FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS 

How much does the program cost?

As of the 2025-26 calendar year, the district still pays the national, regional, and state costs. The only costs that will be incurred will be supplies for the build sessions, things such as paint, possibly fabric, and other small misc items. Most teams are encouraged to reduce, reuse and recycle old items from home! Pizza parties do occur from time to time when the build sessions are longer.

What is the age/grade range for this? Our son is in Kindergarten and we're not sure if he's eligible to participate?

The age range is age 5-100! Starting them off young is a great idea. It helps them learn teamwork, practice problem-solving and thinking outside of the box. The little ones have a blast, and are so creative! They will learn from the program, and teams in grades K-2 that meet are effectively preparing for Division I. That is where they participate and get scored/place in a competitive environment. Grades K-2 do not get scored against one another just receive constructive and positive feedback from our regional judges. 

Do all the ages work together in a group, or is it separated by age?

It is separated by age/grade:

Primary teams include students in grades K-2.
Division I teams include kids in grades 3-5.
Division II teams include students in grades 6-8.
Division III teams include students in grades 9-12.

Is all the work done at the meetings, or do they bring projects home with them to do?

They definitely will bring props or other misc pieces of the solution home to work on from time to time. At times they may also need to meet virtually to discuss things that didn't get addressed at the meetings.

Do certain ages have to pick a certain problem?

Primary Teams which include students in grades K-2 are only eligible to do the primary problem. Students in Div I - III can select from problems 1-5.

How long are the meetings and are parents required to stay if it is at the school or the coaches house?

This depends on the team. Most meetings are 1.5-2 hours long. Parents are not required to stay but may be asked to stay and help on occasion if needed. 

Do we create our own team, or are they assigned?

The teams can be created or may be assigned if only a few students are signed up at one school. The goal of registration is to gauge how many students at each school are interested. Once that is determined, teams will be formed. However, many times the same teams will come back year after year because they love the program so much!

  How can a new coach sign up?

When you are registering your student, please note that you are willing to coach. If it is a non-parent who is willing to coach, please have them email us directly at scotiaootm@gmail.com. We have had GE Engineers coaching in previous years (with another parent as the co-coach). We would love to have you join our group of volunteer coaches! 

Is there a general weekly guide on how to run meetings or do we focus each meeting on the problem?

Please see the coaches page for the general guidelines on a month to month basis. Each meeting is focused on the Long-Term Problem Solution and hitting certain goals along the way. There are also monthly coaches meetings, workshops and a coaches training document that can be utilized. You'll never be left empty handed and will have a point of contact at your school to reach out to with questions. 

Is there a start date for meetings?

Meetings can begin as soon as teams are formed. We typically prepare for the first or second week of October.

What do I as a coach need for the first meeting?

1. Long-term problem choice(s)

2. Team-member contract

3. Parent contract

4. Spontaneous verbal problem

I only have the problem synopsis, where do I get the full problem?

This is accessible on the national OOTM website. Contact the district coordinator for the login information or a copy of the LT problem.

Not all my members can meet one day, do I still have a meeting?

Yes! We promote all team members attending all meetings, as Odyssey of the Mind is a team-based model program, but things happen! Hold that meeting :)

The kids need to change their costumes mid-performance, can they go without shoes?

No, foot coverings are mandatory. Your task is to ask them to think of outside of the box ways to change a costume while putting shoes on and off. This is a bit of a challenge for the little ones, but they CAN and WILL figure it out!

How many minutes should we spend between the Long-Term Problem and Spontaneous Problems each meeting?

Estimate around 15-20 minutes of spontaneous each meeting. The rest should be for going over the long-term problem.

I can't keep the kids focused at the meeting, what do I do?

This happens often, so know that you are NOT alone! Enlist a parent to help break them out into smaller groups. Just let the other parent know what you'd like to accomplish, give them a pen and paper, and have the kids go to a different area of the room or out into the hall. Sometimes a break mid-meeting (snack or exercise) is helpful! Get those wiggles out!

My team can't get a judge, are we going to be penalized?

We try diligently to provide one judge per team, but if we are unable to provide that, the coordinator can discuss waiving it. Let them know ASAP, Remember, ask co-workers, friends, post it on FB, IG, post in the group page too! We have 100+ members and many are Odyssey Alumni - they may want to help and just haven't been asked!

Competition volunteer - What do they have to do?

They are scheduled to volunteer around their students performance(s) and it can be anything from selling Odyssey goodies to directing people down a hall. It's simple, easy and fun!

Where do I find the FOUR forms the team needs for the competition?

All four forms can be located on the national Odyssey of the Mind website. You need login credentials for this site. Contact your district coordinator for the login information.

Can the lights be turned on and off during the teams performance?

This answer, along with many others can be found in the program guide, but the short answer is no. Lights will not be dimmed or turned off, although additional lighting can be brought in.

Can team members talk to each other during spontaneous problems?

It is dependent entirely on the type of spontaneous problem given to the students. Some spontaneous problems are non-verbal, some require one response at a time, and other problems require them to talk amongst one another to solve or present their spontaneous answer.

Can audience and/or judges be used as part of the performance - to ask questions, ask for volunteer, etc?

This answer, along with many others can be found in the program guide. During their competition time, teams may ask the audience for a reaction, such as applause, boos or laughter. However, if a team involves the audience in more than a general way, for example, specific dialogue or interaction between the team and a member of the audience, judges will assess an Outside Assistance penalty. Teams may not throw anything into the audience. Once competition time begins, team members may go into the audience and interact from there while the remaining team members are in the performance area. No one, including the announcer or any other judge, may read aloud to the audience any introduction or description of the team’s problem solution prior to the team’s performance. If the team wants something read, it may do so during its competition time.

Can household items and props be used without them being included in the total cost and $$ limit?

This answer, along with many others can be found in the program guide. There are some items exempt from cost, and the list is included in the program guide. Most items from home would have some cost associated, it would just be considered to have a yard sale value. For example, if I purchased a new iPod touch from the store it could cost around $180 - $200 but if have a used one from home, it could have a yard sale value of around $40-50, depending on the generation, etc.

Where do I find the program guide?

This is found under the members area on the national www.odysseyofthemind.com website. You will want to contact your district coordinator for the membership # if you have not done so yet.

Have a question but can't find the answer? Email us to submit one: scotiaootm@gmail.com. 

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