Policies
Science Olympiad has a variety of policies that apply to the national organization as well as its 36 state chapters. The following policies will help students, parents, coaches and supervisors understand how Science Olympiad works: A.Code of Ethics and General Rules
A. Code of Ethics and General Rules
The goal of competition is to give one’s best effort while displaying honesty, integrity, and good
sportsmanship. Everyone is expected to display courtesy and respect (see Science Olympiad
Pledges below). Teams are expected to make an honest effort to follow the rules and the spirit of
the problem (not interpret the rules so they have an unfair advantage). Failure by a participant,
coach, or guest to abide by these codes, accepted safety procedures, or rules below, may result in
an assessment of penalty points or, in rare cases, disqualification by the tournament director from
the event, the tournament, or future tournaments.
- While competing in an event, participants may not leave without the event supervisor’s
approval and must not receive any external assistance. All electronic devices capable of
external communication as well as calculator applications on multipurpose devices (e.g.
laptop, phone, tablet) are not permitted unless expressly permitted in the event rule or by an
event supervisor. Cell phones, are not permitted,. Participants, coaches and other adults are
responsible for ensuring that any applicable school or Science Olympiad policy, law or regulation is not broken. All Science Olympiad content (e.g., policies, requirements, clarifications, FAQs etc. on sciolyng.org) must be treated as if it were included in the printed rules. - All pre-built devices presented for judging must be constructed, impounded, and operated by
one or more of the 12 current team members unless stated otherwise in the rules. If a device
has been removed from the event area, appeals related to that device will not be considered. - Officials are encouraged to apply the least restrictive penalty for rules infractions (see examples
in the Scoring Guidelines). Event supervisors must provide prompt notification of any penalty,
disqualification or tier ranking. - State and local tournament directors must notify teams of any site-dependent rule or other rule
modification with as much notice as possible, ideally at least 30 days prior to the tournament.
Student’s Pledge
I pledge to put forth my best effort in the Science Olympiad tournament and to uphold the
principles of honest competition. In my events, I will compete with integrity, respect, and
sportsmanship towards my fellow competitors. I will display courtesy towards Event Supervisors
and Tournament Personnel. My actions will exemplify the proud spirit of my school, team, and
state.
Coach’s Pledge
On behalf of the coaches and assistants at this tournament, I pledge to encourage honesty and
respect for tournament personnel, our fellow coaches, and other team members. We want our
efforts to bring honor to our community and school.
Parent’s Pledge
On behalf of the parents and spectators I pledge to be an example for our children by:
- Respecting the rules of Science Olympiad,
- Encouraging excellence in preparation and investigation,
- Supporting independence in design and production of all competition devices,and respecting the decisions of event supervisors and judges.
- Our examples will promote the spirit of cooperation within and among all our participating teams.
Event Supervisor’s Pledge
On behalf of my fellow supervisors and tournament personnel, I pledge to run my event with
fairness and respect for the participants and their coaches. Our actions will reflect the principles
of the Science Olympiad program and display the pride we feel as representatives of our
colleges, universities, companies, states or organizations.
B. Team Qualification – for public and private schools.
This policy provides guidelines that are to be used with all schooling options and in all states.
Primary enrollment at a school will be determined by what school holds the student’s records and
matriculates the student (a general definition of primary enrollment), and a student may only be
primarily enrolled at a single school.
A Team Endeavor
Science Olympiad requires all participants in Science Olympiad competitions to participate as
members of a team, not as individuals.
Public School Students
Public school students may participate in Science Olympiad only as members of a team that is
formed in the local public school that they attend. Public school students may not opt to
participate on another school’s team.
Private, Charter and Alternative School Students
Private schools, and any other school that is qualified by the state and is housed in a single
geographic location, may form Science Olympiad teams from among the students in their student
body, regardless of where that student’s home of origin is located. Such schools may not solicit
or enlist public school or external students on their teams.
Registering and Qualifying Teams
The state Science Olympiad organization is responsible for registering and qualifying all Science
Olympiad teams. In the case of a public, private, or other alternative school Science Olympiad
team, a roster signed by the principal of the school is considered proper validation.
