Rogaining: description, types and rules

Rogaining is an excellent opportunity for team sports activity, even for those people who do not have professional training and outstanding physical characteristics. The main essence of the game is to move over rough terrain, according to the previously developed tactics.

Rogaining is a sport that essentially focuses on orienteering on rough terrain. Working as a team, participants visit a series of checkpoints, trying to meet as little time as possible. At the preparation stage, the participants think over the strategy for moving along the route and the tactics of joint actions. Each point gives participants the opportunity to score points. By the way, you can visit them in any order, which is also determined at the preparatory stage during the study of the map.

Despite the fact that rogaining classes still require a little physical preparation, anyone can take part. It will be enough just to study the rules, read articles about preparation, and also understand how tactics are worked out. The first thing a team arrives for rogaining is to register and receive a starter kit. Further, as a rule, she receives a map, if necessary, seals the document and begins to form her route.

Rogaining appeared in Australia in 1976, so it is considered a relatively young discipline. The sport got its name due to the combination of the first letters of the name of the three founders - ordinary people whose hobby was hiking.

The game quickly gained popularity and received financial support, and after 4 years the Rogaining Association included more than a thousand participants. In 1989, the International Rogaining Federation was founded. In 2012, the official Rogaining Federation began to function in Russia, although Russians got acquainted with this sport back in 1997, thanks to a resident of Perm.

Rogaining is a young discipline that continues to evolve, so it should come as no surprise that new varieties of the sport are emerging. Currently, it is customary to allocate two rogaining classifications.

• The first implies division, according to the duration of the continuation of the distance. There are four main types: the first is routes, the passage of which takes from 3 to 5 hours, and therefore they are short.
• Second view combines distances that will take from 6 to 11 hours - this is the average. Long distances require participants from 12 to 23 hours of free time. Finally, the passage of the classic distance will take exactly one day.

The second classification is based on differing modes of movement. Participants can ride a bike, run on skis or move using a classic run. It is not forbidden to combine several methods or even introduce new ones.

Since rogaining competitions are held outdoors in a natural environment and therefore changing weather, sports equipment and equipment are of the utmost importance. It is important that the clothes protect the participants from precipitation, retain heat or, conversely, cool, depending on the temperature regime, and make the movement comfortable. It should not be purged, but also not disturb the evaporation of sweat. In addition, it is important that clothing creates a secure barrier between the body and insects, tree branches and thorny bushes. As a rule, modern sports equipment meets all of the above requirements.

Athletes are advised to have with them and extra clothing in case the weather changes. For example, in early spring it can suddenly snow, which, in combination with the wind, will create a noticeable inconvenience. For shoes, it is best to choose sneakers made for rough terrain. They meet all possible requirements, providing ventilation, strength, protection, and other important conditions. It is better to take sports socks too. By the way, experts recommend put on over and special sports gaiters that prevent pebbles and other debris from getting into the sneakers.

The optimal backpack has a volume of 10 to 12 liters when it comes to classic distance. You can go to shorter competitions with smaller backpacks or even with belt bags. Drinking water is advised to be poured into special sports bottles with tubes. The volume of the container varies from 1 to 2 liters. Of the equipment, participants will need a powerful waterproof flashlight, ideally a headlamp, sports magnetic compass, a wristwatch, a whistle and a first aid kit.

The basic rules for rogaining competitions are developed by the International Federation, therefore they form the basis of any official international competition. Russian competition rules have been developed in Russia. In general, they can be divided into two types - the conditions of participation, which the participants must adhere to, and the principle of scoring. Each checkpoint is worth 3-9 points.

The total number of points depends on how long and difficult the road turned out to be to this or that point. There are also a number of reasons why a team may lose points.For example, these include an unauthorized method of movement, cooperation between teams, if we are not talking about injury, unregulated orienteering, doping, and others.

Teams may consist of only men, only women, or be mixed. The number of participants varies from 2 to 5 people. According to the age of the participants, all teams are also divided into 5 main groups: "Youth", "veterans", "superveterans", "ultraveterans" or "open group"... The team belongs to the "open group" if the age of the participants is not regulated. To be included in the youth group, team members must be under 23 years old.

The "veterans" include all participants whose age is 40 years or more. "Superveterans" unite participants 55 years old and older, and "ultraveterans" - 65 years old and older. Both "superveterans" and "ultraveterans" are also included in the "veterans" group.

In general, most of the rules for participants concern compliance with the safety and etiquette of all those present, as well as the fairness of the competition. For example, a team cannot include people who are currently involved in any way in organizing a rogaining competition.

It is important that team members demonstrate respect for private property and land - did not cross sown fields, kept away from dwellings and herds, did not litter and did not light a fire.

Team members must be within the limits of vocal coordination with each other and must have a whistle. Points for visiting a checkpoint are awarded when all participants approach it at least 20 meters. The control card is punched through with a punch, after which the so-called intent sheet is filled in.

Resting less than 100 meters from the checkpoint is prohibited. During a visit to the administrative area, the control card is handed over to the judges. The penalty for breaking any of the rules is either point loss or disqualification.

The preparatory phase actually starts a few months before the start of the competition. The participant must have time to gain the required physical form and, if necessary, heal the injuries. Somewhere one or two days before the actual start, it is better to limit intense physical training. Before leaving for the competition site, you should check the equipment, study the map of the area, check the weather and read all the information provided by the organizers. By the way, the equipment includes a backpack, in which a flashlight with a battery, water, food and clothes for changing the weather are packed.

The correct solution would be view the map and inquire about the features of the area. For example, it will be good to realize what kind of relief there is, how strong the elevation differences are, in what proportions there are wooded and open parts, and whether there are water bodies on the territory. All this information, in principle, can be obtained if we turn to images from space and maps of different formats.

The organizers, as a rule, publish a large amount of important information on the website: how to get to the destination, where to stay there, what information about the area is important to know before the start of the competition, and whether there is some kind of starting protocol.

Course planning begins with determining the maximum possible length of the entire route. Working with the map, it is necessary to immediately assume several options for movement, and also decide which checkpoints should be taken, and which can be postponed.The route is determined depending not only on the abilities and capabilities of the team, but also on the conditions for awarding points. In other words, you should strive for the shortest route, but giving the highest number of points.

For more on rogaining, see the next video.