Sports maze

One of the reasons for creating SL was the lack of entertainment orienteering ^{[2] [3]} . To attract the media to cover the orienteering competition, various attempts have been made:

• viewing and radio gearbox
• online demonstration on a large map-screen of the movement of athletes in the distance (using gps-transmitters )

However, such demonstrations are incomprehensible to uninitiated viewers and uninteresting for TV.

As one of the options for improving entertainment orienteering , SL was proposed and in a short time showed itself from the good side. Competitions can be held almost anywhere, the audience understands the challenges facing the athletes, if desired, any viewer can become a participant.

In SLs, athletes solve the same problems as in classical CO - on the map and on the ground there are point and linear landmarks, it is necessary to quickly select a route and correctly implement it. The price of an error in the SL is much higher than in the classical CO , since 5-10 KP must be found in a few tens of seconds (in the classical CO, the same number of control points pass in 40-50 minutes) and an error in 2-3 seconds. on a gearbox, invisible in the classical CO , at a distance of the trunk line may affect the distribution of seats. At the same time, competitions are held on a small platform, which is fully viewed by the audience, which allows demonstrating micro-orientation competitions on TV.

Distances SL do not depend on the terrain and absolutely identical SLs can be installed in different places. Orienters know that it is easier to navigate on “one’s own locality”, while orientation to a universal, equally alien for all locality saves the competition from the subjective factor (after all, any locality for someone is “one’s own”). The sports labyrinth offers orienteering on a universal terrain, which, in addition to increasing entertainment, allows you to get rid of the factor “of your own locality”. And then it will be possible the correspondence competition of athletes from different areas, cities or countries at the same distance. At the same time, the comparison of the results will be as objective as the comparison of the results of swimmers or athletes from different countries.

• Sports Maze Card Samples
•  

  Card SL (simple distance)

•  

  Card SL (difficult distance)

Obstacles and control points are installed on the fenced site. The map contains checkpoints that are connected and numbered in the order of passage. The scale of the map is 1: 100 (sometimes 1: 150). The task of the participant is to complete the checkboxes marked on the map in the indicated order It is not allowed to jump over obstacles or otherwise cross them. For improper passage of the distance or overcoming obstacles athlete is disqualified (the result does not count). Usually, electronic markers are used in SLs (this allows you to quickly verify the correctness of the distance), but composters or other means are possible.

Since 2003, the SL has been regularly included in the program of many Moscow competitions in CO ^[4] . SL included in the distance ZN "Cup Parks" and other competitions. Since 2004, the SL is included in the program of competitions "Moscow Compass" ^[5] and the All-Russian mass competition "Russian Azimuth" ^[6] .

Slight exercise allows children to participate in ST. ^[7]

Sports Attraction

SL zone is clearly visible to viewers who can watch the competition. For a rather short period of time, SL has established itself at various public events as a popular attraction that attracts a large number of visitors. Absolutely unprepared Labyrinth visitors (from 4 to 90 years old) easily master the basics of orientation. SL is regularly included in the program of urban sports festivals in Moscow and other cities (Samsung races, city days, etc.), attracting viewers, many of whom become participants. In the program of competitions "Moscow Compass" sports maze has become a permanent attraction. Successfully passed SL at children's events during school holidays. In many cities, the SL is held in parallel with the “Russian Azimuth” races, and those who are afraid to immediately go into the forest try their hand at the Labyrinth.

Training Ground

Children's coaches are increasingly using SL in training. In the Labyrinth, a trainer can observe how beginners solve problems in choosing a path and implementing their plans. The coach can monitor the execution of tasks and correct any errors that occur. SL should become a mandatory step before children begin to navigate in the forest, where it is much more difficult to watch them. Currently, various options are being developed for the use of ST in the training of young orienteers.

