Orienteering is a navigation sport in which competitors move independently through terrain to visit a set of control points marked on the ground, aiming to complete the course in the shortest possible time. Navigation is done using the map provided by the organiser and a compass, and the course (defined by the control locations) is not revealed until the competitor starts.
An orienteering course is defined by the start, the controls, and the finish. Between these points, competitors choose their own routes while still visiting the control sites correctly. This mix of route choice, map reading, and physical movement is central to the sport and is why orienteering is often described as "running navigation" in the foot discipline.
Orienteering uses special-purpose maps designed for fast interpretation at speed. The International Specification for Orienteering Maps (ISOM) sets out how terrain and key features should be represented so competitors can make fair route choices based on what the map shows. Separate specifications exist for some formats and disciplines, but ISOM is the basis for the wider map specification family.
Competitor maps typically mark the start with a triangle, controls with circles, and the finish with a double circle. Control circles are placed over mapped features, and control descriptions add precision about the feature and where the flag is positioned relative to it.
Orienteering performance depends on both physical capacity and technical decision-making. Competitors need accurate map reading, continual route-choice evaluation, effective compass handling, and concentration under time pressure while moving through natural terrain. Course planning aims to produce results that reflect both technical and physical ability rather than luck.
Training for orienteering often blends running or hiking fitness with specific navigation practice such as maintaining map contact, simplifying decisions under stress, and improving relocation skills when the map and ground do not immediately match expectations.
Controls are placed at mapped features in the terrain and must be clearly marked so competitors can identify and record their visit. Under IOF foot orienteering rules, each control is marked with a triangular control flag made from three square panels (about 30 cm by 30 cm), with each panel diagonally split into white and orange. A control code is displayed near the flag so competitors can confirm they are at the correct control site.
Control descriptions provide standardized, language-independent detail about each control feature and the flag location in relation to that feature. The IOF control description system exists to reduce ambiguity for international participants and to help competitors visualize the control site, while still relying primarily on map reading to find the control.
Competitors prove they visited each control by "punching" at the control site, using either a traditional pin punch or an electronic punching system. In IOF events, only IOF-approved punching systems may be used. Approved systems have included SPORTident and Emit variants, among others, depending on discipline and event level.
Electronic punching can be contact-based (the card is inserted into a station) or contactless depending on the system and configuration. For example, SPORTident AIR+ supports contactless punching using an active card within a short range of the control station.
Fairness is treated as a core requirement in competitive orienteering, and course planning guidance emphasizes that competitors should face the same conditions and that route choices should be readable from the map under race conditions. Rules and course planning guidance also warn against legs that encourage crossing forbidden or dangerous areas.
Environmental care is built into event planning. Guidance for high-level foot orienteering course planning explicitly includes the protection of wildlife and the environment, alongside competitor safety and access permissions. On the participant side, responsible behavior includes respecting out-of-bounds areas and avoiding damage to vegetation and terrain features while searching at control sites.
The International Orienteering Federation recognizes four official orienteering disciplines: Foot Orienteering (FootO), Mountain Bike Orienteering (MTBO), Ski Orienteering (SkiO), and Trail Orienteering (TrailO). While they share the common idea of navigation using a specialized map, they differ in movement mode, mapping conventions, and competition rules.