IRISH ORIENTEERING ASSOCIATION - RULES OF ORIENTEERING
(Dated 1st December 2000 / Amended September 2002)
1. DEFINITIONS *
2. GENERAL PROVISIONS *
3. ADMINISTRATION *
4. EVENT CONTROLLER *
5. OTHER COMPETITION OFFICIALS *
6. EVENT ELIGIBILITY AND ENTRY *
7. CLASSES FOR COMPETITION *
8. MAPS AND COURSE MARKING ON THE MAP *
9. CONTROL DESCRIPTIONS *
10. THE COMPETITION *
11. PROTESTS JURIES AND APPEALS *
Appendices
This document titled "Rules of Foot Orienteering - Irish Orienteering Association" comprises the Rules and the Appendices to the Rules. This document will hereafter be referred to as the Rules. The Guidelines whilst not part of the Rules provide explanation of, and recommendations on, aspects of the sport of foot orienteering. The Appendices shall be treated as an integral part of the Rules. Where any contradiction arises between a rule and a guideline to the Rules, the rule shall take precedence. The Rules shall come into force on 01 December 2000 and may be amended by the IOA Executive.
Types of orienteering competition
Types of orienteering competition may be distinguished by:
(1) The time of the competition:
(a) day (in daylight);
(b) night (in the dark).
(2) The nature of the competition:
(a) individual (the individual performs independently);
(b) relay (two or more team members run consecutive individual races);
(c) team (two or more individuals collaborate).
(3) The way of determining the competition result:
(a) single-race competition (the result of a single race is the final result);
(b) multi-race competition (the combined results of two or more races, held during one day or several days, form the final result);
(c) qualification race competition (the competitors qualify for a final race through one or more qualification races in which they may be allocated to different heats, the competition's result is that of the final race only).
(4) The order in which controls are to be visited:
(a) in a specific order (the control visiting sequence is prescribed);
(b) in no specific order (the competitor is free to choose the order of visiting controls).
(5) The length of the race:
(a) classic distance;
(b) short distance;
(c) other distances.
Appendix 1 (Format of Competitions) defines and describes commonly used race types.
The following definitions and interpretations apply to the Rules. Any word or term defined in the Constitution of the IOA takes the same definition in the Rules.
The term "IOA" means the Irish Orienteering Association.
The term "IOF" means the International Orienteering Federation, of which the IOA is a member federation.
The term "NIOA" means the Northern Ireland Orienteering Association.
The word "shall" will be treated as a command in the Rules.
The word "should" implies a recommendation with which competitors and officials will endeavour to comply.
To "compete" means to take part in a competition with the competitor's result being used to determine the final position of all competitors in the results. The terms "competition" and "race" have the same meaning in the Rules.
The term "non-competitive" refers to a competitor's result not determining the final position of competitors in the results.
The "competition area" means the terrain on which the race takes place.
The term "event" embraces all aspects of an orienteering meeting including organisational matters such as start draws, team officials' meetings and ceremonies. An event such as the Irish Orienteering Championships may include more than one competition.
An "orienteering club" is an association of persons united in their interest in orienteering and their participation in orienteering activities (although not necessarily exclusively so), for which a written constitution exists, which has been accepted as a valid orienteering club by the IOA, and for which the appropriate affiliation fees are paid up to date. For the purpose of this definition the activities of an orienteering club shall include the practice of orienteering, the organisation of orienteering competitions, the production of maps for orienteering, and the proper administration of the club.
A "specialist orienteering club" is an orienteering club that confines itself mainly to the activities of orienteering.
A "non-specialist orienteering club" is an orienteering club that mainly engages in sports and leisure activities other than the activities of orienteering.
A "closed orienteering club" means an orienteering club which restricts membership to individuals belonging to an institution or organisation (school, college, university, firm or Defence Forces unit or formation) and which does not accept outside membership by invitation.
An "open orienteering club" means any orienteering club other than a closed club.
In the Rules any reference to an orienteering club includes closed and open, specialist and non-specialist orienteering clubs unless stated otherwise.
A "junior" in a particular year is an individual who has not reached the age of 18 years before the 1st day of January. A "senior" in a particular year is an individual who is aged 18 years or older on the 1st day of January.
A "club member" is a registered member of an orienteering club. Categories of club membership include "senior", "junior", "family" and "group". Senior and Junior members of an orienteering club are individual members of the club. Valid members of a family for the purpose of defining family membership of an orienteering club are the parents or guardians of the family and also children of the family who are under 21 years of age. Members of a group for the purpose of defining group membership of an orienteering club are valid members of the group according to the rules that govern membership of the group.
"Membership of the IOA". Every member of an orienteering club is automatically a member of the IOA. An individual may also become a member of the IOA by application to the Honorary Secretary of the Association without becoming a member of an orienteering club.
"Associate membership of the IOA". Persons participating in IOA registered events that are not members of the Association immediately become Associate members of the Association. Such membership shall expire on the 31st of December each year.
"Open competition events" are competitions to which entry is not restricted to members of specific clubs or organisations. Such competitions are open to everyone.
"Closed competition events" are competitions other than open competition events.
A "non-competitive event" is an orienteering event where timing is not employed e.g. introductory events and training events.
"Pre-race information" means information communicated to competitors prior to the day of the competition.
"Registration" means the location where competitors may purchase entries to the race on the day of the competition (if permitted), or receive maps, description sheets or control cards.
