1. PROBLEM 5 A Stellar Hangout NCOME Coaches Training October 28, 2017
Suzanne Ladd, NCOM Eastern Region Problem Captain

2. TOURNAMENT POINTS TOURNAMENT DIVISIONS SPONTANEOUS = 100 points
LONG-TERM PROBLEM = 250 points
Problem Elements = 200 points
Style Elements = 50 points
minus any Penalties
TOTAL POINTS AVAILABLE = 350
TOURNAMENT DIVISIONS
Teams compete in age groups: Div I, Div II, or Div III.
If many teams register for Problem 5, can split (Ex: Div IA & Div IB).
All teams in each division (Ex: Problem 5, Division IA) will be judged by the same problem and style judges, will be given the same spontaneous problem, and will be judged by the same spontaneous judges. Top two teams advance to State Finals.

3. What We Are Going to Cover
1) How to Read a Long-Term Problem
problem elements, scoring, style, penalties, spirit of the problem, time limit, and more
2) Clarifications
how to check public and request private, and why they are important
3) What to Expect at Regional Tournament
procedures, judges, and forms your team brings
4) Cost Limit and Rules
5) Resources

4. PROBLEM SECTIONS: A. The Problem (page 1)
B. Limitations (bottom of page 1 to top of page 3)
C. Site, Setup and Competition (page 3)
D. Scoring (of Problem elements) (page 3 – page 4)
E. Penalties (page 4)
F. Style (and scoring of Style elements) (page 4)
G. The Tournament Director Will Provide (page 5)
H. The Team Must Provide (page 5)
I. Problem Glossary (page 5)

5. A. THE PROBLEM – a great summary, refer back!
B. LIMITATIONS
1-4: Rules/Problem Guide, Clarifications, Time Limit, Cost Limit
5-12: Stellar Hangout, food, three original characters, a quest for Space Treasure, a Worker Character, entertainment, a futuristic map, humor
Be aware of may/are allowed versus must/will.
Teams should read closely to understand the limitations, and to make sure
they are not creating extra limitations with their assumptions.
The most important work a team may do is to read the full problem aloud and re-read and think about it at the beginning and throughout the season.
PROBLEM GLOSSARY
All italicized words are defined in the Problem Glossary on page 5.
Other helpful definitions can be found in the Program Guide Glossary.

6. D. SCORING Problem elements, D1-D10 (Style is separate)
Maximum possible = 200 points
“1 to 20 points” = subjective, judges’ scores vary
“0 or 5 points” = objective, judges must agree
Subjective Elements (165 of 200 points): Creativity, Quality, Effectiveness, Difference, Originality, Well-Integrated, Entertainment Value, Artistic Quality, Humor
Objective Elements (35 of 200 points): yes or no questions, “Did X occur within problem limitations?”

7. F. STYLE Free Choice elements cannot also be scored in Section D.
1. Creative use of a material used in the Worker 1 to 10 points Character’s costume 2. Creative design of a prop used to display food 1 to 10 points 3. (Free choice of team) 1 to 10 points 4. (Free choice of team) 1 to 10 points 5. Overall effect of the four Style elements in the performance 1 to 10 points Maximum possible: 50 points
Free Choice elements cannot also be scored in Section D.
Be clear about which item, part, or aspect you want scored.
Don’t overlook #5. How can your style elements complement each other and the solution as a whole?

8. E. PENALTIES
#1 Spirit of the Problem. Both the general idea (Section A) and any problem requirements (Section B) not otherwise scored in Sections D or F.
#3 Membership Sign. Only mention of membership sign in Problem 5.
Easy to miss. See Program Guide p44-45 for what must be included on sign!
#6 Time Limit: 8 minutes
Over time limit penalty = -5 pts for every 10 seconds or fraction, max = -30 pts. Timekeeper will stop performance at 9 minute mark.
Practice setting up! Teamwork is important to using time effectively!
This is not a complete list of all of the possible penalties!
Reading the Program Guide is crucial! Print it from OotM website Member Area if you don’t have a copy. Don’t be put off by how long it is. You can skip many sections (forming teams etc.), but the sections that are important to your team are VERY IMPORTANT TO YOUR TEAM!