Investigation of Team Qualifications
If a state Science Olympiad organization suspects that a team is comprised of students who are
not members of that school’s student body or that a team is not legitimate, the Science Olympiad
State Director may ask the coach to provide verification of that team’s qualifications as follows:
A public, private school student’s qualification may be verified by some form of school identification, school roster, recent report card, evidence of residence in the school district or other similar documents appropriate to the situation. State Directors or officials may not contact individual students to determine qualification. All inquires must go through official channels that are relevant to and can confirm the student’s enrollment status, such as the administrative offices of a school district, private school, School Team coach or head of school.
Sanctions for Non-Qualified Participation
If, after investigation, the State Director determines that a team or its members are not qualified,
it may impose a sanction that may include disqualification of a student team member,
disqualification of a team coach, or a team’s disqualification from a tournament. In the event of
multiple cases of disqualification, a coach or team may be barred from future competition.
C. Scoring Guidelines
SCORING GUIDELINES & COUNSELING FORM
- All teams who participate and compete according to the rules must be scored and ranked.
All ties for the top medal and trophy places must be broken. To break event ties use
the procedures in each event rule. In the event that a tie can’t be broken, award points
according to the place tied and then skip the next place (e.g., if two teams were tied for
3rd place, both get 3 points and the next place team would get 5 points). To break ties
for a team place count the highest number of gold medals, then silver and so on. - Teams/devices that do not meet the requirements in the event rules will be allowed to
compete if possible and are to be scored and ranked below those who met all of the
specifications. They will be awarded event points in relation to their rank. Event
Supervisors may, at their discretion, allow students to modify any device before it is
impounded to bring it into compliance with the rules. That discretion, if extended, must
be made available to all competitors equally. Any modification must be completed, and
the device impounded, before the expiration of the impound period. Supervisors and
Officials may not provide assistance or advice regarding the type of modifications or how
to accomplish them prior to, or at any time during the tournament day. Supervisors are
encouraged to post or have available student self-checklists/team scoresheets such as
those posted for many technology events on: http://www.soinc.org/ - Teams making an honest attempt to participate that cannot be assigned a raw score
because of time, mechanical failure, wrong dimensions, etc., will be listed as a “P” for
Participation for the raw score on the score sheet and will be awarded N points. “N” is
equal to the number of teams registered to compete in the Tournament (Any device
which, in the judgment of the Event Supervisor, is a safety hazard to competitors, judges,
or spectators, will not be allowed to compete and will be listed as a P (Participation) for
the raw score on the score sheet and will be awarded N points. - If a team does not show up or does not make an honest attempt to participate, the team
will be listed as a No Show or “NS” for the raw score on the score sheet and awarded
N+1 points. This includes teams who may be present but display no preparation for the
competition. - Teams should be Disqualified or “DQ” only for misbehavior (to include excessive use of
improper or vulgar language) or cheating. Put DQ as raw score and award N+2 points on
the score sheet. Also, note on the score sheet the reason why teams were disqualified.
Event Supervisors may remove from competition any student(s) whose personal or ethical behavior does not adhere to the Science Olympiad Code of Ethics. This action will disqualify the affected student(s) from participation and scoring in that event only. If any team is DQed or Ranked Below Others or placed in a lower tier, inform the student as soon as a problem occurs (and remind the student to inform their coach). If the problem was not determined until after students had left, contact head coach by cell phone immediately. Be sure to list the detailed reason on the score sheet and the Counseling Form. - Teams who were scored and had a raw score placed on the answer sheet are to be
awarded points for each place as follows: 1st – 1 point, 2 nd – 2 points, – up to 60 th – 60
points. Teams with the fewest points will be awarded the highest trophies. - Teams considered as PARTICIPATION, NO SHOW, OR DISQUALIFIED will be
ranked and assigned points as follows:
Rank Points
PARTICIPATION (P) = N points = 60 points
NO SHOW (NS) = N + 1 points = 61 points
DISQUALIFIED ( DQ) = N + 2 points = 62 points - To prevent scoring errors, after turning in the score sheet with raw scores and all supporting
documentation (answer sheets, master answer key, student papers, etc.), you will be asked to
participate in a Score Counseling session to explain how you scored teams (formulas, tie-
breakers, etc.) for all places. The reason a team was disqualified, not ranked, ranked below, or
received only a participation score must be recorded.Note: NATIONAL TOURNAMENT SCORING POLICY – At the end of the Science
Olympiad National Tournament Awards Ceremony each team’s head coach will be
provided one copy of the final scores. Within one hour after the ceremony is completed
the head coach may submit compelling evidence of a scoring inconsistency Thinking
that your team “did better” than scores reflect is not considered compelling
evidence.
