Canadian Orienteering Federation

Orienteering Development Model

April 2004

Basic Orienteering Development Model

Novice Intermediate Weekend Warrior Serious Competitor Elite

Novice Habits Hold the map in two hands (forget the thumbing

technique), put it in a pocket or read it disoriented

Misjudge distance, features and sizes of features Run along trails without looking at the map Stop often to look at the map but do not

observe what is around them Forget what they passed along a handrail Use only one feature when reading the map (do

not combine features for confirmation)

Intermediate Habits Use the thumb but will turn their wrist to orient

the map rather than turn their body Misjudge distance, misjudge contours

especially what is up or down (ie slopes) Run fast along trails without looking at the map Stop to look at the map in green areas or in

depressions Forget what they passed along a handrail Use only one feature when reading the map

(do not combine features for confirmation)

Weekend Warrior Use the thumb if they feel like it (map reading of

course) Are lazy about using attack points Follow trails to rest and can lose concentration easily

which is the cause of most of their errors in orienteering Sometimes stop to look at the map in green areas or in

depressions Do not have a clear goal about approaching a race nor

how to handle certain terrain, “just go out and do it” sociable types, usually have funny stories to tell, try to

impress you with the fact that they do not take orienteering seriously which is their excuse for making all those orienteering mistakes

Serious Competitor Run too fast for their orienteering ability Good map readers and strong runners, train a lot Are lazy about using attack points Overrun controls because of poor attack point / control

taking technique Have too high expectations or goals about approaching a

race Tend to think about the outcome of a race before and

during an event Easily distracted by other orienteers or mistakes Can get frustrated when they do not win rather than enjoy

a good clean run Do not employ a systematic approach to training or

racing

Elite Consistently orienteer well Recover well from mistakes Know when to slow down or even stop in

very difficult terrain Their daily schedule is based on training

times Tend to party only once a year because

the rest of the year they are training Systematic approach to training and

racing