LA Odyssey Regional Tournament

Notes from the tournament director. This version dated 02-26-2010 10:00pm
This is updated every couple of days, more often as the tournament approaches.
If the date and time above aren't recent, be sure to refresh to get the most recent version.

Important: All coaches should be members of our Yahoo Group. Tournament announcements are made on this group. It is critical that coaches keep up with these announcements.

Contents

• Updates
• General
• Schedule
• Food
• Scores
• State
• Primary Teams

Updates

• 02-01-2010 Original
• 02-13-2010
  • Minor changes to the scores section
• 02-14-2010 04:30am
  • Minor changes to the schedule section and schedule draft #09 posted!!.
• 02-14-2010 10:38pm
  • schedule draft #10 posted. See the schedule section. The only change is in problem 4 (column structure). The weigh in times were accidentally excluded from version #09. This has been corrected.
• 02-19-2010 6:07pm
  • Schedule draft #11 (Final version!) posted. See the schedule section. Only a couple of minor changes.
  • Also added a note in the scores section.
• 02-24-2010 7:05am
  • Added a primary teams section with information and reminders specific to these teams.
  • Clarified and re-formatted the general schedule
• 02-26-2010 10:00pm
  • The venue locations have changed. Please see the rain map.

General

• Above all else: ENJOY yourself. See as much as you can. Teams learn by seeing other teams.
• Appreciation
  • If something that you see wows you or your kids, let the other team know: everyone like to feel appreciated.
• Officials
  • All officials at the tournament, from the regional director to every judge and score runner, is a volunteer. All of them are involved for the good of the children. All together, hundreds of hours of work have gone into making this tournament a success. Please show your appreciation!
• Check-In Times
• All teams should plan to arrive for check-in well before their first competition time. A representative of the team should pick up their packet and their T-Shirt pre-orders.
• Spontaneous Ticket
  • The check-in envelope contains a colored notecard (ticket). It is your teams admittance to spontaneous. Don't misplace it!!!
• Spontaneous and secrecy
  • All team members, parents and coaches are reminded that spontaneous problems may not be discussed, at all, until after the awards ceremony. Penalties will apply for anyone involved in violation of this rule.
• Foot Protection
  • As per Odyssey of the Mind rules, foot protection must be worn at all times. No bare feet allowed.
• Conduct
  • Traditionally, teams are great people who help everyone out. We truly appreciate the kindness shown each and every year. Please remind all team members, parents, coaches and spectators of the conduct expected at an Odyssey of the Mind tournament.
  • Unfortunately, it has happened in the past that someone associated with a team has acted in an inappropriate and/or unsportsmanlike fashion. Everyone is reminded that the program guide holds the team and membership responsible for the conduct of all parents, coaches, team members, and spectators.
• Outside Assistance
  • Many parents are afraid to help their kids out, fearing outside assistance penalties. However, it is okay for them to do some things. Please review the guidelines below.
    • Parents, friends, and coaches CAN do the following:
      • Help move sets, costumes, and props anywhere on campus, including into the pre-staging area.
      • Help move sets, costumes, and props off the performance area when the team is done meeting with the judges after their performance.
      • Help clean up any mess left in the performance area when the team is done.
    • Parents, friends, and coaches CANNOT do the following:
      • Fix anything that breaks, or provide advice on how to fix it. The team must fix anything that breaks.
        • Friends, parents, and other teams can lend tools however.
      • Apply make up, adjust costumes, fix hair, or alter anything that may be judged as part of the performance
• Communications Tips
• All coaches, and older team members, should be sure to keep up with official communications during the school year. The current official venue for communications about the tournament is the Yahoo group at http://groups.yahoo.com/group/la_odyssey
• If you are not a member of this group, you should join immediately.

Schedule
(All subject to change)

• General Schedule
  • Check-in
    • Teams may begin arriving at: 7:30a
  • Competitions
  • The first team begins at 7:55a
  • Projected end time (Last team finished with problem): 3:30pm
  • Awards
    • Pre-awards activity in gym: 3:30pm until awards start. All teams are encouraged to attend. Agenda will include
      • Spirit stick
      • Spontaneous activity
    • The final awards ceremony will then be in the auditorium, an announcement will be made when its time to move.
    • We expect the awards ceremony to finish by 5:30pm
• Tournament schedule (draft 11) - FINAL
• Be sure to arrive at the competition room 15 minutes before your scheduled time.

Food

• We encourage all teams to eat on site. Food will be available for sale, or you are welcome to bring your own picnic-style lunch.

Scores

• 30 minutes after your long term competition time, the coach needs to meet with the head judge to receive the long term scores. Coaches, it is very important that you come to this meeting on time.
  • You will receive:
    • One copy of the long term score sheet, with scores for each section of the problem and any penalties.
    • One copy of the averaged style scores. (These are for your information, the head judge is not permitted to discuss these or answer questions about them.)
    • You will also receive comments from the judging team, usually on sticky notes.
  • Coaches, this is your opportunity to see the scores and ask questions if you are unclear.
  • Please remember that all scores are scaled. The scores you see on the score sheet will be put into the computer and scaled in comparrison with all other scores. Long term is scaled to 200 points, spontaneous to 100, and style to 50.
  • After the discussion, the head judge will:
    • Put the time that you received the scores on the top of the form.
    • Put your cell phone number on top of the form.
    • Have you initial the form.
    • and explain that you have 30 minutes to come back if you have any questions or concerns about long term scoring elements.
• The score sheets you receive have been checked by the judging team only. Once you see them, they will be sent to the score room where they will be checked again. Should any significant errors be found, that are not in your favor, the tournament director will try to contact you on the cell phone provided.
• You will not receive score sheets for spontaneous.
• Please note: Scores are not comparable between different problems or divisions. Each team is only scored against teams in the same problem and division. The highest (and placing) score in one prob/div may be lower than non-placing scores in other prob/div.

State

• In general, the top two teams in each problem and division advance to the state tournament. The winner of the Ranatra Fusca Creativity Award (if any) also advances. Primary teams do not advance to state.
• Coaches of advancing teams must pick-up a packet from the tournament director. They are also strongly advised to make arrangements for hotel accomodations immediately upon returning home.

Primary Teams

• Primary teams should be sure to check-in just like regular teams. Your welcome packet contains helpful information as well as participation pins.
• Primary teams will be recognized at the awards ceremony. They are also encouraged to take part in the pre-awards activity in the gym at 3:30pm
• Primary teams are not scored or ranked in competition with each other.

Thank you,

Chad Parker
Tournament Director
LA Odyssey Regional Board