Australian National Orienteering League - Rules

League events are conducted under the Competition Rules of Orienteering Australia. The Competition Rules are available on the OA website. The Junior National Orienteering League is conducted under these rules, except that team results are taken as the sum of (in 2004) the best 6 of 12 rounds, not of all rounds.

Team Size

In individual competitions, a full men's team consists of a minimum of 3 men and a full women's team of a minimum of 3 women. Points for the two classes are calculated separately. Women's teams contained 2 women prior to 2003.

A team may include any number of competitors. The team result is calculated as the sum of the best 3 results. For this purpose the 'results' are the times of the competitors, except that in competitions with a qualification race and finals, the 'results' are the placings, with the first finisher in the B final placed after the last finisher in the A final.

From 2002 onwards, incomplete teams are eligible to score team points. They will be placed after all complete teams. Incomplete teams with 2 competitors will be ranked ahead of those with one competitor, and will be ordered by the sum of the results of their 2 finishers. Prior to 2002, incomplete teams received no points.

In relay competitions, both men's and women's teams consist of 3 competitors. A state may enter more than one team in a class, but only the best team from each state counts for League points.

Points

In individual competition, points are awarded 30, 27, 24, 22 for 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th, then 21, 20, 19, ..., 1 for 5th to 25th place respectively.

Team points are awarded (for men and women separately) 8, 7, .., 1 for 1st to 8th place.

In the Australian Classic and Relay Championships team points are doubled. In the Australian Classic Championships an additional 3 points are awarded to all individual places (with 3, 2, 1 for 26th to 28th).

Final team placings are the sum of all points earned from all rounds. Individual placings in 2004 will be determined by the sum of the best 6 out of 11 events (Grand Prix Series) or the best 4 out of 5 events (Spring Cup). This number has varied in previous years according to the number of events staged.

Prior to 2002 individual points were awarded to the top 16 (20, 17, 15, 13, 12, ...., 1). Team points have varied according to the number of teams entered.

Orienteers not eligible to compete (under IOF rules) for Australia or New Zealand may score points if they are members of an association or club affiliated to OA or NZOF and are expected to be resident in Australia or New Zealand for the full season. Other overseas competitors are not counted in the placings for individual or team points.

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