ORIENTEERING

Introduction:

·  Swedish origin

·  World Championship event, not yet in Olympics

·  Parts of the compass

·  Common map symbols

Orienting the Map

·  Using the terrain – not always practical

·  Using the compass – rotate the map under the compass until map lines are parallel to magnetic north needle (red end)

Finding Direction

·  Align compass by rotating housing, ignore the needle!

·  Orient index lines on the map to the magnetic north lines on the compass

·  Hold the compass at waist level, cord around wrist

·  Move body and compass as a unit to align the magnetic north needles with the compass housing

Pacing – how long is one pace?

·  Take 20 steps to demonstrate how different each person’s stride is for counting paces

·  Estimate the length of one pace (2 steps in orienteering)

·  Differences between uphill and downhill terrain

How well can you find direction?

·  Set the compass to a reading between 0-120 degrees, take 25 paces

·  Reset compass by ADDING 120 degrees, take another 25 paces

·  Add another 120 degrees, and take another 25 paces

·  You should be back at your starting point!

ESTIMATING DISTANCES

The best way of determining distance on the site is by pacing. In orienteering, pacing is determined by counting every second step. One pace is equivalent to a double-step.

Over a distance of 100 metres:

1.  Walk the distance counting every second step

2.  Determine the length of one double-step by dividing 100 by the total number of paces.

3.  Run the distance counting every second step.

4.  Determine the length of one pace by dividing 100 by the total number of paces.

5.  Repeat over an uphill and downhill course (50 metres)

6.  Complete the following table:

Number of Paces: / Level Terrain / Uphill / Downhill
Walking
Running

7.  Repeat the above, only record the amount of time it takes to cover the distance.

8.  Complete the following table:

Amount of Time / Level Terrain / Uphill / Downhill
Walking
Running

9.  Estimate how far you are from a certain object or feature (or throw a ball and estimate how far it is to the point where it landed). Pace it off to determine the actual distance. Measure it with a tape measure. How close did you come?