Wednesday, November 26, 2008

Klas Karlsson's model of orienteering technique

I downloaded a copy of the Swedish O' Federation elite plan and have been working my way through it. The document includes a summary of Klas Karlsson's model of O' technique. Klas is a guy who has done some careful thinking (and writing) about O' technique. Here is a rough summary of his model.

The model is built around 5 processes:

Translation ability - the ability to translate from terrain to map and map to terrain.

Establishing position
- placing yourself in relationship to the structure.

Tool - the ability to use different O' techniques - simpliying, extending, rough and fine map reading, following a compass.

Optimizing - the ability to pick the right technique for the situation.

Strategy
- planning a race, leg, route choice, and control taking.

These processes range from unconscious to conscious. For example, the translating ability is - or should be - unconscious. Strategy is a conscious ability.

Karlsson sees the different orienteers as having more or less unconscious ways of thinking. A World Champ accomplishes most of the 5 processes unconsciously. A beginner has to think consciously about most of the processes.

More from Klas Karlsson


Years ago I translated an article Karlsson wrote on "systematic orienteering." If you haven't seen it before, it is worth a look.


Back to okansas.blogspot.com.

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