USOF TRAIL O COMMITTEE GUIDELINES FOR CLUBS

CONDUCTING US NATIONAL TRAIL O CHAMPIONSHIPS

 

PREFACE

 

A Club may request the USOF Trail O Committee to consider hosting the US National Trail O

Championships or the Committee may request a Club to host the Championships. In either case,

the USOF Board or Executive Committee must approve the Club that will host the Championships

for a given year.

 

It is the goal of the USOF Trail O Committee to have a US National Trail O Championship every

year. The preferred time is during the January through April period in order to use the Championships

as Team Qualifications for the World Trail O Championships (WTOC) which are generally held in the

June to August time period. When this is not possible, other months will be considered.

 

Since Trail O is in the growing stage and will be so for many years to come, the USOF Trail O

Committee wants to make the Championships appealing and available to everyone regardless

of orienteering experience, age and physical ability (with or without any health restrictions).

 

To achieve this, the USOF Trail O Committee’s aim is to offer the Championships with modest fees

and minimal restrictions for participation.

 

GUIDELINES

 

The Championship Course will be offered on Saturday afternoon of two/three day “A” Events.

The Trail O Course Director will work with the Club in order to have the optimum start time

and Course open window time. The course should be open for 2 ˝ to 3 hours.

 

While the Course is open to everyone, USOF Membership with US citizenship is only required for

those desiring to qualify for the US WTOC Team.

 

Participants will declare on their Control Card as to whether they are Paralympic or Any Ability

Class Entrants.

 

SUGGESTED

FEES                       Adult (18 and older)                   $ 10

 

                                Junior (under 18)                        $ 8

 

                                USOF/IOF discount                   $ 3 Adult, $ 1.50 Junior

 

            NOTE (1) No late fees.

 

                         (2) Discounts apply only through last day the Club designates for postmark entries

                               for regular Foot O Entries.

 

                        (3) After the postmark entry date, the $ 10/8 fee applies, including paying fees at

                              at regular Foot O Packet pick up, or check in for the Trail O Course on the day

                              of the event.

 

PRIORITIES FOR DISTRIBUTION OF TRAIL O FEES COLLECTED

 

1.      CHAMPIONSHIP FEES

 

The Club will be responsible for paying the fees due directly to USOF.

 

2.      Trail O Event Director

 

Reasonable Course setting/mapping (printing of the Trail O Course maps, etc.) expenses will be

submitted to the Club with receipts for payment out of Trail O fees collected. The reimbursement

by the Club will be made to the Trail O Event Director for any second party distributions required.

 

3.      Remaining Monies

 

Depending upon the overall financial situation of the host Club, the club may elect one of the

following:

 

-Keep all the remaining monies for the Club.

 

-Split the monies between the Club and the USOF Trail O Team Fund.

 

-Donate all remaining monies for the USOF Trail O Team Fund.

 

   NOTE:  Monies for the USOF Trail O Fund are to be sent by the Club payable to USOF

                  and  designated as donations to the USOF Trail O Team Fund.

              

 

MARKETING THE CHAMPIONSHIPS

 

Once a Club has been approved to host the Championships, based on the available time line, the Club

will advertise the Championships in O/NA in conjunction with their regular Foot O “A” Event using

the format that is consistent with that event.

 

The Web Site for the regular Foot O “A” Event should be updated to include all salient information

about the Championships.

 

The Chairperson, USOF Trail O Committee will prepare an article for O/NA containing information,

the time line permitting, about the Championships, WTOCs, and any other Trail O material deemed

appropriate.

 

With or without the O/NA article, the Chairperson will prepare materials for the USOF Board and

Club Nets to help market the Championships.

 

MEDALS AND AWARDS

 

The Trail O Event Director will secure the USOF Championship Medals from the USOF, VP Competition

for presentation at an appropriate Award Ceremony. The Trail O Event Director will work with the Host

Club for ascertaining when, where and who will make the Trail O Championship Medal presentations.

 

At some of the earlier Trail O Championships where Championship Medals had not been authorized,

the Trail O Event Director provided Tee Shirts for the various winning positions. The funding was

handled by the Director over and above the Event Fees (sponsors, donations, etc.) The Trail O

Committee feels that this was a “nice touch” in the past, but is not really necessary with the advent

of the Championship Medal Program instituted by the USOF Board for the four orienteering

discipline championships.

 

MANNING

 

In conjunction with the Trail O Event Director, the USOF Trail O Committee will make every effort

to line up the required event manning through Trail O Committee Members and Friends of Trail O.

In terms of manning, equipment supply support, etc., any assistance the Host Club may be able to

provide will be greatly appreciated.

 

 

REVISED 10/28/06