Hertfordshire Youth Orienteering Competitor Information
Events
The HH Youth league is run in conjunction with the Saturday Series league. The same scoring system is used as the Saturday Series league. The top 5 scores will count towards the placing.
For 2024-2025 the league will be individual only. The ambition is to return to a group league when there is a good prospect of a reasonable number of groups attending.
Rules
The formal scoring rules are in the HH Saturday Series Tab
Medals
Once a competitor has run 3 events, they will be eligible for a competitor’s medal. These will be available to collect at future events or on request will be posted by the league organiser.
At the Season’s close, place medals will be awarded to the top and 3 boys and girls on each course provided they have run 5 events. These will be distributed as per the competitor medals.
Entries
Entries and payment must be made online via SIEntries, preferably in advance. There will be a link for this on the event details page on the club website. It is still possible to enter on the day but this also has to be done through SIEntries and is subject to map availability
Juniors should be entered individually. If they are inexperienced then they are welcome to run with a friend. The time for each runner will count separately, even if they stick together throughout the course. We do expect that in the spirit of the competition, once they are more experienced, they should run on their own. If a more experienced person is accompanying a first-timer, then please read the section below on ‘Assistance on the Course’. In essence, they should be there for reassurance and not to show someone where to go!
The competition is course based subject to the maximum age requirements listed below.
Cost
The cost per event for juniors is £2 plus a dibber hire of £1 if required (see Timing below).
Please note that if a junior joins the Club (£11 per year) then they can run free for a whole year at our Saturday events. There are other benefits too. Our “Join HH” page explains how to join online via British Orienteering, the national federation. Junior members who are not part of a family group will only be contacted via parent / guardian to give fixtures information, and they are not included in our distributed membership list. We hope that in due course the family joins us: orienteering is a great family sport.
Recommended Courses for the League
| Maximum Age (At Season Start) |
Course | Distance | Expected Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| M/W 10 (Year 5) | White | 1.0 – 1.5 km | 10 – 40 mins |
| M/W 12 (Year 7) | Yellow | 1.5 – 2.5 km | 20 – 40 mins |
| M/W 14 (Year 9) | Orange | 3.0 – 3.6 km | 30 – 60 mins |
| M/W 16 (Year 11) | Light Green | 3.0 – 3.6 km | 30 – 60 mins |
| M/W 18 (Year 13) | Blue | ? | ? |
Both Yellow and White courses will involve straightforward navigation and are designed so that they can be completed without the use of a compass.
The Orange course is around 3.5km in length and provides a greater navigational challenge. Skilled navigators can risk taking shorter routes away from paths and line features while there will usually be easier, safer but longer routes between controls. Very skilled juniors might complete the course in just over 30 minutes while inexperienced participants can expect to take an hour or more. Inexperienced participants should therefore arrive early so they can take the earlier start slots. A compass, and knowing how to use one, is recommended.
Youngsters tackling the Orange course with no previous experience of orienteering will find it very challenging, and should be prepared to be patient as they develop their skills. They have an option of running down for their first few events. In which they will sore 75% points.
Timing
Each participant is loaned an electronic timing chip (known as a dibber) at Registration. There is a £1 hire fee for this and regular orienteers buy their own. This is used to record the time taken around the course and to show that each control has been visited. The chip is downloaded to a computer back at registration after completion of the course.
Scoring
Points will be awarded depending on finish position:
- Winner 100
- Second 97
- Then decreasing by 2 points to 9th position, 85 points.
- Then descending by 1 point to a minimum of 2 for a correctly completed course.
- Runners miss-punching or otherwise disqualified score 10 points less than the last valid finisher on their course, or 1 point if the resulting score would be less than 1.
- 0 for any event they either miss or at which they don’t run a competitive course.
Assistance out on the Course
Parents, guardians etc are encouraged to accompany first timers on the course. In orienteering this is called “shadowing”. Anyone shadowing a child should avoid ‘doing it themselves’ with the child in tow in an attempt to get a fast time. This achieves nothing as the child gets no sense of achievement and learns very little. Instead, shadowers should allow the child to do all the navigation themselves, and only help out where a mistake has been made or the child asks for help.
Safety
Seriously lost children are a rarity in orienteering. However, anyone getting disorientated should not wander about aimlessly. Instead, get on to the nearest track or path and remain where you are and you will be found! If you see a control marker not on your course, remain with it and ask another passing competitor for help. Carrying a whistle is recommended.
Second runs
If a child wishes to go out for a second run on the next level course, they are encouraged to do so – it will be classed as non-competitive. They may go either solo, or shadowed / paired. This can be arranged on the day if there are spare maps on the relevant course.
