Coaching Tips

Coaching Tips for Science Olympiad

1. Read through the event rules thoroughly with the students and understand the expectations of the event.

2. Make a list of the reading and study materials that will be required.  Plan trips to the library or bookstore. . For events like Amphibians, books should be checked out from the library or purchased, a field trip to a museum could be lined up, a local expert might be located who can answer questions unanswered by the books.

3. Make a list of equipment that will be needed for lab or build-it events.  Many of the materials can be found in the family home while other materials like a microscope or balance may need to be borrowed. (For more info look at Buying Materials page)

4. Arrange meeting times with the students to get together and practice for the event.  Built-it events are a good opportunity to introduce students to basic hand tools, construction techniques and shop safety.  For a lab event, a coach can put together sample problems to give the student a feel for competition.  When many students are preparing for the same event, the students themselves can pose sample problems for each other easing the work load on the coach. 

5. Insist that each student keep a study notebook to organize and summarize their research and findings.

6. The event coaches are not alone in their efforts.  The other event coaches are willing to share tips and techniques.  Although the students may compete, the coaches collaborate to increase the quality of the competition. Call around, get in contact with other coaches.  Or try the internet at www.soinc.org and find the coaches’ sections.

7. In preparation for many events, the coach can be a good sounding board or devil’s advocate.  Challenging the students to look at issues and problems from unique perspectives or unconventional angles can help them explore their topic in greater depth.  For example, the Metric Mastery event may ask students to measure and calculate the area of a piece of cardboard.  Ask students to try and calculate the area of the cardboard both by estimating and by measuring.

8. Finally, some events have more students than there are spots available.  In this situation the coach needs to put together an intramural or other way to pick the students to compete in the event.  The remaining students might be assigned to another school team or find space in under-represented events.