Event Standards.
Safe, Fair and Well-Run Competition
The Obstacle Course Racing Association of Ireland (OCRA ÉIREANN) supports the development of safe, fair and professionally delivered obstacle sport events.
Different events can look very different.
A recreational mud run does not need to operate exactly like a National Championship, and a local competitive race does not require the same infrastructure as a major international event.
The standards applied should therefore be appropriate to the nature, size and status of the event.
Safety
Safety is a fundamental responsibility of every event organiser.
OCRA-sanctioned competitive events are expected to have appropriate arrangements including:
- Event risk assessment
- Suitable medical coverage
- Safety signage
- Emergency action planning
- Appropriate event staffing
- Technical Officials where required
Risk Assessment
Race organisers should identify foreseeable hazards associated with the venue, course, obstacles, participants and event operations.
Risk assessment should consider areas such as:
- Course conditions
- Obstacles
- Falls
- Water
- Weather
- Athlete flow
- Spectators
- Start and finish areas
- Equipment
- Emergency access
- Staffing
- Participant numbers
Risk management should form part of event planning rather than something created solely to satisfy paperwork requirements.
Obstacle Safety
Obstacles should be appropriate for the intended participants and competition format.
Organisers should consider:
- Structural suitability
- Installation
- Landing areas
- Athlete movement
- Fall risk
- Surface conditions
- Maintenance
- Inspection
- Weather effects
- Expected participant volumes
Competition obstacles should also allow the applicable sporting rules to be applied consistently.
Medical Provision
Events should provide medical arrangements appropriate to the size, location and risk profile of the competition.
Emergency access and communication should form part of event planning.
Emergency Action Plan
Organisers should have a clear plan for responding to serious incidents.
Relevant personnel should understand:
- Who has responsibility
- How emergency services are contacted
- How medical personnel are alerted
- How an area can be accessed
- How competition may be stopped where necessary
- How athletes and spectators can be managed during an emergency
Technical Officials
OCRA-sanctioned competitive events may require trained Technical Officials.
TO requirements will depend on the discipline, course and level of competition.
Technical Officials help provide consistent application of:
- Competition rules
- Obstacle completion requirements
- Penalties
- Athlete procedures
- Competition classifications
Competition Rules
Athletes should be told which rules apply before they compete.
Rules should be clear on matters including:
- Race format
- Obstacle completion
- Retries
- Penalties
- Course boundaries
- Timing
- Categories
- Result classifications
- Protests and appeals
Timing and Results
Competitive events should have a reliable method of recording athlete performances.
Results should be capable of identifying:
- Athlete
- Category
- Finishing position
- Time or score
- Penalties where applicable
- Result classification
Where an event forms part of an OCRA qualification or ranking pathway, results must be suitable for official verification.
Athlete Communication
Important competition information should be communicated clearly before the event.
This may include:
- Registration information
- Categories
- Start times
- Rules
- Mandatory briefings
- Equipment requirements
- Qualification criteria
- Protest procedure
- Results process
Proportionate Standards
OCRA does not intend to make every Irish OCR event identical.
Standards should reflect the event being delivered.
The objective is to make sure that where an event carries formal OCRA sporting status, athletes and organisers can have confidence that appropriate standards are being followed.