Competitions in Ireland are classified into four categories based on factors such as the importance of the competition, the quality of map and the level of organisation employed. A competition may be organised as either an open competition event or a closed competition event.
Category 1 (C1): Open International competitions categorised as International A or International B competitions on the IOF Fixtures List, or closed competitions of World Championships status (e.g. World Orienteering Championships, World Cup competitions, World Military Championships - CISM, World Student Championships).
Category 2 (C2): Closed International competitions (e.g. Home Internationals), the Irish Championships, Regional Championships, Inter-Provincial Championships, Irish Two-day, and Shamrock O-Ringen.
Category 3 (C3): Events in this category include provincial league competitions, colour-coded competitions offering six or more courses, to include either a Black or a Brown colour-coded course, and age classified competitions which are planned and organised to the standards set out in the Guidelines to the Rules.
Category 4 (C4): These are informal competitions (also known as 'Local Events' and 'come-and-try-it' events).
Training events and introductory events are classified as being non-competitive events.
The rules in their entirety shall apply to all open competition events held in Ireland or elsewhere by the Irish Orienteering Association and to all affiliated clubs and Regional Councils. The rules shall be binding on all competitors, team officials and all other persons connected with the organisation of the event or in contact with the competitors.
The rules and appendices relating to 'Fairness' (para. 2.2.1), 'Respect for Property and the Public' (para. 2.3), 'Event Safety' (para. 2.4), 'Doping Control' (Appendix 2), and 'Map Registration' (Appendix 3) shall apply to all other orienteering events i.e. non-competitive events and closed competition events.
Competitors taking part in competitions to which these rules apply shall be deemed to have accepted them. Ignorance of the rules, or any other instructions issued by the Organiser by way of notice (whether by pre-race information or information prominently displayed at the competition), shall not be accepted as a satisfactory explanation of any infringement of the rules.
Rules may be waived under the following conditions provided the requested deviation from the rules is reasonable:
(1) At all open competition events where circumstances indicate that it is appropriate for a specific rule to be waived, the Controller may permit this, provided due notification is given to competitors;
(2) For all competitions of C2 status or lower, the IOA Technical Sub-committee may, upon application by a Regional Council, waive or modify any rule;
(3) For all competitions of C1 status, the IOF appointed Controller or Technical Director may waive or modify any rule.
All persons taking part in an orienteering event shall behave with fairness and honesty. They shall maintain a sporting attitude and a spirit of friendship. Competitors shall show respect for each other, for officials, journalists, spectators and the inhabitants of the competition area. Competitors shall be as quiet as possible in the terrain.
Competitors shall not seek any unfair advantage over other competitors. Specifically, competitors shall not seek unfair help or information from other competitors, team officials, event officials or spectators before or during the competition. Competitors shall not collaborate in any way. Spectators and team officials shall not influence the competition and shall remain in the areas assigned to them. No unauthorised persons shall enter the race area.
In competitions other than mass-start competitions, relay competitions, and races where chasing starts are employed (i.e. races in which the first competitor or team to cross the finish line wins) an individual competitor shall not intentionally run with or behind another competitor in order to profit from his skill. The term chasing start refers to competitor start time intervals determined from a previous competition(s).
Any search for the competition course or inspection of the competition area before the race is forbidden.
A competitor who has trained in an area either:
(1) After the area has been published in the IOA Fixtures List or elsewhere as the competition area for a competition of C2 status or above, or for a selection event to the national team,
Or
(2) Knowing that it will be used for such a competition or selection event,
Shall notify the Organiser of the competition, and shall be treated as a non-competitive entrant in the race.
It is forbidden for a competitor to indulge in any form of doping. Appendix 2 (Doping Control) defines the responsibilities of competitors, officials, the IOA and other organisations with respect to Doping Control in Irish orienteering.
A competitor who is demonstrated to have broken any of the rules relating to Fairness (para. 2.2) shall be disqualified unless there are sufficient reasons not to disqualify. Appendix 2 lists the sanctions that apply to doping.
Respect for property and the public
Nothing shall be done to damage the goodwill of landowners, their tenants or agents. Competitors shall comply with all requests made by such persons and notified to them by the Organiser. Respect and consideration shall be shown to all members of the public in or near the competition area.
Competitors and officials shall ensure that every effort is made to ensure that no damage is done to the environment, and shall co-operate with those responsible for environmental conservation. No litter shall be left.
The existence of an orienteering map does not of itself give the right of access to any area.
Prior to the date of the competition the Organiser shall obtain full permission (preferably in writing) for orienteering from the landowners and their tenants or agents, for any land likely to be used by the competition. Any areas for which such permission is not obtained, or is refused, shall be indicated as out of bounds on the competition map. If pre-marked maps are not used competitors shall ensure that they accurately note out of bounds areas given by the Organiser as map corrections.
Competitors shall treat as out of bounds:
(1) Yards and gardens;
(2) Sown land, or land with standing crops (including hay);
(3) Railways;
(4) Motorways;
(5) Industrial lands/quarries unless the Organiser has given specific instructions to the contrary.
Competitors shall not enter out of bounds areas and shall be liable to disqualification if they do so.
Any competitor whose right to be in an area is challenged shall stop, explain his presence, comply with any reasonable request (even if this means abandoning a race) and inform the person making the challenge of the location of a responsible official. The competitor shall give an account of the occurrence to the Organiser (or, if he is not available, another responsible official) as soon as possible.
Crossing points shall be used where indicated on the map unless the Organiser has instructed that their use is optional.
