WSO Policies

PRE-REGISTRATION

All teams must pre-register before Regional or State Tournaments. The name of the teacher/coach, and the events in which the school will compete must be provided. The deadline will be approximately one month before the Regional Competition and one month before State Competition and is strictly applied. It is not necessary, however, to name the students who will compete in each event as these names can be changed and listed up to and including the day of the event. Events with insufficient pre-registration may be dropped from the program. Schools will be notified of any deletions as early as possible so they may plan accordingly. The time of each of the events is noted on the Schedule of Events. Please note that those events scheduled from 9:30-10:30, for example, begin promptly at 9:30. Students must get to the proper location (room, arena or field) and be on time to compete in a specific contest.

FINAL REGISTRATION FORM

On the day of the Wisconsin Science Olympiad Tournament, coaches must first submit a Final Registration Form that identifies the Team members. This list is used to verify names for final awards. The school’s Principal and the Team’s coach must sign this list. Teams will not be permitted to compete without this form being on file at WSO. This Final Registration Form may be printed from this link: Click here

MEDICAL TREATMENT RELEASE FORM

Coaches will produce a Permission Slip/Medical Release Form for each member of the Team including alternates and assistants. These Forms will be submitted for inspection and check-off at registration/coaches meeting before the competition. Teams will not be permitted to compete without these forms being in possession of the Team Coach. It is also suggested that Medical Treatment Release forms be required of all adults involved with the school SO Team. This Permission Slip/Medical Release Form may be printed from this link: Click here

PUBLICITY WAIVER

Coaches will submit a Publicity Waiver signed by the Principal of the School at the Team Registration and Coaches Meeting the morning of the Tournament. This waiver gives Wisconsin Science Olympiad permission to take photos and videos of all attendees for publicity purposes for Wisconsin Science Olympiad. This Publicity Waiver form may be printed from this link: Click here

TIEBREAKER FOR FINAL TEAM SCORES

In the event of a tie in the cumulative final scores for two or more teams at the State Olympiad, the "tiebreaker" will be determined by which one Team earned the most Gold Medals. Additional ties will be determined by the most Silver Medals and then Bronze Medals and then 4^th place finishes, etc, until the point where the tie has been broken.

INVITATION OF MULTIPLE TEAMS TO NATIONAL SCIENCE OLYMPIAD

When more than one Team from Wisconsin Division C is invited from the State Science Olympiad to the National Science Olympiad, the second place Team in the overall score for that year’s WSO will be invited to represent Wisconsin with the first place Team. If they choose not to attend the NSO, the third place Team will be invited, etc. National Science Olympiad policy is that only one Team per school is permitted to represent their State at the National Science Olympiad Finals. This, therefore, is the WSO policy, too.

LIMITATIONS ON SCIENCE OLYMPIAD FACILITIES AND COMPETITIONS

At Wisconsin Science Olympiad events, the facilities provided are "in the play" and considered to be equal to all teams. If a school's team equipment is lost or damaged during competition, Wisconsin Science Olympiad or the facilities holds no responsibility.

LIMITING ENTRY INTO SCIENCE OLYMPIAD EVENTS

WSO Directors and/or Event Supervisors at the Wisconsin Science Olympiad maintain the option of excluding entry into the event to all but Team members. Several events, particularily the build events, are viewable by the public.

INTERFERENCE POLICY

Penalty points (points deducted from final Team score) may be assessed for the following:

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 (5) 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.

For a student, coach, teacher, chaperon or parent interfering with or disrupting the conduct of an event, ten (10) penalty points may be assessed.

CHEATING

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 zero points. 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.

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 complete, that Team will be disqualified from the event and be awarded zero points for that event. 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.

VANDALISM

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.

Each sponsoring school must pay the cost of repairing damage from any act of vandalism. A school must pay this restitution before it can register a team for the Science Olympiad in a subsequent year.

Vandalism means a deliberate action that 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, Event Supervisors, volunteers and spectators.

CONSTRUCTED DEVICES

This policy applies to events that require a device to be constructed and brought to the Wisconsin Science Olympiad. The students involved with the design and construction of the device will receive no physical construction assistance from any parent, coach or other non-school member. Parent and coach assistance can consist only of technical verbal advice. In Wisconsin other students at the school are encouraged to help with the actual construction of the devices.

Please be advised that at the NSO the lead student must be present and operate the device when it is operated for scoring. This does not apply in Wisconsin. Consult NSO policies for further information.

THE WISCONSIN SCIENCE OLYMPIAD LOGO

The Wisconsin Science Olympiad Logo and the trademarked Science Olympiad name may not be used by anyone for any commercial purposes without the expressed written permission of the Wisconsin Science Olympiad organization. This means that no items (printed, video, or any other merchandise) may be sold with the Wisconsin Science Olympiad Logo or Science Olympiad name on it without prior written permission.

The reigning Champion Team in Wisconsin is given permission to use the Wisconsin Science Olympiad Logo at the National Science Olympiad for that year only. That same current reigning WSO Team may continue to use the WSO logo for one (1) calendar year. This permission does extend into the next year’s Wisconsin State Competition where they are permitted to display the WSO logo but only for that year.

