Guidelines for Running a Metro Series Event

Admin

• Be ready to take entries from 1 hour beforehand
• Have someone to provide a newcomers briefing.  Info Sheet for Newcomers
• Have a set of briefing notes prepared.  If there are any special instructions - eg stay on paths, these should be on display as well. Main Briefing Template, Finish Briefing Template
• Organise beforehand to have someone to help.

Checklist (Metro Series Gear List)

• Control Cards
• Maps
• Prizes (water bottles and special prizes)
• Banners
• Tables
• Chairs
• Display Boards - including most recent results and details of next event
• Loud speaker
• Flyers for future events
• Flyers with basic rules and instructions
• Signs explaining the courses –eg how many controls and how many you need to get (if it is a scatter), course lengths
• Blamk maps for display before the event 

Course Setting

• Short Course - should be easy and accessible, and if possible scenic. There should also be an option for a wheelchair/stroller/pram.  Remember this course needs to be suitable for families with small children.
• Medium & Long Courses - maximum of 5km for Medium and 8km for long. The route should not take 10 min standing still to work out either. If unsure, err on the shorter side.
• Reward people for thinking, but remember orienteering is about navigation and decision making, we're not in the business of setting out to trick people.  If a route is blocked, this should be clearly visible on the printed map.
• Ideally, each control should have at least two viable route choices to get to its neighbours.
• Remember that you can see a lot more on the enlarged map on your computer screen than the competitor can see on the printed map.  All essential elements about the area must be visible on the printed map.
• Local knowledge should not be an advantage. eg - Contours should be included on hilly maps, but would not be necessary on flatter maps.
• Use cul-de-sacs for control sites sparingly.
• Control placement should not encourage people to break rules - eg cross main roads, private property, garden beds, obstacles such as fences/walls/creeks, or to leave tracks in bushland parks.
• Controls should be on features on the map - a power pole 1/2 way down a street is not a feature unless all power poles are mapped or it is on a bend, path end, road junction, mapped contour feature etc.
• The map must be accurate - especially in the vicinity of controls. If there is any likelihood of work in any area, don't put controls in there.

Control Placement

• Put multiple punches on controls that are close to the start.
• All controls should be visible.
• Controls should be placed to avoid infringing people's property. eg. avoid using power/light poles that are situated in people's gardens or close to houses.
• Check control locations on site to make sure there is something to attach the control to.  Be wary of power poles, they are sometimes too large for the control cables.
  

 Mapping

• Check the map a number of weeks before your event - there may be a lot of changes since the previous use. If this is the case the map must be updated. Do it yourself or ask for help.
• If mapping for the first time, get someone else to check the map before the event.
• Check the map again in the week before the event and before printing.  Last minute changes happen quite often.

 After the event

• Have a finish briefing (have notes prepared beforehand) to acknowledge the course winners, remind people of the next event, thank sponsors and award any prizes.
• Cash should be lodged to the OAWA Bankwest account 306 057  4180556, with the event name to identify it for the Treasurer.

Results

Results to be forwarded to:

• Split Times editor before the next due deadline
• Webmaster within 24 hours
• West Australian within 24 hours