Thank you for supporting USOF's Navigation Certification program.
When you are at a meet you may be asked to verify the straight-line distances of courses that could qualify for certification (Orange, Brown, Green, Red, Blue). Since it has been found that not all computer-measured distances are accurate, follow the steps below to determine accurate straight-line distances:
- Check the legend to insure the map was drawn to IOF standards.
- Ask the course designer how distances published on the control descriptions (a.k.a. clue sheets) were derived.
- Check map scale using a scale from your compass or a metric ruler.
- Measure straight-line distances for Orange through Blue courses. Marking along the edge of a piece of paper, start in the center of the start triangle, through the center of each control circle, and end at the center of the double circle (finish). Compare the measured length to a standard scale or metric ruler to determine measured course length.
- If the measured distance differs from the posted distance by more than 1% (10 meters per kilometer) for courses less than 10k, ask someone to re-verify your measurement. Give your measurements to the meet director for corrections to the published results/distances.
- For courses 10k or longer, regardless of total length, the difference between measured and published distance should not exceed 100 meters.
- However, if the published distance is greater than what you measured but does not exceed the 1% rule (step 5), verification is complete and you can issue a statement to that effect.
- For all other cases, use your best judgment.
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