Map simplification for newcomers

[Oldman]

In another thread, Luke M said:

Is there not an argument for at least exposing runners to orienteering by using simpler maps rather than giving them a full-on map straight away?

Now that we have the technology, why don't we use simplified maps? Other sports develop variants for juniors/beginners, so why not orienteering?

[mharky]

I haven't done string course for a while, but back in the day when I was doing it the maps were just random drawings with the correct amount of controls, but thats about the only similarity they had to the course and terrain in real life. How will kids learn if they aint given a real, or simplified, orienteering map. Like wise, electronic punching instead of pin-punching.

[bedders]

I disagree completely. Orienteering is all about the map. We already make courses shorter and easier for juniors and beginners, but changing the map would begin to change the sport itself.

For example, junior football is usually a shorter game, using a smaller pitch and goals, often with fewer players. The aim of the game is still to put the ball in the goal. The map is what its all about in orienteering, and the aim is to find the controls using it, surely changing the map just defeats the object?

[LukeM]

When I said simpler, I didn't say inaccurate, wrong, or fantasy. What I meant was leaving off detail that is not needed. I introduced it in the context of Street-O and I think that's separate, but in foot-O for instance, a competitor on a White course really doesn't need all the rock detail a hundred yards away up a slope next to where they're walking, they just to register that there's a slope. Removing extraneous detail will make it less daunting for someone who is not used to maps, and that is newcomers, almost by definition. Yes, that's an extreme example and yes, this approach would introduce tricky judgement calls for already overworked planners and controllers. Maybe it's not worth considering for those reasons.

I do my own map simplification when I'm orienteering, so you could look at it as taking away the need for the beginner to learn that particular technique instantly.

I don't think changing the map in this way will change the sport, but it will make it more approachable. The aim will still be to find your way round the course (with electronic punching).

[Oldman]

For example, junior football is usually a shorter game, using a smaller pitch and goals, often with fewer players. The aim of the game is still to put the ball in the goal. The map is what its all about in orienteering, and the aim is to find the controls using it, surely changing the map just defeats the object?

I'm glad you added the last bit [the aim is to find the controls using it]. The map is not what it's all about in orienteering - it's finding the controls using it, as you then said. Removing irrelevant detail for newcomers would assist them to get some fun right away. As Luke M said "Removing extraneous detail will make it less daunting for someone who is not used to maps, and that is newcomers, almost by definition."

[bedders]

No I'm sorry I am totally against this idea. I stick with what i said before, the map is everything. Beside the fact that it would cause organisational nightmares (M/W21N and V are hard enough for organisers) its just not in the spirit of orienteering. I'm all for new forms like urban sprint series etc but changing the map is a step too far.

[Oldman]

Then we'll just have to agree to differ, Bedders.

To say that a modiifed map is not in the spirit of O is ridiculous!

Maps are by definition meant to be tools to assist you to navigate, not sacrosanct elements of a sport.

[RJ]

Particularly for those who are novices, new to the sport, and will be trying the shorter courses.... the main thing is to make the picture bigger and more readable. Decrease the scale.... 1:10000 down to 1:2500 or whatever. So many events expect these novices to deal with the normal 1:10!!!!

The amount of detail on the map then becomes less relevant, as the picture is easier to read.

Dealing with the red/purple length courses there is a different set of problems. But then these novices are likely to be adult and more capable of reading the map.

[awk]

Actually Bedders, with O-cad, it's not particularly difficult at all; in fact very easy. The last two C4s I've planned (where you don't have to worry about the multifarious courses and classes of a C2/3), both had simplified maps (at 1:5000) for the White and Yellow. They weren't heavily adjusted, but just enough to enable the children to be able to focus on the information that they needed to be able to navigate at TD1 and 2.

After all, all a map is is a simplified representation, so all that needs to be decided is how simple; why not some simpler than others?

I also use 2-3 different levels of map when teaching at school (we use an almost immediately adjacent piece of wooded parkland on a fairly steep and detailed hillside). Why, if you are focusing on the path network (TD1) should you have lots of other obscuring detail on the map? It can all be introduced bit by bit.

[tendon]

both had simplified maps (at 1:5000) for the White and Yellow

as were all the yellow and orange courses at the Lakes 5 last week. They even removed spurious detail, like the pit symbol at 126 on day 5 - or perhaps it wasn't there in the first place

[Harley]

Hey, I like this idea and I think I would benefit from it, even though I've been orienteering for 6 years so I'm not exactly a newcomer.
However, my eyesight is rubbish. All those brown lines dance around so much that it's impossible to tell what's up and what's down without standing still whilst using a magnifying glass. Consequently I find it very difficult to simplify the map myself.

The alternative solution of increasing the scale of the map even further would often result in a map which is too large to handle.

Now I don't know whether this would be possible but, for some areas, I would find it really helpful to have a map with 10m contours generally but 5m contours where it mattered, i.e. near the control. This would really help my navigation between control circles.
Obviously not all maps would need such treatment, but some maps are virtually unreadable for me - eg recently Graythwaite, even at 1:10 000 I struggled to read my route to each control circle due to the detail on the map.

Food for thought?