Science Olympiad Region 7 Policies

These policies must be reviewed and agreed to by each school/coach before that schools Science Olympiad team(s) are allowed to compete at the regional Science Olympiad event. The agreement form that is required is located on the Registration page.

Cheating

1. An individual who cheats during the competition will be penalized by disqualification of the team from that event. Disqualification results in a score that is three points greater than the number of teams registered in the region.
2. If cheating occurs by a team in more than one event, or in successive years, the team may be disqualified that year, or the following year, from the entire competition.
3. If an event team, or team member, or anyone associated with the team, deliberately takes an action that impairs the ability of other teams to fairly compete, that team will be disqualified from the event and be awarded three points greater that the number of teams registered in the region. In addition, the event team member(s) involved in the incident, may be ineligible for any future Science Olympiad competitions. Furthermore, the teams may be penalized points not to exceed the value of two last place rankings.

Constructed Devices

In accordance with the rules and ethics of Science Olympiad, the underlying principles and intent of the Science Olympiad establish a mandated student performance. Any project, device or assembly is to be constructed by a student or team of students. The Rules and Code of Ethics of the Science Olympiad declares “One or more of a 15-member team must have constructed all pre-built devices presented for judging.” The process of design and resultant product is the students’ responsibility. All components must be made by the student or, if permissible, by the event rules, available by purchase. Students will assemble the device.

Safety shall be of paramount importance. Students will be encouraged to use tools and technology within their age-related safety range. Certain tools and methods may be hazardous and beyond the abilities of various age groups. Specific tools may include power drills and saws, wood or metal lathes, welding equipment, milling machines or metal casting equipment. The use of chemicals should also follow age-appropriate use rules.

Adults may act as facilitators in the building process by asking questions, offering ideas or suggestions and providing references. The adult assistance may include teaching underlying principles, skills, use of tools and adherence to safety rules. No component of the project shall be constructed or assembled by an adult. The student must prepare the entire structure, including accompanying charts, graphs or notes.

However, Science Olympiad endorses adult mentoring of teams and realizes that adults do instruct students on proper techniques on the use of tools. Providing an adult does not interfere with, alter, build or compromise the student or group design, adults may assist by performing restricted tasks not available to a student (such as drilling a hole in a metal plate or operating a power saw). This type of limited help does not compromise the integrity of a student-built device.

Tournament officials must rely on the integrity of principals, coaches, students and parents involved in Science Olympiad. Astute and professional Event Supervisors will be able to evaluate student compliance as such:

• Event Supervisors may extensively question the lead student as to the design and construction of the device. Questioning may include the overall design and construction as well as the component parts and how they operate and function within the device. Other students on the device team may also be questioned.
• Each team coach and administrator will be required to certify that all work presented for the tournament complies with the building and use of tools recommendations above.

If the students on the device team cannot answer the questions correctly and/or the coach cannot verify that the device was student-built, then the Event Supervisors have grounds to believe the students did not design and build the device. The team will be disqualified from the event and scored accordingly.

Interference policy

Penalty points may be assessed for the following:

1. For a student, coach, teacher, chaperon or parent entering a building or area where events are set up for the competition or are being held, without proper authorization to do so, five penalty points may be assessed.
   
   Only those students actually competing in an event and those teachers who may be assigned to assist in the conducting of an event may enter areas where events are held. All other persons are to remain out of the building or the area at all times.
2. For a student, coach, teacher, chaperon or parent interfering with or disrupting the conduct of an event, the event team will be immediately disqualified and the team will be assessed disqualification points based on the level of tournament.

Note this policy applies to any person in attendance at the Olympiad.

Vandalism

1. If a team member or members or persons associated with a team commit(s) an act of van­dalism, the team will be disqualified from the competition and will receive no points. No member of that team will be awarded a medal in any event. An individual who commits an act of vandalism may be barred from future competitions.
2. Each sponsoring school must agree to pay the cost of repairing damage from any act of vandalism. A school must pay this restitution, and obtain permission to compete again before it can register a team for the Science Olympiad in a subsequent year.
3. Vandalism means a deliberate action which results in damage to property. This includes, but is not limited to, graffiti, damage to facility property and damage to the personal property of competitors, judges and spectators.

Wristbands

All students that are competing in Science Olympiad events (B and C divisions) must wear a provided wristband during the competition. If students are not wearing wristbands during an event the Event Leader will be given the discretion to either score their event in a seperate tier (students finish their event, but have no ability to win medals or score points for their team), or to disqualify the team if they feel it is appropriate.

Each team will receive a number of wristbands up to the number of students indicated on their Final Registration form (a maximum of 15). It will be up to each team/coach to ensure that each of their competing students receive and wear their wristbands appropriately so that they do not lose them at some point during the day.

I have read and understand the Missouri State Science Olympiad policy on acceptable behavior including the prohibition of vandalism and discourtesy, and I have discussed this with the team members, and will accept the consequences of violation of the policy as assessed by the Missouri State Science Olympiad officials.