As we controllers age, our memory gets worse and it is so easy to miss the little things (course closing time at end of control descriptions? ‘tape to finish’ vs ‘navigate to finish’ right? Is distance to start there and correct on final details?).
Does anyone have a good controller’s checklist? I had a feeling that there has been a Nopesport thread about this in the past, but I can’t find it (neither checklist nor check+list). Searching for checklists on the British Orienteering website reveals some organiser checklists, but not for controllers. Have I missed finding something, maybe with a different name? Or anyone use one they are willing to share?
Controller's checklists
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Re: Controller's checklists
There is a basic one on the SOA website:
http://www.scottish-orienteering.org/documents/general/HQ_checklist.doc
http://www.scottish-orienteering.org/documents/general/HQ_checklist.doc
- Rosine
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Re: Controller's checklists
Go orienteering in Lithuania......... best in the world:)
Real Name - Gross
http://www.scottishotours.info
Real Name - Gross
http://www.scottishotours.info
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Gross - god
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Re: Controller's checklists
Could I add:
For a score event using SI with more than 30 (?) controls, give a warning in the final details that old dibbers may not have enough room for fast competitors.
For a score event using SI with more than 30 (?) controls, give a warning in the final details that old dibbers may not have enough room for fast competitors.
- babs f
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Re: Controller's checklists
...and "Run round a course to see if its fun and if it's the right length"...
WOC2024 Edinburgh
Test races at SprintScotland (Alloa/Falkirk) and Euromeeting (near Stirling).
Test races at SprintScotland (Alloa/Falkirk) and Euromeeting (near Stirling).
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graeme - god
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Re: Controller's checklists
rosine wrote:There is a basic one on the SOA website
Looks better than basic to me - this is a pretty comprehensive document and is equally applicable in the rest of the country too (except for references to "Guideline A" which would need to be amended to relate to BOF Rules and Appendices, especially Appendix B, Course Planning).
You'd need to add checks that the different Level criteria are being met too. For example, that there is backup punching for Level A/B events. Top events need juries to be appointed well beforehand and this needs checking also.
It's embarrassing that such an obvious document to have available does not seem to exist outside Scotland - yes, I know that Tony Pennick produced a whole set of check lists at one time, but that was some 30 years or more ago - further evidence that the "Good Ship Controlling" has been pretty rudderless for some years now, south of the border at least ...
- DJM
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Re: Controller's checklists
DJM wrote:It's embarrassing that such an obvious document to have available does not seem to exist outside Scotland - yes, I know that Tony Pennick produced a whole set of check lists at one time, but that was some 30 years or more ago - further evidence that the "Good Ship Controlling" has been pretty rudderless for some years now, south of the border at least ...
The 'HQ" in the filename I assume refers to SOA's Education Manager (paid employee, orienteer) - I'm not sure how that role is covered in BO. Her role includes developing training materials (as well as delivering courses) and she maintains a list of useful things for event officials: http://www.scottish-orienteering.org/soa/page/information-sources-for-event-officials and for coaches: http://www.scottish-orienteering.org/natcen/page/information-and-resources-for-coaches.
Money well spent I'd think.
We're looking at updating and extending this to further support clubs organising events in Scotland.
- Rosine
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Re: Controller's checklists
Agree the SOA document is good. Items I would add on the planning side:
- get planner to check range of e-control numbers available
- if SI, who is synchronising boxes?
- if SI, will controller have access to clear / check boxes prior to starting checking?
- check that the planner's software is calculating course distances correctly
- 30/60m distances are halved for 1:5000 maps
- ensure map has at least scale, contour interval (given that some maps are now an extract of a larger map)
- ensure ISSOM maps have at least a legend of "not-to-be-crossed" symbols
- check that competition maps include course closing time
- check that competition maps include BOF event number
- suggest competition maps could include an emergency contact number
- locate control numbers sensibly on map
- get planner to check range of e-control numbers available
- if SI, who is synchronising boxes?
- if SI, will controller have access to clear / check boxes prior to starting checking?
- check that the planner's software is calculating course distances correctly
- 30/60m distances are halved for 1:5000 maps
- ensure map has at least scale, contour interval (given that some maps are now an extract of a larger map)
- ensure ISSOM maps have at least a legend of "not-to-be-crossed" symbols
- check that competition maps include course closing time
- check that competition maps include BOF event number
- suggest competition maps could include an emergency contact number
- locate control numbers sensibly on map
- Snail
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Re: Controller's checklists
Particularly for events on ISSOM maps:
* Read the mapping specification and ensure that is followed (especially minimum areas and minimum separations).
* Cut the purple lines and circles, both to show where an uncrossable barrier is continuous, and to avoid obscuring gaps.
* Try reading a proof copy of the printed map at 5km race pace, preferably on a dull day in the middle of that complicated maze of narrow alleyways. If it's unclear, take the appropriate action (e.g. widen the alleyways, remove pavement edges and canopy edges that cross the running line, remove the 'step' symbol where there are only two or three steps, map uncrossable fences as walls so that the fence tags don't get in the way, show open gates simply as gaps, show closed gates simply as continuous barrier (unless they're monumental and are needed for navigation), ...).
* For any multi-level area, get one or two people who are unfamiliar with the terrain to glance at the map and then describe how they expect it to appear on the ground, especially what connects with what.
* Read the mapping specification and ensure that is followed (especially minimum areas and minimum separations).
* Cut the purple lines and circles, both to show where an uncrossable barrier is continuous, and to avoid obscuring gaps.
* Try reading a proof copy of the printed map at 5km race pace, preferably on a dull day in the middle of that complicated maze of narrow alleyways. If it's unclear, take the appropriate action (e.g. widen the alleyways, remove pavement edges and canopy edges that cross the running line, remove the 'step' symbol where there are only two or three steps, map uncrossable fences as walls so that the fence tags don't get in the way, show open gates simply as gaps, show closed gates simply as continuous barrier (unless they're monumental and are needed for navigation), ...).
* For any multi-level area, get one or two people who are unfamiliar with the terrain to glance at the map and then describe how they expect it to appear on the ground, especially what connects with what.
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Roger - diehard
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Re: Controller's checklists
Thanks for the information. The SOA doc is a good starting point and the other suggestions are useful too (though Gross your link didn't work, or maybe that was the point?). I'll create an updated version, circulate it to a few experienced controllers for comments then pass a final version on with the suggestion that it gets uploaded to The British Orienteering website.
[But not for a few weeks, till after the current event]
[But not for a few weeks, till after the current event]
- PG
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Re: Controller's checklists
babs f wrote:Could I add:
For a score event using SI with more than 30 (?) controls, give a warning in the final details that old dibbers may not have enough room for fast competitors.
NOTE - it isn't just "old dibbers" that have max 30 controls. My understand is both of these also allow only 30 punches to be stored
* SI 8
* Comcard Up
The latter have been reasonably popular in the last few years and as far as I know are still sold.
I had to investigate it myself for the SHIs when we had 30 controls so we warned against old cards and the ones above, or make sure you didn't double punch or punch a wrong one before your own.
JK
JK
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