what is an orienteering course

An orienteering “course” is a series of consecutively numbered points shown on a detailed map. The object is to choose routes, which can be both on and off trail, that will help you find all the points in order and get back to the finish in the shortest amount of time.

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What are the basic skills in orienteering?

On orienteering maps, a course consists of a triangle, circles, a double circle and sometimes connecting lines all in purple. The triangle is the start. The double circle is the finish. All the circles in between are checkpoints. Numbered orange and white flags are placed in the terrain to show you that you have reached the correct location.

How to start orienteering?

The goal of orienteering is to complete a course in point-to-point order. Starts are staggered and the person successfully completing the course in the least amount of time is the winner. A typical orienteering event offers five, six, or seven different courses of varying difficulty. The courses are named using colors: White, beginners (2-3km)

How to select your orienteering course?

What is orienteering? Orienteering is an outdoor activity where you walk or run a course via a series of checkpoints, using a map for guidance. Most events take place in the Scottish countryside, so you can connect with nature and enjoy the …

How do you win at orienteering?

The Orienteering Skills Program is a sequential, four-step program for improving navigation from beginner to advanced orienteer. Each level features concepts, learning, and demonstration of skills that build on each other, as well as a completion patch.

How does an orienteering course work?

Orienteering (“O” for short) is a timed event across a mostly natural landscape, where participants navigate through a series of checkpoints along the way. The route from one checkpoint to the next isn't marked: Each participant decides the best route on the run (or walk).

How do you make an orienteering course?

Set up a 100-foot course near your meeting place. As Scouts arrive, have them walk the course and calculate their pace (how far they travel every two steps). Draw a large chalk circle on the parking lot. Place an index card marked “North” at the northernmost point.

What is the orienteering meaning?

Definition of orienteering : a competitive or noncompetitive recreational activity in which participants use a map and compass to navigate between checkpoints along an unfamiliar course (as in the woods)

What is the difference between navigation and orienteering?

Land navigation is making your way across the land, using various tools (map, compass, sun). Orienteering is a cross-country race in which participants navigate between checkpoints along a specified course (unfamiliar course, generally) using map and compass.

What does Mapper mean?

Definitions of mapper. a clerk who marks data on a chart. synonyms: plotter. type of: clerk. an employee who performs clerical work (e.g., keeps records or accounts)

How do I set up an indoor orienteering course?

1:277:10Permanent Course Orienteering - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipHold the map flat to the ground and lay the compass on top like seen here the aim is to get a redMoreHold the map flat to the ground and lay the compass on top like seen here the aim is to get a red needle on the compass to line up with the red arrows at the top of the map.

What is the importance of studying orienteering?

What Are the Benefits of Orienteering? Orienteering is a mental and physical exercise that gets participants out into nature. This sport promotes stamina, independence from technology, and spatial reasoning abilities, as well as cooperation skills.Jan 8, 2021

What are the four basic orienteering skills?

Basic Orienteering SkillsFolding the map.Thumbing the map.Orientating the map to north (with ground or compass)Reading features on the map.Taking a compass bearing.Following a compass bearing.Pacing.Judging Distance.Oct 30, 2007

What do you need for orienteering?

The main things you need is a map, compass and checkpoint recording device. Maps and checkpoint electronic punching devices are usually provided by event organizers. There is a wide variety in quality and price of orienteering equipment, which can be chosen depending on your needs and desirable performance level.Oct 10, 2020

What are the 5 variations of orienteering?

Variations of orienteering include line orienteering, in which the competitors follow the same route, visiting controls that can be found only by accurately adhering to the route; route orienteering, in which the route is marked not on a master map but on the ground itself and in which contestants must indicate the ...

What are control points on an orienteering course?

A control point (CP, also control and checkpoint) is a marked waypoint used in orienteering and related sports such as rogaining and adventure racing. It is located in the competition area; marked both on an orienteering map and in the terrain, and described on a control description sheet.

Which skill can be improved by orienteering?

Orienteering is a lifetime fitness sport that challenges the mind. It offers the obvious development of individual skills in navigating while problem solving to locate each control.

What is an orienteering course?

Course (orienteering) An orienteering course is compose d of a start point, a series of control points, and a finish point. Controls are marked with a white and orange flag in the terrain, and corresponding purple symbols on an orienteering map.

How many levels are there in the British Orienteering Federation?

Both the British Orienteering Federation (BOF) and Orienteering USA (OUSA) have formal systems that define levels of technical difficulty. The BOF system has 5 levels whereas the OUSA system has 7. In both systems, novices start on a course with a technical and physical difficulty of 1 and progress according to their age, experience, ...

What color is OUSA?

In the BOF system, White and Yellow together correspond to OUSA White; Orange corresponds more or less to OUSA Yellow; and Light Green corresponds to OUSA Orange. In OUSA, the guidelines for designing course levels are as follows: White—2-3 kilometers, winning time: 25-30 min., age up to 12.

How is physical difficulty determined?

Physical difficulty is determined by the length of the course, the amount of climb, and the kinds of terrain ( rocky, boggy, undergrowth etc.). General guidelines for orienteering courses are available from the International Orienteering Federation and national orienteering sport bodies. Both the British Orienteering Federation (BOF) ...

What courses are available in the JROTC?

There is also a Green course, Brown, Red, and Blue in the U.S. Yellow, Orange and Green are the only ones available to the JROTC branches, and are the usual choices for most civilians.

What is relay course?

In a relay, all teams run the same overall course, with each team member running a part of the overall course. Different teams will run the course in a different order e.g. if the overall course consists of parts A, B, and C, teams may run ABC, BCA, or CAB.

Which course has the least technical challenge?

