Discussion: Dots....

putting dots at the control location makes control descriptions pointless....

But I much prefer it!

What new rule?

Well i'm not sure if it is a rule, check out those maps though :)

Yup Runner99 is right. I'm not sure why it isn't more common

I don't think I like the dots, the map doesn't look as clean. As long as they're making it obvious which side of a wall the controls on and not keep everyone guessing, I'm good with just the circle.

Or you can read your control description to see if its inside or outside, or wherever on the feature. That's such a major factor in orienteering, take that out and you're getting closer to to XC running as there is less navigation involved.

I don't think it should be a rule for High level comps. Its perfect for trainings without a control description, but not for JWOC imo.

As far as I'm concerned, the only legitimate use of dots related to competitive orienteering is on Trail-O solution sheets.

Sorry to but in, but the sport is essentially reading the map on the run, relating map to terrain and vice versa. Checking the descriptions disturbs that mental picture and is a major distraction. You shouldn't have to hunt for the flag when you are in the middle of the control circle. So a dot where the flag is, to me at least, a map enhancement.

Will it be on the JWOC maps?

only if as you said its a new IOF rule (hasn't been at any of the JWOCs that I went to)

@ O-ing
If checking control descriptions is a major distraction, then that's effectively making the point that its better to put controls on the approaching side of a feature rather than behind, in order to see it and not have it hidden. That makes the sport technically alot easier. And you shouldn't have to hunt for the flag when you are in the middle of the control circle, because by the time you get there you should have read exactly where in the control is in the circle off of your control description. Also the red dots can cover up part or all of the feature making it worse for reading.

"Approaching side" - doesn't that essentially go against everything orienteering is about??

sort of. hence the usefulness of the control description

I'm all for dots :)

Orienteering competitions use circles, and will continue to do so for the foreseeable future. So, how exactly would using dots be beneficial for training?

When there are dots, are circles also used?

Yeah if you look in the map I read it was circles with the number on the outside in a location that won't mess you up, and then if it's hard to figure out what the control is on they put a small brown dot in the middle.

I guess it'll only be good if it's going to be implemented in races, that's why I was wondering

if its a brown dot wouldn't you be looking for a knoll? :)

Not on cement ;)

The dots are purple JE.

if I poured cement over a pile of dirt, then I'd have a knoll on cement. Or if I had a pile of dirt that was super packed, on cement then I'd also call that a knoll. :D (how to make you map more complex: cement knolls)