Welcome to

Coach Training #2:�Competition Edition

Notes for 2025

• You do not need a number on your sign.
• Be sure you are identified as the correct team, especially at Spontaneous. Tell them your coach's name, problem number and division.
• Primary team names will include the initials of the Coach, such as Baker Elem Sch-SR
• Teams in a membership with A, B, or C teams will be asked to use the CORRECT designation which will be given to you by WPA Odyssey. This needs to be included on your sign but does not need to be creative.
• Advancing teams will be asked to register with CCI – Odyssey HQ.
• Only 1 coach can go into the Spontaneous Holding Room with the team. (page 30 of Program Guide)
• Program Guide 2025 link
• Chapter 4 for Going to the Competition
• Chapter 5 Program Rules

Welcome to Coach Training #2:�Competition Edition

• What happens on the Big Day: logistics
• Paperwork & what to bring to the BD
• The Final Dress Rehearsal
• What happens on the Big Day: tips

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You will get a schedule for your team. It will include:

1. A time to perform Long Term
• 15 minutes before your time, go to Staging Area Judge
• Yes, there’s an audience
2. A time to compete Spontaneous
• 15 minutes before your time, arrive upstairs at Spontaneous check-in
• The Spont upstairs hallway is for coaches and team ONLY
• No audience during spont

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For example, you LT time may be 11:00 and your Spont time may be 1:15

Competition Day Logistics

Let’s break this down!

LT & Style

Audience

Coach seats

School A

School B

X

X

P1 D2/3

Drop Off

Spontaneous 2^nd floor

H

C

THE LINE!!

Team, are you ready?

P1 D2/3

Drop Off

Find the Prop Drop Off Entrance for your problem.

They are color coded.

There is overflow parking for large trucks.

Primary – Pink

P1 – Red

P2 – Purple

P3 – Yellow

P4 – Green

P5 – Blue

Spont - Multi

Competition Day Logistics

Let’s break this down!

LT & Style

Audience

Coach seats

School A

School B

X

X

• Make your way to the Holding Area.
• Find the sign making the space for your team.
• This is where you take your props, etc.
• Parents can help get props here, but not help fix or set up anything.

P1 D2/3

Drop Off

Competition Day Logistics

Let’s break this down!

LT & Style

Audience

Coach seats

School A

School B

X

X

• 15 minutes before your competition time, make your way to the Staging Area Judge. This is often a different entrance than the audience entrance. Parents can help move items to the Staging Area.
• Here, the team turns in and goes over paperwork. Coach should be in the background. Parents should be in the competition site waiting to cheer on their team!

P1 D2/3

Drop Off

Competition Day Logistics

Let’s break this down!

LT & Style

Audience

Coach seats

School A

School B

X

X

• When the team is done with the SA Judge, they can move their props to THE LINE.
• Parent may help move props here. But no further!
• Here the team waits and from here the team will begin their 8 minutes of competition.

THE LINE!!

P1 D2/3

Drop Off

Competition Day Logistics

Let’s break this down!

LT & Style

Audience

Coach seats

School A

School B

X

X

• Time Keeper: MC, times performance
• Style & LT judges: know who is who
• Reserved seats for coaches
• When the door closes, it can’t be opened.

THE LINE!!

P1 D2/3

Drop Off

Team, are you ready?

Competition Day Logistics

Let’s break this down!

LT & Style

Audience

Coach seats

School A

School B

X

X

• When the team is done (TIME!!!) the judges will come up on stage to talk with them about their solution.
• When judges are done, parents may help the team move their stuff & clean the site.
• Props go to your car or back to the holding area

THE LINE!!

P1 D2/3

Drop Off

Team, are you ready?

Competition Day Logistics

Let’s break this down!

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For example, you LT time may be 11:00 and your Spont time may be 2:15

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Things to do in between:

• Eat
• Get in the “zone”
• Unwind outside or watch other problems
• Not recommended to give kids back to their parents unless they are really young

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LT & Style

Audience

Coach seats

School A

School B

X

X

Spontaneous 2^nd floor

H

C

P1 D2/3

Drop Off

Team, are you ready?

• Spontaneous is on the second floor.
• There is no audience for spont.
• The team and coach check in. They go to a holding area.
• When it’s their turn, the coach and team split up –and meet after the team is done.

