Control descriptions in advance

[Gnitworp]

- Flag location: Still essential in a few circumstances: in particular for height (top or foot of crag, over or under bridge), and which side of an uncrossable fence / hedge / wall ...

and which side of a knoll, boulder, rootstock etc

[tendon]

Code: If the aim is to navigate accurately

and the planner has done his job right

then you shouldn't really need the control code

[PKJ]

What you want is a GPS on every competitor... it doesn't have a display just a beep... when you are within 1m of the control site it bleeps...That way you don't need to put any controls in the forest

At last, a solution to control vandalism - ideal for these 'new model' events from sports centres.

[SYO Member]

I'm sure we've heard all these arguments before.

http://www.nopesport.com/forum/viewtopi ... 18&start=0

Yes, and there were 8443 views of this thread. And nobody's come up with any points this time that haven't already been said. Apart from this, which could be the most radical change in orienteering since er....... the last one.

Various people, including me kicking off the other thread, have mentioned discarding paper control descriptions altogether.

Using OCAD (or other) course setting packages, the circle is accurately positioned on the feature and clubs are already putting the control code on the map. But how do you put the other desciption enhancements on the map? Simple, by utilising the control circle itself.

So, for green dot 'Thicket, west side' you have a 2mm purple tag on the outside of the circle at 9 o'clock. Same for N/NE/E/SE etc. It would actually assist runners because assuming you're holding the map in the direction of the control, as you approached the thicket you'd know immediately which side to go to. No more running round the thicket until you find it! Lines between controls would never come right up to the circle, and some clubs already do this.

If you look through the IOF pictorial descriptions, there aren't many that need an enhancement as long as the control circle has been precisely situated. But some do. As was mentioned by Snail, one example is knowing whether a control is at the top or foot of a crag. For this I would suggest a standard symmetrical symbol in a small circle adjacent to the control code, e.g. purple triangle, square, dot etc. Similarly for 'between' the knolls. Feature heights in purple would also be in a small circle. But wouldn't it be difficult to get used to the new system? The same was said about IOF pictorials when they first came out.

If it was essential to describe a location as 'inside' an uncrossable wall, the purple tag could be inside the circle, always at 12 o'clock. Descriptions like 'shallow' for re-entrant or 'ruined' for wall aren't required because they are apparent on the map. Likewise south-west 'corner', north-east 'edge' or southern 'tip'.

Before I am shot down in flames, I recognise there are possible problems but which I'm sure could be ironed out. e.g you need to break the control circle (always essential?) and the tag is where the gap would be.

Distance from last control to the finish, assuming this is essential? Just put the figure within the solid or dashed line.

Think of all the problems that would be solved if this could be done. No more web or printed descriptions, no more last minute changes to them if there are last minute course changes, no more messing about in the start lanes, and everybody would be happy except the manufacturers of control description holders.

Now excuse me while I apply for a patent.

[Gnitworp]

Don't we have enough problems getting control numbers, lines and circles to not obscure vital detail without introducing more paraphernalia?

[mharky]

Shhh.

[IanD]

Putting descriptions into a plastic holder in the start lane was the one part of orienteering that oldest child struggled with when younger. Having helped lots of other juniors his age when I've been in the start lane has shown me that he wasn't alone. If one of us was there with him then we could sort him out but sometimes our starts were miles away.

Sounds like it would be a good idea for the control descriptions for younger juniors always to be available from enquiries, irrespective of what is decided for senior courses. The principle of special treatment for at least TD1 & TD2 courses is already established, with the maps being available earlier. Being able to discuss the meaning of control descriptions is possibly even more useful than being able to discuss the route.

[SYO Member]

Don't we have enough problems getting control numbers, lines and circles to not obscure vital detail without introducing more paraphernalia?

I'd rather remove the paraphernalia of paper control descriptions. It shouldn't be too difficult to ensure the Column G description was not on the side of a point feature that needed a circle break on the same side. Also, I've never had any real problem with positioning lines and control numbers. If fact, I always try and position the control numbers so that any orienteer who is colour blind would not have any trouble seeing them.

Who would have thought 10 years ago that thanks to e-punching, there would shortly be no need for a control card? To me, the next logical step is to remove the need for paper control descriptions for most, but not necessarily all events or classes.

Anybody else got any views either for or against my idea?

[IanD]

It shouldn't be too difficult to ensure the Column G description was not on the side of a point feature that needed a circle break on the same side. Also, I've never had any real problem with positioning lines and control numbers.

You may not have any trouble with arranging purple not to conceal detail, but an awful lot of people seem to have the greatest difficulty even in simple tasks like breaking control circles.

I'm with Gnitworp on this one, I want to stick with control descriptions on my wrist to minimise purple on the map. But rather than let us poor cold water on your idea, try it! Does your club sometimes overprint courses for social/training events? If so, next time you plan one, print control descriptions your way and see what people think.

If your idea has any future, it should be for relays, where loose control descriptions can't be issued. I absolutely hate having to refold my map to read them. But don't start with a relay, pilot your scheme at a few internal club events first. And then if people like it you'll have to get approval from the rules committee....