EVENT RULES POLICY

Teams may not interpret the rules so that they have an advantage over the rules or another team. Unless otherwise stated, it is generally understood that, if notes, resources, calculators, actions etc., are not excluded, they are permitted unless they violate the spirit of the problem. Except, no direct or electronic communication is permitted with external resources (including people, places, etc.) during the competition. This effectively excludes the use of any computer, PDA, calculator, wireless devices, phones, etc. that have access to external communication or data retrieval during an event, unless specifically permitted.

COMBINING SMALL SCHOOLS

Smaller schools may combine students to form one Team if total enrollment of the combined schools would not be greater than 300 students.

Rationale for this includes:

In Wisconsin there are many schools with small enrollments. Even though individual students may be outstanding, there is not the base available to form a Team with depth. This would enable the students to feel they have a chance of equal competition to achieve national recognition.

In a smaller school, where the teacher has the complete science program, it is more difficult to be involved with all the science enhancement activities such as Jr. Academy of Science, Science Fairs and Science Olympiad. By combining schools, a teacher could divide the responsibility and give the students greater flexibility. This would also allow communication between schools to encourage academic cooperation.

HOME-SCHOOLED STUDENTS

Home-schooled students are absolutely encouraged to form Teams and participate in Science Olympiad. Several Home School Teams represented their State at the National Tournaments! Due to differences in state laws/regulations, criteria governing home school participation in Science Olympiad are established by each state. Wisconsin accepts home schooled Teams if they are recognized and registered as a Home School by the State of Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction.

LIMIT ON TEAM MEMBERS FROM OTHER SCHOOLS

The Science Olympiad's written policies states that "the students must be from the membership school (recruiting from neighboring schools is not permitted)" and that the principal must sign the final Team registration form stating, "that all of the above students are active members of our school". Note that in all cases it says school not school district.

WRISTBANDS

Coaches will be provided with 15 Wisconsin Science Olympiad official wristbands at the Coach’s meeting held before the Events begin. These wristbands are to be worn by the 15 competing Team members from that school during the course of the competition. A student not wearing an official WSO wristband valid for that year will not be allowed to participate in the competition.

EVENT SUPERVISOR CONTACT WITH HIGH SCHOOL SO TEAMS

An Event Supervisor may not in any way work with an individual high school Wisconsin Science Olympiad team. An Event Supervisor may work with Science Olympiad students and coaches at a workshop or clinic at a neutral site where many high schools are invited. The penalty for violation of this policy is disqualification of the Science Olympiad Team from the Tournament. Students and coaches are encouraged to communicate with the Event Supervisors by using the WSO Messageboard. Questions with their answers will be posted here to enable every team to benefit. Event Supervisors will post additional information on their specific event’s page, also.

TEAM LIMIT – STATE COMPETITION

Each Team may enter up to fifteen (15) students from the same school. If permitted by the State Director, schools may field multiple Teams. Each Team must have a separate coach and a separate paid membership to WSO. A school is considered to be a separate school if it has a separate administrator. For Division B, only five (5) ninth graders and for Division C, only seven (7) twelfth graders are allowed on the Team. Students must be from the membership school (recruiting from neighboring schools is not permitted). Ninth grade students can compete at only one level.

EVENT PARTICIPATION LIMIT

For the individual State events, a Team may enter no more than one (1) student team (see each event for number of students permitted per team) in any one event. However, if Regional or State tournaments are small or don't host all events, directors may choose to announce that two (2) student teams may participate in individual events. For the team events, such as the "Pentathlon" (when held), a team may enter no more than one, four (4) person team. If a second individual or team from the same Team is entered, the second score will be disqualified regardless of how they placed. Aside from these limitations, Teams may enter as many or as few events as they wish. Teams are not required to provide the maximum number of participants listed unless the Event specifically so states. They will, however, be at a disadvantage if they choose this option for any event.

An individual student may participate in no more events than there are sections for the competition. In other words, a four-section competition permits a student to enter a maximum of four events. A five-section competition permits a maximum of five events.

SCORING OF EVENTS

Wisconsin Science Olympiad Division C State Competition uses an 11 point scoring system. The school Team that earns the best score in each Event is awarded 11 Team points. The second best score, 10 points; the third best, 9 points; the fourth best, 8 points; the fifth best, 7 points; the sixth best, 6 points; the seventh best, 5 points; the eighth best, 4 points; and the ninth best, 3 points. A Team scoring lower than ninth (9^th) place has three possibilities for earning points. If the Team fails to show for the Event or is disqualified, they earn zero points. If they just show up (and remain for the entire event and make some effort) or do poorly at the Event, they will earn 1 point. If they participate in the Event and impress the Event Staff with their ability, if they do well but show limited background, if something unforeseen lowers their score, if one of so many intangibles causes a lower score; at the discretion of the Event Supervisor, they may be awarded 3 points.

The total of the Team points earned in all Events will determine the ranking among all Teams. The highest numerical total is best.

Athletic-style medals will be given for each Event at the Awards Ceremony. In addition, championship trophies will be awarded to the top three Division C school Teams totaling the most points at the State Competition. The top Team will be invited to attend the National Science Olympiad Tournament.

Division C (High School)

REQUIRED FORMS, POLICIES AND COMMUNICATIONS

REQUIRED FORMS