9. PUBLIC CLARIFICATIONS
apply to all teams and are posted on odysseyofthemind.com.
Check regularly!
How to check public clarifications:
QUICK LINKS

11. How to request a private clarification:
PRIVATE CLARIFICATIONS are responses to questions from individual teams and may be about team-specific solution ideas. These are NOT shared with other teams, only with the requesting team and OotM officials.
Teams may submit requests between 9/1/17 and 2/15/18.
How to request a private clarification:

12. CLARIFICATION REQUESTS DEADLINE FOR REQUESTS IS FEBRUARY 15!DO
-Know that clarifications will say as little as possible so frame questions thoughtfully to maximize the help.
-Submit early so team can use the information.
DON’T
-Ask to confirm problem wording or about regional tournament.
-Confuse “penalize” with “low score.”
WHY IMPORTANT? May help team avoid losing points, avoid last-minute stress, improve team’s solution, and/or lessen risk.
Even if don’t need a clarification, be like the teams that do:
Thoughtfully read and re-read the problem;
Plan Style elements in advance; and
Consider out of the box thinking and risk-taking.

13. H. THE TEAM MUST PROVIDE
1) FORMS (Style, Team Required List, Cost, OA)
Refer to NCOME’s Tournament Forms Information handout for more guidance!
2) Copy of any clarifications your team received from CCI
3) Any needed extension cords or outlet adapters
4) Clean-up materials (but please don’t need them)
5) A JUDGE AND A VOLUNTEER!
Judges must be available all day 2/17 and 3/3 and will NOT see their children perform at the tournament (dress rehearsals/video replay are good options).
Volunteers work 2-3 hours on 3/3, WILL get to see their children perform.
Judges and volunteers must be at least 18 as of 3/3. Can be parents, other family members, friends, co-workers, teachers, or anyone else willing!
You will need their names and addresses to register them when you register your team for the tournament.
NOW IS THE TIME TO GET COMMITMENTS!

14. C. SITE, SETUP AND COMPETITION and G
C. SITE, SETUP AND COMPETITION and G. TOURNAMENT DIRECTOR WILL PROVIDE
7’x10’ performance area (may be larger)
Three-prong electrical outlet (somewhere)
Judging team – Head Judge, Staging Area Judge, Timekeeper, Problem Judges, Style Judges, Scorechecker
 Questions? Suzanne Ladd,
A few days after Judges Training on Feb. 17, I will send an to all P5 coaches’ addresses used for tournament registration (only 1 per team) with specific info about our venues and procedures. I will include photos if possible.

15. Cost Rules, pages 47-49 of Program Guide
Cost Limit = $125, for items used in presentation
Three Main Categories of Values:
Actual (receipt or value of found/donated)
Assigned (ex: laptop $10, musical instrument $5)
Exempt (ex: cardboard/recyclables, safety items)
Cost Rules, pages of Program Guide

16. RESOURCES 5. odysseyofthemind.com website, especially Member Area
1. The Problem
2. The Program Guide
3. Glossaries – in problem and program guide
4. ncome.org website, especially the Wiki
5. odysseyofthemind.com website, especially Member Area
6. Clarifications!
7. Problem Captain – tournament day procedures and
identifying resources

17. Questions? Tournament Registration, online at ncome.org
Early Bird Deadline: December 23, 2017 ($100/team)*
FINAL Deadline: January 27, 2018 ($145/team)*
*Have your team’s judge and volunteer names and addresses ready for registration at that time as well. You can contact me, or (Lexie Groner), to discuss any hardship, emergency, or unexpected difficulty in filling these roles.
We are available to help you brainstorm and get started recruiting now!
Eastern Regional Tournament, March 3, 2018
Wake Technical Community College
Questions?