How it works

You can find the club and/or course closest to you at our website Hitta orientering.

Orienteering can be explained as consisting of five foundations. To have the knowledge about these and be able to apply them out in the nature is crucial when practising orienteering.

1. Understanding where you are on the map and where you are going
2. Orientate your map
3. Choose and plan your route
4. Going from A to B
5. Find the control

Film about the map

Film about planning your route

Film about finding your way

The course

Here is an orienteering course with a start (triangle), controls (numbered circles) and finish (double circle). The controls must be taken in numerical order. The most common type of orienteering is to get around a course like this. 

 A map is a reduced and simplified representation of reality. There are different kinds of maps that serves different purposes. Orienteering maps are specifically created for usage within orienteering and meet the requirements for what the map should look like. This set of requirements regarding the content of the map is called the Specification for Orienteering Maps. The map is made up of different map features and colours that symbolizes different objects and surfaces in the terrain. 

Map features

 PDF with more map features

Map scale

There are maps in different scales. The scale presents how much the map is scaled down in relation to the reality. In competitions and exercise events, a scale of 1:10 000 and 1:7 500 is often used. A simple rule of thumb is to delete the last two digits of the scale to find out how many meters one centimetre on the map is in reality. 1 cm on the map is thus 100 m in reality.

In sprint distance competition, a scale of 1:5 000 or 1:4 000 is used. 

History

In the beginning, the sport of orienteering was practised on maps with a scale of 1:100 000, but the map scale has been enlarged gradually. The decision to start using 1:15 000 as the basic scale was made in 1977. 

THUMB COMPASS AND BASEPLATE COMPASS

In orienteering, two types of compasses are mainly used: the thumb compass and the baseplate compass. They both work in the same way, and it is mostly a matter of individual preferences which one you choose. The majority of orienteers prefer the thumb compass which is considered a little easier and smoother you use. 

Look at the tab “COMPASS” to find out more information and read about how to measure a compass bearing.

The control description, or the control definition as it is also called, is intended to give detailed information about the course and the controls. Each control has a unique code number printed on it and is described at the control description. The code number confirms that you are at the correct control point. The description also contains information about which terrain object the control is located at and on which side of, e.g. the east side of a boulder. 

The control description is usually printed directly on the map, but for those who prefer to wear it in a special “definition holder” on their arm, separate copies are available as well. 

Generally, there are two types of classes in orienteering competitions – open classes and age- and gender-divided classes. Open classes are available at different levels of difficulty and length, and you can choose the course you prefer, and think is suitable. In these classes you can register on site and start whenever you want. Age- and gender-divided classes on the other hand, have their given level of difficulty and length according to the competition distance. These classes are available from 10 years up to 95 years. In contrast to the open classes, you need to register in advance, and you will be assigned a start time. 

Classification of levels of difficulty

There are four different disciplines within the Swedish Orienteering Federation. Follow the links to get more information about each discipline. 

Foot Orienteering - FootO

Ski Orienteering - SkiO

Mountain bike Orienteering - MTBO

Trail Orienteering - TrailO

There are five individual distances in foot orienteering. 

Sprint distance
The shortest and most intense distance. A large number of controls, quick decisions and small margins. The orienteering is relatively simple, often in urban environment, but becomes difficult due to the high speed. The winning time is about 12-15 minutes

Middle distance
Controls close to each other, frequent changes of direction, quick decisions and technically challenging. The winning time is about 30-35 minutes.

Long distance
Characterized by longer distances between controls where the choice of route is crucial. The senior elite athletes are challenged by long and physically demanding courses where the winning time is up to 95 minutes.

Ultra-long distance
The longest and toughest distance where the physical capacity as well as route choices are crucial. The winning time is 2-3 hours.

Night orienteering
The most mythical distance. Similar to the long distance, the distances between controls are long and the choice of route is therefore of great importance. The challenge is expanded as you perform it in the dark, aided with a headlamp. The most difficult orienteering possible, which gives a high sense of joy to master.

In addition to the individual distances, there are relays ranging from two to 25 runners. There are usually separate relays for men and women, but there are also relays with mixed teams. 

As orienteers, we are guests of the nature. Nature is our athletic ground and sports field, but it is also a living environment for plants and animals which we therefore must care for and be considerate about. We are also guests of the ground landlord, and therefore it is obvious that the interests of the landowners need to be considered. 

There is a document which in more detail describes the Right of Public Access and orienteering: 

Orienteering and the right of public access (2016). 

The Swedish Orienteering Federation together with SISU idrottsböcker, has produced literature for those who want to learn more about orienteering, both for those who are beginners and more experienced orienteers. Currently they are all written in swedish unfortunately, except for the folder Orienteering for beginners.  

Recommended literature:

Hitta rätt - an introduction of the map and compass. Perfect for the beginner to gain some knowledge about the basics of orienteering. 

Orientering för nybörjare folder - The most important information for understanding orienteering and how a competition is working.  Buy the folder at our webshop at Sisuidrottsböcker, 5 SEK each. It is also available in english. 

You can also download the folder: 

Orientering för nybörjare folder på svenska  

Orienteering for beginners folder in english

Link to SISU idrottsböcker where you can find all literature about orienteering.