I'd like to stage a orienteering talent test for our juniors. Does anyone have any experience/knowledge of how these work?
This is what I imagine: athlete runs 400m with 'master' map, drops map and draws location of controls on blank map, runs another 400m.
Am I missing something?
Orienteering Talent Test
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Re: Orienteering Talent Test
If you are doing a test it should probably mimic some of the aspects of the sport.
The rugby union referees used to do a fitness test that was based on an analysis of their movements during a game. So, this involved a section of running backwards!
Does running 400m (I assume on a track or smooth surface for convenience) then trying to draw controls on a map, then running 400m again replicate the skills used in orienteering?
I'm not sure what research has been done in the area of talent testing for orienteering. I know BO tried out a session used by the Swiss, which was similar to your suggestion.
I also know that the fitness testing required from Junior Squads included an agility test that had, in my view, little bearing on how you run through a forest.
Perhaps we should pool our collective heads to think of what could be a reasonable set of talent - or general - tests for orienteering?
I would start with some tests of their spatial awareness or ability to visualise from a map.
The rugby union referees used to do a fitness test that was based on an analysis of their movements during a game. So, this involved a section of running backwards!
Does running 400m (I assume on a track or smooth surface for convenience) then trying to draw controls on a map, then running 400m again replicate the skills used in orienteering?
I'm not sure what research has been done in the area of talent testing for orienteering. I know BO tried out a session used by the Swiss, which was similar to your suggestion.
I also know that the fitness testing required from Junior Squads included an agility test that had, in my view, little bearing on how you run through a forest.
Perhaps we should pool our collective heads to think of what could be a reasonable set of talent - or general - tests for orienteering?
I would start with some tests of their spatial awareness or ability to visualise from a map.
- bewildered
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Re: Orienteering Talent Test
Does running 400m (I assume on a track or smooth surface for convenience) then trying to draw controls on a map, then running 400m again replicate the skills used in orienteering?
It tests map-reading-related mental capacities under physical stress.
But this would be a bit of fun - the results will not be used for selection purposes (and not only because I have no role as a selector).
- Parkino
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