It is that time of year again. The 2019 USA and IARU Region 2 ARDF Championships are in the rear-view mirror. Now we see in the dim glow of the headlights the 2020 USA ARDF Championships up ahead.
Before asking any group to take on the task of hosting the 2020 USA ARDF games, it is only right to inform them of what is involved in that undertaking. To do that, we need to take a careful look at what constitutes a USA ARDF Championship.
What We’re Talking About
The USA Championships is not the World Championships nor even an IARU Regional Championships. It is the ARRL-sanctioned ARDF games customarily held on even-numbered years. The results of which are used to help determine who is extended an invitation to participate on Team USA at the next World Championships and, potentially, at other international or inter-regional ARDF competitions.
Below, components of a USA Championships are divided into three groupings: Essential, Important, and Nice-to-Haves. The names are pretty self-explanatory. It ain’t a USA Championships unless all the essential items are provided. The Championships are improved by adding more of the important elements. The nice-to-haves are just icing on the cake.
For brevity, not every component of a USA Championships is listed: just those that require a significant investment of planning, time, effort, or funds. Justification for each item’s categorization is not provided below. Healthy debate over differences of opinion is encouraged. But remember when debating: those who choose to host a USA Championships have a much louder voice in deciding how things are done for the games they organize!
For those considering hosting the USA Championships, please keep in mind that you don’t have to do or provide everything yourself. Equipment and volunteers can be provided by other groups within and outside your area. The ARDF Committee can help locate what you need.
The Essentials
- Competition formats, courses, terrain, maps, transmitters, antennas, and time-recording equipment that conform reasonably closely to Region 1 rules.
- Custom-designed courses for each of the age/gender categories that will be in attendance (adult and youth).
- First-aid, safety and communications provisions appropriate for the venues and activities being held.
- Official sanction of the competition by the ARRL ARDF Committee.
Important
- High-quality orienteering maps for all courses.
- A sufficient number of workers to have Start, Finish and Download areas constantly supervised while they are active.
- Trained workers to set courses and pick up afterward.
- Awards for the top three finishers in all age/gender categories.
- Practice sessions for each competition format.
- Effective advertising and communications with competitors before, during and after the championships (e.g., web site, email list, Facebook group, etc.)
- A date for the competition that falls no later than June.
Nice-to-Have
- Banquet.
- Award ceremony.
- Recently-updated maps.
- Trophies or medals as awards.
- Local transportation provided for competitors.
- Training sessions before the practices or championships begin.
- Observers stationed at foxes and keep-out areas.
- Snacks and water at the finish or download area.
- Special provisions for large groups of foreign visitors.
- Close proximity to major airline hub.
Bottom Line
A USA ARDF Championships that provides all of the Essentials, and a majority of the Important items, could be a very successful competition even if none of the Nice-to-Haves were provided. This is particularly true if the venue were especially nice or the costs were low.
Want to jumpstart ARDF activity in your area? Perhaps hosting the USA Championships can be just the spark needed to get local hams, orienteers, Scouts, and friends involved and active in ARDF.
Questions, comments, or want to float a proposal for 2020? Leave a comment or contact the ARDF Committee at ardf@arrl.org.