1. Team Manager Training The Journey Begins
Welcome!
Reed Fuller Presenter

2. Imagination is more important than knowledge.
- Albert Einstein

3. What are the responsibilities of the Team Manager
Your job is to smooth the progress of your team by promoting discussion and helping your team gather information and resources. You may record and write down the team’s ideas in idea –gathering sessions. You may also generate the team’s script ideas as long as you use their words and not yours. You can collect the resources the team members say they need, but can’t include things you think they have forgotten. The team solution comes from the team members only.
Safety is very important. If the team manager feels a team member is in danger, or an idea is dangerous, they have the right to stop the team and have them create a new way to solve the problem.
Internet research that all challenges require, need to be supervised.

4. What else can a Team Manager do to help.
Team Mangers should
Be positive!
Involve all team members and promote team work.
When the team is stuck, encourage them to try SOMETHING.
Use problem solving tools.
Encourage risk taking.
Keep team focused on producing a creative solution that they can complete without outside help.
Maintain the true spirit and intent of DI.

5. Team Managers can ask non-leading questions
If the whole idea is too big. You could suggest they focus one part.
What else might the team do?
How could the team restate the Challenge?
How might the team be more creative?

6. Team Manager Information
A team manager must be 18 years old or older.
Having a co-manager can be very helpful in getting things done and dividing the responsibilities.
DI materials you need to know about:
1. Central Challenge – the actual challenge your team chose to work on for a few months
2. Rules of the Road- this is your best friend during DI season. This booklet has the answers to 99% of your questions.
3. Roadmap- a guide to structuring your meetings

7. Team Manager Info (cont.)
What is a team?
2-7 members for all challenges except Rising Stars
Rising Stars teams can have 2 to ? Members
Rising Stars- preschool to 2nd grade
Elementary Level- 3rd grade to 5th grade
Middle Level- 6th grade to 8th grade
High School Level- 9th grade-12th grade
Example: If you have a team of 4th graders and a sibling in 6th grade wants to join. If your team only has 6 members, then yes the sibling can join, but your team would have to perform at the ML level.
Example: If you have a third grader on your Rising Stars team, then you would perform at the EL level.
Rising Stars is noncompetitive. Rising Stars is such a fun way for teams to learn about DI.

8. Team Manager Info (Cont.)
To find information on this years team challenge go to Under the team challenge tab you can see a preview of each team challenge and download First Look Documents. From these previews the team should be able to get an idea of which challenge they want to address.

9. Team Manager Info (cont.)
After registering and receiving a team number, log in to the Resource area at If you have not already done so, you will need to get a DI account. Then click the “Teams” tab and then select “My Teams” and then select the Central Challenge your team plans to solve. There is a box to check for your final selection.
Download the Rules of the Road and Road Map in the resource area. Copies of your Central Challenge and forms and procedures.
The Central Challenge shows what is required and how much each part is scored. The Rising Stars challenge is clearly written but not scored.

10. Rules of the Road
It is very important for team members and Team Managers to read and completely understand this year’s Rules of the Road
A team cannot solve the Team Challenge without knowing the Challenge Rules, Rules of the Road and all Public Clarifications.

11. Types of Clarifications
General Public Clarification These are Challenge-Specific and published on the DI website. They apply to all teams within that Challenge. Individual Team Clarification They are used by teams that need a rule clarification for their unique solution. They are shared only with the team asking the question. There is a limit to the number of clarification a team may request. There is also a deadline for submitting clarifications.

12. DI Roadmap An outline for the first 16 team meetings.
Practice Instant challenges
Tips on team development and management for Team Managers.
It is generally a great resource aimed at helping teams get the most our of being a DI participant.

13. Interference
Team solutions must be their own. You, parents, siblings, any non- team members, grandparents, friends, and teachers can’t provide any ideas for the solution. This is the hardest thing for team managers and parents. The solution the team decides on might be totally different than you think it should be, but it is their solution. As long as the team does not violate any rules, then their solution if fine.
Non- team members are not permitted to create costumes, props, scenery, or anything that the team is required to do. If the team wants to use a tool that you think is not safe, then they need to create a new solution that does not require that tool or learn how to safely use the tool.
Interference is clearly defined in the Rules of the Road and there are penalty points at the tournament if the team does not follow the rules.

