athletes may be invited to join activities with discipline specific groups run within the HPS.

Nomination and Selection

Athletes must nominate to join a squad, to demonstrate their interest in and commitment to be involved with squad activities. For each squad, initial selection will be made by the squad coach/s, the OA Head Coach and the OA HP administrator. A nomination form can be found here.

Squads will be announced each year as soon as possible after the Australian Championship carnival and closing of nominations. Outside of this announcement, athletes can apply to be in the squad at any time in the year if they feel they meet the eligibility criteria. Their application will be assessed by the selection committee above.

Subjective and objective eligibility criteria for each squad is outlined in the OA Squad Structure document above. Athletes need to meet most, but not all, eligibility criteria in order to be selected in a squad.

Squad Coaches 2024

High Performance Squad: Julian Dent, Grant Bluett and Natasha Key (OA Head Coach)

National Development Squad: Paula Shingler and Jock Davis

OA National squads 2024

MOUNTAIN BIKE ORIENTEERING NATIONAL SQUADS

The MTBO squad information will be posted here when available.

Completion of anti-doping education is a mandatory requirement for squad selection.

Previous squads

URLs to previous squads to be listed here