Competitors shall take care to avoid any damage, and shall report to a responsible official any damage done or seen to have been done.
All competitors in any competition to which these rules apply take part entirely at their own risk.
A competitor who has started the competition shall report to the finish, whether or not he has completed the course.
A competitor who loses his control card shall report the fact to a finish official.
At all competitions the Organiser shall arrange for effective first-aid treatment to be available at the finish, and shall be able to arrange the transfer of any casualty to an Accident & Emergency hospital. A mobile phone shall be available for use.
At all competitions the Organiser shall ensure that sufficient help and equipment is available to mount a search for a missing competitor.
The course shall be planned so that dangerous features, such as quarries, high crags and deep marshes, and out of bounds areas, can be avoided easily. Dangerous features should be marked with yellow tape if they are in an area likely to be visited by any competitors, and are not already clearly marked as dangerous. Yellow tape shall not be used for any other purpose.
The Irish Orienteering Championships
The IOA in conjunction with the NIOA shall be responsible for organising in each calendar year the:
(1) Irish Orienteering Championships, which shall be an individual competition;
(2) Irish Orienteering Relay Championships, which shall be a relay competition.
Navigating skill at running speed shall be the deciding factor at any Irish Championship.
Where the Irish Championships are organised by the IOA, the IOA Executive shall approve the appointment of the Regional Council or club(s) which is to carry out the preparation and running of the event and shall approve the appointment of the event Organiser(s), Planner(s), and Controller(s).
The IOA Executive prior to proposal to the IOA Fixtures Officer for registration shall approve all areas for the Irish Championships. The competition should be held in terrain of which the competitors have no prior knowledge.
National Championship competitions should be planned and organised to the standards set out in the Guidelines to the Rules.
The Irish Championships shall stand-alone and shall not be combined with any other competition.
Registration of competitions and preparation of fixtures lists
The IOA Fixtures Officer, subject to the approval of the IOA Executive, shall be responsible for the preparation of the IOA fixtures lists. The IOA fixtures lists shall list all open competitions to be held in Ireland.
All open competition events shall be registered with the IOA Fixtures Officer. Competitions of C2 and C3 status require prior approval from the relevant Regional Council before registration with the IOA Fixtures Officer, whereas competitions of C4 status do not. In the case of disagreement the IOA Executive shall have the final decision.
The Irish Championships, Inter-Provincial Championships and The Irish-two day event shall rotate among the four Provinces while the Provincial Championships shall rotate among the Clubs who offer to hold the event in that Province.
The IOA Executive shall decide the type of competition to be used for all championship competitions of C2 status.
Competitions of C3 and C4 status shall not be organised on any area which is scheduled for a competition of status C2 or above within the next 12 months.
All competitions should be planned and organised to the standards set out in the Guidelines to the Rules.
Events that require a Controller
A Controller shall be appointed for all events of C3 status or above. The Controller may appoint, or request the Organiser to appoint, one or more assistant Controllers.
The Controller of any event of C2 status or above shall normally come from a different club to that of the Organiser and Planner(s).
At any Irish Championships the Controller should preferably come from a different region to that of the Organiser and Planner(s).
The Controller of a C3 Event should preferably come from a different club to that of the Organiser and Planner.
Responsibilities of a Controller
Controllers shall be conversant with the IOA Rules of Foot Orienteering.
The Controller shall be responsible for ensuring that the courses are fair, and that the competition is organised fairly and in accordance with the rules. If he becomes aware that any breach of these rules has occurred, or is likely to occur, he shall take whatever action he considers necessary. The Controller may require the Organiser to cancel the competition if necessary.
As a minimum at events of C1 and C2 status, the following tasks shall be carried out under the authority of the event Controller:
(1) Approve the venue and the terrain for the event;
(2) Monitor event organisation and assess the suitability of the proposed accommodation, food, transport, programme, budget and training possibilities (if applicable);
(3) Assess any planned ceremonies;
(4) Approve the organisation and layout of start, finish and changeover areas;
(5) Assess the reliability and accuracy of the time keeping and results producing systems;
(6) Check that the map conforms to IOF standards;
(7) Approve the courses after assessing their quality, including degree of difficulty, control siting and equipment, chance factors and map correctness;
(8) Check any course splitting method and course combinations;
(9) Assess arrangements and facilities for the media;
(10) Assess arrangements and facilities for doping testing.
Subject to the provisions of section "Protests, Juries and Appeals" the decision of the Controller in all matters shall be final.
Controllers shall be members of the IOA or of any affiliated association of the IOF and shall be active orienteers.
Certification of Event Controllers
Event Controllers may be certified by the IOA, by the IOF, and by other member associations of the IOF. The Rules deal with the certification of Event Controllers by the IOA. The qualifications of Event Controllers certified by any of the aforementioned authorities shall be recognised by the IOA.
In order to become an IOA certified Event Controller an individual is required to:
(1) Have successfully completed an IOA approved Event Controllers Course;
(2) Have controlled at least one event on the IOA Fixtures List and shown competence in controlling;
(3) Have successfully organised at least one event on the IOA Fixtures List;
(4) Have planned a competition of at least C3 event status, and shown competence in planning.
The IOA Controller of Technical Standards shall maintain a register of IOA certified Event Controllers.
The IOA Technical Sub-Committee may remove a certified Event Controller from the register, subject to IOA Executive approval, if this is considered desirable. A certified Event Controller who has not acted as a Controller, Planner, or Organiser of a competition of C3 status or higher in the previous three years shall automatically be removed from the IOA register of Event Controllers.
