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Updated Adult Spelling Bee Rules

posted Feb 27, 2017, 2:29 PM by Lawrence County Public Library   [ updated Feb 27, 2017, 2:44 PM ]
Rules of the Bee Hives

Teams

Each team will consist of a minimum of three and a maximum of five players.
All members must be adults (21 yrs. And older). All teams must have registered and paid their entry fee ($100/team) prior to competing.

Competition Format

Teams will participate in rounds (swarms).
  1. Teams will spell in the order registered for the Bee. Placement in the Bee will be determined by the order in which a team goes out. IE: first to misspell a word gets last place, etc.
  2. One of the judges pronounces word, gives definition, uses in a sentence, and pronounces word again. Teams may request alternate pronunciation.
  3. Team members collaborate on spelling the word.
  4. Words pronounced and defined as according to Oxford Concise Dict. Alternate pronunciation according to the “How to Speak Southern” book.
  5. These procedures and official rules govern the spelling bee. Disputes resolved by judges. No appeals, no pardons nor commuting of decisions awarded. Disputes resolved over the correct spelling, illegible handwriting, or any other question (no matter how good) –Judges’ decision is final.
Preliminary Rounds
  1. Each team allowed one minute in which to spell and write word on board.
  2. Teams confer on spelling. Word must be written legibly, neatly, and as large as possible.
  3. All teams cease writing when timer is sounded and MC directs team display its spelling of word.
Hive (team) Elimination

Teams’ failure to immediately write word given at end of the allotted minute counts as misspelled.
  1. Illegible or ambiguous writing counted misspelled
  2. Erasing word before directed counted misspelled.
  3. Judges determine correct spelling. Judges inform team if word is correctly spelled.
  4. Use of a ‘Stress-Bee-lief’ card in order to remain in competition allowed.
  5. Each round is over when all teams had opportunity to spell a word. Rounds continue until two teams are left. Eliminated teams may throw their (vocal) support to another team but cannot help in spelling,
  6. No electronic devices allowed
Stress-Bee-lief

Teams may purchase Stress-bee-lief cards. Audience members or sponsors or teams may purchase them for a team. Each team will receive one card of each to purchase for use during the bee. Stress-bee-lief  cards are purchased at time spelling word is given. Cards explained:

**Rebuzz  This one allows a team one misspelled word and avoid elimination. May purchase up to three.
*First Rebuzz $5.00      *Second Rebuzz $10.00   *Third Rebuzz  $15.00

**Buzz-off   This is a pass on spelling a word. May purchase up to three.
*First Buzz-off  $5.00   *Second Buzz-off  $10.00   *Third Buzz-Off  $15.00   

**Stinger  Allows a team to pass and choose another team who must try to spell the word passed. Only one stinger is allowed.
*Stinger  $20.00

**Bee-line  Allows one team member to contact via cell or choose one person  from audience for help spelling. Cell must be on speaker mode.
*Bee-line $20.00  

Final Round Elimination

When only two teams remain:
  1. One team misspells, the other team has a chance at same word
  2. If second team spells word correctly, another word is given that same team. 
  3. This continues until one team spells word(s) correctly or both teams spell both words incorrectly.
  4. A max 3 rounds is played. No one declared winner.
To determine the winner==Five words are called out. Teams are given two minutes in which to write  the words on a piece of paper.  The team w/ most correct answers-- WINS. OR a crossword puzzle will be given each team, 30 sec to complete; the team with most correct answers—WINS.

Voting for Best Name/Costume

Vote for your favorite costume/name at a cost of 50 cents/vote. Max times to vote—6.
Voting ends when final elimination begins.

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