In both systems, White courses have the least technical challenge, followed by Yellow and Orange. In both systems, all other courses (Red, Blue, Green, Brown, Black) are for advanced competitors and vary only in their degree and kind of physical challenge.

Where does orienteering take place?

Most events take place in the Scottish countryside, so you can connect with nature and enjoy the breathtaking scenery of our forests and glens. If you prefer towns and cities, you can try urban orienteering, ...

How long does it take to complete an orienteering race?

Depending on the type of race, it may take 20 mins to 2 hours to complete. You can run or walk and be as competitive or uncompetitive as you like! Another great thing about orienteering is that it’s not all about how fast you are, the mental and navigational aspects are just as important.

What is the difference between easier and harder courses?

The easier courses stick to paths, while the harder ones require more complex navigation and advanced map reading skills. How the courses are graded may vary from event to event, so it’s best to ask one of the event volunteers, who’ll be happy to recommend a course for you to try.

What sport should I do in Scotland?

If you like being active outdoors in Scotland and enjoy a challenging experience, orienteering is the perfect sport for you. You can enjoy it as an individual, a family, or any groups and all you need is a pair of trainers and comfortable clothing.

What is the goal of the Orienteering Program?

The program’s goal is to have athletes train so that they keep their bodies healthy, learn to be self-aware, and develop skills that will help them become strong orienteers and to be successful in life.

What is orienteering skills?

The Orienteering Skills Program is a sequential, four-step program for improving navigation from beginner to advanced orienteer. Each level features concepts, learning, and demonstration of skills that build on each other, as well as a completion patch. This is intended for use by coaches and beginner orienteers to ensure a proper progression of skills and may be integrated with the three programs above.

What is Discovering Orienteering?

An excellent resource for physical educators, recreation and youth leaders, orienteering coaches as well as individuals, Discovering Orienteering distills the sport into teachable components relating to various academic disciplines , provides an array of learning activities, and includes an introduction to physical training and activities for coaching beginning to intermediate orienteers. Guidelines take eager beginners beyond the basics and prepare them to participate in orienteering events. More than 60 ready-to-use activities assist educators in applying the benefits of orienteering across the curriculum.#N#Developed in conjunction with Orienteering USA (OUSA), Discovering Orienteering addresses the methods, techniques, and types of orienteering commonly found throughout the United States and Canada.#N#Available at Amazon & Google Play

What is the National Junior Program?

The competitive development program for orienteers 20 and under is the National Junior Program (NJP). The National Junior Program uses a whole-athlete approach. Athletes are trained in navigational skills, physical fitness, strength and agility. In addition to developing physical skills, the program emphasizes self-awareness and individual potential. The program’s goal is to have athletes train so that they keep their bodies healthy, learn to be self-aware, and develop skills that will help them become strong orienteers and to be successful in life.

How to become a navigator?

Becoming a proficient navigator involves learning a number of basic concepts and techniques and practicing these skills on a regular basis. Realize that as a beginner you will make mistakes and some will likely cost you a lot of time on the course. Learn to recognize what leads to these mistakes and be able to correct yourself before they become big errors. Even elite orienteers make mistakes, the difference is that they can more quickly catch themselves, adjust accordingly and minimize their time lost to errors. Practice, practice, practice…

How to build endurance and speed?

Intensity: If you want to improve your speed, you need to train harder. Consider intervals, hill repeats, and tempo runs to push you outside of your comfort zone.

How often should I walk for a fitness plan?

A few things to consider in designing a fitness plan: Frequency: Plan to walk or run at least three times a week to see improvement. Duration: The time you spend training will differ depending on your goal. Workouts to build speed should be shorter and more intense.

Why is the map important in orienteering?

The Map. In orienteering, the map is more important than the compass. Taking a compass bearing and traveling in a straight line isn’t always the best choice. The map gives you information about the terrain that can help you find trails, streams and vegetative edges, which can be easier to cross.

What color are the orienteering maps?

• Brown lines represent elevation and other land features. • White, yellows and greens show vegetation density. • Blue represents water.

What is the best way to get from point A to point B?

Orienteering is a fun outdoor activity that tests your ability not only to read a compass and map but also to relate features on the map to features on the ground to determine the fastest way to get from point A to point B.

What are the basics of orienteering?

This article covers the basics about this lesser-known outdoor activity: 1 What orienteering is 2 Where to learn how to do it 3 Gear and clothing needs 4 A primer for your first meet

When was orienteering invented?

Orienteering’s Birth and Growth. Orienteering was created in the late 1800s as a navigational competition for members of the Swedish military. Civilians soon joined the fun and the sport has spread throughout the world since then.

Why does declination not come into play in orienteering?

It includes many symbols unique to orienteering. Declination doesn’t come into play, because all orienteering maps align with magnetic north, not true north. That simplifies map reading when you have to navigate while moving quickly.

How many courses are there in a local meet?

Get in line for the course you picked at registration. A local meet might have from three to seven courses set up. To avoid bunching up runners, start times are staggered, though orienteers on different courses often start in the same wave.

What to do at the registration area?

At the registration area you sign a waiver, choose a course, pay an event fee and, if you didn’t bring one, rent a compass. (You get the map for your course later.) People at the registration area can also direct you to the newcomer instruction area.

Where is the finish area in a sandbox?

The finish area is often located near the start area . If you have an e-punch, you’ll be able to get a printout of your overall time, and time between each control, at the download station right next to the finish area.

What is GPS used for?

GPS technology is, however, used by advanced orienteers, not for navigation (a rule violation), but rather to analyze performance. Those orienteers record the precise path of their runs, then download that data after the race to critique route choices.

Overview

Course types and lengths

Relay

Course planning

External links