The Course Planner shall design the orienteering courses and be responsible for:
(1) The preparation of control markers and control codes;
(2) Overprinting maps with courses or the preparation of master maps;
(3) The preparation of control description lists;
(4) The correct placement of the control markers prior to the competition.
The Course Planner shall have an understanding and appreciation of the qualities of a good course gained from personal experience. He must also be familiar with the theory of course planning and appreciate the special requirements of different classes and different types of competition. The Course Planner shall be capable of assessing on site the various factors that can affect the competition, such as the conditions of the terrain, the quality of the map, the presence of participants and spectators.
Other than for non-competitive events the Planner shall be a member of the IOA and shall be an active orienteer. For any event of C2 status or above the Planner shall have previously planned a C3 event or higher and shown competence in course planning, as judged by the Regional Council in whose area the competition took place.
For all International events the IOA executive may appoint a Technical Adviser. The technical advisor shall be responsible for ensuring that the competition is conducted in accordance with the IOF Rules of Competition, and shall give such guidance to the Planner and Organiser as he sees fit.
The Technical Adviser shall immediately report any unresolved dispute he has with the Controller to the IOA Controller of Technical Standards, who shall decide the matter.
Eligibility to enter competitions of status C2
A competitor is eligible to take part competitively in any Irish Championships if:
(1) He is a member of the IOA, or of a club affiliated to the NIOA,
And
(2) He meets one of the following conditions:
(a) He was born in Ireland,
Or
(b) He has a spouse or at least one parent who was born in Ireland,
Or
(c) He has been resident in Ireland for at least six of the ten months preceding the Championships,
Or
(d) He has been resident in Ireland for at least two of the five years preceding the Championships,
Or
(e) He is currently in full-time education in Ireland.
A competitor is eligible to take part competitively in any Regional Championship Event if:
(1) He is an individual, group or family member of IOA or NIOA on the day of that competition,
Or
(2) He is affiliated to a member Federation of the IOF other than IOA.
The title of Regional Champion may be restricted to members of actual Region.
At competitions of C2 event status or above, the Organiser or Controller shall declare as non-competitive any entrant who is so well acquainted with the terrain that he would derive substantial advantage over other competitors. Nothing that has occurred more than two years before the date of the competition shall be taken into account in deciding how well acquainted a competitor is with the terrain.
Representing clubs in competition
A competitor may compete for one open club at any one time. A competitor may compete for one closed club at any one time. He may be simultaneously be a member of an open club and a closed club. A competitor may transfer between open clubs if he provides one-month formal notice to do so and ceases to compete for the first open club. A competitor may transfer between closed clubs if he ceases to be a member of one institution which qualifies him to be a member of a closed club and joins an institution which qualifies him to be a member of a second closed club, and ceases to compete for the first closed club.
A competitor shall only represent one club at any competition, except by agreement with the Organiser.
Eligibility to Compete for Ireland
Eligibility to Compete for Ireland at IOF Championships (World Orienteering Championships, European Championships, and Junior World Championships) and World Cup races shall be as follow. The competitor shall:
(1) Be a member of the IOA;
(2) Comply with IOA Doping Control measures;
(3) Hold an Irish Passport.
For competition with pre-entry the closing date for entries shall be as late as practicable before the race. The closing date shall not be more than 14 days before the competition.
For competitions with pre-entry the Organiser should send notifications of start times so that they are received by competitors at least five days before the race. For multi-day competitions this rule may only apply to the first day.
The Organiser shall have discretion to refuse or revoke an entry, or put a competitor in a lower course if he feels the entrant would not complete the course.
At competitions of C3 status or above, a competitor shall not take part under an assumed name. The original entrant shall not assign an entry to a competition to another competitor unless the permission of the Organiser is obtained. Competitors contravening this rule by accepting such an assignment may be disqualified.
Competitors are divided into classes according to their sex and age. Women may compete in men's classes.
A competitor changes from one age category to the next on the 1st January of the calendar year in which he reaches the age of the older age category.
If age categories and classes are used they shall be as follows:
|
|
Men |
Women |
Age |
|
|
M10 |
W10 |
8, 9, 10 |
|
|
M12 |
W12 |
11, 12 |
|
|
M14 |
W14 |
13, 14 |
|
|
M16 |
W16 |
15, 16 |
|
|
M18 |
W18 |
17, 18 |
|
|
M20 |
W20 |
19, 20 |
|
|
M21 |
W21 |
21 to 34 |
|
|
M35 |
W35 |
35 to 39 |
|
|
M40 |
W40 |
40 to 44 |
|
|
M45 |
W45 |
45 to 49 |
|
|
M50 |
W50 |
50 to 54 |
|
|
M55 |
W55 |
55 to 59 |
|
|
M60 |
W60 |
60 to 64 |
|
|
M65 |
W65 |
65 to 69 |
|
|
M70 |
W70 |
70 + |
The age categories and classes indicated in para. 7.1.3 may be split further for a competition with an entry concentrated within a narrow age range (e.g. a schools competition).
Individual competitions of C2 and higher status
Courses and classes offered shall be as described in the previous paragraph for the following competitions:
(1) The Irish Championships (individual day competition);
(2) Any Open International individual competition;
(3) Any competition of C2 Competition status;
Unless prior approval is granted by the IOA executive.
