No 2 Master Maps

[Simon]

Now if someone has written an "Idiots guide to tweeking OCAD colours for Laser printing" I might be convinced otherwise.

As OCAD can important colours from a seperate map file all is needed is for people to colloborate and pass on the colours they use for the printer they have. Quite simple to do if someone is able to offer webspace to do so...

[graeme]

But Southdowns has been one of the most successful clubs at recruiting members, and as NeilC points out, they don't use preprinted maps.

Yes but... Apparently they allow you to draw up your map at leisure, in the dry, sitting down, without the next starter hounding you to get a move on. This is nothing like what the phrase "Master maps" actually means in the experience of most people.

[RJ]

The BOF website describes orienteering as...

Orienteering means maps, varied terrain and adventure. It doesn't matter how young or old or fit you are. You can run, jog or walk, you decide your own pace. Orienteering is a sport where competitors navigate their way between control points marked on a specially drawn map.

How well could the sport be sold if it said......

Orienteering means maps, varied terrain and adventure. It doesn't matter how young or old or fit you are. You can run, jog or walk, you decide your own pace. Pick up a preprinted specially drawn map with your course on it and set off into the unknown on an adventure. An electronic timing system will measure your progress as you navigate your way between control points. It will allow you to analyse your efforts afterwards, even comparing with others who have done the same course.

We all have the power to improve our image... let us concentrate on capturing a good percentage of those who are now showing an interest in orienteering. Increasing membership by a few percent a year is not good enough.... that only replaces those leaving at the other end. We really must try so much harder.... this government push for a more active society may not last for long, and then we will have to do all the work ourselves!

[HOCOLITE]

The BOF website describes orienteering as...

Orienteering means maps, varied terrain and adventure. It doesn't matter how young or old or fit you are. You can run, jog or walk, you decide your own pace. Orienteering is a sport where competitors navigate their way between control points marked on a specially drawn map.

How well could the sport be sold if it said......

Orienteering means maps, varied terrain and adventure. It doesn't matter how young or old or fit you are. You can run, jog or walk, you decide your own pace. Pick up a preprinted specially drawn map with your course on it and set off into the unknown on an adventure. An electronic timing system will measure your progress as you navigate your way between control points. It will allow you to analyse your efforts afterwards, even comparing with others who have done the same course.

We all have the power to improve our image... let us concentrate on capturing a good percentage of those who are now showing an interest in orienteering. Increasing membership by a few percent a year is not good enough.... that only replaces those leaving at the other end. We really must try so much harder.... this government push for a more active society may not last for long, and then we will have to do all the work ourselves!

Not all football is played at the millenium stadium and not all cricket is played at Lords. Every sport has the ideal and then the practicalities. There are certainly some football pitches which would not sell the sport

[FatBoy]

Not all football is played at the millenium stadium and not all cricket is played at Lords. Every sport has the ideal and then the practicalities. There are certainly some football pitches which would not sell the sport

True but football and cricket don't need as much selling. Yes they try to keep on the ball with image but they already have massive TV coverage. We have very little if any therefore beginners' views of the sport are based on events they go to not TV coverage.

[awk]

Yes but... Apparently they allow you to draw up your map at leisure, in the dry, sitting down, without the next starter hounding you to get a move on. This is nothing like what the phrase "Master maps" actually means in the experience of most people.

Maybe, but that doesn't obviate the fact that SO have succeeded with master maps, and that one of the arguments put forward against master maps was that it prevented recruitment. So, they have found a way of using master maps effectively from which we can learn (a way that BOF have tried to encourage where MMs are used).

My point is that just because a tool is used badly doesn't mean it's a bad tool.

[awk]

True but football and cricket don't need as much selling. Yes they try to keep on the ball with image but they already have massive TV coverage. We have very little if any therefore beginners' views of the sport are based on events they go to not TV coverage.

This doesn't make sense to me. Somebody watches football on the TV, and then goes to a grotty pitch. Surely the letdown is even greater?

By insisting on preprinted maps for even local events, you are also demanding more skilled volunteers, and there are fewer of them. Fewer volunteers = fewer local events. Yet one of the main problems with recruitment is the issue of sufficient local events. Great if you've got somebody who will do it all, but if you haven't?

[PorkyFatBoy]

Pick up a preprinted specially drawn map with your course on it and set off into the unknown on an adventure. An electronic timing system will measure your progress as you navigate your way between control points.

So, RJ, are you going to send me a cheque so that our club can buy an A3 colour laser printer and £5k worth of SI kit?

(Maybe BOF would like to instead of fundng RDOs? )

[graeme]

(Maybe BOF would like to instead of fundng RDOs? )

Why not? SOA did...

[FatBoy]

This doesn't make sense to me. Somebody watches football on the TV, and then goes to a grotty pitch. Surely the letdown is even greater?

Not really as you know what you're aspiring to.

If orienteering looking for paper plates with letters on in a country park with an out of date map was all it was I'd quit now, but I do those events (at a push) knowing this is not what it's supposed to be.

[SeanC]

This wont make much sense unless you go back to the previous page of this thread.

For all the reasons mentioned in this thread, we're going to use pre-marked maps (though it will mean more work). Graeme, you are now welcome to control the event

I'd be interested in Nopesport readers opinion on options for our event (a colour coded event in SE London in December).

I have two car parking options:

Option A) Parking alongside a main road - which is a bit miserable but we might be able to use a nice big hall near to the start/finish (but 500m from the parking). Hopefully orienteers would hang around after the event in the hall to chat to fellow competitors if my club provided teas and found some tables and chairs. We could also use the hall for download, results display and changing for people arriving by public transport.

Option B) Parking in a nice quiet car park. There would still be a 500m walk to/from start/finish but we couldn't use the hall as it's too far away. However because it's a nice quite car park and not a main road, it's a nicer place for competitors post event chats.

Which would you prefer and why?

[tokoloshe]

Back to the original thread -! We ought to be looking to make orienteering an attractive sport to newcomers and master maps must make some people wonder what they are doing, particularly if it is raining. New printing technologies mean maps can be printed at reasonable cost in low numbers for any event.

WCH have had preprinted maps for all events from club training upwards for at least a couple of years and do not find cost a problem.

120gsm paper is OK but decent quality 100gsm paper is perfectly adequate providing it is in a decent weight of plastic bag. Cost for A4 is about 1.4p for paper, less than 10p for toner, overheads and profit ??? and about 2.5p for 125mu plastic bag.