Orienteering USA official policy for COVID-19 mitigation

At their emergency meeting tonight, the board passed the following policy:

“OUSA official policy regarding COVID-19 mitigation:

1. Clubs should promote the health, safety and wellness of orienteers and volunteers above all else. Clubs are expected to follow national and local governmental regulations and guidelines. Clubs are strongly discouraged from holding gatherings or traditional events for the immediate future to mitigate the spread of the virus. 

2. Sanctioning of OUSA events and championships scheduled through the end of April 2020 is suspended. Clubs are encouraged to postpone events to a later date and will be given priority and preference for open dates in Fall 2020 and Spring 2021. The suspension of sanctioning for additional events will be considered as they approach, based on current conditions.

3. Alternatives to traditional events that implement social isolation and avoid gatherings are encouraged. For example, course maps can be distributed or made available online. Individuals can print maps and run courses on their own without increasing their potential transmission interactions.”

Please note that start fee policies are still in place for alternative events. 

Starts should be totaled for every club-sponsored event which generates a start, finish, results or entries list. For each event use one of the following methods:

  • Anyone running a course individually counts as one Start. A group of people running together with one result counts as one Start. Clubs should report the number of Starts by counting them off of the results or start lists.
  • Each entry fee received for races held on the same day at the same venue counts as one start.  If separate entry fees are available for separate races, then each race must be counted separately.

The second bulleted method may be used by clubs choosing to offer alternative events for free. Such events would then not incur start fees. If a fee of any sort (including season passes, membership, or a map fee) is required to participate in an event, then it is considered to have an entry fee.
If any clubs are suffering undue financial burden as a result of event cancellations, they are encouraged to reach out to the OUSA Board to mitigate the problem.

Clare Durand President, Orienteering USA