Mini Orienteering Warm-Up Course

A sport-specific warm-up for an orienteering lesson: in pairs, students complete three short control courses around the school grounds with a map, alternating jogging and map reading. It warms up the body and reviews orienting the map, choosing routes, and reading on the move.

How to play

1. Before class, place 12 control markers around the grounds, each with a letter. Prepare maps with three 4-control courses: A, B, and C. Minutes 0-2: easy jog and ankle mobility.
2. Minutes 2-5: each pair jogs course A, keeping the map oriented to the terrain at all times, and writes down each control's letter.
3. Minutes 5-8: course B; this time the other partner holds the map and picks the route.
4. Minutes 8-11: course C at a faster pace, trying to beat their earlier times.
5. Minute 11-12: check the letters, and each pair shares which control made them hesitate and why.

Rules

• Stay inside the boundary marked on the map.
• Partners always stay together, within talking distance.
• Do not move or hide the controls: look and leave everything as it was.
• On three long whistle blasts, everyone returns to the start.

Variations

Adaptations

• Limited mobility: place controls in accessible areas and let the pair choose routes without steps.
• Visual impairment: use an enlarged, raised, or high-contrast map with a guide partner.
• Low fitness: complete the courses at a brisk walk.

Learning goals

• Orient the map and choose routes while warming up.
• Cooperate with a partner when making decisions.
• Get physically and mentally ready for an orienteering lesson.

Equipment for a class of 25

• control markers: 12
• maps: 13

Teacher tip

Place the controls where they are visible so the warm-up does not turn into a long search. Leave permanent markers on the grounds to reuse all year.

More activities like this

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