Category Settings
A category combines a course with competition rules, and it is the unit participants actually select and play. You can create multiple categories on the same course with different rules such as time limit and punch method.
A course defines where participants go and in what route structure. A category defines the rules under which they play that course. If you are unsure, also read Understand the event structure.
Basic settings
| Item | Description |
|---|---|
| Category Name | Name shown to participants, required |
| Subtitle | Supplemental description for the category |
| Description / Notices | Competition rules and notes |
| Course | Choose the course used by this category |
Competition time settings
| Item | Description |
|---|---|
| Time Limit | Competition time limit in minutes |
| Overtime Penalty | Point deduction per minute when the time limit is exceeded. Only valid for score courses |
| Maximum competition time | Play ends automatically when this limit is exceeded. Default is 8 hours |
Changing the time limit or penalties affects results that are already in progress or already finished.
Punch settings
| Method | Description | Default range |
|---|---|---|
| Camera Punch | Manual punch plus photo taking. Tap the button, open the camera, and record with a photo | 40m |
| Manual Punch | Record by tapping the button | 20m |
| Auto Punch | Records automatically when the participant enters the spot range | 40m |
| Auto Punch and Manual Finish | Controls are auto-punched, but finish is recorded manually with a button | 40m |
The punch range can be changed to 10m, 15m, 20m, 30m, 40m, or 60m. The punch range is the distance from the center of the spot at which the participant becomes able to punch.
GPS can have an error of several meters to several tens of meters, especially indoors, underground, or near tall buildings. If the punch range is too narrow, participants may have difficulty punching even when standing right in front of the spot. As a guideline, use 20 to 40 meters in open outdoor environments and 40 to 60 meters where GPS accuracy is likely to be poor.
Team settings
If you turn on Combine team scores when creating the category, Team Play mode becomes active. Scores from spots visited by team members are combined. The initial maximum team size is three people. After creation, you can change it in the Maximum team size setting.
The team setting must be chosen when the category is created. After creation, it cannot be turned off again.
If you want to organize Team Number guidance, participant instructions, and how to read results, see Set up team play.
Mass start
If you set a start date and time, the category uses mass start mode. Participants can prepare to start from about five minutes before the configured time.
Visibility settings
| Setting | Description |
|---|---|
| Public | Visible to participants and playable |
| View Only | Visible but not playable. Useful for checking a category before publication |
| Invisible | Not shown to participants |
Location settings
| Item | Options | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Location Tracking Mode | Standard / Smart 1 / Smart 2 | GPS recording frequency. Standard is the most detailed and accurate, but consumes more battery |
| Current location display | Always show / On button tap only / Disabled | Behavior of the current location button on the participant screen |
Related pages
- Check the overall structure first: Understand the event structure
- Configure spots and courses: Course and spot settings
- Manage entries and reception: Entry management