FAQs for Tournaments
Can you modify the Cost form? It is too tedious to list the exact cost and value within the very tiny area allowed. Or is it possible to fill it out online?
CCI designs and provides the Cost form. The form is available in Microsoft Word format at odysseyofthemind.com to make it easier for teams to fit their information on the form.
If the space is too small to use each line, the team can use every other line; there is no limit to the number of forms permitted. You can contact CCI at info@odysseyofthemind.com with your suggestions.
Can the performance be less than 8 minutes?
Yes. The time limit for each performance is a maximum of 8 minutes. In some problems, such as Classics and Drama, a penalty will be assessed if the performance exceeds 8 minutes and the performance will be stopped at 9 minutes. In other problems, such as Vehicle and Balsa, the performance is simply stopped at 8 minutes. There is no penalty, but teams are not allowed to continue if they haven’t completed all of the assigned tasks. Review the Odyssey of the Mind Program Guide (a link to it is available on the Resources page) and the individual problem statement for further information.
If a team advances to different levels (states, worlds), does the performance have to stay exactly the same or can it be changed or improved?
If a team advances to the next level, they can use the same solution or an entirely new solution. Keeping in mind that, at the next level, the team will be competing with teams that placed at their tournaments, they are encouraged to review their scores and decide if there are any elements that they might adjust to present the most effective solution.
If a team has an 8th mind work on the long-term problem, how many points would they be penalized?
There is a limit to seven members on the team. You should not, under any circumstances, have eight different children participate on the same team. If a team has eight members, an outside assistance penalty of 1-100 points will be assessed. The value of the penalty will be determined on tournament day by the judges who watch the performance, based on their assessment of the magnitude of the offense. It is not possible to predict the penalty prior to the performance. You might want to review the Odyssey of the Mind Program Guide for further information; a link to it is available on the Resources page.
Will teams be able to see the time or a clock during their long-term performances?
- If there is a clock on the wall in their performance site, the team may look at it.
- Teams are permitted to have a watch or clock of their own, but it must not beep or vibrate to signal time.
- The team’s watch or clock is not official time.
- Teams will not be able to see the official timekeeper’s stopwatch.
- Teams should practice to develop a performance that takes fewer than 8 minutes.
What if a team has a mix of ages? For example, there could be 5 third-graders, 1 fifth-grader, and 1 kindergartener, whose attention span is a little less than the others. Would that be a penalty?
There is no penalty for a short attention span, but remember that the team’s score for “quality of performance” includes everything that happens on stage during the performance. Judges will evaluate the performance of all team members.
I received an email from NoVA Odyssey announcing the Regional Tournament, but the date isn’t the same as what is posted on the website. Which date is correct?
The Odyssey program in Northern Virginia is so popular (yay!) that we have five regional organizations and tournaments to make it possible for all of the teams to participate. On the right side of this website under the heading “Odyssey of the Mind Information,” you will see links to the other four regions: Region 11 NoVA Prime, Region 12 NoVA South, Region 14 Catoctin VOICES, and Region 16 Dulles VOICES. Also listed is the link to the State Association – VOICES (Virginia State Odyssey of the Mind).
Loudoun County is divided into Regions 14 and 16. Fairfax County, Arlington, and Alexandria are divided into Regions 9, 11, and 12. If you’re not sure whether your team is part of Region 9, 11, or 12, you can check our breakdown of NoVA schools to find where you are located.
Can a team with fewer than 5 members participate in the competition?
Yes. You might want to review the Odyssey of the Mind Program Guide for information about team size; a link to it is available on the Resources page.
What is a membership sign or team sign?
When a team is performing their 8-minute skit, a membership sign must be visible. The sign shows the official membership name and membership number. Please see the Odyssey of the Mind Program Guide for details; a link to it is available on the Resources page.
For teams competing at the NoVA North Regional Tournament, we recommend that you wait until the tournament schedule is posted to finish work on your membership sign in order to verify what your team’s official membership name and number is. For schools with multiple memberships, you will not be able to determine whether you are Team A or Team B and what your number is until then.
Are the problems different at each level—Regional, State, and Worlds?
The same long-term problems provided by CCI are used at all levels of competition. Spontaneous problems are different at each tournament; a team will never experience the same one at a competition.
If a team advances to the next level, they can use the same long-term solution or an entirely new solution. Keeping in mind that, at the next level, the team will be competing with teams that placed at their tournaments, they are encouraged to review their scores and decide if there are any elements that they might adjust to present the most effective solution.