Control point (orienteering)

A control point (CP, also control and checkpoint) is a marked waypoint used in orienteering and related sports such as rogaining and adventure racing. It is located in the competition area; marked both on an orienteering map and in the terrain; and described on a control description sheet. The control point must be identifiable on the map and on the ground. A control point has three components: a high visibility item, known as a flag or kite; an identifier, known as a control code; and a recording mechanism for contestants to record proof that they visited the control point. The control point is usually temporary, except on a permanent orienteering course.

For events held under IOF Rules the kite has a triangular form with each face being about 30 cm x 30 cm and coloured white and orange. Most national governing bodies, and related sports, use the same design. The earlier specification used white and red.

The location of control points is kept secret from the competitors until the start of the competition, when they receive the map. The map may be pre-printed with the control points, or the competitor may be required to copy control points onto the map from a master map. Control points are selected and prepared anew for each competition. Permanent courses, with their permanent control points, are used primarily for training and recreation, but rarely for competition.

In the early days, control points were staffed. Often the competitors were given at the outset only the location of the first control point, and were given the next location by the control point staff, who also stamped the control cards.

The first public orienteering competition, in Norway in 1897, had three controls, at the farms Finnerud, Bjørnholt and Slakteren, while start and finish were on the farm Grøttum (see map in ref). The first Swedish public orienteering competition, near Stockholm in 1901, used two churches (Bromma and Spånga Church) and two large farms as control points.

In orienteering competitions the locations of the control points are described on a control description sheet (or clue sheet). It is sometimes incorrectly referred to as a "Course Description Sheet". For beginners, and the younger competitors, the description is written in a simple text format, but for advanced orienteers the descriptions use symbols (pictorial), in accordance with the IOF Control descriptions. These symbols eliminate any language-based confusion, vital for international competition. The control descriptions are fixed to or printed on the map, and separate control description sheets may be available at the prestart. Some competitors wear the extra control description sheet in a holder strapped onto their forearm, so that they can read it while running.

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