Race Committee: Run an Orienteering Event for Another Class
The class becomes a race committee with real roles (course setting, control checking, start, finish and results, safety, and briefing) and rehearses the event it will host for another class. The focus is race-day logistics, with links to careers in sport and active recreation.
How to play
- Roles and responsibilities: course setters, controllers who check every control, start team, finish and results team, safety, and the briefing lead. Each committee gets a task list (6 min).
- Committee prep: mark maps, build the start list, rehearse the briefing, and set safety points (14 min).
- Dress rehearsal: four volunteers play the visiting runners and the committee runs the whole process from start to results (12 min).
- Fixes: each committee names one problem spotted in the rehearsal and how they'll fix it (5 min).
- Event-day plan: timeline, who does what, and a plan B for rain or no-shows; discuss which jobs do this work at real events (8 min).
Rules
- Each committee owns its equipment and returns it counted.
- Safety has the final say: if a control is in a risky spot, it moves.
- Treat the volunteers as real runners, with no extra help.
- Group decisions are made after hearing from every committee.
Variations
Easier
Only three committees (course, start, finish) and a single course.
Standard
Six committees and two courses at different levels.
Harder
Add a communications committee that makes a poster and posts results on the school website, with no personal data.
Adaptations
- Limited mobility: can lead finish and results or check controls on accessible ground.
- Hearing impairment: the start team uses visual signals and a finger countdown.
- Anxiety about public speaking: joins a technical committee instead of the briefing.
Learning goals
- Organize a sports event with clear roles and accountability.
- Anticipate risks and backup plans for an activity in an urban setting.
- Learn about careers in sports event organization.
Equipment for a class of 25
- school maps: 40
- control markers: 15
- crayons: 15
- control cards: 40
- stopwatches: 3
- clipboards: 6
- pinnies: 6
Teacher tip
Agree on the date and headcount with the other class's teacher ahead of time. The typical problem is everyone wanting to set courses and no one wanting the finish line: assign roles from a list and rotate them next event.
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