United
States Orienteering Federation (USOF)
USOF Rules for Orienteering
March 10, 2010
2. Definition and basic characteristics
of orienteering
3. Classification
of USOF events
6. Duties
of the Meet Director
8.
USOF Orienteering Event Calendar
25. Course markings on the map
28. Markings used on the ground
29. Control flags and equipment
40. Duties
of the Event Consultant
42. Duties
of the Course Consultant
44.
Reports from the Event and Course Consultant
D.3 Authorization
for IOF Competition
E. Rules for SKI
Orienteering Competition
2. Definitions and basic characteristics
9.
Jury, postponement and cancellation
14. Course markings on the map
15. Additional overprinting for
denoting passability
16. Markings used on the ground
17. Refreshments and aid stations on
the course
24. Out of bounds areas and one-way
travel
26. U.S. Ski-Orienteering Team
F. Rules for USOF
Sanctioned “B” events
4. Duties of the Meet Director
5. Applications to hold USOF
"B" orienteering
25. Course
markings on the map
29
Control flags and equipment
42. Duties of the Course Consultant
G. Rules for Rogaine
competition
4. Respect
for Land and Property
12. Class
structure for Rogaining Events
13. Technical
Requirements for Rogaining Events
H. Rules for Trail
orienteering competition
USOF uses applicable portions of the IOF Trail
Orienteering Rules.
I. RULES FOR NIGHT
ORIENTEERING EVENTS
c. 3.
HOURS OF COMPETITION, AND SITE LIGHTING.
J. Rules for
Intercollegiate competition
6.
Intercollegiate Championships
K. Rules for
Interscholastic competition
L. Rules for Relay
competition
M. Rules for Individual
Orienteering Foot Races
1. Rules
for Sprint Format Orienteering
2. Rules for Middle Format Orienteering
3. Rules
for Long Format Orienteering
3. Rules
for Classic Orienteering
3. Rules
for Ultra Long Orienteering
N. Rules for North American
Orienteering Championships
(NAOC)
PROVISIONAL JAN 1, 2008
1 Instructions
for Choosing Course Difficulty and Competitive Class
2 USOF
Course Class Structure - competitive classes
3
USOF A-MEET FEES COMPUTATION
4 Format
for Reporting Meet Results
5
Application of USOF and IOF Rules
6 Cross
Reference of Meet Jobs to Rules
Preface
Purpose of revision
The purpose of this document is to update the December 2008
issue of the USOF Rules for Orienteering as
listed in the Additions
and reorganizations in this draft section below.
Process of
collecting the rules
If you are aware of additional rules not listed in this draft , please send them to Steve Shannonhouse, using one of the following methods:
Address Line: USOF Rule *
Note:
if you know which section the rule should be listed under, replace the * in the
address line with the section number. For example: USOF Rule 3. If you do not
know the section, just include the *. For example: USOF Rule *. This will
differentiate your message as one that actually contains a USOF rule, as
opposed to a message that is talking about the USOF Rule project.
Regular mail:
Steve Shannonhouse
Email
Address:
Document conventions
Additions and reorganizations in this draft
Some very basic restructuring has occurred in this update. The bid event structure and the modification
of the foot orienteering formats have been incorporated. These changes caused changes throughout the
Rules. A separate section M has been
created to collect all the foot orienteering formats in one section, Our Rules as originally written were for our
classic format and all other formats and special events have been added over
the years. Quite a few new sections have
been added by cutting the patched in references and pasting them into the
separate sections.
1) Change USOF National Bid events
structure (USOF BOD Oct 2008)
2) Incorporate Format Descriptions (USOF BOD Jan 2009)
3) Reorganize document to have “Foot Orienteering” (Point to Point Formats)
4) Add Interscholastic JROTC JV team and individual awards (USOF BOD Aug 2008)
5) Reorganize Relay Rules to break out championship requirements to separate subsection.