Competition Day Logistics

Let’s break this down!

Typical Spontaneous Competition Site

The nuts and bolts

2. Spontaneous Holding areas – classrooms

4. Spontaneous Competition rooms - classrooms

1. Spontaneous Check-in Coach and team only

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2. Spontaneous Holding Areas Classrooms where teams and coaches are taken to wait until their time to compete.

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3. Teams walk to the competition site with a Spontaneous judge.

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4. Competition Room Teams go in without their coach and compete for the Spontaneous judges.

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5. After they compete, teams are walked to a pickup spot to meet their coach.

5. Spontaneous Meeting Area

3. Heading to compete

Spontaneous Check-in

1. Arrive at Spont. Check-in

2^nd Floor

A Note about Primary Teams

Primary teams are the same as divisional teams in many ways:

• They have a drop off area outside.
• They have a holding area inside.
• They report to the staging Area Judge.
• Adults can’t help – It’s outside assistance!
• They compete in spontaneous.

Primary teams are different than divisional teams in some ways:

• They get 1-3 stickers in their judging categories rather than being on a scale of 1-10.
• They aren’t ranked and don’t advance to State Finals.
• They enjoy a Morning or an Afternoon Awards Ceremony of their own – at their competition site.
• All the participants receive a ribbon!
• They do not need to attend the “regular” Awards Ceremony – But they can – It’s super Fun!

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What to do when you're not competing

• Prepare for your LT
• Get in the ‘zone’ for spontaneous
• Watch other teams
• Clean up your holding area
• Eat lunch
• Buy souvenirs
• Buy raffle tickets
• Sock Hop starts at 4:00 in the HS Gym!
• Awards Ceremony starts around 6:00.

Welcome to Coach Training #2:�Competition Edition

• What happens on the Big Day: logistics
• Paperwork & what to bring to the BD
• The Final Dress Rehearsal
• What happens on the Big Day: tips

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Paperwork

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In competition, each team must provide the following items for its long-term solution.

The team members must fill out all of their forms on their own with the exception of Division I and Primary, where the coach may write for the team but the team members must dictate what is to be written. Teams should keep an extra copy of all their forms. Most of the following items will be examined and/or collected by the Staging Area Judge:

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• Four completed copies of the Style Form.
• Four completed copies of the Team List Form (if required in the problem).
• One completed Cost Form.
• One completed Outside Assistance Form.
• One membership sign (must include team name – plus A, B, C designations and membership #, visible 25 ft away)
• Problem clarifications specific to the team’s solution.
• All props, costumes, etc. necessary to complete the problem solution, except those listed in the problem under “Tournament Director Will Provide.”
• Any items listed in the problem under “Team Must Provide”

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  Style’s not an afterthought! Fight for all 50 points. #5 in Style means your 4 other style elements have to be meaningful in the performance, not just cool. Fight for those 10 points! Carefully consider the wording of your 2 free choice elements and exactly what you are telling the judges to observe. Fight for those 20 points! Know exactly what the other 2 style elements are looking for and do that. Fight for those 20 points! Put yourself in the shoes of the judge walking up to check out your Style. Ask yourself: Am I intrigued? Do I have to ask follow up questions to fully understand what you did? Does it look different/surprising up close than it did from the audience? If you’re not answering YES to these questions, then you’re not giving your style judges enough to look at.

Style Form, including Free Choice items – x4

1. If the team hasn’t determined what Free Choice elements to use, they can review the long-term problem solution and identify and list items or part of items that are not already scored in the problem.
2. The team should review the list and select items that it believes are the most creative.
3. Be explicit about what the team wants to be scored (i.e., the construction of a costume or the use of materials, rather than the costume itself).
4. Identify the items to be scored so the judge can find them easily. (Not “Joe’s costume” but “Construction of the clown’s costume”).
5. Make sure the team prepares the Style Form (Program Guide Appendix). Style Judges use the synopsis on the team’s Style Form as a guide when scoring the team. It is essential that the team writes its synopsis clearly and expresses ideas succinctly!
6. List on the style form specifically what you want the judge to score.
7. Brag a little. Let them know, in a few words, why you nailed the style item.