D. Small Schools
A Team Endeavor
Science Olympiad requires all participants in Science Olympiad competitions to participate as members of a team, not as individuals. Public School Students. It is recommended that all public school students may participate in Science Olympiad only as members of a team that is formed in the local public school that they attend.
Registering and Qualifying Teams
The state Science Olympiad organization is responsible for registering and qualifying all Science Olympiad teams. In the case of a public school Science Olympiad team, a roster signed by the /Headteach/erprincipal of the school is considered proper validation.
Investigation of Team Qualifications
If a state Science Olympiad organization suspects that a team is comprised of students who are not members of that school’s student body, the Science Olympiad State Director may ask the coach to provide verification of that team’s qualifications as follows:
- A public school student’s qualification may be verified by some form of school identification, school roster, recent report card, evidence of residence in the school district or other similar documents appropriate to the situation. Sanctions for Non-Qualified Participation If, after investigation, the State Director determines that a team or its members are not qualified, it may impose a sanction that may include disqualification of a student team member, disqualification of a team coach, or a team’s disqualification from a tournament. In the event of multiple cases of disqualification, a coach or team may be barred from future competition.
E.Building and Tools Policy
CONSTRUCTED DEVICES
SCIENCE OLYMPIAD NATIONAL RECOMMENDATIONS ON BUILDING AND THE USE OF TOOLS 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 12-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 Concerns and the Use of Tools
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 of this sort might be 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.
Guidelines for Adult Mentoring
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.
Investigation of Suspected Violation of Building and Tools Recommendations
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 will be required to certify that all work presented for the tournament complies with the Building and the Use of Tools Recommendations.
Sanctions for Non-Qualified Participation
If the students on the device team cannot answer the questions correctly and/or the coach cannot verify 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.
F. Eye Protection
This Policy applies to all Science Olympiad Rules in Divisions A,B& C.
Please make a note of the new classification of Categories A, B and C.
Purpose: This policy provides details regarding EYE PROTECTION in those events where an Event Rule requires Eye Protection. The objective is to choose the type of protection specific to the task.
Competitor/Coach Responsibilities: Competitors are responsible for providing their own protective eyewear. Science Olympiad is unable to determine the degree of hazard presented by equipment, materials and devices brought by the teams. Coaches must ensure the eye protection competitors bring is adequate for the hazard. All protective eyewear must bear the manufacturer’s mark. Teams without adequate eye protection must be given a chance to obtain eye protection if their assigned time permits. Teams must not be allowed to compete without adequate eye protection. This is non-negotiable.
Corresponding Standards: Protective eyewear used in Science Olympiad must be manufactured to meet the standard applicable at its time of manufacture. The information in this document is sufficient to comply with current standards. Water is not a hazardous liquid and its use does not require protective eyewear unless it is under pressure or substances that create a hazard are added.
Examples of Non-Compliant Eyewear:
- Face shields/visors are secondary protective devices and are not approved in lieu of the primary eye protection devices below regardless of the type of vents they have.
- Prescription Glasses containing safety glass should not be confused with safety spectacles.
- “Safety glass” indicates the glass is made to minimize shattering when it breaks.
Compliant Eyewear Categories: If an event requires eye protection, the rules will identify one of these three categories – as simple as ABC: