All the FAQs

What is Orienteering? What about COVID-19? When are the events? How much does it cost? What should I bring? What if it rains? What types of events are there? What are the rules for orienteering? What do all the orienteering symbols mean? What is an A-meet? What courses and competitive classes are offered? What are Sprint, Middle, and Long courses? How do I use electronic punching (E-Punch)? What is E-punching, and how do I read the splits? What are the hazards? What is Lyme Disease? But I was taught to always stay on the trail... What do the abbreviations found in results mean? Where can I get equipment?

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What Do All The Orienteering Symbols Mean?

There are many graphic symbols used in orienteering​—​on the maps and for the control descriptions. Links are provided below to files that you can download and study or print.

Map Symbols

There are two basic international specifications for orienteering maps​—​for Sprint maps and for non-Sprint maps.

The International Specification for Orienteering Maps (ISOM 2017-2 [1MB PDF]) defines the standard for non-Sprint maps, including 24 pages of definitions of map symbols. A one-page presentation of the map symbols is available here (525KB PDF).

The International Specification for Sprint Orienteering Maps (ISSprOM 2019-2 [1MB PDF]) defines the standard for Sprint maps, including 20 pages of definitions of map symbols. A one-page presentation of the Sprint map symbols is available here (525KB PDF).

Control Descriptions

At BAOC events, the controls for beginner (White and Yellow) courses are usually described with words (e.g., “Path junction, north side”), but the controls for intermediate (Orange) and advanced (Brown, Green, Red, and Blue) courses are always described with international symbols. (See here for an explanation of the various “color” courses.) This file (51KB PDF) contains several example control description sheets in both styles, which is useful for understanding the symbols used for intermediate and advanced courses.

The International Specification for Control Descriptions (2018, updated March 6, 2019 [3.1MB PDF]) describes the format of the control-description sheet and all the symbols used on those sheets. A particularly nice feature of the Specification is a map snippet and graphical presentation of the terrain for many control descriptions (which starts on page 18).

Note: This file (3.7MB PDF) contains a new revision of the International Specification for Control Descriptions that will take effect in 2024. The new revision contains these “major changes” from the 2018 version:
  1. Now covers both ISOM and ISSprOM.
  2. Description Sheet should be printed in black.
  3. If the clarification symbol in column C is not sufficient to unambiguously define the placement of the control flag, then the feature is not suitable for a control site.
  4. Use of Copse symbol extended to include a more runnable area of trees surrounded by thicker forest.
  5. Use of Building symbol extended to include a pillar supporting a roof.
  6. New symbol added for a Railway or Tramway.
  7. Use of Top and Beneath symbols extended to include the Upper or Lower of two levels.
  8. New symbol added for a Map Flip (turn the map over).