The Organiser, with the approval of the Controller, may decide to amalgamate courses or classes, if for instance, there are insufficient competitors to provide a good contest within a particular class.
At any event a competitor may compete in any class more demanding than his/her own.
No courses shall be provided for age categories of M/W16 and younger at night competitions.
At competitions of C2 status and above both 'A' and 'B' classes may be offered for M/W12-, M/W14-, M/W16-, M/W18-, and M/W20- Age classes. Any 'B' class course shall be technically easier than the 'A' class.
At events of C2 Competition status and above, Long and Short courses may be offered for all M/W21 - M/W65 classes. The short course shall be the same technical difficulty and approximately 50- 75% of the length of the long course.
At events of C2 status courses suitable for novice competitors should be provided (e.g. M/W2l Novice).
Irish and Provincial Relay Championships
The following classes for competition at the Irish and Provincial Relay Championships shall be provided:
Open 12 or under W12 or under
Open 14 or under W14 or under
Open 16 or under W16 or under
Open 18 or under Wl8 or under
Premier W Open
Open 40 or older W40 or older
Open 50 or older W50 or older
Open 60 or older W60 or older
Ad-hoc (Club or organisation)
Ad-hoc (Mixed)
Further or alternative relay classes to those listed in para. 7.3.1 may only be provided with the prior permission of IOA Technical Sub-Committee.
Except for the mixed Ad Hoc class, all members of a competitive team shall belong to the same recognised club. The club shall be affiliated to the IOA or NIOA.
MAPS AND COURSE MARKING ON THE MAP
As far as possible, any map used for a competition shall use symbols recommended by the IOF. Any symbols used that are either additional to, or different from, those recommended by IOF shall be shown in the legend on the map.
At competitions of C2 Competition status or above such symbols shall be notified and fully described in pre-race information made available to all competitors.
All maps for all open competitions shall be produced and printed to IOF specifications.
All maps used for orienteering events (open competition, closed competition, and non-competitive events) organised by any club affiliated to the IOA or by any member of the IOA shall be properly registered with the IOA Mapping Registrar and shall comply with the provisions of Appendix 3 (Registration of Orienteering Maps).
All competition maps should carry the following information:
(1) Name of area;
(2) Grid reference of an identified point in the area;
(3) Scale and scale bar;
(4) Contour Interval;
(5) Date of last revision;
(6) O.S. Permit Number (if O.S. material used);
(7) Names of surveyor(s) and cartographer(s);
(8) Name of printer;
(9) Orienteering club which holds copyright.
The map should not be greatly larger than is required for the competition.
The starting point of the course shall be marked by an equilateral triangle of side 7-mm that should point to the first control.
The centre of a circle of 5-6 mm diameter on the map shall depict the site of each control. This circle should be broken, as necessary, to avoid obscuring important detail. Where the control feature is drawn on the map symbolically rather than to scale, the circle shall be drawn so that the feature lies exactly at the centre.
The position of the Finish shall be shown on all maps used in the competition as the centre of two concentric circles 5 mm and 7 mm in diameter.
If the controls are to be visited in a prescribed order, straight lines shall join them. The lines should be broken, as necessary, to avoid obscuring important details, and diverted to meet up with taped routes or to avoid lakes, "out of bounds" areas or other areas which cannot be crossed by competitors.
Any part of the course where the competitor is obliged to follow a compulsory route shall be clearly and precisely indicated on the map by a dashed line.
The controls shall be numbered in the prescribed sequence, if any. The numbers shall be printed on a north-south axis, with the top north, and should be positioned so that they do not obscure any important detail.
A chain of crosses shall show forbidden routes (e.g. busy roads).
Crossing points shall be indicated by curved brackets i.e. )(.
At all events of C2 Competition status or above, the competitors shall receive maps with their courses and map corrections pre-marked. Such arrangements are also preferable at C3 Competitions. It is undesirable to mix this arrangement for a particular course (termed "pre-marking of maps") with the arrangement that the competitor copies his own course from a master map, but if there is such a mix there shall be no time allowance for copying the course from the master map.
The course and map corrections should be overprinted in waterproof transparent red/violet (PMS purple) colour.
Pre-marked maps should show the control description list on the front of the map wherever possible.
If the pre-marked maps are not printed on waterproof material they shall be protected by a plastic covering of at least 300 gauge (400 gauge if the map unit size exceeds A4) prior to issue to competitors.
Master map and map corrections for competitions where pre-marked maps are not used
For C3 and C4 Competitions, if pre-marked maps are not used, then competitors shall copy their course from master maps either before or after they have been timed as having started.
If corrections have to be made to the map, an adequate number of maps detailing the map corrections, termed map corrections, shall be displayed near registration. Competitors shall have the opportunity to receive their maps, and make any necessary corrections to them, at least 30 minutes before their start times.
Map corrections shall be shown in colour contrasting with the rest of the map, and shall contain a written indication of the type of correction. The total number of corrections shall be stated, and the corrections serially numbered.
(1) The course properly marked according to the Rules;
(2) All relevant corrections;
(3) Optionally the control description list appropriate to the course.
If the master maps are displayed in the open both the master map and the area in which they are copied should be adequately protected from the weather.
There shall be sufficient master maps for each course, and they shall be clearly distinguishable to approaching competitors.
The purpose of the control description is to give greater precision to the picture provided by the map of the control feature and the site of the marker.
