Control Sites and Taped Routes

Last edited: Sat 9 Jan 2021

Start and Finish

These are usually the first decisions you make. They need to be readily accessed from the registration area, which in turn needs to be easily accessed from the parking area. COVID-19 guidance also states that they should allow a one-way flow from car park, to registration, to start, to finish, to download, to car park.

For Hare and Squirrel, the start should be placed to avoid a decision having to be made immediately. This means they tend to be part-way along a path rather than at a junction.

Control Sites

Look through the TD definitions again here, focusing on the control sites required for TD1-4.

When placing a control, it is worth considering the likely direction of approach:

For Hare and Squirrel, the control should be obvious as the participant approaches along the linear feature (eg. path). It shouldn't be possible to run past the control without seeing it. Remember that young children view the world from a lot lower down.
For Fox, it is usually not desirable for the control to be visible from a great distance. This can often be achieved by placing on the far side of a feature to the likely line of approach.

There are some common pitfalls to be avoided:

Bingo controls - ones which cannot readily be found without a lot of luck.
In-and-outs - ones where the obvious way in and way out are the same, often leading to 'elephants tracks' where early participants leave a flattened trail to the control.

Ideally, the last control should be placed so that there is minimal navigation needed between it and the finish.

Taped Routes

Sometimes you find that you can't readily join two parts of a TD1 or TD2 course without leaving obvious linear features on the map. You can get round this by creating your own - a taped route to follow.

You might also consider using a taped route near a hazard.