Discussion: Punch card design for rogaine course with 50 controls

Looking for feedback and opinions on these control card samples intended for a rogaine-type course with 50 controls.

The box numbers 31 to 80 are the same as the control numbers. In past events, when we used instead a control card whose boxes were labeled 1 to 50, we noticed that there were punching errors by participants, in which, for example, the box labeled "48" was being punched when control 48 was found (when actually the box representing control 48 was the box labeled "17").

That makes things much easier, particularly when tired. I like version 3, numbers from top down, no underlines. Any possibility of 10 punch boxes per line? Such that all the 30's are on one line, all the 40's on a second etc. Often times the rogaine scoring has 30-39= 30 pts each, 40-49 = 40 pts etc. Easier scoring...

Any possibility of 10 punch boxes per line? Such that all the 30's are on one line, all the 40's on a second etc. Often times the rogaine scoring has 30-39= 30 pts each, 40-49 = 40 pts etc. Easier scoring..

HA !! definitely thought of that at first, but was blinded by the economics of trying to fit 4 such cards into a 11x17 inch Teslin sheet

The deep-format punch cards work as a separate unit from the map, but when you attach them to the back of your map, the normal punch has a throat that can only punch three rows along an edge.

I don't like holding two items because if you drop one you don't notice it. Since you're using Teslin, can you print the boxes on the front with the map?

I wonder if any course-planning software can automatically print a mini control description inside a printed-on-the-map punch card? I usually write the stand code (column B) and part of the column C-H information on the punch card. I'm pretty sure there is a demand for it from Adventure Races that don't use electronic punching.

HA !! definitely thought of that at first, but was blinded by the economics of trying to fit 4 such cards into a 11x17 inch Teslin sheet

Doesn't card 4 almost do this? You'd just need to move the 40/50/60 etc boxes from the end of one line to the start of the next, and shorten the "other" box.

You should also drop control 80 so that it won't be on a line by itself ;-)
Ideally, actually, you would renumber it as #30 instead - then you'd get nice even lines that are laid out like cmorse (and I) like.

Often times the rogaine scoring has 30-39= 30 pts each, 40-49 = 40 pts etc. Easier scoring...

This.

Also, it makes it far easier for competitors to calculate points for different loops on the fly. We moved to this system in the last few years (after 20+ years of groups of 6 being the same score...why 6? Presumably because that's how wide the punch card was...) and it's an absolute godsend for working out points rapidly.

We now use something similar to version 1, but with 10 to a row and 10 rows. The card ends up being quite wide, so you can only punch most controls from one side, but it works for us. One other thing to consider with larger cards is whether to leave a blank space in the middle - people tend to fold their cards up, so if you leave a margin at the obvious fold point then the fold won't obscure a punch mark.

also - a negative to combining punch card on map is some larger races (and I presume most AR's) often have multiple maps so determining which map has the punch area would be a hassle, plus punching through a map case renders the map case useless.

I prefer a separate punch card and will usually tape up one end and secure some sort of wrist strap to minimize accidental loss... And in a team event one person is in charge of the punch card - that's their primary concern - not to lose the punch card - even if they are also doing some of the navigation.

their primary concern - not to lose the punch card -

... and yet that is exactly what happened at the last edition of this rogaine. BTW, we saw the team members a couple of weeks ago at a xmas party, and in hearing the story, they were thrilled. They are signing up for the event coming up and we will hand them the card with a score of negative billions of points.

I'd vote strongly against combining map and punch card just because waterproofing the map would be quite challenging. Anybody who spend many rainy hours in woods would agree how easy is to destroy the map in such conditions.Now - add punch holes to the map bag and soon you will have a mushy pieces of paper instead of the map.

We now use something similar to version 1, but with 10 to a row and 10 rows.

Showing it would be easier.