S‚onet SCONET
for
USOF event rules, entry form, course classes. 		NSEW

USOF Official web-site USOF and follow Club Resources link
Schedu;e of USOF A-meets, Rogaines and links other

A-meet Volunteers , please read the USOF Rules

Is this your first A-meet? Here's some explanations

USOF Standard A-meet Entry Form
is available as an Adobe PDF file.  download form (about 7k...)
This file is viewable and printable with the free Adobe Acrobat Reader download Acrobat Reader 

USOF COURSES:

Standard courses in the USA at local and A-meets are identified by color, see 

Choose the right course:  Course Color Coding

   Skills expected and Skills taught by each color course

You enter an A-meet by CLASS, based on age/gender. These CLASSES are listed below.

USOF CLASSES: F = female, M = male, Grp = groups. 
Age Classes: The number denotes age on Dec 31 of the year of the event. 
A dash indicates no age limit on that side: eg, M-12 is open to boys 12 and under. 
A '+' after an age limit, means it's for that age and older, 
	F35+ is for women 35 and older, 
	'21' classes have no age limits. 
	Course (open) classes have no age limits.

COURSE ASSIGNMENTS:
At USOF-sanctioned events, classes are assigned to each course as follows:
COURSESWHITEYELLOWORANGEBROWNGREENREDBLUE
difficulty:beginneradv beginnerintermediate< - - - - - - - - advanced - - - - - - - - - >
winning time:25-30min35-40min50-55min45-50min50-55min60-65min75-80min
length (km):2 - 33 - 54.5 - 73 - 54.5 - 76 - 108 - 14
AGE Classes:F-10F-14F-16F-18F-20F-21+M-21+
F55+
F-12M-14M-16F60+F35+M-20
M-10F65+F40+M35+
M-12F70+F45+M40+
M65+F50+M45+
M70+M-18
M50+
M55+
M60+
COURSE (open) CLASSES: (these classes are for any age)
M/F-whiteF-yellowF-orangeF-brownF-green
Grp-whiteM-yellowM-orangeM-brownM-greenM-red
Grp-yellowGrp-orange
Classes in bold face are those retained in the condensed class structure that may be used for smaller events.
Check meet announcement for recreational and non-standard courses.
CHOOSE THE RIGHT COURSE 
Course Color Coding    W, Y, O, Br, G, R, B


Orienteering  courses are set by degree of difficulty  and at A-meets are assigned by age
In the US the courses are named by color. All courses are set with the expected winning
time of around one hour (Although most courses allow a 3 hour time limit):
You can learn more by consulting the USOF age class table

The most important thing to remember:
	courses are NOT set by length, but by the skills they test

White, for beginners, all on trail, learn the logistics of the sport (punching etc) 
start learning the map colors and symbols
Yellow, .next up, still close to trails and other handrails (fences. streams)
use this course to learn all the map symbols and colors, dont just go from control to 
control as fast as yo can (unless this is your competitive CLASS by age F/M-14)

Orange is for intermediates, where you first go cross country. 
It is very challenging, sometimes as long as Green,  but still with safe navigational 
features. ie an strong attack point within 100m of a control. It is planned 
to help you learn all your advanced skills Stay with the Orange course until you know 
all the advanced techhniques, and regularly come in near the top 3. 
This is a good course for those with navigational skills honed by 
backpacking etc, but no specific "Orienteering, the sport", skills

Br,G,R and B  Brown, Green, Red and Blue are all equally technically advanced, with 
very subtle control points. The navigational techniques required are quite complex 
and you should be able to really 'read the map' at a detailed level and have all the O 
techniques mastered. Brown is the least physical and for older, experienced 
orienteers (F60+, M65+), and Blue being a long tough haul.
These advanced courses are NOT for you , even with (topo) backpacking 
or other navigational experience, until you have tried the ORANGE and been successful 
several times. We urge you to respect this for your own safety and enjoyment, and in 
consideration for the organisers.

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