The control description list for individual or relay competitions shall contain the following information:
(1) Course number or code, unless printed elsewhere on the map;
(2) Class or classes participating on the course;
(3) Course length in metres as defined in para. 10.5.3 to the nearest 5 metres;
(4) For events of C3 Competition status or above, total climb in metres for the route chosen by para. 10.5.4 to the nearest 5 metres;
(5) Description of Start position and of individual controls in sequence;
(6) Any special instructions or cautions;
(7) Length and nature of any marked route during the course, and from last control to the finish;
(8) Course closure time if not marked on the control card label.
Control Description Presentation
At C2 Competitions and above the standard pictorial symbols recognised by the IOF (termed IOF symbols) shall be used. At C3 Competitions the IOF symbols should be used. However plain text descriptions shall be provided for M/W10-, M/W12-, M/W14- and Novice courses.
If IOF symbols are used, they shall comply with the specification set out in Appendix 4. If it becomes necessary to use a symbol other than those set out in Appendix 4, then an example of the special symbol and a detailed explanation of its meaning shall be included in the pre-race information.
If text descriptions are used, a blank line should be left after every third or fourth description.
The control description list may be printed on the map or presented on a separate sheet.
Description of individual controls
If IOF symbols are used each control shall be described in accordance with IOF descriptions, each column, A - H, of which broadly contains the information listed below. Each section corresponds to a square (greater than 6 x 6 mm when printed) on an eight column grid. See the definition of control descriptions using IOF symbols in Appendix 4.
A. Control number, in the sequence to be visited, unless the competition is a score competition.
B. Control Code.
C. Which feature, if there is more than one similar feature within the circle defining the control on the map.
D. The control feature, as shown at the centre of the circle.
E. Further information on the appearance or nature of the feature. Where applicable, this should be in accordance with the definitions of Appendix 1.
F. Size of feature. Dimensions should be given where the size of the control feature on the map is symbolic rather than to scale. Maximum heights and maximum depths shall be stated in metres (to the nearest 0.5 m for dimensions below 3 m, otherwise to the nearest metre). Horizontal dimensions shall be stated to the nearest metre.
G. Position of the marker. This should be defined in accordance with Appendix 1.
H. Other important information.
If written descriptions are used sufficient information shall be given to define the control feature clearly.
Clothing shall fully cover the torso and legs. In other respects the choice shall be free. Competitors not complying with this Rule shall not be allowed to start. An exception to this rule is that if the competition area contains little or no undergrowth likely to cause leg abrasions, the Controller may give notice that Competitors are not required to wear clothing that fully covers the legs.
The Controller, having regard to the nature of the terrain or weather conditions, may give notice that a weatherproof garment shall be carried throughout the race by all competitors. In such circumstances a competitor not carrying a weatherproof garment shall not be permitted to start the race.
A whistle should always be carried, and shall only be used in an emergency. Controllers having regard to the nature of the terrain or weather conditions may give notice that a whistle shall be carried by all competitors. In such circumstances a Competitor not carrying a whistle shall not be permitted to start the race.
Competitors shall wear any numbers provided, in the position and manner specified by the Organiser. In particular the name of any Sponsor shown on the number shall not be obscured.
During the competition only the map provided by the Organiser shall be used. The use of any navigational aid other than an IOA approved compass is prohibited.
At individual competitions of C3 Competition status or above (with the exception of massed-start competitions, or when a "chasing start" is used) no competitor shall be timed to start on the same course within one minute of another competitor.
At individual competitions of C2 Competition status or above, a list of all competitors and their start times should be displayed:
(1) At an enquiry point sited at or near the assembly area,
And
(2) At the pre-start.
At individual competitions of C2 Competition status or above the start list for Elite classes should be prepared as prescribed in the Guidelines to the Rules of Orienteering, and shall not take account of any expressed preferences of the Competitors.
At events of C3 Competition status or above, the start and the map issue point or master maps should be sited in such a way that Competitors waiting to start cannot see the route taken by competitors who have started. The courses should be designed so that the competitors are unlikely to return past the timed start on the way to the first control.
At all events of C4 status and above the position of the centre of the start triangle shown on the map shall be identified on the ground by a control marker and be on a mapped feature. Where a map exchange or a 2nd set of Master Maps are used the position of the Start of the next section of the course shall be marked on the ground by a control marker if it is significantly away from the last control.
At events of C2 Competition status or above Competitors late for their starts through no fault of the Organiser should be started as soon as possible but should be timed as if they had started at the time given on the start list. The Competitors' actual start times should be noted and, with the specific approval of the Controller, may be used as a revised start time.
At events of C3 status and below, start officials may, with the approval of the Controller, change the start times.
If pre-marked maps are used, copies of the map showing no information other than any map corrections essential to the competition should be displayed and available for study before the start line.
In individual races competitors should receive their pre-marked maps not more than 10 seconds before the start time. Competitors should check to ensure that they receive the correct map.
At relay events, competitors shall not examine their pre-marked maps until they have started.
The changeover between the members of each relay team takes place by touch. The changeover may be organised so that the incoming team member collects the map of the outgoing team member and hands it over as the changeover touch.
Correct and timely relay changeover is the responsibility of the competitors, even when the Organiser arranges an advanced warning of incoming teams.
With the approval of the Event Controller the Organiser may arrange mass starts for the later legs for relay teams that have not changed over.
If a relay team is disqualified and has accepted its disqualification, or the jury has confirmed the disqualification of the team, no further members of that team shall be allowed to start.
Conduct during the competition
It is the duty of a Competitor to give help to an injured competitor even if this means abandoning the race.
