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Orienteering

Orienteering is IOF foot orienteering with map, controls, route choice and time scoring. The aim is to find the required controls in the correct order as quickly and legally as possible.

LevelVariant FamilyOutdoor Sport CategoryOutdoor sport / navigation

AI-generated illustration: Orienteering — AI-generated illustration

Classification

Category Outdoor sport / navigation

Family Outdoor Sport

Level Variant

Getting started

Kurzbeschreibung Running/navigation sport with map, controls and route choice.

Geeignet für Suitable for people who like running, map reading and quick terrain decisions.

Cost Low: entry fee, map, compass and running shoes often suffice. Club fee, event entries, compass/chip, running shoes and travel. Orienteering club, national O federation, IOF/event calendar or beginner training.

First progress Easy courses quickly; fluent route choice takes practice.

Fitness level low to high by course

Was du brauchst

orienteering map
compass
running shoes
control system
event briefing

First steps

choose a beginner course
learn map symbols
plan control to control
match speed to navigation

Orienteering club, beginner event, school/university offer or national O federation.

Respect terrain, weather, out-of-bounds areas, road crossings and course closure time.

Weitere Angaben

Aliases Foot orienteering, Orienteering

Tags individual, team, outdoor, animal, einzeln, tier, orienteering, foot-orienteering

Rules and format

Die Grundlagen

Ziel

Use map and possibly compass to find all required controls correctly and quickly.

Teilnehmer

Individual, relays or teams by format.

Teamgröße

Usually individual; relays/teams by event.

Spielfeld

Forest, park, sprint or terrain course with orienteering map and controls.

Dauer

Depends on format and event.

Wertung

Time scoring with complete correct control sequence; missing/wrong controls disqualify.

Gewinnbedingung

Best valid time, placing or score in the announced format.

Ausrüstung

orienteering map
compass
timing chip
running shoes
bib

Wichtige Regelpunkte

safety breach
course/rule breach
equipment breach

Regelquellen

Federations and sources

Competition Rules International Orienteering Federation · official-rules · high
Rules International Orienteering Federation · official-rules-index · high
Orienteering Basics REI Co-op · beginner-guide · medium