COF conference

2009 COF Conference

The COF conference is organized by the COF Board of Directors. It's an ideal opportunity to bring Canadian orienteers together to share information and to learn from interesting, topical speakers. It's also a great time to learn about and get involved with the priorities and projects of the COF and to provide your ideas and feedback. Ideas for future conference topics are always welcome.

2009 Conference Details
August 26 - 28, 2008
All sessions at the Carberry Collegiate School
Sign-up for these sessions on the Canadian Orienteering Championships on-line registration system (www.coc2009.ca)

The conference starts just after the Sass Peepre National Junior Training Camp finishes so participation in both is feasible and encouraged.

SESSION A
COACHING WORKSHOP – Community Coach
Attendance required at all 3 sessions (9 hours total)
$50 fee to attend this workshop (check with your club to see if they will pay your fee)

A-1 Wednesday Aug 26 - Part 1: 6:00 – 9:00 pm
A-2 Thursday Aug 27 - Part 2: 9:00 am – noon
A-3 Friday Aug 28 - Part 4: 9:00 am – noon

Play your part in increasing the number of certified coached in orienteering in Canada. The 9 hour course over 3 days will cover the theoretical and technical components of the new coaching program. The workshop will also include two "on terrain" practice coaching sessions. The pre-requisites are some orienteering experience and an interest in coaching new orienteers. For more information about this workshop, email Bill Anderson: billATwgacartoDOTca.

SESSION B
ORIENTEERING OFFICIALS PROGRAM UPDATE
Wednesday Aug 26
6:30 – 9:00 pm (No fee to attend)

Come and learn about the revised officials certification program. We’ll give a full overview of the new program; have lots of discussion and talk about the roll-out of the program. A great chance to learn about how you can update your skills and encourage more officials within your club.

SESSION C
SKI AND MOUNTAIN BIKE ORIENTEERING
Thursday Aug 27
9:00 am - noon (No fee to attend)

Two modules in the revamped officials certification program are dedicated to ski and mountain bike orienteering. If you organize (or have plans to organize) ski-O and MTBO, then this session is for you. We’ll take about the content of the officials’ modules and the work done to date and gather your suggestions. Ski-O and MTBO both have great potential in Canada – come and join the discussion about growing these two orienteering disciplines.

SESSION D
ORIENTEERING AND LONG TERM ATHLETE DEVELOPMENT
Thursday Aug 27
7:00 – 9:00 pm (No fee to attend)

The long term athlete development (LTAD) model is changing the way that sport is being taught in Canada (www.canadiansportforlife.ca). LTAD is an inclusive concept that encourages all individuals to be involved in lifelong physical activity and articulate the need for all children to be given a solid foundation in physical, tactical and mental capacities upon which to build their performance abilities. As have most other sports in Canada, the COF is creating a LTAD model that is specific to the sport of orienteering. This is an exciting development for the sport in Canada and will provide valuable guidance to how orienteering is presented, coached and organized in Canada. Come and find out the latest.

SESSION E
COOL ORIENTEERING GIZMOS, GADGETS & IDEAS – INFO SHARING SESSION
Friday Aug 28
9:00 – 11:00 am (No fee to attend)

Are you using a new cool bit of orienteering software? Does your club have a successful new program that you would like to tell the rest of the orienteering community about it? Have you found some great software to make the most out of the new Garmin watch? Do you have an event format that you think other clubs should try out? This session is designed as an information sharing opportunity. Put together a 2-10 minute presentation about something that you or your club is using/doing that you think others across Canada would like to know about. Some of the things that people will be talking about include:

Purple Pen course planning software
About the Yukon's successful junior program
About various event formats (eg Thomass, Toronto's Why Just Run series)
Other mini-presentations are very much welcome and encouraged. This session is all about info sharing...

COF ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING
Friday Aug 28
7:00 – 9:00 pm
The AGM is the one time of year when all the members of the COF (the provincial/territorial associations) gather to discuss and decide on the business tasks of the association (such as electing board members, making changes to the constitution, reviewing the financial statements, etc). All are welcome. Details are here.