14. DI Components
There are 3 components to DI. One is the Central Challenge that will take a few months to solve.
Make sure you understand that each challenge has a time limit. Usually 8 minutes. That includes set up and performance. Removing the props and cleaning up your presentation site is not included in the time.
There is also a budget limit.
This is the amount you spend on the items you actually use in your performance at the tournament.
Example: You spent $30.00 on paint, brushes, and a drop cloth for a prop you did not use during the tournament. You don’t count that in your budget. Expense forms are located in the Rules of the Road. Keep track of new things your team buys. Try to find things already used. How to complete the Expense report is clearly explained in the Rules of the Road.
The Central Challenge is 60% of your team’s total score.

15. DI Components The second component is the Team Choice Elements
The are 15% of the total score and incorporated into the presentation of the Central Challenge. Many items are required in the Central Challenge but team choice elements allow team members to showcase their talents. It must be an item not already scored.
Example:
The Central Challenge requires that the team create an original musical instrument. Very nice, but it can’t be a Team Choice Element. However, a costume for the team member that plays the original instrument could be a team choice element since it is not required in the CC.

16. DI Components
The third component of DI is the Instant Challenge. These are quick challenges that teams solve together in 3-8 minutes. It requires teams to think on their feet.
Instant challenges are good ways to get your team going and to build relationships. It is a good idea to start meetings with one.
The Instant Challenge is part of the tournament and one will be given to all teams.
Websites:
Or just google free practice DI Instant Challenges
IC is 25% of your team’s total score

17. Team Meeting
Team meeting should last an hour to an hour and a half. The length may increase as tournament time approaches. The location and time of the meetings needs to be determined by the Team Manager and local DI coordinator. When possible a practice Instant Challenge should accompany each meeting. They are fun.

18. Team Meeting (cont.)
1st Meeting 1. Parents should be invited to attend the 1st meeting. 2. Parents need to get a quick overview of the process and understanding of interference. They need to understand their child is committing to the team and their participation is vital. 3. Both parents and team members need to know the “house rules” Examples: Drop off and pick up on time, etc. 4. If you do not have an assistant, try to get one or more parents to help. Supplying an Instant Challenge for each meeting would help. 5. Do an Instant challenge with the team and one with parents.

19. Next couple meetings
Have the team develop team rules to add to the “house rules” Example: no criticizing, no yelling out, all need to participate. Do some team building exercises. Instant Challenges can help with this. Review the Central Challenges and see where the interest is. Brainstorm ideas for Challenges of interest. Pick a Challenge and register to get all the details.

20. Continuing on in team meetings
Research what is needed. Experiment with solutions. Start developing the story line. Practice Instant Challenges

21. Final Weeks
Build final solutions. Finalize presentation (script and costumes) Choose team Choice Elements. Make sure all areas of the Challenge are addressed. Practice, Practice, Practice

22. Tournament Day
The journey for is coming to an end.
Have Fun

23. Tournament –March 9,2019 at Barberton Middle School
The tournament is usually an all day affair. Rising Stars teams have a shorter day.
What do you need to have in place before the tournament:
An Appraiser who is 18 or older that will train at about 7:30 am the day of the tournament and be involved all day. If their child is on a team, they will not be able to see their child perform. This person is necessary for your team to be completely registered. Ask a teacher, grandparents, a sibling of a team member who is 18 or older, or a college student.
A volunteer helper that agrees to help for two hours during the tournament. This person can be 16 or older. This person also needs to be registered in order to complete your registration.

24. Tournament Info
Rising Star teams pay no fees to attend the tournament. However, they need to supply an appraiser and a volunteer.
Your team registration is $35.00 if it is complete by December 21, If you are late, the fee is $ All teams must be registered by January 11, 2019.
Tournament Forms:
Expense Form- already discussed. Some challenges do not require them. Located in the back of the Rules of the Road
Declaration of Independence –also found in the Rules of the Road
Tournament Data Forms- forms needed for the appraisers to help them understand your team’s performance. Rising Stars and EL teams can have help from the team manager in completing these forms as long as you use their words and not yours. ML and HS teams must complete them without help.