Coaching Tips

1. The most important role of the team coach is to encourage reading for enjoyment. Your good example and support are essential for the smooth operation of the BOB program.

2. Encourage parental support and interest by sending home a letter of introduction explaining the coach's role and plans for future meetings.

3. This competition is open to ALL readers, not just ELP students.  Teams should include any student who loves reading and wants to compete.

4. Teams should consist of at least two but no more than six readers.

5. Select a creative name for your team; pick something that will distinguish your team among others and reflect the personality of your school and students. Many teams create t-shirts to wear to the competition, but this isn't necessary or required.

6. Please allow students to choose the books from the list they want to read.  Not every student has to read every book; that's why they're a part of a team.  We support the American Library Association (ALA) Freedom to Read Statement. Students should have the right to read, or NOT to read, titles they wish.

7. If a student, parent, or coach thinks a book on the list is inappropriate, then we encourage you to invite them to NOT read that book.  Each book counts for 1/28th of the competition.  Omitting one book only removes 3.6% of the possible points.

The books on the list are there because they are diverse, award-winning books.  Concerned parties are welcome to contact the appropriate award committee with their concerns.  Please remember we do not choose the awards for these titles. However, we trust the committees of expert and knowledgeable literacy professionals at the state and national levels to determine that the titles have merit based on the award's particular criteria.

8. Coaches are responsible for monitoring the progress of their team and for encouraging each member to read as many of the books as possible.  You might want to meet over your students' lunch hour. Be creative and make it fun!

9. Communicate with your students! Emails from IHSBOB should be shared with your students when appropriate. You might want to collect your students' email addresses into a distribution group for easy forwarding.

10. At team meetings, let each student share important information (setting, plot, characters, theme) about their book with their teammates.  Search online for coaching strategies for battle of the books competitions. 

11. Stage mock battles and ask questions from the books. We will send out a practice test to teams so they can familiarize themselves with the kinds of questions they'll encounter in the actual competitions.

12. Pay attention to DEADLINES! There are only a few, but they are hard and fast. With so many teams competing and a tight timeline, we have to enforce these deadlines. Failure to meet any of the deadlines takes your team out of the competition.  WE DON'T WANT THAT! Please make sure you are aware and meet all deadlines so your readers can enjoy the competition.

13. Explore the website fully. Please contact IHSBOB at the email address below if you still have questions that you didn't find the answers to on the website.