BKO Personal Performance System details

BKO Personal Performance System (PPS)

System Operation – Autumn 2011/Spring 2012

1.  Scoring Method

PPS ranks each BKO Member’s performance at a number of designated Performance Events. The ranking points achieved at each Performance Event are compared as a percentage against the average Ranking Points for that member as recorded in the British Orienteering Rankings System. This provides a relative measure of performance compared with the member’s previous performances. The RP% obtained is held in a spreadsheet database, providing a table of comparative performances across all members for that event, regardless of their ability. As an example:

Competitor A has a pre-event ranking of 6000 points. Their average ranking points are therefore 6000/6 = 1000. They then obtain 965 points at an event. Their RP% on that day is 965/1000 = 96.5%.

Competitor B has a pre-event ranking of 4800 points. Their average ranking points are therefore 4800/6= 800. They then obtain 840 points at an event. Their RP% on that day is 840/800 = 105%.

Competitor B has thus achieved a higher RP% than A, despite having received fewer points on the day. The system works for everyone regardless of their ability because it is based on their own relative performance. Thus it is truly a Personal Performance System. It is also self-balancing: if a person’s ranking improves, their average becomes higher, and harder to match; if they struggle to match their ranking, over time their ranking will reduce, and become easier to match.

2.  Performance Events

PPS runs across a ‘Season’ at a time, to allow for a number of informal club competitions to be conducted. Each year comprises two competitive seasons:

          a. Autumn Season – runs from September to December

          b. Spring Season  – runs from January to June

 
A limited number of events in each Season are designated as Performance Events. Only these results are recorded in the PPS database. The Autumn Season will normally include six Events, and the Spring season probably eight Events. Performance Events are chosen that are reasonably local, and of good quality (typically Level C or B events, though Championship, Middle Distance, Urban or Sprint events may be included if they are accessible). It is hoped this will encourage a large turn-out of club members at these Events, providing for good and regular competition.

3.  Entry into System

All club members with a minimum of three ranking scores recorded on the BO Rankings database are automatically included in the PPS database whenever they compete at Performance Events. The system operates for competitors age 16 upwards, but not for juniors below 16, as these competitors are not included in the BO Ranking database. Members can request to be removed from the system at any time, but subsequent re-instatements into the system are only made at the start of a new Season.

• Anyone failing to complete their course at an event will have no result shown on the database for that event.
• Anyone who has ranking points with another club, but competes in a Performance Event running as a BKO member, will have their result entered in the PPS database.
• Anyone unable to compete at any League event due to organising duties will be awarded a RP% of 95% for that event.
• Anyone unable to compete at any Cup event due to organising duties will be awarded a bye into the next round for that event.

4.  Competitions

We provide three  informal competitions each Season:

       a.     Run of The Day (ROD)

These are the best runs of the day at each Performance Event. E-mail and website acknowledgement is given for the best performances. The first three are nominated for Gold, Silver and Bronze ‘Hot ROD awards’.  No other prizes are awarded!

       b.     Performance League

This is the average of the best results by any individual in half of all Performance Events across the season. There is no formal prize for this competition, only email and website acknowledgement. A RP% maximum score of 105% will be recorded for League scoring. [This limit has been set as trials of the system showed that more occasional competitors, or youngsters improving rapidly, could obtain very high RP%s, sometimes >130%, while regular competitors with more even scores could reach perhaps 105% maximum on very good runs.]

c.     Performance Cup

This is a knock-out competition based on three specific Performance Events. Everyone who competes at the first nominated Cup event is automatically included. The leading 50% of competitors based on their RP% result in the first Cup event go through to the next round. The leading 50% of these qualifiers in the second Cup event go through to the Final, which is the third Cup event. The winner is the runner with the highest RP% in the Final. To win, a runner must complete each Cup event. Current Ranking Points are used at each knock-out stage, so a runner’s target RP% may increase during the competition. There is no formal prize for this competition, only email and website acknowledgement.

5.  Distribution of results

Results of each Performance Event and the consolidated League and Cup positions are all held within a single PPS database workbook. This information is emailed to an informal distribution list after each Event. The workbook is also stored and can be viewed on the club website. Anyone wishing to receive the regular email should make their mail address available to the PPS Administrator. We hope many people will take up this option. The aim is to provide early availability of PPS results in the week immediately after each Event, once the ranking points have been posted by the Event organisers on the BO website.

6.  Summary

PPS has been created to provide recognition of positive event results by members regardless of their ability, to provide visibility of newer members, and help bring the club together. Hopefully, it will also encourage people to attend more events. It is evolving, very much in trial mode, and new ideas will continue to be introduced. Overall, however, the system should be treated as a piece of added value to increase everyone’s enjoyment of the sport, and certainly should not be taken too seriously!

Performance Events for Autumn 2011 will be:

Martin Wilson – PPS Administrator

martin.wilson@bko.org.uk