6) Made corrections for spelling, grammar and editing problems based upon user submissions.
7) Made separate section M for individual point to point foot orienteering
8) Replaced Trail-O section with latest 2009 version of IOF Trail-O rules (From IOF website)
9.) Section A.7 modified based upon changes to the USOF Bid events structure
10.) Section I created for Intercollegiate Rules (Cut & Paste with some editing)
11) Appendix Sanctioning Fees chart updated for 2010 (USOF BOD March 28, 2009)
12) Updated Section D Rules for Foot Orienteering Teams (USOF BOD Jan 18, 2010)
13) Updated Section D Rules for Interscholastic Competition (USOF BOD Jan 18, 2010)
14) References to combining classes eliminated. (Multiple inquires prompted this cleanup)
15) Numbering of main and interior sections corrected. (Corrected problems created by updates)
16) Numbered and updated appendix, It now appears in index.(Requested by USOF Webmaster)
Future projects for Rule:
USOF Rules of Orienteering
General provisions w/listing of formats
Make separate Rules for Organizers section
Make separate Rules for Competitors section
Make separate Technical regulations section
Sanctioning Package Update (Under consideration by the Sanctioning Committee)
Make separate section to describe each bid event format.
Add MBO Rules
Add winning time tables for foot-o formats
Stephen L. Shannonhouse
USOF Rules Committee Chairman
USOF Rules for Orienteering
1.1 Competitions described as United States Orienteering Federation events and other orienteering events held in conjunction with USOF events shall be organized in accordance with these Rules.
1.2 These Rules shall be binding on all organizers, competitors, team officials and other persons connected with the organization or in contact with the competitors. The USOF Sanctioning Committee shall supervise the application of the Rules. The USOF Rules Committee shall interpret the Rules and any questions should be so addressed.
1.3 Event organizers, competitors and team officials must know these Rules and the Event Instructions. Ignorance of the Rules will not be accepted as a valid excuse for any infringement.
1.4 These Rules are supplemental to the “International Orienteering Federation (IOF) Rules for International Orienteering Events,” and take precedence over them except:
a)
IOF sanctioned events hosted in the
b) International events when so agreed by the participating nations
2.1 Orienteering is a sport in which the competitor independently aided by map and compass must visit in a prescribed order a number of features marked in the terrain (by control flags) and on the map. In a regular orienteering competition the task is to run this course in the shortest possible time.
2.2 In orienteering both the running and navigating skill of the competitor shall be tested, but in such a way that the navigating skill is decisive.
2.3 Orienteering competitions shall be held primarily in forested terrain, which, ideally, is unfamiliar to the competitors.
2.4 It shall be possible to solve the orienteering problems with the map, aided by the control descriptions and a compass.
2.5 Sporting fairness shall be the primary consideration when organizing an event and when interpreting these Rules.
3.1 The term "USOF Orienteering Meet" shall refer only to events sanctioned by the USOF. The word event is used throughout these Rules refers to any activity conducted by USOF or its member clubs. Meet is used when the letter qualifier for category of event is used, such as “A”meet.
3.2. Categories of event
3.2.1 The term, (Orienteering “A” meet), shall refer only to events that are sanctioned by USOF through the USOF Sanctioning Committee or a Committee dedicated to the specific discipline to be used. The events shall comply with the provisions of these Rules. When the term “A” Meet is used throughout these Rules, on event Invitations without a qualifier, or when an event is referred to as a regular “A” meet the Form shall be a day event (section 3.3.1), and the type shall be an Individual Event. (Section 3.4.1) If it is a regular multi-day event (section 3.4.3) the number of days must be specified and the results shall be determined by adding each competitor’s total time for each and every race. The winner in each class will be the individual with the lowest combined time. Any variations must be prominently placed on the Event Invitation or be integral to category of event defined in these Rules.
3.2.2 Orienteering “B” meet shall refer only to events where the Meet Director and a Club Officer certify that the event will comply with the provisions for “B” meets in Section E.
