TROL Competition Rules
Tri State (TROL) Orienteering League
2008 - 2009 Competition Rules
The 2008 – 2009 Season will consist of 12 competitive events beginning in
December 2008 and ending in March, 2009. All competitive events will be
within a 40 mile radius of the Butler County courthouse at Hamilton, Ohio.
At least 2/3 of these events will be on Saturday, but less than 1/3 may be held
on Sunday.
Additionally, several practice events will be offered, beginning November 1. There will be practice events each weekend in November, and on several other dates throughout the season.
Each competitive event will offer at least 4 courses of varying difficulty, based on the U.S. Orienteering Federation’s color system. It is recommended that all students begin on the easiest level course (white) and move to more difficult courses only when they have successfully completed courses at the preceding level. Students may stay at any level for any number of events, and may move back to an easier level if they find they have advanced too quickly. In some cases, league officials may prohibit a student from entering a difficult course if the student has not proven ability to complete a course at that level or the next lower level within a reasonable time.
Students may do courses at practice events in pairs or threes. At competitive events, only students doing courses as individuals will be eligible for competitive scores. Students wishing to practice or develop skills will generally be allowed to do courses in groups, but may have to wait until after individual competitors have started.
Divisions
White course –novice. Students new to
orienteering and those not yet confident in their abilities should do the white
course.
Yellow course – middle school division. High school
students who are learning orienteering may also do this course
non-competitively.
Orange Course – high school junior varsity.
Any student may do this course.
Green course – high school
varsity. Students should only enter a varsity level course if they have
previously completed orange level or higher courses.
Awards
Season awards will be given to the top 5 individuals (male and
female) and the top 3 schools in each division.
Scoring
Individual Event Scoring
The fastest
eligible male and female finisher in each division will be awarded 1000
points. Slower finishers will be assigned a lower number of points, based
on time behind the winner. Any student who finishes the course will
receive at least 200 points regardless of time. Students who return within
the course time limit but without finding all control points will receive
between 0 and 200 points, based on the number of controls found. Students
who exceed the time limit or are disqualified for rules violations will receive
0 points.
Individual Season Scoring
An individual’s best 6 events
on the same level course during the season will count. If an individual
competes in more than 6 events, his/her best 6 will be counted and his/her worst
score(s) dropped. If an individual competes in 5 or fewer events on the
same level course, all events will count. Note that it is possible that an
individual who only runs in 4 or 5 events, but does very well each time could
still end up with a very high season ranking.
School Team Scoring
A school’s 3 best finishers on a
particular course at each event will give the school a team score for that
event. A school’s best 6 event scores will be used for the season
awards.
Rules of competition
The U.S. Orienteering Federation’s Rules of
Competition will apply. Students will do the course as individuals and
will not ask for or receive help while on the course. League officials
reserve the right to bar any student who willfully disrupts the competition,
interferes with another competitor, or commits malicious, harmful or illegal
acts while participating in League events. Each student shall carry a
safety whistle while on the course. Whistles are to be used in case of
medical emergency only.
Eligibility
Any student who is enrolled full-time in grade 6
through 12 in any public, private or home school in the greater Cincinnati
tri-state area is eligible. A student must attend the school which he/she
represents in the competition. The League officials reserve the right to
rule on the eligibility of an individual student.