FAQ Regarding A-meets
The term "A-meet" has officially been replaced by "National Event". We continue to use the old name for convenience.
If you are new to orienteering, click here (http://www.us.orienteering.org/new-o) for all you need to know. You'll have a blast at an A-meet!
What is an A-meet?
The A-meet designation means that this event is sanctioned by Orienteering USA and eligible for national ranking points.
Why should I want to attend?
There are plenty of reasons to attend an A-meet in addition to the opportunity to earn national ranking points. For starters, one of the benefits of attending a sanctioned event is knowing that the courses will be of the highest quality. This means that course designs will be examined by an outside expert and control placements and descriptions will be double or triple checked for accuracy. The map is of the highest accuracy and of top-notch orienteering terrain. The event is required to follow the Orienteering USA Rules of Competition (http://www.orienteeringusa.org/rules). Other perks include age-class awards, a larger competitive field coming from outside the hosting club, and a chance to meet and socialize with orienteers from other clubs. And it's fun!
Will there be beginner instruction?
Yes!
Why does it cost more than other BAOC events?
There are two reasons for this. First, an A-meet has increased production costs compared to our usual events. Specifically, these include sanctioning fees paid to Orienteering USA, higher map printing costs to facilitate quality control, marketing costs to bring in a good-size competitive field, and awards given not just by courses, but by age-class. Second, the costs of making a new map are very high, especially for large areas of quality terrain that are suitable for an A-meet. While some of this cost will be recouped at events held there in the future, it is typical that much of this expense is recouped at A-meets.
Do I have to attend both days?
No. Most people will travel to the event, stay for the weekend, and participate on both days, but you may enter for one day only if you prefer.
What class do I enter in?
Classes are based on your age at the end of the year. For example, if you are a male who will be 46 sometime this year, you would enter as M45+. The "+" indicates that 45 and older (up to the next class, in this cases M50+) are in this class. If you are a female who is 15, you would enter as F−16 (females under age 16). Each class is assigned to a specific course according to the OUSA course/class structure (http://www.orienteeringusa.org/rules#A11).
What if I don't have the navigation skills to run the course assigned to my age class?
Each course also has an open class for all-comers. For example the male open class on the Orange course is designated "M-Orange". You should enter at a level that you feel comfortably skilled in, whether or not it is your age class. It's no fun to DNF (Did Not Finish) at an A-meet!
Why is the pre-registration deadline so early?
An A-meet requires additional preparations including pre-assigned start times. This requires us to have registration information well in advance to prepare start lists and make registration packets. Numbers for event headquarters lodging and the group dinner also need to be known in advance. There is a significant additional charge for registering after the deadline to encourage you to register early.
Where can I find the rules and course/class structure?
All the rules are here (http://www.orienteeringusa.org/rules). The course/class structure is described here (http://www.orienteeringusa.org/rules#A11).
How can I help?
Contact the Meet Director through the email link in the header of the event webpage, and Thank You!
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Adapted from the LAOC website.