Learn the basics of teaching orienteering and get ready to assist in fun outdoor adventures!

Foundation Orienteering Instructor Course

Are you interested in instructing others in the fundamentals of orienteering?

Start your coaching journey with the Foundation Orienteering Instructor Award.

This is an entry level award and is the initial step on the coaching pathway. It aims to train candidates in the fundamentals of coaching and to equip them to assist in the running of various orienteering activities / training sessions / programmes.

The course is aimed at:

Orienteering Ireland club members, who would like to learn about coaching others in the skills of orienteering.

Third Level students involved with orienteering in their colleges.

Outdoor education staff / scout leaders / youth leaders.

LSP staff/tutors keen to deliver orienteering activities.

It consists of an evening online session (Wednesday 14th September 2026 19:30 - 21:00) followed by a hands-on interactive one day course (Saturday 17th October 2026 10:00 - 16:00).

Prerequisite:

Candidates must be at least 16 years old.

Be an active member of Orienteering Ireland (OI), or be involved in orienteering activities.

Please note canditates must have a valid safeguarding 1 certificate in order to receive their certificate.

After completing the Foundation Orienteering Instructor course, participants will be able to:

Support orienteering instructors in the delivery of their sessions, and/or coach discreet skills to individual or small groups of orienteers.

Deliver whole, or part of, coaching sessions that have been planned by a lead instructor.

Report to the lead instructor on how an activity or session went.

Help to ensure the safety and wellbeing of orienteers.

Demonstrate a basic level of knowledge and understanding of the sport.

Promote the sport of orienteering, its clubs and the values and behaviours to which they aspire.

This is a pilot running of this course. Candidates who successfully complete this course will have their course qualification converted to that of Foundation Orienteering Instructor once the course has been signed off by Sport Ireland Copaching. This qulification is aligned with Level 0 on the Sport Ireland Coaching’s Adventure Sports CDPI awards framework.

Don’t miss out on the chance to learn, explore, and connect with fellow orienteering enthusiasts. See you out there!

Description supplied by the event organiser.