general rules

General Rules of the Tournament

General Rules of the Tournament

Assistance: None
No coach, parent, or judge may assist a team once the event has begun. Such assistance will result in disqualification of the team in that event and the assessing of one penalty point [i.e. the equivalent of a ‘no show’ for the event].

Charts: Mystery Powders; Rock Hound
Two events - Rock Hound and Mystery Powders - allow charts but do not require them. These cannot be charts that are purchased or reproduced from commercial charts. A computer may be used for making these charts. Maximum size for charts is 14” x 17” and both sides may be used. Charts cannot contain any part of the material or subject. No illustrations or pictures are allowed on the chart. In order to be used in an event, a chart must be approved no later than Thursday (T-shirt pick up day) before the event. Dots will be used with a signature to show that the chart has been approved. Charts without this approval cannot be used in the event. Use of a non-approved chart will result in disqualification from that event. Charts cannot have more than one piece of paper or one piece of tag board. If a team arrives with two charts, the judge will be instructed not to allow the use of either chart.

Complaints
Complaints should be made only by the head coach [not parents] to an Olympiad coordinator, not to a judge.

Disqualifications:

Attending Limited Events - All student event sessions are closed to coaches, parents, or team members - except for the Egg Drop due to the nature of its location. A coach, parent, or team member attending an event, other than the Egg Drop, will incur penalty point/s for their team.

Coaching from the Sidelines - Any coaching or interference by a parent, coach or spectator in or around an event will result in the disqualification of that team from that event.

Disrespectful Comments to Judge - A team member making a disrespectful comment to a judge or making one aloud about a judge during the event will cause the disqualification of that team in the event. The team will also receive on penalty point for that event. [i.e. the equivalent of a ‘no show’ for that event]

Having too many Sixth-graders - Any team with more than twelve sixth graders will be disqualified for all events. The team may participate but will not receive a score, ranking, or trophy.

Inadequate Number - In the following events a team must have the required number of contestants or be disqualified.

Reflection Relay
Pentathlon
Write It, Do It
Starry Night

Elevators -Students are not permitted in the elevators of any building unless medical need is present. Any student/ participant in the elevators will be disqualified.

Throwing of objects in the hallways or off the balcony - Any student throwing any object (including paper airplanes) will be disqualified.

Event Changes
    In the ongoing attempt to address concerns and integrate suggestions for the continued success and smooth running of the Olympiad, please read ALL event rules very carefully. Changes may have been made from year to year in the rules or scheduling of an event.

Event Time
Each event is scheduled for a thirty [30] minute session. Please be prompt, as judges have the right to refuse entrance to late teams if the event is already underway. In very rare instances where times must be rescheduled due to equipment breakdown, loss of electricity, and other unforseen events, adjustments will be made by the judge[s] and/or coordinator[s] to ensure fairness among the teams.

Exclusionary Wording
It is not possible to word everything that is excluded by the rules. Attempts to ‘get around the wording’ will be frowned upon and could possibly result in disqualification for an event. A simple rule of thumb is that if you feel a need to ask if it is allowable, it most likely isn’t.

Goggles
Mystery Powders and Rock Hound requires a team to wear goggles. These must be brought by the team and worn during the event. Each member must wear goggles.

Handwriting for Answers
The cursive handwriting on some answer sheets is atrocious, as is the manuscript for some. All answers must be printed. A judge may lower a team’s score in an event if the answers are not printed.

Head-to-Head Events
Medals and six points toward the overall ranking are awarded to one winning team in each half-hour session. If you are not entering one or more of these events, let the lead organizer know at least one month before Olympiad Day.

Informing Judges of Rules
Schools obtaining judges should notify their judges about mandatory meetings, as well as get the judge a copy of the rules for the event and the general rules weeks prior to the Olympiad. Please ensure that your judge is familiar with the event and is prepared with materials unless specifically arranged with Olympiad officials.

Late Arrivals
In most events, a student may arrive late and only face the penalty of having less time to compete. For some events, late team members will not be allowed to do those stations that may have been missed. In some events, team members will not be allowed into the room and will be disqualified if they are late. Teams that arrive on time should not be penalized by having to wait for late arrivals from other teams.

Late Team List
Team lists not received by the end of the meeting when tee shirts are picked up will result in that team being penalized five [5] points for its total score. Team lists, which do not include the grade level for each member, will receive the same penalty.

Limited Entry
Judges are not to allow coaches, extra team members, or parents into any event - except for Egg Drop. The Egg Drop is the only event that is open to the public for viewing.

Obtaining Judges and Volunteers
All schools/teams, who are not new to the Olympiad, are required to sponsor a minimum of one event and are required to provide judges/volunteers for two events for the Olympiad. This includes judges for the event(s) for which a team is sponsoring. If a team does not sponsor a specific event, the team must provide 2 adult volunteers who will either be assigned to assist a judge or assist the Olympiad staff. This includes setting up equipment and judging all day. If your team does not currently sponsor a specific event from year-to-year, please contact the planning committee to be assigned one. This way, your volunteers will know their responsibilities ahead of time. Notify Carolyn Hoover as early as possible when you obtain such volunteers.

Panic
Students and parents do not always relate complete and accurate information to coaches. It would be helpful if a coach receiving complaints would thoroughly inquire about the nature of the complaint and then attempt to verify it with one other person before contacting a coordinator.

Rule Changes
No rule changes will occur after December 31, 2009. Stay up to date on rule adjustments and other announcements via the Olympiad website, www.csuscienceolympiad.org

Scoring
Overall team scores are based upon the points earned in all twenty-four events. Ranking within core events are based on all teams' performances, with the first place team receiving 11 points, second place receiving 10 points, and so on, with all participating teams receiving at leat one point. The winner of each Head-to-Head event time slot will earn six additional points for the respective team's overall score.

Source Book
In two events - Leaf & Tree Identification and Amphibians and Reptiles - a team may bring one [1] source book such as a field guide or key.  No charts may be used in these events. No book marks of any type are permitted in these source books, nor are page markers.
        *** Please note that there is a specific book for Amphibians and Reptiles that will be permitted. See the rules for more details.

Team Conduct
It is expected that all Olympiad participants attend and compete with the utmost levels of sportsmanship. Coaches and parent chaperones are to do everything in their power to encourage the students to use respectful noise levels while in the hallways, as University classes and Olympiad events will be in progress.

Team Letters and Team Schedules

Team letters will be assigned as early in the new school year as possible. New teams entering after the first meeting in the fall, need to confirm their team letter with the lead organizer.
School districts maintaining 10 or more elementary and middle school buildings may bring up to two (2) teams. The two teams will represent different buildings and will be led by two different coaches.
A team must place its team letter on its answers sheet. Failure to do so can result in a lowering of your score in that event.

Team Size
Each team is restricted to 25 students, with no more than 12 sixth graders represented. The remaining students may be either fourth or fifth grade students. There are no alternates allowed.

Time
Events are supposed to end about three [3] to five [5] minutes before the next event. A judge shall not tarry more than two [2] minutes in beginning an event. It is not fair for teams, which are on time to have to wait for teams, which are late; that basically is a penalty for being prompt. In very rare instances where times must be rescheduled due to equipment breakdown, loss of electricity, etc., adjustments will be made by the judge[s] and/or coordinator[s].