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Style Form, including Free Choice items – x4

Team List Form – x4

Each problem will have its own Team List Form for the team to fill out. This form helps the judges identify certain required elements. It is best to convey this information in a clear-cut manner, so it directly leads the judges to your scoring elements - in a short time.

A brief description of the host: The man with the tall green hat who starts the performance – he rhymes and dances to keep us on our toes!

A brief description of the host: the rhyming, jiving, he comes a livin’ green hatted, mad dancer host of our creative, unusual performance!

EXAMPLE A

EXAMPLE B

Cost Form – x1

The cost form should account for all items that are on stage and part of the performance. See page 43-45 in Program Guide:

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• See program guide for exceptions, like street clothes, chairs, tool kits – only items which are not a part of the solution.
• Cost items at Garage Sale price: What would a box of these 8 pieces of PVC pipe cost at a garage sale?
• Even if you got something for free, it needs to be costed out if everyone couldn’t get it for free.
• Ask yourself: How much would it cost for another team to replicate our solution?
• Tip: leave extra costs available for items accidently left off or added at the last minute.

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1. The Cost Limit for each problem is listed on the problem
2. The cost form includes the value of the materials used on stage
3. This includes the value of all items, including rented, loaned and borrowed items. See Program Guide for specifics, page 43-45.
4. Make sure the team fills out the Material Values Form (Program Guide Appendix). Detailed rules for completing the Materials Value Form are in the Program Guide, where you’ll also find a list of items that are exempt from cost.
5. It’s a good tip to make sure you don’t spend your full value in case the team missed something.

Cost Form – x1

Outside Assistance Form – x1

This form should be signed by all the coaches and teammates. The blank space in the middle should be used to claim OA or put in the word “NONE”.

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• The judges will approach the team after the performance to hear all about their solution. Students usually let on when someone outside the team helped!

Places to get the info you need

Link to Members Area on international site to print out paperwork form: Team List, Style Form, Outside Assistance Form, Cost Form.

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WPA Tournament details: schedule, volunteer schedule, menu, raffles, maps, parking, logistics, etc.

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Link to see the Program Guide which details how to fill out the forms, how to assess cost to certain items, general rule, etc.

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Link to the Clarifications so you know what applies to your problem. And print out any that you may have gotten separately in an email.

Welcome to Coach Training #2:�Competition Edition

• What happens on the Big Day: logistics
• Paperwork & what to bring to the BD
• The Final Dress Rehearsal
• What happens on the Big Day: tips

​

The Final Dress Rehearsals

1. Make sure the performance is under 8 minutes including set up.
2. When practicing, have the team start in a “staging area” before proceeding to the competition area.
3. All parts of a problem solution must fit through a standard doorway.
4. Vary the setup so the team is prepared to compete on a site that may be arranged differently than they expect. Enter from different sides of the stage.

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The Final Dress Rehearsals

5. The team members need to consider what they will do if one of them cannot attend a competition for some reason. Keep in mind that this may happen unexpectedly.
6. Encourage the team to make lists – this helps assure no OA and they will feel prepared:
• In what order do we bring things on stage
• What needs to happen before we go on – put a prop together, make sure the prop is set up, etc.
7. Videotape a practice and let the team members critique it is an excellent way to get them to improve their presentation in-school. Don’t tell them to be louder (OA), let them critique each other.

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The Final Dress Rehearsals

8. Teams should discuss and practice what they’ll do if something breaks or does not work. They can bring a “fix it” bag which contains paint sticks, duct tape, hammer etc.
9. Teams should know whether it is better to continue with their solution and receive penalty points, rather than stop to fix something, since the points scored by continuing may offset the penalty points incurred for having something not work correctly.

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Let the final dress rehearsals be FUN! Odyssey is FUN! Most of the teams won’t advance. Let them enjoy all they’ve created and accomplished!

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Welcome to Coach Training #2:�Competition Edition

• What happens on the Big Day: logistics
• Paperwork & what to bring to the BD
• The Final Dress Rehearsal
• What happens on the Big Day: tips

​

Tournament Day Tips

1. On tournament day the coach needs to spend time with the team, and not on fixing last-minute problems. Enlist help from the parents.
2. Make sure the parents know the location of the competition site and the team’s performance schedule.
3. Make a check list of things that the team needs: Props, Repair kit (In an easily identifiable bag or box), Forms, including clarifications, Snacks & Activities to keep them occupied.
4. Get parents to take care of transporting the props. Provide instructions on where and when to meet the team.
5. Visit the problem site with the team early to become familiar with the layout of the site and the location of entrances, exits, and the Staging Area, outlets. The team needs to make any changes to their plan caused by the site setup well before their performance time.