Shouting and calling are prohibited. Competitors shall not deliberately draw attention to themselves.
Competitors shall follow any reasonable instructions given by Race Officials. Competitors shall show their control card to any Official on request. Competitors shall behave in a courteous manner towards such Officials. Any breach of this Rule may lead to disqualification.
Competitors shall follow in its entirety any compulsory route including that leading from the start or to the finish of the course.
The IOF Principles for Course Planning (see Guidelines) should be followed. The navigational skill, concentration and running ability of the competitors shall be tested. All courses shall call upon a range of different orienteering techniques. Courses for short distance shall require, in particular, a high level of concentration throughout the course, detailed map reading and frequent decision making. Courses for classic distance shall require route choice.
The course shall be appropriate to the age, gender and standard of competitors expected to take part and should, where relevant, be planned in accordance with the Recommended Race Times and standards of technical and physical difficulty set out in the appropriate Guideline for the particular type of competition.
The course lengths shall be given as the length of the straight line from the start via the controls to the finish deviating for, and only for, physically impassable obstructions (high fences, lakes, impassable cliffs etc.), prohibited areas and marked routes.
The total climb shall be given as the climb in metres along the shortest sensible route. The total climb of a course should normally not exceed 4% of the length of the shortest sensible route.
Courses should be set so those normally fit competitors can run over most of the course set for their level of ability.
The physical difficulty of courses should progressively decrease as the age of the competitors increases in Masters classes. Special care must be taken that the courses for classes M70 and over and W65 and over are not too physically demanding.
The course Planner shall keep the following course planning factors in mind:
(1) The unique character of foot orienteering as running navigation;
(2) Fairness of competition;
(3) Competitor enjoyment;
(4) Protection of wildlife and the environment;
(5) The needs of the media and spectators.
Different types of legs should be offered within a course, some of them based on intense map-reading and others containing more easily run route choices. There should also be variations with regard to leg length and difficulty in order to force the competitor to use a range of orienteering techniques and running speeds. The course Planner should also include changes in general direction for consecutive legs as this forces competitors to reorient themselves frequently.
It is preferable for a course to have a few very good legs joined by short links designed to enhance the legs rather than a larger number of even but lesser quality legs.
No leg should contain route choices giving any advantage or disadvantage that cannot be foreseen from the map by a competitor under competitive conditions. Legs which encourage competitors to cross out-of-bounds or dangerous areas must be avoided.
Selection and positioning of controls
Features used as controls shall be clearly defined, distinct from the surrounding terrain, and shall be marked on the map. Control features shall be chosen so that the competitor can locate them with accuracy consistent with the scale of the map and the amount of detail shown near the control.
A control shall not be placed on a feature inserted on the map as a map correction made by the competitor.
The control marker shall be placed on the feature indicated on the map. The precise position of the control marker in relation to the feature shall be in accordance with the control description.
The control marker should be visible from all directions of approach unless the control description indicates otherwise. Control markers should be sited so that the presence of competitors does not affect the difficulty of locating a control.
In relay competitions, the controls shall be combined differently for the teams, but all teams shall run the same overall course. If the terrain and the concept of the courses permit it, the lengths of the legs may be significantly different. However, the sum of the winning times of the legs shall be kept as prescribed. All teams must run the different length legs in the same sequence.
In individual competitions, the controls may be combined differently for the competitors, but all competitors shall run the same overall course.
The control point given on the map shall be clearly marked on the ground and be equipped to enable the competitors to prove their passage.
Each control shall be marked by a control flag consisting of three squares, about 30 cm x 30 cm, arranged in a triangular form. Each square shall be divided diagonally, one half being white and the other orange (PMS 165). Other types of marker may be used at non-competitive competitions.
The flag shall be hung at the feature indicated on the map in accordance with the control description. The flag shall be visible to competitors when they can see the described position.
Controls shall not be sited within 30 m of each other. Further, only when the control features are distinctly different in the terrain as well as on the map, should controls be placed closer than 60m apart.
A control shall be sited so that the presence of a person punching does not significantly help nearby competitors to find the control.
Each control shall be identified with a code number, which shall be fixed to the control so that a competitor using the marking device can clearly read the code. Numbers less than 31 and numbers easily confused (e.g. 66, 68, 86, 89, 98, 99) may not be used. The figures shall be black on white, between 5 and 10 cm in height and have a line thickness of 5 to 10 mm.
To prove the passage of the competitors, there shall be a sufficient number of marking devices in the immediate vicinity of each flag.
In competitions of C1 and C2 status if the estimated winning time is more than 30 minutes, refreshments shall be available at least every 25 minutes at the estimated speed of the winner. At least pure water of suitable temperature shall be offered as refreshment. If different refreshments are offered, they shall be clearly marked.
In competitions of C1 and C2 status all controls for which there are security concerns shall be guarded.
At competitions of C1 and C2 status the layout of the control marker, code and marking devices should be the same for all controls. A model control should be displayed at the pre-start.
Except for the exercise of their duty, officials at controls shall not interfere with competitors, nor give any information on times or positions. As far as possible the presence of a control official should not help, hinder or distract the Competitor in any way.
Control Cards and Electronic Punching Keys
Competitors shall be responsible for marking their control card clearly and in the correct box at each control. A competitor who hands in an incorrect or illegible control card shall be classed as disqualified, unless the Controller is satisfied that the Competitor has completed the course correctly.
