Classes/courses

[SeanC]

Chopping off unpopular courses like white or long orange can seem like a sensible decision at the time, but it might be treating just the symptom not the cause. Many years ago yellow courses at our local events were very unpopular, at one event there were 0 entries. It would have been easy to abandon yellow entirely. Instead the series had a rebrand, a new junior league and there was development work with schools. Now we get 30-40 regularly.

I see many level C and B regional events in the South East with pretty miserable turnouts of juniors. Rather than kill of all hope by cutting the junior courses instead we need to get a new generation of families going to regional events - with some needing a white course if we're going down the route of a regional event being "sport for all".

Another option is to remove all TD1-3 courses at regional events completely, and replace with quality junior coaching at the event. This could be much better IMHO. The "sport for all" regional event model is based on the assumption that there are 2 keen orienteering parents willing to do the split start shuffle, which is becoming less and less common. Plus the current way of doing things isolates juniors from other juniors.

For under 10's the coaching could just be fun games with a map reading twist, and for over 10's this could be preparation for doing the TD4+ courses plus some informal competition thrown in. The juniors can then form some decent friendships and all juniors can get some quality coaching (not just the few who make regional squads). Single orienteering parent families like myself* could then take their children and go for a proper run themselves.

*non-orienteering partner.

[Paul Frost]

I'm a bit surprised about all the talk of age classes here. I though that we had moved away from age class competition except at national championships and very large events. The whole idea of moving to colour coded courses was so that people could choose to run whatever length course (or difficulty) they wanted regardless of age, no pressure. Age is no measure of fitness or map reading ability.

The age class is usually recorded and shown in the results for information, so those who want to disregard someone younger (or older) who beat them and work out their position relevant to their own age class then they can.

I think I'm right in saying that the ranking system calculates points even if you didn't run the suggested course for your age.

The number of course length/difficulty variations you offer should then be tailored to the likely number of total competitors. If you are going to get a lot then you probably need more to fit all the start time slots within a reasonable time frame. If you only expect 150 you have less options and bigger gaps between the length options.

As has been mentioned elsewhere you also need to tailor the options to the likely or target audience, so if you expect lots of beginners, or the terrain doesn't lend itself to more technical courses, have several TD1-3 courses of various lengths (including longer than normal ones for fit adults). In the same way, if the terrain is super technical and you don't expect or want beginners turning up, only offer TD4-5 courses. As long as you make it clear in your publicity you will avoid disappointment (and complaints) from the non-target audience.

How many of each type of event your club puts on will be dictated by the availability of differing terrain types and the needs and wants of your existing or prospective members.

[Arnold]

I think the planner should always question the courses thet are expected to offer. As was said they should be appropriate to the event rather than just planning to a set list. At level C and D you can do whatever you like anyway and B you have some flexibility too. Just merge a few courses if you need.

For A there isn't any flexibility and indeed I think you should cut the number of courses at the British in half, but that's another discussion.

White is a tough one. It does take a lot of resource for sometimes very few entrants. As a parent of small children myself I think going straight to yellow isn't so bad. As others have said there isn't a huge amount of map reading in white courses.

[Paul Frost]

I'm not sure why we persist in connecting length of course to age?

There are many orienteers & triathletes older than me that I wish I could keep up with (or run as far), and some younger ones that I can show a clean pair of heels to, so length should not be connected to age.

Have less course length options and more competitors in each, but provide the age class info for those that think that their only competition is those of a similar age.

[andypat]

At the 2014/15 SoSOL series a total of 11 individuals competed on 2 or more white courses, compared to 8 yellow and 9 orange. Suggests that the white course would be missed if it wasnt there. Perhaps the yellow courses in England are just easier than up here?

[DaveK]

At the 2014/15 SoSOL series a total of 11 individuals competed on 2 or more white courses, compared to 8 yellow and 9 orange. Suggests that the white course would be missed if it wasnt there. Perhaps the yellow courses in England are just easier than up here?

Even down in the south-east we follow the BOF planning guidelines - so 'easier' just doesn't apply surely.

White courses are hard work for little return often, but with two daughters who started on them and graduated successfully, I would always offer one when planning and, who knows, numbers might increase one day!

[andypat]

White courses are hard work for little return often, but with two daughters who started on them and graduated successfully, I would always offer one when planning and, who knows, numbers might increase one day!

And of course that's not forgetting the potential that families with kids that do white may decide not to travel if there's not a suitable white course. Not quite the same thing, but I'd planned to travel to Crewe Urban race until I realised there wouldn't be a M/W12- course for my 10 yr old.

I reckon there was about a 6 month window for him about 2 years ago where he could be set free on a white on his own confidently but wouldn't have coped with a yellow. A short but important period for him confidence wise. Prior to that he was being shadowed/coached around white - he probably could have done that on yellow but I guess it would have taken longer for him to get out on his own.

[roadrunner]

I'm not sure why we persist in connecting length of course to age?

There are many orienteers & triathletes older than me that I wish I could keep up with (or run as far), and some younger ones that I can show a clean pair of heels to, so length should not be connected to age.

Have less course length options and more competitors in each, but provide the age class info for those that think that their only competition is those of a similar age.

Isn't it that many people like to compare themselves against others in the same age group, and if you have a lot of courses and everyone chooses whichever they like, you spread those people out amongst the courses so you're not really racing against many of them? So I agree that fewer course options would be better, given that the number of entries permits it of course.

[Sunlit Forres]

The events I like best is where there's only one technical course that everyone who professes to be a competent orienteer runs. We all start within 30-40 mins of each other and have a good social afterwards.

[Paul Frost]

Isn't it that many people like to compare themselves against others in the same age group, and if you have a lot of courses and everyone chooses whichever they like, you spread those people out amongst the courses so you're not really racing against many of them?

I guess the key point is, do you want to compare yourself against similar age or similar ability?
I don't kid myself that I've done well if my age competition includes those less fit than me, but I also don't beat myself up when I'm beaten by the elite in my age class who have a much longer history/experience of running and orienteering.

[PG]

White courses are hard work for little return often

Try a schoools league. Is 120 runners on a white course a record?

[Sunlit Forres]

schoools league

Nice one SYO

[Wayward-O]

This year's West Cumbrian Junior Schools' League had four events, each with three parallel White courses. Attenadance has been 180, 157, 171 and 136 Junior School runners from 13 different schools.

[roadrunner]

Isn't it that many people like to compare themselves against others in the same age group, and if you have a lot of courses and everyone chooses whichever they like, you spread those people out amongst the courses so you're not really racing against many of them?

I guess the key point is, do you want to compare yourself against similar age or similar ability?
I don't kid myself that I've done well if my age competition includes those less fit than me, but I also don't beat myself up when I'm beaten by the elite in my age class who have a much longer history/experience of running and orienteering.

A good point, but as an orienteer who runs decently fast but sometimes makes bad mistakes, it's interesting for me to compare individual splits against some of the better runners in my class. I'll never beat them (unless they get disqualified or make a horrendous error), but it's good when I manage to beat them on one or two legs.