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2005-2006 Program Guide Changes

Returning coaches and teams --- I know one of your "favorite" OotM activities is reading the program guide each year. After all, it's the same as last year, right?

This year there are a few changes that may affect your team. Below is a list of the more significant changes:

• Page 16 - Multi-school teams may choose which school name they wish to use for registering their team, but may only compete at one regional tournament, even though the multiple schools may be located in more than one region.
• Page 22 - Long Term Scoring #2 - If a team does not complete one of the scoring categories, it will receive a score of zero for that category. Other scoring categories that require this to occur may still be scored. For example, a problem requires a scene to be set in a specific time period that includes a poem to be scored. If the time period is wrong the scene gets zero score but the poem is still eligible for full score.
• Page 23 - Style Scoring - Team must present 3 copies of the style form to the Staging Area Judge.
• Page 24 - Style - Free Choice of Team - Anything may be selected by the team for free choice Style categories. Team can choose to be judged on the creativity of a specific element in the problem, even though they are judged for overall creativity of the performance. For example, if a team reads a poem during its performance, and it is not specifically scored for creativity, it may select creativity of the poem as a free choice style category.
• Page 24 - Clarifications - Anyone requesting a clarification must cite the rule in question. Abuse of the clarification system may result in an Unsportsmanlike Conduct Penalty. Read and reread the problem and program guide completely before submitting a clarification request. If the information is clearly presented, you will be instructed to read the problem and Program Guide again, so please do not submit a request.
• Page 25 - Team-specific clarifications - In some cases, the answer to a team-specific clarification may be distributed to judges; however, they are never made available to other teams unless the answer is "no" and other teams will benefit by knowing that specific action is not allowed. If a team receives a clarification allowing an element, but the performance does not match what was approved, the judges will disregard the clarification. Be sure the request is specific to a part of the solution.
• Page 27 - Scoring Spontaneous - Defines the judges responses. "Inappropriate, give another response" requires the team member to give a different response before moving on. "Unclear, clarify or give another response" if the judge is unclear of the answer. "Duplicate, give another response" requires the team member to modify the answer given or respond in another way.
• Page 29 - On Competition Day - Teams are welcome to look at the competition site before they are to report to the Check-In Area, but are not allowed to rehearse on site on any competition day.
• Page 30 - Checklist for Competing in Long-Term - Items examined and/or collected by the Staging Area Judge - 3 completed style forms. One Membership Sign.
• Page 36 - Rules That Apply to All Problems - If a team omits a portion of a solution required for score in Long-Term or Style, it will not be penalized, but it will receive a score of zero for that portion. Scoring categories that rely on that portion taking place are eligible for score. In other words, if the specific scoring element is presented it is eligible for score.
• Page 38 - #15 -Any playbill to be distributed to judges, including those which may be required as a scoring element in the long-term problem solution, must be conveyed through the Staging Area Judge, who will pass it on to the other judges.
• Page 38 - #17 - No one, including the announcer or any other judge, may read aloud to the audience any introduction...
• Page 39 - #19 Pre-made audio or video enhancements - Duplicates, no matter how they are produced, are not considered to be created by the team. For example, downloading music, printing or copying pages, etc., is not considered team-created and may not be used for scored elements unless modified or combined to make something new.
• Page 40 - Damage to the floor - The team is financially responsible for any repairs necessary. Stain on a carpet - 25 point penalty, Carpet Tear - 50 point penalty
• Page 45 - Over Cost Limit - If a team exceeds the cost limit, it WILL be penalized.
• Page 47 - Exempt Items - Portable Chalkboards.
• Page 51 - Glossary - Prop - Objects one or more characters use as part of the performance, that may be carried onstage by the character or picked up for use from the stage set. For example, if a team member answers a telephone, the telephone is a prop. If a character walks on stage holding a sword and uses it as a part of the performance, the sword is a prop as well as part of that costume. Props do not include items that are picked up only as part of a team's setup or to change the scene. Props do not include required vehicles, structures, devices, etc, that operate and/or perform a function for required score.
• Page 51 - Glossary - Stage Set - All tangible elements on the performance set except props, characters, and costumes. The team sign may be part of the stage set, but ONLY if it is not scored separately as a style element. Anything picked up and used by a character during the performance is considered a prop, not part of the stage set.

As always, it is essential to read and understand the program guide. I am always amazed at teams and/or coaches that come to competition with a solution that does not meet a specification in the program guide.