PRELIMINARY INFORMATION FOR JUDGES
 
GUIDELINES FOR DESIGNING AN EVENT
A. An event is scheduled for a thirty [30] minute session and should be planned so it ends three [3] to five [5] minutes before that time slot expires.
B. Events run best with no parents and no coaches in the room.
C. An event should have an easy section so every team can get something correct, a medium section and a hard section so we do not have our archenemy.... ties.
D. Every event should have a sensible tiebreaker.  E. For events where items are listed that constitute virtually the entire event, most of the items should be used in the event.
F. Directions and questions should be written so a fourth grader can understand them since we allow fourth graders on all teams.  Actually, there is nothing in the rules to prohibit third graders.
G. Seldom should the judge ask the function of any part or thing unless that judge is a true expert in the field [especially for the body].  Instead, it should be worded as a multiple-choice question.  Science Bowl should use multiple-choice questions as often as possible.h

TIME
1. Please try to begin the event within two [2] - three [3] minutes of its scheduled starting time.  If some team is short a member, the event will need to begin without that member.  It would not be fair to penalize the other teams by having them wait.
2. Even more important is to end your event from three [3] - five [5] minutes before its scheduled ending time.  Having a team run past the scheduled ending time could result in that team member being  disqualified in his/her next event for being too late.

ERROR IN RUNNING EVENT
3. If you make a mistake in the 9:00 a.m. session, please repeat that error all day long so that teams can be judged equally.

CHARTS
4. Two events allow charts - Rock Hound and Mystery Powders.  A chart is allowed, but is not required.  A  team may participate without a chart.  In order to use a chart, that chart must have received approval prior to the day of the Olympiad.  Approval is indicated by a mailing label affixed to the chart.  Any chart lacking this label cannot be used.
5. If a team arrives with two charts, neither chart can be used.

SOURCE BOOKS
6. THREE events - Don’t Bug Me, Amphibians and Reptiles, and Leaf & Tree Identification - allow the use of one source book per team. These source books may not have any form of bookmarks or page markers.

TEAM LETTERS
7. Insist that each team place its team letter on its answer sheet.

MOST EVENTS ARE CLOSED
8. In general the event is closed to coaches, parents, and team members not participating in the event.  Only Egg Drop will allow spectators.  Science Bowl and Periodic Table Quiz will allow viewers from only those teams participating in that time slot.  Before beginning the event, please ask all spectators from other teams to leave.

SCORING
9. At the end of the day, teams need to be ranked 1 for first place, 2 for second, and so on through the final placement.
10. If a team does not show up for an event, it should be marked ‘NO SHOW’ on the final ranking sheet.
11. Please do everything in your power to avoid ties.  In the case of a tie:
a. For any of the first 11 places, each team tied should receive the same ranking.  [i.e. if three teams tie for second, they all receive a second place]
b. The next score would receive third place.

INCLUDING ALL PARTS OF AN EVENT
12. Be certain that the coach who recruits you to judge an event gives you a copy of the rules.  This is essential so all parts of the event are included on Olympiad Day.  Frequently those rules also give  important information on scoring.

VISITORS TO YOUR ROOM
13. Dr. Ferguson or another official will visit your room during the day to see how things are going or if you need to have questions answered.  They also will bring an extra copy of the final ranking sheet to your room.  It is possible that an additional person may visit since we are attempting to break in a new person to help in the future. They should have some Identification or badge.

TURN IN AT END OF DAY
14. Please turn in [Room 231, Main Classroom Bldg] the following items as soon as possible after 1:00
a. All ranking sheets
b. All answer sheets
c. All lost items
d. Any materials which are not yours
e. All charts

COFFEE, TEA, DONUTS
15. These are available during the day in Olympiad Headquarters [Room 231, Main Classroom Building] for all judges and officials.

PRINTING ANSWERS
16. Please require all answers to be printed.  Some student’s cursive writing is exceedingly hard to read.

SPORTSMANSHIP AWARDS
17. Judges are encouraged to reward participants for good sportsmanship. Judges can pass out tokens to participants for exhibiting positive behavior beyond common courtesy. In other words, the judges are asked to practice the old adage of “catch ‘em at being good.” This may take place in the form of general courtesy, being helpful, cleaning up at the end of an event, etc.  Judges should not be asked for such a token.  Instead, tokens will be awarded when the judge or administrator feels compelled.