Junior Training CampJunior Training CampOrienteering Philosophy and Effective Training

Moran State ParkWashington State

28-30 December, 2004

Alexei Azarov

Camp PurposesCamp Purposes

Introduce System of ActionsIntroduce the Concept of Orienteering

PhilosophyShow the ways of organizing effective

training in orienteering

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MotivationMotivation

Do you want to be a leader?What should you start with?

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System of Actions ISystem of Actions I

Why do you need a system?What is System?System! How does it look like?

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To main diagram

System of Actions IISystem of Actions IIMain DiagramMain Diagram

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SA SP

RSA RSP

Wishes

Realty

System

Something missing?!Something missing?!

System of Actions IIISystem of Actions IIIMain DiagramMain Diagram

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Wishes

Realty

SA SP

RSA RSP

System

GOAL

RESULT

System of Actions IVSystem of Actions IV

Can I borrow System from more experienced orienteer?

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NO!!!NO!!!You must build your own You must build your own

System!System!

System of Actions VSystem of Actions V

How to build your own System?

– Fill System of Actions (SA) box

Ideal Orienteer!!!

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Orienteering Philosophy IOrienteering Philosophy I

What is this?The place for Orienteering Philosophy in

System

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WishesRealty

SA SP

RSA RSP

System

GOAL

RESULT

Orienteering Philosophy IIOrienteering Philosophy IIDifferent Orienteering PhilosophiesDifferent Orienteering Philosophies

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(Those that I know)(Those that I know)

Attackpoints (What’s wrong with it?)Attackpoints + Handrails (Much better!)Perception Yourself as a Moving

Point (Perfect?!)Terrain MapAbstract Thinking (No theory)

System Skeleton ISystem Skeleton I

Organizational actions (Organization)– provide convenient and well-timed execution of provide convenient and well-timed execution of

all other actionsall other actionsTechnical actions (Techniques)

– are tools of realization of chosen routesare tools of realization of chosen routesTactical actions (Tactics)

– are actions of choosing routes of achieving goalsare actions of choosing routes of achieving goalsStrategical actions (Strategy)

– is choosing of tacticsis choosing of tactics

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System Skeleton IISystem Skeleton II

Psychological actions (Psychology)– guarantee correct and accurate execution of all guarantee correct and accurate execution of all

other actionsother actionsPhysical actions

– Provides fast moving in the woodsProvides fast moving in the woods

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Effective Training IEffective Training IOrienteering Training SpecificOrienteering Training Specific

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Why is it different from other sport? What makes orienteering so special?– To perfect yourself in orienteering you need To perfect yourself in orienteering you need

different terrains, different places, different maps. different terrains, different places, different maps. It is impossible to effectively improve your It is impossible to effectively improve your orienteering skills training only around your orienteering skills training only around your home. So, an orienteering meet is perfect place home. So, an orienteering meet is perfect place for training.for training.

Conclusion

Orienteering Training Specific IOrienteering Training Specific IConclusionConclusion

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To make your orienteering To make your orienteering training effective you have to training effective you have to consider most (90%-95%) of consider most (90%-95%) of

competition events as work-outs competition events as work-outs (not as races)!!!(not as races)!!!

Effective Training IIEffective Training IIOrienteering Training SpecificOrienteering Training Specific

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Conclusion

Three main types of orienteering work-outs:– OutdoorOutdoor– IndoorIndoor– And…in classAnd…in class

The work-outs in class as much important as outdoor trainings and indoor physical work-outs

Orienteering Training Specific IIOrienteering Training Specific IIConclusionConclusion

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About 50% of your training About 50% of your training time have to be dedicated to time have to be dedicated to

work-out in classroom!!!work-out in classroom!!!

Effective Training IIIEffective Training IIISummarySummary

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Consider about 90%-95% of orienteering meets and competition events as work-outs

Dedicate about 50% of total training time to work-outs in classroom

Specific Exercises ISpecific Exercises IOrganizationOrganization

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Make a checklist for each situation you need organizational Make a checklist for each situation you need organizational actions. Examples of the situations are:actions. Examples of the situations are:

What should you bring to a competition event?What should you bring to a competition event? What should you do before start?What should you do before start? What should you bring to a training on map?What should you bring to a training on map? What is your schedule for tomorrow?What is your schedule for tomorrow? etc……………etc……………

Specific Exercises IISpecific Exercises IITechnique ITechnique I

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Technical warm-up– Run 200m-300m trough the woods around. This bring Run 200m-300m trough the woods around. This bring

you to the equilibrium with terrain and ambient you to the equilibrium with terrain and ambient conditions (for example, if it is wet around you should conditions (for example, if it is wet around you should come to the start already wet)come to the start already wet)

– Take this day map or a map of a similar terrain with Take this day map or a map of a similar terrain with you. Read the map while you are jogging to start.you. Read the map while you are jogging to start.

