Discussion: 2010 Sprint Series Update
in: Orienteering; General
Jan 2, 2010 12:10 AM
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PG:
It's January 1st -- Happy New Year to everyone, and happy birthday too -- and while many people associate the day with football games and recovering from massive hangovers, anyone with any smarts knows that today represents opening day for the 2010 Sprint Series.
OK, so everything is not quite ready. The scoring system is still being fine-tuned (it will be different from last year, of course, it's been different every year). We don't know where the finals will be. And the schedule so far has no events on it. No big deal. What matters is that it's on again, for the 6th time.
The bosses, or The Deciders as they call themselves, are once again Kris Beecroft and Cristina Luis. They establish the rules, they make the tough decisions, they handle any complaints. I got volunteered out of retirement to handle the PR.
New rules and the scoring system will be out shortly, all on the Sprint Series website (http://sprintseries.org). In the meantime, send info about upcoming sprints to Kris (krisbeecroft@msn.com), send results to Cristina (cristina.luis@gmail.com).
A few things to keep in mind whether you love sprints, hate sprints, or have never tried sprints --
1. You can organize a sprint in places that aren't big enough for traditional orienteering courses. That offers more possibilities in line with USOF's efforts to try to grow orienteering.
2. They are much easier to organize.
3. A lot of the organizers of sprints in the first 4 years of the Sprint Series graciously offered to make them fundraisers for the national teams. We hope this continues.
4. It would be nice to see more maps made according to ISSOM (International Specification for Sprint Orienteering Maps).
5. For 2010, can we get more than the 132 sprints that were part of the 2009 Series?
I'll keep you posted. Meanwhile....
Sprint fast, sprint smart, sprint often.
Peter
pg@crocker.com
OK, so everything is not quite ready. The scoring system is still being fine-tuned (it will be different from last year, of course, it's been different every year). We don't know where the finals will be. And the schedule so far has no events on it. No big deal. What matters is that it's on again, for the 6th time.
The bosses, or The Deciders as they call themselves, are once again Kris Beecroft and Cristina Luis. They establish the rules, they make the tough decisions, they handle any complaints. I got volunteered out of retirement to handle the PR.
New rules and the scoring system will be out shortly, all on the Sprint Series website (http://sprintseries.org). In the meantime, send info about upcoming sprints to Kris (krisbeecroft@msn.com), send results to Cristina (cristina.luis@gmail.com).
A few things to keep in mind whether you love sprints, hate sprints, or have never tried sprints --
1. You can organize a sprint in places that aren't big enough for traditional orienteering courses. That offers more possibilities in line with USOF's efforts to try to grow orienteering.
2. They are much easier to organize.
3. A lot of the organizers of sprints in the first 4 years of the Sprint Series graciously offered to make them fundraisers for the national teams. We hope this continues.
4. It would be nice to see more maps made according to ISSOM (International Specification for Sprint Orienteering Maps).
5. For 2010, can we get more than the 132 sprints that were part of the 2009 Series?
I'll keep you posted. Meanwhile....
Sprint fast, sprint smart, sprint often.
Peter
pg@crocker.com
Jan 28, 2010 11:18 AM
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PG:
Here are the rules for this year's Sprint Series. For more info -- the website is http://sprintseries.org and the Deciders are Cristina Luis (cristina.luis@gmail.com) and Kris Beecroft (krisbeecroft@msn.com).
2010 Sprint Series Rules
1. All sprints in North America from January 1, 2010 to October 15, 2010, or up until the SS Finals, whichever comes first, count as part of the regular season in the 2010 Sprint Series as long as they are announced in the Sprint Series schedule at least 2 weeks in advance. See the schedule for how to list a sprint; the information (where, when, what, details) gets sent to Kris.
2. There are separate point lists for men and women. No separate point lists for age-groups.
3. Results must be sent to the Deciders (cristina.luis@gmail.com) electronically within 48 hours of the event. See the website for how to submit results.
4. If there are two or more sprints in one day, each counts as a separate event for earning points.
5. Your best 8 scores in the regular season count.
6. Rules may be added, changed, or deleted at any time by the Deciders.
7. Points for the Regular Season are calculated as follows:
a. Club levels sprints -- winner gets 30 points, then the next places get 28, 26, 24, 22, 20, 19, 18,.... on down to 1 point for 25th place.
b. Sprints at A meets and other designated regional events -- winner gets 40 points, then the next places get 38, 36, 34, 32, 30, 28, 26, 24, 22, 20, 19, 18,.... on down to 1 point for 30th place. If there is more than one course, the shorter course(s) will be scored separately as 30-point events.
c. Sprints at US Team Trials, US Sprint Champs, North American Sprint Champs, Canadian Team Trials, and Canadian Sprint Champs -- winner gets 50 points, then the next places get 48, 46, 44, 42, 40, 38, 36, 34, 32, 30, 29, 28,.... on down to one point for 40th place. If there is more than one course, the secondary course for each gender will be scored separately as a 40-point event, and any additional course(s) will be scored separately as 30-point events.
d. Any sprint that is a fundraiser for the Senior or Junior Team, USA or Canadian, gets a bonus 10 points.
e. Anyone making the A final at the WOC sprint in the Norway or finishing in the top half of the field at the JWOC sprint in Denmark gets a bonus 50 points.
f. A maximum of 8 sprints can be counted. If you do more, you count the 8 in which you earn the most points. The bonus points races are in addition to your 8 best.
