Clare –
You wrote on AttackPoint – ŇRather than
focusing on what has changed, I would prefer that people look at this as a
completely new rules document and think about whether or not they like these
rules. A lot of the changes were from obsolete procedures to new rules that
match current practice.Ó
What follows are my suggestions for various rules in this new
document that should be either eliminated or changed. Many of my suggestions
are based on my experience as meet director of the Western Mass 5-Day in May.
In each case, my suggestion follows the wording in your proposed rules.
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A.12.2.1 The title of U.S.
Orienteering Champion in any class as determined at an officially designated
U.S. Orienteering Championship Event shall be limited to any person who meets
all of the following criteria:
l) Is a member in good standing of Orienteering USA
. m) Is either a citizen or lawful permanent resident
of the United States of America
. n) During the same calendar year, has not and agrees
not to compete for another countryŐs national orienteering championship
title.
.
1. Not competing for another countryŐs
championship in the same year. Is this limited to the same event or an overall
ban? In other words, if someone runs in another countryŐs sprint championship,
for example, are they banned from all USA championships or just the USA sprint
championship? I would like to see this limited to just the same event.
.
. A.17.3 The progression from White to Yellow to Orange to
Brown through Blue is one of increased length and technical difficulty; the
technical difficulty of Brown, Green, Red, and Blue is to be equivalent, at the
expert level, with only a difference in physical requirements.
2. This is not true, the Green and Brown have
to allow for worse eyesight and so should not use sections of the map
especially hard to read, and should also avoid dangerous terrain to a greater
extent than the Red and Blue.
A.19.4.1 The start interval for middle format
will be no less than 2 minutes.
3. Change to 1 minute for non-bid events. This
is unnecessarily restrictive and stifles creative organizing.
A.18.3.1 Maps should endeavor to meet the
specifications of ISSOM (Sprint mapping), especially for denser, urbanized
settings. Otherwise ISOM standards shall be used.
4. Make ISSOM required for sanctioned sprints.
ItŐs long overdue.
A.24.12 REFRESHMENTS: On each course refreshments
consisting of at least potable water shall be provided at least every 2.5 km.
Refreshments shall be provided at the start and finish and at appropriate
control flags and indicated on the description sheets as such. At least 0.25
liters (8 oz.) of water shall be available for every competitor at each
refreshment stop. Because fairness requires that water be available to the last
competitors who visit a refreshment stop, substantially more water than this may
be necessary, particularly in hot weather and at refreshment stops later in the
course.
5. Eliminate or change. This is unnecessarily
restrictive. Water stops should not have to be at control sites. Every 2.5 km
is overkill; people can always carry water. They carry water in lots of other
sporting events
. G.1.7 Calculation of annual ranking points
are as follows:
.
a) For
each qualifying person, take their best 4 daily ranking point days plus 1/2 of
the remaining ranking point days (e.g., if 5 races are run, the top 4 + [1/2 x
1] = 4.5 races are ranked), and average them to the nearest tenth of a point.
Competitors who need credits (Section G.1.5) to meet their minimum requirements
will have the points from all their point qualifying competitions (Section
G.1.2) on courses of one color averaged for their ranking in their class on
that color course.
.
6. Change ½ of the remaining days to
1/4 or less, or even zero. Would give people more of a chance to eliminate bad
runs by going to more events (something to be encouraged). The IOF World
Rankings count only your best 4 events over the previous 18 months and their
system seem to work as well as or better than ours.
A.11.1.4
Classes for gender-neutral non-age specific Groups shall be offered
on White, Yellow, and Orange course levels (Gr followed by the course
color).
7. Eliminate. Let an A meet be an A meet (a competitive event) without
the need to cater to every possible member of the orienteering world. If clubs
want to add recreational stuff, they can, but donŐt require it.
A.11.2
Recreational (non-competitive) classes
8. Eliminate this whole section, same reason
A.13.3
No competitor shall be entered in more than one class for any race.
9. Eliminate (why write a rule to pick on Barb Bryant?), at least for
non-bid events.
A.14.4
Adequate free instruction shall be provided for
non-competitive novices.
10. Again, eliminate, let an A meet be an A meet.
A.16.6
When the map for the event has not been used in
competition it shall not be displayed, sold, or distributed prior to the event.
(This does not prohibit display of sections of the map where the competition
will not be held.)
11. Eliminate, unnecessary, a club may wish to publicize the map for PR
purposes. I made copies available on-line of my mapping as it progressed in
order to stimulate interest in the event.
A.28.6 The
start location and the map issue point shall be situated in such a way that
before the starting time a competitor will not be able to see which route the
previous runner takes. When possible the start location shall also be situated
such that competitors arriving at the finish cannot communicate with those
waiting to start.
12. Eliminate, unnecessarily restrictive. There are valid reasons for
having the start (and the direction runners are leaving) visible. Likewise for
situating the start close to the finish. Such as, it can be a lot more fun.
ThatŐs a start.
What I am concerned about is that these suggestions
will disappear into a black hole. Does the Rules Committee have a process so
that its discussions, and decisions, are available to the public in real time?
Or will we have to wait and see what the Committee
submits to the Board?
And then perhaps quickly organize an on-line
petition? :)
Cheers,
Peter