– Look at the terrain around you and try to imagine how Look at the terrain around you and try to imagine how the terrain would appear on the mapthe terrain would appear on the map

Specific Exercises II (continue)Specific Exercises II (continue)Technique IITechnique II

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Map reading– Find highest and lowest point on a mapFind highest and lowest point on a map– Calculate climb on a leg or total climb on a courseCalculate climb on a leg or total climb on a course– Calculate higher or lower the target control on a legCalculate higher or lower the target control on a leg– Draw profile of the legDraw profile of the leg– Draw your route on a leg with all details you needDraw your route on a leg with all details you need– Using a course with two controls on each leg choose Using a course with two controls on each leg choose

the higher or lower controls and draw them on the the higher or lower controls and draw them on the blank mapblank map

– The same as previous but choose in between reentrants The same as previous but choose in between reentrants and spursand spurs

– Read a map when you run a trail runRead a map when you run a trail run

Specific Exercises II (continue)Specific Exercises II (continue)Technique IIITechnique III

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Terrain reading– Try to map your route when you come home after a Try to map your route when you come home after a

trail runtrail run– When you analyze your routes try to remember what When you analyze your routes try to remember what

you saw in the woods (try to remember pictures as they you saw in the woods (try to remember pictures as they appeared while you were running the course)appeared while you were running the course)

– If you see something new for you while you running the If you see something new for you while you running the course try to remember how the situation was mappedcourse try to remember how the situation was mapped

Specific Exercises II (continue)Specific Exercises II (continue)Technique IVTechnique IV

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Working with compassDirection control

– Keep your map oriented correctly all the time on courseKeep your map oriented correctly all the time on course– Check your direction every time you make a turnCheck your direction every time you make a turn

Exact compass bearing or AzimuthBearing taking– Exercise in class taking bearing to different controls on Exercise in class taking bearing to different controls on

a course and turn to the right directiona course and turn to the right direction– Take compass bearing to different controls on a course Take compass bearing to different controls on a course

when you run a trail runwhen you run a trail run– Take bearing on each control while you run an Take bearing on each control while you run an

orienteering course even if you don’t need itorienteering course even if you don’t need it

Specific Exercises II (continue)Specific Exercises II (continue)Technique IV (continue)Technique IV (continue)

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Working with compass (continue)Exact compass bearing or Azimuth (continue)

Bearing keeping– Setup a circle of controls in the woods around some Setup a circle of controls in the woods around some

start point. Run from the start point to each control and start point. Run from the start point to each control and back using compass bearingback using compass bearing

– Concentrate on correct execution of compass bearing Concentrate on correct execution of compass bearing every time you perform it on an orienteering courseevery time you perform it on an orienteering course

Specific Exercises II (continue)Specific Exercises II (continue)Technique VTechnique V

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Taking a control– Make a checklist of what you should do when you see a Make a checklist of what you should do when you see a

control bagcontrol bag– Remember the checklistRemember the checklist– Every time you see control bag on an orienteering Every time you see control bag on an orienteering

course don’t rush to it but concentrate on execution of course don’t rush to it but concentrate on execution of your checklistyour checklist

Specific Exercises II (continue)Specific Exercises II (continue)Technique VITechnique VI

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There are couple of technical actions which were not covered in this presentation (and actually in this training camp). That topics will be discussed in future training camps. If you get any questions you can contact me at any time.

Specific Exercises IIISpecific Exercises IIIWhat was not coveredWhat was not covered

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TacticsStrategyPsychologyPhysical actionsThese topics will be discussed in future training camps.These topics will be discussed in future training camps.Contact me directly at any time if you get any questions.Contact me directly at any time if you get any questions.

Where to Get More InformationWhere to Get More Information

Contact me directly– E-mail: E-mail: Alexei Azarov <alex@alexplace.com>Alexei Azarov <alex@alexplace.com>– Phone: Phone: (848)-459-7769(848)-459-7769

Web-pages about previous training camps I ran– www.alexplace.com/Orienteering/2003/Camp0703/www.alexplace.com/Orienteering/2003/Camp0703/– www.alexplace.com/Orienteering/2004/Camp0303/www.alexplace.com/Orienteering/2004/Camp0303/

Article– Alexei Azarov, “An Orienteering Philosophy”, ONA, Alexei Azarov, “An Orienteering Philosophy”, ONA,

July/August issueJuly/August issue

Alexei Azarov