Getting Ready for Tournament Confident Kids in an Amazing State of Creativity

2 Tournament Day Tips DI tournaments are very busy places and have many activities going on a one time, if you are prepared, your team will navigate the day with more confidence. Alert friends and family to the time your team is competing, make sure they know the place, the challenge your team is presenting, and make sure they know the school and team name. Arrive to the school at least one hour early, unload props, and then park. Parents may move props around, but may not fix or alter them in any way.

Depending upon the time of day you are competing, you may want to ask a team parent to provide snacks or have the team bring sack lunches Bring band-aids, Tylenol, and plenty of water. Ask your team “What happens if something breaks?” Then, “How can you fix it?” The goal is to get them to bring whatever they need to bring to fix anything! Your Challenge may be sharing gym space with other challenges. Scope out where your challenge is before you bring in props. 3 More Tips

4 1.Check into the site 20 minutes prior to your performance time, a prep area appraiser will greet you, and speak to the team to relax them. Please let this interaction take place without your input. 2.Once the prep area appraiser is finished with the team, they will move to the launch area. Parents are allowed to move props into the launch area. 3.The team will be asked if they will allow photography and/or video. 4.The team will be introduced, and will be asked if they are ready to begin. Central Challenge Overview

5 5.Once “You may begin” is announced, the team moves their set into the performance area. Set up must happen within the allowed performance time. 6.After your team begins, appraisers will be moving around them to make sure they hear the story. 7.After the team performs, the appraisers will ask them questions about their presentation 8.Then team parents can help clear the performance area.

6 Traffic Flow for Team 0. Team checks into Prep Area 20 min prior to performance 3b. Team discusses solution with Appraisers

7 5 copies of Challenge paperwork 1 copy of Expense Report 2 copies of Declaration of Independence –One for Central Challenge –One for Instant Challenge –All team members must be listed (even ones that quit –All team managers must sign Team Sign – so Appraisers don’t confuse you with another team. Remember to Bring

8 Paperwork Please ensure the Team has all forms ready at check-in – Tournament Data Form – Declaration of Independence – Expense Report Team’s responsibility for legible and logical forms – It is okay for the Team Manager to use the Kid’s own words to write/type forms for elementary teams – Middle and secondary teams must fill out their own forms! – The Team should to read their forms and make certain everything is clear Appraisers will have a maximum of 2 minutes to read the forms - make sure they are clear & precise Appraisers seldom have time to look at, let alone thoroughly read, attachments Have extra copies and backups of paperwork

9 Appraiser Perspective Appraisers will appraise what your forms tell them to appraise! Please be concise and be specific – use simple identifiers: “girl in bluebird costume” rather than “Susie” For side trips, it helps for appraisers to know when the side trip happens, and not to have to score two items that are happening simultaneously – Have your team choose a back-up side trip, in case they list one that the prep appraiser says is not eligible (already scored elsewhere, to difficult to separate from other items) Double and triple-check paperwork to make certain all questions are answered properly The easier you make it for the appraisers, the more they will see in your performance!