Join and Play an Event

This page explains the flow from choosing an event category or course to finishing.

:::tip For Safety Tracking Events If you are joining an event that uses location sharing for safety tracking, see Join a Safety Tracking Event. :::

:::tip For Team Play If you need to join with a Team Number, or want to know how scoring and finishing work in Team Play, see Team Play. :::

:::tip If you only want to keep photo-based records outside events If you want to move freely and record photos without using a configured course, see Rogaining Camera. :::

Start playing

Prepare to start

1. Choose the category or course you want to join on the event details screen.
2. The map screen opens.
3. Tap the Start button at the bottom of the screen.
4. A dialog to confirm your display name appears. Enter your Entry Number if needed.
5. Choose whether to turn Live Tracking on or off. It is on by default.

Start location

• Score and Fixed Order courses - You must be near the start spot, usually within about 40 meters depending on the organizer's setting
• Score (Free Start and Finish) courses - You can start from anywhere

:::note If the organizer uses a mass start If the organizer has configured a start time, you can prepare to start from about five minutes before that time. Play begins automatically when the start time arrives. :::

Understanding the map screen

The following information is shown on the map screen during play.

Information panel at the top

• Elapsed time or, on score courses, remaining time
• Score or earned points
• Visited spots / total number of spots
• Distance traveled
• Pace (may be shown depending on the course)
• GPS accuracy

Markers on the map

Marker	Meaning
Purple triangle	Start spot
Purple circle (numbered)	Control spot not yet visited
Light green circle	Control spot already visited
Blue circle	Spot where you can pause and resume timing
Red circle	Spot with a negative score
Blue dot	Your current location

The finish spot is also shown as a purple circle. Spots whose map symbol is hidden (secret spots) do not appear on the map.

Buttons

• Zoom in / Zoom out - Change the map zoom level
• Current Location - Move the map back to your location. Depending on the event settings, the Current Location button may not be shown, or your location may only appear for a few seconds when you tap it
• Menu - Open a menu that brings together the spot list, course information, and actions such as finish or retire
• QR Scan - In events that punch with QR codes, a QR scan button appears at the right end of the bottom buttons. It is shown only after you start (while playing); tapping it opens the camera so you can read a spot's QR code. It also appears in events that have Bonus QR set up (see "Events where you can earn bonus points" below)

:::note If the QR Scan button cannot be tapped On courses set to "GPS + QR (both required)," the QR Scan button is dimmed and cannot be tapped until you get close to a spot. Once you move near the spot, it becomes tappable.

However, in events that have Bonus QR set up (score courses), the scan button is always tappable regardless of how far you are from a spot. A spot's punch QR can only be read when you are near it, but a Bonus QR can be read anywhere. :::

When you rotate the map, a compass appears; tap it to return to north-up.

:::note When the Current Location button has a usage limit or penalty The organizer may set a usage limit or penalty (score deduction or time addition) on the Current Location button.

• Orange border - When the Current Location button has an orange border, it is a sign that using it has a cost: a usage limit, a time addition, or a score deduction on courses other than Fixed Order.
• Confirmation dialog - When you tap a Current Location button that has a cost (a usage limit, a deduction, or a time addition), a confirmation dialog appears before your location is shown. If a deduction or time addition is set, the dialog shows those details; if a usage limit is set, it shows the number of uses remaining ("You can use it N more time(s)."). Tap Show to display your location and count one use, or Cancel to do nothing (your location is not shown and no use is counted).
• Counting uses - A use is counted as one only when your location is shown successfully. If GPS cannot be obtained, "Could not get your location" appears, and neither a count nor a penalty is applied.
• When the limit is reached - Once you reach the usage limit, tapping the button no longer shows your location and "You have reached the usage limit" appears.

The number of uses and the penalty are also recorded in the results. :::

Visit a spot and punch

When you arrive near a spot or checkpoint, you can punch it to record the visit. The punch method depends on the category settings.

Main punch methods

Method	How it works
Auto Punch	The visit is recorded automatically when you enter the spot range
Manual Punch	Tap the button at the bottom of the screen to record the visit
Camera Punch	Manual punch plus taking a photo. Tap the button, open the camera, and take a photo to record the visit
QR Code Punch	Scan the QR code posted at the spot to record the visit. On courses where QR is enabled, a scan button appears at the bottom of the screen

When punching succeeds, the app notifies you with vibration and sound.

:::note Spots that must be punched with a QR code If you press the normal punch button at a spot that must be punched with a QR code, the message "Punch this control by scanning its QR code." appears. Choose Scan to open the camera. Note that this is a separate feature from QR check-in (matching participants against the roster). :::

:::info More about punch methods See Punch Method Guide for details about how each method works and how it is configured, including QR Code Punch. :::

:::tip Events where you can earn bonus points On score courses, you may be able to earn bonus points in addition to visiting spots. There are two types: Bonus QR, which you scan during play to add the points, and Combo Bonus, which is awarded automatically when you visit the required number of the specified checkpoints. While playing a score course, if the event has Bonus QR set up, the QR Scan button appears even when QR Code Punch is not enabled.

Bonus QR is available only in individual play. If you scan it in a team competition category, "Bonus QR codes are not available in team events yet." appears. Combo Bonus is also awarded in team competitions. Also, in categories that have a Combo Bonus configured, an orange Combo Bonus tag and a list of target checkpoints and thresholds appear on the category screen before you start.

For details, see Bonus points (QR & combo). :::

Spot list

From the menu's Spot List, you can view all spots in the course.

• Spot name and points
• Visit status - Visited spots show a timestamp
• Photos - Photos taken with Camera Punch when applicable

Tap a spot to view more details and images.

Finish

How to finish by course type

Score

Tap the Finish button at the bottom of the screen when you are near the finish spot. A confirmation dialog appears, and play ends when you confirm.

If you exceed the time limit, an overtime penalty is applied. The deduction amount depends on the category settings.

Fixed Order

Visit all spots in the specified order. When you reach the finish spot, play ends and your time is recorded.

If you really cannot reach the next spot, you can move on to the following spot with Skip Next Spot from the menu (a confirmation dialog appears).

Score (Free Start and Finish)

This course type does not have fixed start and finish spots. You can end play from anywhere whenever you want to finish, by choosing Finish from the menu. Once you have punched all spots, a finish confirmation also appears from the punch button.

After finishing

When play ends, the results screen appears. You can check your score, time, and visited spots. For a detailed explanation, see Results and Route Review.

Live Tracking

If you turn Live Tracking on when you start, your location is shared in real time while you are playing.

• Organizer live map - Organizers can view participant locations
• Other participants - Depending on the event settings, you may also be able to see other participants on the map

:::note About privacy Live Tracking is optional. However, you cannot turn it off in events where the organizer has made it mandatory. :::

:::note If other participants' photos are not shown In events where the organizer has turned on "Hide result details and photos," photos taken by other participants are not shown on the spot details or spot list. Photos you took yourself and sample photos are still shown as before. For more details, see Results and Route Review. :::

Pausing or stopping play

Pause

If the course has a designated pause spot, you can pause there. While paused, the timer stops. Resume from the same spot.

While paused, you cannot scan a Bonus QR ("Please resume before punching." appears). Resume first, then scan.

Retire

If you stop before finishing, choose Retire from the menu. Your result is recorded as DNF, which means Did Not Finish.