Part of the classic orienteering distance

The sports maze was used to increase entertainment at the Moscow mass competitions ("Park Cup", etc.). At the Moscow Compass competition for several years now, the SL has been included in the distance of elite groups. Often the passage of the SL had a significant impact on the final distribution of seats. At the Winter World Orienteering Championships 2007 (Glider), the SL was included in the sprint distance. Here are the impressions of the repeated champion of the world in orienteering Edward Khrennikov about the "Labyrinth":

In the morning before the sprint, all the athletes were allowed to enter the spectator area and see the Labyrinth, which was built by the organizers. It was not difficult, although a few medals were left in it. Foreigners were very worried that before the World Cup they did not know anything about the labyrinth, and before the finish they could not believe that the Russians themselves had learned about it on the eve of the championship. But after our girls lost a lot of time in it, they calmed down. At first, I was also worried about how I would feel in the maze. But, looking at him, I realized that everything would be decided in the forest. ... But for the audience, I think it was very interesting - spectacular. And for us, the participants, difficulties have not yet arisen in it. The labyrinth added difficulties only in terms of psychology, when you must perform these technical actions in front of the audience - it is very difficult

Repeatedly held a competition in the sports maze:

• sometimes after the end of the entertainment part of sports events (Day of Running, Day of the City, Festival of Sports in Luzhniki),
• sometimes according to a previously announced program (Student Games “Sports City” ^[8] , Moscow Mini-Orienteering Cup 04/10/2009 , “Family Day” in Zhulebino ^[9] , etc.).

Competitions can be personal and team. There were also relay races in the SL.

During the competition in the ST uses a multi-stage system. At mass starts (everyone participates), first there are introductory races - at simple distances, participants learn to navigate and master the electronic marking system. Then the semi-finals take place, according to the results of which finalist groups are formed. There may be male and female groups, and with a large number of different age participants there may be separate finals for different age groups. Participants in the final race are taken to a zone from which they cannot see the Labyrinth and how other participants go the distance. For the final race is preparing the most difficult distance. Competitions experienced orienteers are held in the same way, but the time for introductory races is reduced.

In team competitions, a slightly different system is used: after introductory runs, all team members receive tasks of roughly equivalent complexity, the team result is determined by the sum of the participants' results. By prior arrangement, the penalty time is determined, which is added to the team for each participant removed.

SL can be built from pre-prepared special equipment or using available tools (chairs and desks, benches, self-made snow walls). Recently, special equipment has been increasingly used for the construction of labyrinths.

• Different types of sports mazes
•  

  Snow Labyrinth

•  

  Tape SL

•  

  SL from cones

•  

  SL in school

The rock labyrinth is a sports labyrinth located on the site of a rock massif. Competitions can be held both for individual participants and for teams (from 2 to 6 people).

The distance, intended for individual passage by individual participants, is equipped with judicial vertical and horizontal rails and KP, located at the nodal points. Judging rails in this case serve as corridors of the labyrinth, the movement of participants along the distance is allowed only along the rails.

The distance intended for passing by teams (from 2 to 6 people) is equipped with judicial points of insurance (PS). The movement of participants along the distance is allowed only in the corridors of the labyrinth limited by marking tape. To complete the distance, teams must use their own ropes.

The rock labyrinth in its meaning goes back to orienteering in the mountains, simulating similar tasks and their practical solution. The rock labyrinth allows the athletes to develop the practical skills necessary when navigating difficult areas in mountainous conditions.

• Orienteering

• Azimuth magazine No. 1/2004, No. 2/2005
• The brochure “Sport in school” No. 6 (18) 2007 - S. Khropov “Sports maze. Mini-orientation on the lessons of physical culture ”( Biblio-Globus online store )
• article about SL in the winter world championship 2007
• A. Kobzarev et al. “Such Different Orienteering” (2009) (“Orienteering Encyclopedia” series)
• Akimov V. G., Kudryashov A. A. “Orienteering”. Minsk, publishing house BSU, 1977.
• Yelakhovsky S. B. "Running toward an invisible goal." FiS, 1973.
• A. Kivistik “About the theory and practice of orienteering distances”. Tartu, 1975.
• Orienteering competition rules .

• The site of the Sports maze - detailed information about the sports maze, a lot of photos, there are video mazes from different countries.
• "Ultrasprint" - a sports maze in the open air in the UK (English)
• Indoor Orienteering - Game for Boy Scouts (eng.)
• Ultrasprint - Ultrashort Orienteering
• Labirint, WOC 2007 Russia, Moscow - SL at the Winter World Cup 2007 (video)
• What is a rock labyrinth?