2010 Sprint Series Rules
1. All sprints in North America from January 1, 2010 to October 15, 2010, or up until the SS Finals, whichever comes first, count as part of the regular season in the 2010 Sprint Series as long as they are announced in the Sprint Series schedule at least 2 weeks in advance. See the schedule for how to list a sprint; the information (where, when, what, details) gets sent to Kris.
2. There are separate point lists for men and women. No separate point lists for age-groups.
3. Results must be sent to the Deciders (cristina.luis@gmail.com) electronically within 48 hours of the event. See the website for how to submit results.
4. If there are two or more sprints in one day, each counts as a separate event for earning points.
5. Your best 8 scores in the regular season count.
6. Rules may be added, changed, or deleted at any time by the Deciders.
7. Points for the Regular Season are calculated as follows:
a. Club levels sprints -- winner gets 30 points, then the next places get 28, 26, 24, 22, 20, 19, 18,.... on down to 1 point for 25th place.
b. Sprints at A meets and other designated regional events -- winner gets 40 points, then the next places get 38, 36, 34, 32, 30, 28, 26, 24, 22, 20, 19, 18,.... on down to 1 point for 30th place. If there is more than one course, the shorter course(s) will be scored separately as 30-point events.
c. Sprints at US Team Trials, US Sprint Champs, North American Sprint Champs, Canadian Team Trials, and Canadian Sprint Champs -- winner gets 50 points, then the next places get 48, 46, 44, 42, 40, 38, 36, 34, 32, 30, 29, 28,.... on down to one point for 40th place. If there is more than one course, the secondary course for each gender will be scored separately as a 40-point event, and any additional course(s) will be scored separately as 30-point events.
d. Any sprint that is a fundraiser for the Senior or Junior Team, USA or Canadian, gets a bonus 10 points.
e. Anyone making the A final at the WOC sprint in the Norway or finishing in the top half of the field at the JWOC sprint in Denmark gets a bonus 50 points.
f. A maximum of 8 sprints can be counted. If you do more, you count the 8 in which you earn the most points. The bonus points races are in addition to your 8 best.
Jan 28, 2010 1:48 PM
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PG:
My guess is the same 10 point bonus would apply, since one of the goals of the SS is to support our national teams, but I'll check with the Deciders to be sure.
Jan 28, 2010 4:54 PM
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Yes, 10 point bonus for all Team fundraisers, whichever US or Canadian Team that is.
Jan 28, 2010 9:35 PM
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If a sprint has WRE status but is not a TT or US, CAN or NORAM Champs does it get special points status too?
The GLOF 10.10.10 Sprint on October 9th is a WRE and kicks off our 4 race weekend in Hamilton.
Details online in the spring. Early web site is here:
http://dontgetlost.ca/index.php?option=com_content...
The GLOF 10.10.10 Sprint on October 9th is a WRE and kicks off our 4 race weekend in Hamilton.
Details online in the spring. Early web site is here:
http://dontgetlost.ca/index.php?option=com_content...
Jan 29, 2010 5:45 PM
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A suggestion (idea, anyway) regarding the 'one point for 30th' or 40th place and nothing below that: how about awarding one point for all places from 30th to last place?
Everyone then gets 'credit' for going (their name on the sprintseries.org website, which is encouraging I think), and the one-pointers can still compete with others by going to multiple events, maybe even beat someone who is a bit faster through out-participation (vs. performance)? I don't want to open the participation vs. performance can-o-worms from last year, but 'getting ranked' and listed on a website somewhere can be pretty cool for new participants to the sport.
The only real downside I see is the dramatic jump in data that will need to be kept, but it wouldn't be more than last year -- unless participation goes up as well.
Everyone then gets 'credit' for going (their name on the sprintseries.org website, which is encouraging I think), and the one-pointers can still compete with others by going to multiple events, maybe even beat someone who is a bit faster through out-participation (vs. performance)? I don't want to open the participation vs. performance can-o-worms from last year, but 'getting ranked' and listed on a website somewhere can be pretty cool for new participants to the sport.
The only real downside I see is the dramatic jump in data that will need to be kept, but it wouldn't be more than last year -- unless participation goes up as well.
Jan 29, 2010 6:01 PM
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PG:
We tried exactly that one year, for the same reason, thinking it would be good motivation in a variety of ways. It was a lot more work crunching the numbers and there was no indication that it made much, if any, difference in participation. It certainly made no difference in the standings in any significant way.
Last year's system was also a number-crunching nightmare. So this year's system is an attmpt to make the scoring more legitimate, and also simpler to manage.
Last year's system was also a number-crunching nightmare. So this year's system is an attmpt to make the scoring more legitimate, and also simpler to manage.
Jan 29, 2010 6:02 PM
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PG:
If a sprint has WRE status but is not a TT or US, CAN or NORAM Champs does it get special points status too?
That would sure seem to make sense, but I'll check.
That would sure seem to make sense, but I'll check.
Jan 29, 2010 6:09 PM
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Ah, I figured it might be so ... that is one LONG set of data. Thanks for the consideration and thoughtful response.
And I suppose a cutoff creates motivation of its own ...
And I suppose a cutoff creates motivation of its own ...
This discussion thread is closed.