Orienteering Australia has established a High Performance Squad structure in line with the FTEM Pathways model. There are five squads that are currently established. They are Elite HP Squad (EHPS), High Performance Squad (HPS), National Development Squad (NDS), Australian Junior Development Squad (AJDS) and the Targeted Talented Athletes Squad (TTAS). If you are a current member of one of these squads or you are currently competing at the senior or junior elite level and want to become a member of a squad for 2016 you need to complete the online application form by 8th November 2015. The HP Coaches will consider the applications and squads will be announced by the end of November 2015. Orienteers who are turning 16 years of age in 2016 and have demonstrated talent at National and Sate level during 2015 will be invited to become members of the Targeted Talented Athlete Squad.

Membership of an OA High Performance Squad is necessary in order for an athlete to nominate for selection in any National team to be selected during 2016- WOC, World Cup, WUOC, Bushrangers, JWOC.

The performance of athletes in the squads will be tracked and monitored for coaching purposes. Athletes whose life circumstances change, and can no longer fully commit to training and competition activities, can deselect themselves from the squad. Athletes should deselect themselves in writing. Should an athlete deselect themselves from the HP squads, they are welcome to renominate for the HP squads at a time in the future when they can recommit themselves to orienteering training and competition. This could be years into the future. This selection and deselection policy recognises the non linear development of most athlete pathways. While consistent long term commitment to training and competition are key elements to ongoing improvement, this policy balances the reality that life events have on the ability to commit to orienteering at the top level. Therefore, there will be no penalty for athletes who deselect themselves from the squad and in subsequent years seek to renominate for the OA squads.

Squad membership will require the athlete to submit Training Plans for Oct-Dec 2015, Jan-March 2016 and April-Sept 2016, Competition Calendar 2016 and submit times for 3km with date, location and person verifying to Squad coach by the end of 2015 and also sometime during Jan-March 2016.

HP Squads 2016 Nomination Form

Nick Dent

OA Head Coach