3.2.3 Orienteering “C” meets are local events, which are not bound by these Rules.
3.2.4 The Term “United
States Championship Orienteering “A” Meet” shall refer only to events that are
sanctioned by the USOF Sanctioning Committee as “Orienteering “A” Meets"
and are designated a U.S. Championship event by the
The following foot orienteering “A” events for individuals or relay teams will be accepted for Championship Bid by the board of directors.
a)
b)
c)
The following foot orienteering “A” events for schools competitions will be accepted for Championship Bid by the board of directors.
d) United States Intercollegiate Orienteering Championships
e) United States Interscholastic Orienteering Championships
The following categories of foot orienteering "A" events for individuals will not be accepted for Championship Bid by the board of directors unless they are held in conjunction with another sanctioned "A" event.
f)
g)
The
following categories of championships are sanctioned and awarded by their
respective committees.
h)
i)
j) United States National Trail Orienteering Championships
3.3 Time of day for events
3.3.1 Day: The course of a day event shall be run entirely in the light. The first start shall be at least 1 hour after sunrise, and the last at least the time limit plus 1 hour before sunset.
3.3.2 Night: The course of a night event shall be run entirely in the dark. The first start shall be at least 1 hour after sunset, and the last at least the time limit plus one hour before sunrise.
3.3.3Both:
a) One course is run in the light and another in darkness.
b) If a course is begun in the dark and finished in daylight or visa versa, a mass start must be used.
c) If the event is an endurance event such as a 24 hour event.
3.4 Types of events
3.4.1 Individual: The participants compete separately, and the results are based on each individual's performance. (Except as in section 4.1.1 non-competitive)
3.4.2 Team: The participants compete separately and the team result is the sum of the qualifying (for example; some team competitions use the top 3 results) individual results (times or place numbers or points based there on). Even if the team score is determined from the results of the qualifying members, there must be individual results as well.
3.4.3 Multi-day event: In a multi-day event a competitor's results (times or place numbers or points based thereon) from at least half of the competition days shall be combined. If the sum of the times for every competition day will not be used the organizer shall describe in the Invitation the precise procedures which will be used for the event.
3.4.4 Relay: A relay team has two or more runners. Each runner completes his/her course as in an individual event. Competitors may run different courses but each team as a whole must run the same set of legs and visit the same controls.
3.4.5 Group team event: The team has two or more runners, who together or partly separate complete the event.
3.4.6 Score event: Individuals or teams take the controls in any order in a fixed amount of time. Currently the only USOF sanctioned event that uses score is the Rogaine.
3.4.7 Elite event: Individual special purpose event with restricted selection of courses and classes section 4.1.2.1.
4.1 Division by gender and age
4.1.1 Individual competitors are divided into the following classes by gender (M for male, and F for female), and age as of December 31 of the current year. Eligibility (and ineligibility) for classes occurs at the beginning of the calendar year in which the competitor reaches a new age group. M or F categories followed by course color are competitive non-age specific. In addition to individual competition, Gr, groups may compete in a separate gender neutral categories on beginner through intermediate level courses.
4.1.2 The following USOF Standard Course Class structure is the minimum which a sanctioned “A” meet must offer, except as amended for Elite Meets. Competition formats other than individual foot orienteering competition may use different class structures as detailed in their respective sections. One non-competitive class is required, Map Hike, on the White course.