Competitors who mispunch at a control shall re-punch in either a box provided for this on the control card or in the highest numbered box if this is not used on the course. The competitor is responsible for reporting the facts to the finish officials.
Control cards should be made from materials that are both waterproof and tear-proof.
A competitor who loses a control card or electronic key, or hands in an incomplete control card, shall be classed as retired unless the Controller is satisfied that the course has been completed correctly.
Competitions that use electronic punching systems shall have a pin-punch on the stake holding the electronic equipment as a back up. Control cards to be issued to competitors for emergency usage.
The competition ends for a competitor when crossing the finishing line.
The run-in to the finish shall be bounded by tape or by rope. The last 20-m shall be straight. The finish line shall be at least 3 m wide and shall be at right angles to the direction of the run-in. The exact position of the finish line shall be obvious to approaching competitors.
When a competitor has crossed the finish line, the competitor shall hand in the control card including any plastic bag and, if so required by the Organiser, the competition map.
The finishing time shall be measured when the competitor's chest crosses the finish line or when the competitor punches at the finish line. Sufficient punching (electronic or pin) devices shall be made available in order to prevent queuing of competitors on the finish line.
Finish times shall be rounded down to whole seconds. Times shall be given in hours, minutes and seconds or in minutes and seconds only.
For events of C2 status and above two independent timekeeping systems, a primary and a secondary shall be used continuously throughout the competition. The timekeeping systems shall measure times of competitors in the same class relative to each other, with an accuracy of 0.5 seconds or better. The time taken shall be to the completed second.
For events of C2 status and above with mass or chasing starts, finish judges shall rule on the final placing of competitors and a jury member shall be present at the finish line.
With the approval of the Event Controller, the Organiser may set maximum running times for each class.
Provisional results should be displayed at the competition assembly area as soon as possible after each competitor has finished.
The official results shall include all participating competitors. In relays, the results shall include the competitors' names in running order and times for their legs as well as the course combinations that each ran.
If an interval start is used, two or more competitors having the same time shall be given the same placing in the result list. The position(s) following the tie shall remain vacant.
If a mass start or chasing start is used, the finish positions are determined by the order in which the competitors finish. In relays this will be the team member running the last relay leg.
In relays where there are mass starts for later legs, the sum of the individual times of the team members shall determine the placing of the teams that have taken part in such mass starts. Teams taking part in mass starts for later legs are placed after all teams that have changed over and finished in the ordinary way.
Competitors or teams, who exceed the maximum time, shall not be placed.
Final results shall normally be published as soon as possible and sent to all competitors who require them. Results should be posted to competitors, as necessary, and published on the World Wide Web within seven days after the date of the competition, unless the Organiser has previously notified competitors that this cannot be accomplished for valid reasons.
The Results of events of C3 status and above should include the following information:
(1) Competition Title;
(2) Venue;
(3) Date of Competition;
(4) Organising Club;
(5) Competition Planner(s);
(6) Competition Organiser(s);
(7) Competition Controller(s).
The results should also show the length and the height climb of each course.
In any competition of C3 status or above any competitor or official may lodge a protest against:
(1) Any competitor or aspect of the planning or organisation thought to have materially contravened the Rules or other instructions issued by the Organiser by way of notices,
Or
(2) Any decision made by the Controller.
Prior to a written protest being made the matter should be discussed with either the Organiser or Controller. Such protest shall be to the Organiser in writing and shall be accompanied by a deposit of £10.00 which will be returned if the protest is eventually upheld.
Such protest shall be made before one hour after the close of the competition and within a reasonable time after the matter that form the subject of the protest has occurred. If such protest concerns a matter arising from the publication of the final results, a postal protest may be made within seven days of the results being posted.
On receipt of a written protest that complies with the Rules the Organiser shall notify the Controller. If the officials uphold the protest they shall take the necessary remedy. If the officials do not uphold with the protest they shall convene the jury, or in the case of a postal protest, notify the jury of the protest together with any other relevant information.
The jury for an International competition shall be as laid down in the current IOF Rules for International Competitions.
The jury for a C1 or C2 Competition shall consist of three C2 or higher category Controllers. If possible two of the jurors should come from outside the region where the competition takes place. One of these Controllers shall chair the jury. One of the Controllers should be the Planner (if he is a C1 or C2 Controller). If the jury sits the Event Organiser and Controller may attend but may not vote.
The Event Organiser shall appoint the jury for a C1 or C2 event at least 7 days before the competition.
At C3 competitions the jury shall be appointed by the Organiser and shall consist of:
(1) The Event Controller;
(2) A C3 or higher category Controller, who shall chair the jury. The official should be from outside the region where the competition takes place;
(3) Any Controller not involved in the organisation or planning of the competition.
The jury shall meet as soon as possible after receipt of protest. In the case of a postal protest the jury chairperson shall notify the Event Controller of their findings within seven days of receiving the protest. The jury shall deal with all protests in whatever manner they feel appropriate and necessary.
Appeals shall be made within seven days of the decision of the jury being announced or communicated to the person making the protest.
For competitions of C2 Competition status or above, the appeal shall be made to the Chairperson of the IOA Technical Sub-Committee (normally the IOA Controller of Technical Standards). The appeal body shall be the IOA Technical Sub-Committee.
For C3 Competitions, the appeal shall be made to the Secretary of the Regional Council in whose area the competition was held. The appeal body shall be the Executive committee of that Regional Council.
The appeal shall be heard and decided by the appeal body at the earliest opportunity. The decision of the appeal body shall be final.