IRISH SCHOOLS ORIENTEERING CHAMPIONSHIPS
(ISOC) COMPETITION RULES
The Aims of this Competition
This event is promoted by the Irish Orienteering Schools Group (IOSG) to suit pupils from a wide range of ages and abilities and to boost participation in orienteering for as many Irish schools as we can. It also aims to reward performance in schools' orienteering by providing a good level of competition.
Entries
1. Only schools who have affiliated to the IOSG may participate in the ISOC
2. In all other aspects (other than school specific issues) the Irish Schools Orienteering Championships shall be guided by the IOA Rules and Guidelines for orienteering in general.
3. All children entered should be able to read an orienteering map competently and be confident in using basic navigational techniques such as map to ground orientation with and without a compass and the use of line features as "handrails". They should have competed in at least two orienteering events at the appropriate standard before the Schools' Championships.
4. Schools can enter up to EIGHT competitive entrants per age class. In the appropriate age classes each entrant may be a pair of competitors. These will be deemed non-competitive unless otherwise stated. (Any extras will be accepted subject to availability of start times and maps and must be declared as non-competitive when entering.)
5. Entrants may run up one, but not more than one, age class.
6. Teams shall be comprised of the best FOUR finishers per category.
Scoring
Scoring for the team competitions shall be the cumulative time of the best FOUR individuals. Incomplete teams will be ranked for results or award purposes behind all incomplete teams.
Age Classes, Course Standards and Times
The following categories may be provided (B indicates boys; G indicates girls)
| Class | Target Technical Level | Distance in km | Target Winning Time min |
| G1 (5th class) | Yellow | 1.2 -1.5 | 14-16 |
| G2 (6th class) | Yellow | 1.5-1.7 | 14-16 |
| G3 (1st year) | Short Red | 2.0-2.5 | 22-25 |
| G4 (2nd /3rd ) | Long Red | 2.5-3.0 | 30-32 |
| G5 (PJC/ B) | Lt Green | 3.0-4.0 | 35-40 |
| G6 (PJC/A) | Green | 4.0-5.0 | 40-45 |
| Class | Distance in km | Target Technical Level | Target Winning Time min |
| B1 (5th class) | 1.2 -1.5 | Yellow | 14-16 |
| B2 (6th class) | 1.5-1.7 | Yellow | 14-16 |
| B3 (1st year) | 2.0-2.5 | Short Red | 20-22 |
| B4 (yrs 2,3) | 2.5-3.0 | Long Red | 28-30 |
| B5 (PJC/B) | 3.0-4.0 | Lt Green | 35-40 |
| B6 (PJC/A) | 4.0-5.0 | Green | 35-40 |
A partner may also be allowed by the event Organiser for a competitor in any other age group whose "special needs" warrant it - providing that these are adequately summarised in a signed written statement from a senior member of staff at the pupil's school.
The Age Class Competitions
There will be a Girls' competition and a Boys' competition in each separate age category outlined above. As with each other competition category, awards will be given for the top three positions.
The Schools' Team Competition
There will be a Schools' Competition for every age category for each of Boys and Girls with a school's best FOUR runners to count in each case.
Entries
Entries shall come through the school only, which must put all the names of the entrants and their class/category on the one form. The Headteacher or senior member of staff shall countersign it confirming that all the children entered are in attendance at the one school and on the registers of that one school on the date when the entry is submitted, that they fulfil the conditions of experience and competence indicated on the entry form and that they compete in the event at their own risk.
The name and contact details of the member of staff or responsible adult who will be supervising the children from the school in question on the weekend of the competition and acting as a contact before and after the event must be given on the entry form. The form shall be sent in by the closing date indicated on the IOSG website by email to the event organiser.
Start Interval
The minimum time gap on the start list between competitors from the same school on the same course shall be 1 minute for categories B1,B2, G1,G2 ; 2 minutes for categories G3 and B3; 3 minutes for categories G4,G5,G6, B4,B5 and B6
Finishing Times
Course closing times will be given in the final competition details and description sheets and competitors should be told by their teachers to retire if they are still on the course after 2 hours.
Control Descriptions
Control descriptions will be given in words for all courses and will include any basic safety instructions for a specific course, e.g. caution at road crossings.
Non-championship Courses
17 Post Junior Certificate B courses may be provided at the discretion of the organiser to cater for less experienced orienteers in the Senior end of Secondary school.
Competition Area
Where possible, the competition area should not have been used for 12 months prior to the event in the interest of fairness to all competitors.
Supervising Adults
Teachers and adults in charge are expected to be responsible for their team members before, during and after the event and to help with any emergencies involving their children. Teachers and/or adults in charge of a school team may not enter the competition area (anywhere between the start and the finish) whilst the courses are open without leave from the Organiser of the event. Concerns about pupils who are out a long time should be expressed to an official near the finish.
Updated: July 2010.