Discussion: Recreational courses?

With the early entry deadline fast approaching (4 days away), the website currently says "Recreational course information will be provided in the future."

For some of us (particularly those with family members who would like to do a rec course) this information is relevent to decisions about whether to register or not, what course to run, whether to request childcare or special start times, etc.

I know there's always a lot to do in the runup to a big meet, and a lot of people are about to hit the road for the NAOC event, but could someone please supply this information so that the early entry deadline can be used?

Thank you.

Both the meet director (Jeff Schapiro) and course setter (Phil Bricker) for the NEOC event are registered for the North American's so perhaps you could corral one of them at the meet if you don't get a response here before the weekend.

I am quite certain that there will be white and yellow rec courses (same as A-meet courses, with e-sticks provided by NEOC); I'm pretty sure there will also be rec for orange; I'm not sure about advanced rec courses. Jeff won't be at NAOC. Hopefully, the website will be updated with this information soon.

I know this is slightly off-topic, but...

Can someone explain to me why a person who is --

doing the same course,

on the same map,

using the same porta-potties,

enjoying the same post-race refreshments,

at the same event

-- would pay drastically less than another participant?

The recreational course distinction really confounded me as registrar for this year's US Champs.

I don't see this distinction at any other sporting events. For example, you pay the same entry fee at a 5km running race whether you're walking with a stroller or running at the front of the pack...

Subsidized / discounted recreational courses seem to be expected, though, at all A meets.

Just wondering.

Well, just for one example, A meet competitors are individuals. Young children who are excited to be learning the sport but are not yet ready to tackle a white or yellow course on their own, are more likely to participate if they can do so in groups, with an adult, or both. If they get confused and need help there is someone there who can be supportive. The amount of time it takes them to successfully get from start to finish is a secondary concern. Also there is the problem that comes with assigned start times, and the kids not being able to start with a parent until after the parent finishes running their A meet course. Rec courses often don't require advance entry or assigned start times. All of these things are what rec courses are there for. Other folks can probably think of other examples.

Frankly it would seem to me to be a great promotional idea to put a deep discount on all white/yellow course entries, regardless of age. Make it inexpensive for people who are starting out, and if they have a good time they'll be back. And eventually they'll make their way to the more advanced courses.

Just a thought

Phil, thank you for the update. The other useful detail we could use to help figure out a plan is what the rec start window will be. Some places we see it overlapping the A meet starts. Other places we see it begin after the last A starter. Knowing the general plan helps us in figuring out whether to request early starts or split starts for childcare and child shadowing. Sometimes it also reveals the necessity of running a shorter course than I otherwise might have.

Brooke, the main reason why I think it is important to have at least white-yellow-orange rec courses is that there are very few o-meets in western Mass (this is the only one this year) and I don't want to lose those local orienteers who are unlikely to commit in advance, or pay A-meet fees. As to fairness: only A-meet entrants are eligible for awards, or receive a ranking; but not everyone, of course, would think that justifies the higher entry fee.

Mitch, I'm pretty sure we would just fit them in as soon as there was a slot. On white and yellow, there would not be any problem doing this quickly. But I can't really speak for Jeff, who will make the final decision on all this.

Recreational courses will be offered for W, Y, and O. Fees will be standard NEOC fees ($5 for W, Y and $8 for O unless competitors are NEOC members, in which case fee is also $5). As Phil described above, competitors will be fed into the A-meet slots as available, and I do not anticipate any major delays given this format. E-punching will be used with a rental fee of $2/day. I hope to have the info formally on the web-site this weekend. I apologize for not addressing this earlier.