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Classic 51 Classes |
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White |
Yellow |
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Brown |
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Green |
Red |
Blue |
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F-10 |
F-14 |
F-16 |
F-18 |
M65+ |
F-20 |
F21+ |
M21+ |
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F-12 |
F-Yellow |
F-Orange |
F55+ |
M70+ |
F35+ |
M-20 |
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M-10 |
M-14 |
M-16 |
F60+ |
M75+ |
F40+ |
M35+ |
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M-12 |
M-Yellow |
M-Orange |
F65+ |
M80+ |
F45+ |
M40+ |
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M/F-White |
Gr-Yellow |
Gr-Orange |
F70+ |
M85+ |
F50+ |
M45+ |
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Gr-White |
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F75+ |
M90+ |
F-Green |
M-Red |
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F80+ |
M-Brown |
M-18 |
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F85+ |
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M50+ |
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F90+ |
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M55+ |
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F-Brown |
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M60+ |
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M-Green |
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Interscholastic 8 Classes |
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White |
Yellow |
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Brown |
Green |
Red |
Blue |
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F-ISG |
F-ISI |
F-ISJV |
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F-ISV |
M-ISV |
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M-ISG |
M-ISI |
M-ISJV |
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Intercollegiate 4 Classes |
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White |
Yellow |
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Brown |
Green |
Red |
Blue |
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F-ICJV |
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F-ICV |
M-ICV |
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M-ICJV |
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Age class ranges are indicated by a "-" and/or a
"+". A "-" before
the age means "and younger", the "+" after the age means
"and older". Gender classes
contain M for male and F for female. Classes
containing the course color are age neutral.
Classes containing Gr or M/F are age and gender neutral. Classes containing GR are groups. Recommended splits for Red and Green when
participation warrants it: Red X(
M-20,M35+,M40+), Red Y(F-21+,M45+), Green X(M-18,M50+,M55+), Green
Y(F-20,F35+,M60+,F40+,F45+,F50+,F55+). Splits for individual classes may be
used for when the competition window fills up for a course. |
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4.1.2.1 Elite Meets: An Elite Meet may have as few or as many classes as the Meet Director decides, but there shall be classes for both men and women.
4.1.3 In USOF sanctioned meets this nomenclature shall be used to describe the classes and courses.
4.1.4 No competitor shall be entered in more than one class at a time. (Exception Rogaine)
4.1.4.1 Competitors may participate on a non-competitive course after finishing with their competitive course.
4.2 Division by other grounds
4.2.1 The age divisions are divided into classes by course difficulty and the competitor’s skill.
4.3 Non-competitive classes
a) Are announced on the meet invitations as such.
b) Are open to any age individuals or groups.
c) Have no competition times posted.
d) Have no competitive awards given. (This does not prohibit awards for the successful completion of the course.)
e) M/F WHITE is the only required non-competitive class.
4.4 Deviations from the division into classes by age:
a) The dashes or pluses extend the age group beyond one year. If a dash is before an age then it means that anyone up to and including the age is eligible for the class. If a plus is after the age, then anyone that age and older is eligible.
b) Age is an automatic determinate in moving from one class to another. A competitor shall not compete in an age group in which he/she is not eligible as in Section 4.1.1.
c) Any age competitor may enter the M/F-White class or one of the gender specific classes which include the course color.
4.5 Championship Classes:
4.5.1 U.S. Champions shall be declared in all age classes represented at U.S. Orienteering Championships.
4.6 Special Event Classes
The following special events have classes not in the standard USOF classes or have a reduced set of classes. The special classes are described in the section for that special event.
4.6.1 Intercollegiate
4.6.2 Interscholastic
4.6.3 Ski
4.6.4 Trail
4.6.5 Rogaine
5.1 General
a) Any person desiring to compete is eligible except as set forth below or in special cases designated by the Executive Committee.
b) Persons with prior knowledge of the competition area that they or the meet organizers believe will give them unfair advantage are not eligible to compete for awards, titles, or national rankings. (see sections 19.4, 19.5 and 35.5)
c) Persons not eligible for awards, titles or national rankings may participate.
5.2 Championship
The title of U.S. Champion in any class as determined at an officially designated U.S. Championship Orienteering "A" meet shall be limited to those who are USOF members in good standing and meet one or more of the following criteria:
a) Meet one of the following citizenship requirements:
·
Are