| Home | Events/Dates | Problems | Contacts | Adult Guidance | Team Information | Creativity | Photos | Forms | Clarifications | Registration Process | Outside Assistance | Sponsors | Ranatra Fusca Archive |
Tips for CoachesWhat's a coach to do? If you have reviewed your membership materials and are wondering, What do I do next, here are some tips. Keep in mind that everyone involved should have fun. Create a practice schedule and set basic rules. Stress the importance of attending meetings and practice sessions. Set down rules for good sportsmanship and constructive criticism. (Remember: There's no such thing as a bad idea) Encourage team members to work cooperatively. Teamwork is on the basic principles of Odyssey of the Mind. Al teams go through growing pains, but members will learn to work together as time goes on. Do not help the team solve the problem. The coach's role is to help team members develop problem-solving skills, not to help solve the problem. Before adding your input, ask yourself if it would create or improve an aspect of the team's solution (outside assistance), or if it would enhance the team members' creative problem-solving abilities (good coaching). Learn about the spontaneous competition and present practice spontaneous activities regularly. Books of practice problems are available from Creative Competitions Inc. Read the Odyssey of the Mind Program Guide and stay up-to-date with problem clarifications. Refer to the guide often and check clarifications on a regular basis. Be aware of the clarification cut-off date for your regional tournament. If you don't know the date you should consult the Events page on this website. If an aspect of your team's solution seems questionable, it is not outside assistance to suggest submitting a problem clarification. The cutoff for submitting questions is March 1, 2002. Arrange a performance for the student body and faculty. Let the school see what your team has learned through Odyssey of the Mind. This is also good rehearsal for teams before they go to official competition, and it helps them feel comfortable performing before an audience. Provide copies of the Odyssey of the Mind Program Guide to all your judges and the problem description to you long term judge(s). Encourage your judges to study the materials prior to Judges' Training. Doing so will enhance the training and help them to be better judges. |
HandbookThe Coaches' Handbook, a comprehensive guide for coaches, new and veterans. Coaches' TrainingWhether you're new or a veteran, you are urged to attend coaches' training which is usually held in November of each year. Check the Events/Dates Page for this year's schedule. Information will be presented through a series of workshops. Subjects will include team building and "thinking outside the box", long term problems, style, spontaneous and balsa wood structures. New coaches will gain valuable insight into various aspects of the Odyssey program. Veteran coaches will share coaching tips. Your JudgesWe recommend that each team recruit more than one long-term judge. Should something prevent your judge from judging on Tournament day your team will be assessed a spirit of the problem penalty of 25 points. Each coach should give copies of the following to each of their team's judges well before Judges Training. These materials were provided to all school Coordinators who should forward them all coaches in their membership.
Ensure that your judges study the problem and program guide and bring them to Judges Training. Doing so will enhance their training and help them to be better judges. Tournament GuidelinesPlease review the Tournament Guidelines. Odyssey of the Mind is about kids having fun and exercising their creativity, but please help your team to conduct themselves appropriately during tournaments. |
|
|