A Rules for Foot Orienteering Events - Orienteering USA

A.22.5.1 Start formats are at the discretion of the organizers. On the second and each of
the subsequent legs a changeover between the runners on each team takes
place by touching, either by way of direct physical contact or using an object
(such as a stick, or a map) within a limited space immediately after the line
where the elapsed time is measured. Competitors waiting for the return of
their teammates may be started with a mass start at a time determined by the
event organizers.
A.22.5.2 A mass start shall be used for the first leg of the U.S. Relay Orienteering
Championships.
A.22.5.3 For mass starts the time limit must at minimum be the winning time, plus any
mass start delays the organizers add for the legs after the first start. The
organizers will have to announce the time limit before the start.
A.22.5.4 For a sequential start, the organizers will have to announce the time limit
before the first start.
A.22.5.5 WINNING TIMES: Maximum 150 minutes for each championship category.
Winning times may be less for relays with fewer legs or shorter formats.
A.22.5.6 The results are determined using the combined time of the competitors in a
team. For a mass start relay event, if the last leg runners finish together, the
position of the team is determined by the finish order of the last leg runner.
A.22.5.7 Awards will be given to the three fastest club teams in the categories used at
the event.
A.23 Night
A.23.1 Definition
A.23.1.1 A Night competition shall be run entirely in the dark. The first start shall be at
least 15 minutes after the end of civil twilight, and the last at least the time
limit plus 15 minutes before the beginning of civil twilight.
A.23.1.2 The U.S. Night Orienteering Championships shall be a Long format race.
A.23.1.3 COMPETITON: Night races are individual competitions.
A.23.2 Course/Class structures
A.23.2.1 Night races will have the standard Orienteering USA course class structure.
A.23.2.2 United States Night Orienteering Championships will not be accepted for
Championship Bid by the board of directors unless they are part of an event
with another sanctioned race.
A.23.3 Technical Rules