Editing Orienteering (section)

===Courses===
[[File:Orienteering map control points.svg|thumb|right|An example of how control points are shown on an orienteering map]]
Orienteering events offer a range of courses, of varying physical and technical difficulty, to meet the needs of competitors. The orienteering [[course (orienteering)|course]] is marked in purple or red on a map.<ref name=themap>{{cite web |url=http://www.williams.edu/Biology/Faculty_Staff/hwilliams/Orienteering/map.html |title=The Map |access-date=2008-09-28 |publisher=www.williams.edu }}</ref> A [[triangle]] is used to indicate the start and a double [[circle]] indicates the finish. Circles are used to show the control points.<ref name=ounlimited>{{cite web |url=http://www.orienteeringunlimited.com/ODetails.htm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20010412133640/http://orienteeringunlimited.com/ODetails.htm |url-status=dead |archive-date=2001-04-12 |title=Details of the sport of orienteering |access-date=2008-09-28 }}</ref>

====Age-related classes====
At international, national, and the larger events, courses are classified by age, e.g., M35 for men 35 years of age and older. Classes requiring similar distances and difficulties are usually combined into a smaller number of courses, e.g., M60 will normally share a course with W50, and often with M65 and W55. The results are normally arranged by class.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.cyprus-orienteering.com/htmldocs/pdf/ColourCodedexplained.pdf|title=Courses and classes - cutting through the confusion.|year=1997|publisher=Cyprus Orienteers|access-date=2015-02-16|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150904010428/http://www.cyprus-orienteering.com/htmldocs/pdf/ColourCodedexplained.pdf|archive-date=2015-09-04|url-status=dead}}</ref>

====Ability-based courses====
In the smaller events courses are provided by ability. The United States<ref name=ounlimited/><ref name=ClueSymbols>{{cite web |url=http://www.williams.edu/Biology/Faculty_Staff/hwilliams/Orienteering/clues.html |title=Orienteering Clue Symbols |access-date=2008-09-28 |publisher=www.williams.edu }}</ref> and the [[United Kingdom]] use colour coding to define the difficulty of the courses. Short, easy courses are provided for beginners and younger competitors, with technically and physically demanding courses being provided for experienced orienteers. Ranging from easy and short to long and technical, there are; White, Yellow, Orange, Light Green, Green, Blue and Brown.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.runningforfun.co.uk/orienteering.html|title=Orienteering |access-date=2008-09-28 |publisher= www.runningforfun.co.uk }}</ref>

====Permanent courses and other events====
Some orienteering clubs have set up permanent courses, which can be used for personal, or club, training. Non-standard permanent markers are used as control kites, and maps of the courses are usually available publicly for a fee.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.us.orienteering.org/new-o/resources/permanent-courses|title=Permanent Courses|publisher=US Orienteering Federation|access-date=2012-05-04}}</ref> The courses are usually set up in public areas and there may be some restrictions on access, e.g., daylight hours only. Clubs also organise informal events for practice and training.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.sloweb.org.uk/poc/pocinfo.htm |title=Permanent orienteering courses |publisher=South London Orienteers and Wayfarers |access-date=2008-09-28 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080828191654/http://www.sloweb.org.uk/poc/pocinfo.htm |archive-date=August 28, 2008 }}</ref>