Tournament Day Tips

6. The team needs to unpack and check all props in the Holding Area.
7. Get to the long-term competition site at least 15 minutes early.
8. Have parents assigned to take care of props after the competition- bring a dust broom/pan or something to clean up stray performance items.
9. Get to the spontaneous site early enough so the team members can have some quiet time before they enter the holding rooms.

Understanding Your Scores

Long-Term Scoring

The team earning the highest score for each long-term problem and division in a competition is awarded 200 points unless the problem states otherwise. Every other team receives a percentage of 200 based on its raw score in relation to the highest raw score. Any penalty points are deducted after scores are calculated. No team will receive a score below zero for its long-term score. There are two types of scoring categories for the long-term problems:

(1) Subjective scoring categories are generally based on creativity, quality, effectiveness, humor, and other areas that are qualitative and an opinion of the judge. These are scored on a sliding scale, such as 1 to 15 points.

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(2) Objective scoring categories are based on whether or not the team completes certain requirements of the problem. These scores are absolute, such as 0 or 5 points. An example of objective scoring is, “The vehicle crosses the Finish Line.”

Receiving your scores

1. After you compete, your scores will be entered into the system by the score checkers.
2. The scoring team will hold back the scores of the first few teams to work toward consistent scoring.
3. Once scores are ready to be shared with the coach, the name of the school will be posted on a large poster board on site. This signals the coach to return to the site to get the scores from the Head Judge. The Head Judge will review the scores with the coach.
4. The coach then has 30 minutes to return with any follow up questions.
5. If the coach and team feel there is an issue with a score and speaking to the Head Judge lead to no resolve, there is a tribunal process where the team can speak to a panel to state their case. If you feel this is a route you would like to take, please contact the Regional Director at the Tournament.

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FYI - Judges encouraged to use the full range of scoring. Don’t be discouraged if your overall score seems low.

Awards Ceremony

There is a break between the final performance and the awards ceremony. This is a good time to:

1. Clean up prop storage area and pack your team’s stuff back into your vehicles.
2. Get a bite to eat- can go to a local place depending upon how early you finished, or, it is nice and convenient to support the Keystone Oaks groups selling concessions.
3. Buy raffle tickets and merch to support the West Odyssey of the Mind program- costs to host the regional event are increasing.
4. Enjoy the DJ and slide show in the gym- let the kids dance on gym floor while parents can relax and chat in the bleachers. Sock Hop starts at 4:00!
5. Remind your team to give everyone the courtesy of their attention and applause during the ceremony- whether it is a speaker or a team being recognized.
6. Do not leave until the last award has been given- every person/team deserves the same respect regardless of what order they received recognition.
7. At the Awards Ceremony, in addition to announcing the Advancing teams, we will also pull our raffle basket winners, give announcements, give out any special Odyssey Awards, Award our Paul H. Dunn, Jr. Memorial Scholarship, and more.

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Advancers Meeting

After the Awards Ceremony there is a brief meeting for teams that are advancing to the State Competition. It is very important for the advancing coach to attend this meeting as information will be disseminated which will need a quick turnaround time for some responses. You will be informed how many Judges your school needs to provide & other important details. This meeting lasts about a half hour.

Angela & Susan: RegionalDirector.W@PAOdyssey.com

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Western PA Odyssey of the Mind: https://www.wpaodyssey.org/

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WPA Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/WPAOM

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International Odyssey of the Mind (HQ): Odysseyofthemind.com

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PA Odyssey of the Mind: PAOdyssey.com

Stay in Touch

Regionaldirector.w@paodyssey.com

Wpaodyssey.org

Don’t have preconceived notions of how the problems should be solved!

What you might see at an Odyssey of the Mind Competition….�(keep scrolling)

Style Elements

Added scored elements that enhance the solution – a chance to showcase talents and skills.