[mharky]

15 out of 25 controls were planned in exactly the right place for the SOL on Loch Vaa using the pre-released control descriptoins. The course was exactly the same shape with only a few minor differences.

Have them at the start...

[Red Adder]

At the Suffolk AGM / Score event on 29 Oct I will be putting the control descriptions on the front of the map. It will be interesting to get some feedback.

[SeanC]

I like SYO member's idea, but perhaps make it simpler - just a simple tag to indicate which side of the feature the control is at. Maybe we should keep control descriptions at C3 events and above, where a higher quality event is expected. How about ditching control descriptions for light green and harder courses at C4 and C5 events? This would leave some time to sort out another problem with control descriptions. They are not always appropriate for those on on beginners courses. Not only do they contain confusing terminology (rootstock, depression?), often dont contain much in the way of help and finish with an unfriendly statement along the lines of:

IT IS ABSOLUTELY ESSENTIAL FOR ALL COMPETITORS TO REPORT TO DOWNLOAD. FAILURE TO REPORT TO DOWNLOAD IS A CRIMINAL OFFENCE. OFFENDERS WILL BE ASBO'ed.

OK, I'm being a bit silly, but the description could be used to help beginners and encourage them to come back again and give a more friendly impression. For example

Orange course help sheet.

Follow the tapes from the car park to the start. When you are at the start, look for the triangle on the map. This is where the start is. Compare the map with the paths and fields around you. If you are having trouble figuring it out, just ask the start official for some help. When you are ready to start, tell the start official and he will explain what to do. The start also has a control flag to show you what one looks like.

When you have started, use the map to navigate about 400 metres down the large track in front of you to:

Control (or flag) 1: To make sure you have gone to the right control, this has 601 written on it. This control is on a PATH JUNCTION (where two paths meet). If the number is different check the map. If you get confused just go back to the start and ask the person on the start or some help. It's also OK to ask another orienteer where you are if you need help. When you have found the right control, electronically punch by putting the SI Card in the control and waiting for a beep.

Control 2: Number 614. This is on a Fence.

Control 3. Number 615. Large Depression (a big hole in the ground).

etc.

Control 10: Number 660. This is the last control. When you have electronically punched follow the tapes to the finish tent and help yourself to some orange juice.

Once you have finished, you must visit the "download" tent to get a printout of your times and to let us know you've finished. PLEASE DO NOT LEAVE THE EVENT WITHOUT VISITING DOWNLOAD OR WE WILL HAVE TO SPEND SEVERAL HOURS SEARCHING FOR YOU!

We hope you enjoyed your course. Please let us know what you thought of it when you visit download.

For more events within about 10 miles of this area visit http://www.averageoclub.org.uk

For events further afield visit http://www.britishorienteering.org.uk/events

Discounts, coaching sessions and relay events are available to members of average club. Visit http://www.averageoclub.org.uk

OK, it's a bit long, but it can go on the back of the map. Beginners wont care about turning it over.

[Stodgetta]

We put on the Staffordshire schools champs earlier in the summer. In an effort not to leave 200+ control descriptions littering the Chase, we printed the control descriptions on the back of the map.

Sitting at the last control watching people finish, I was horrified to see the juniors I had coached to "fold the map, keep it set" were flapping this piece of A4 like they were trying to take off. I challenged 3 of them independently, who all said they had the map folded on the way to number one, but couldn't be bothered to re-fold it at every control, so didn't. In the grand scheme of things on the day, not littering was probably more beneficial to the clubs continued orienteering than the previously coached juniors folding their maps.

However, at a district event + where more "committed" orienteers are in the majority, having loose control descriptions is pretty important. I also think getting them in advance for checking through with juniors/beginners is a good idea, too.

(We also use control descriptions as an indicator of map numbers - if we run out of descriptions at registration, we run out of maps at the start, so they do have other uses)

A year ago, we tried putting the control codes onto the map next to the circles:

but it did tend to cramp up the map, positive feedback was not overwhelming (but was just in the majority), and later events had even less space on the map to put the codes on, so we didn't. Putting even more information onto the map may work some of the time, but won't work all of the time.

At national/championship level, lets get them on the start line with string/sellotape/scissors etc, then it's a level playing field and people will find techniques to cope if they do it more often etc. If we can do it at continental multidays, we can do it at home.

[RJ]

Agree Stogetta with everything you say.

The answer is to make the description holder larger.... solution.... next time your club is sealing map bags with the heat sealer get them to seal a 250g A4 bag down the middle.... actually twice along its length down the centre, so that the bag can then be cut in half lengthwise.

This gives you a plastic envelope about 100mm wide and about 300mm long. Fix to your arm with wrist bands/tape/pins. You can add a piece of card to stiffen the setup.

Alter dimensions to suit personal requirements.

[Gnitworp]

At national/championship level, lets get them on the start line with string/sellotape/scissors.

and pretty female assistants, like in Lithuania, Gross'll tell you about them.