Getting (a LOT) better

[kaurs]

It's a bit late to chip in, but I hope I can help people in newer/fresher teams.

A few things my team does that I believe makes us very consistent in terms of doing well:
- The Grind: 3 hrs/day, 5 days/week, 5 hrs on fridays, no joke, of course we don't all come all the time, but people generally come at least 4/5 days of the week, I think the grind really is the key to success, top teams aren't "smarter" by any means, they just spend more time as a whole
- Communication: Everyone knows what's going on at all times. There's no forgetting to bring something, not doing something, everyone collaborates and works towards a common goal.
- Avoiding bombs: I find that the best way to overall improve scores is to not bomb events. Bombing can easily raise your score by dozens of points, while making a 4th place go to a 1st place is basically negligible in improving your score.
- Team Spirit!: no one wants to be *that* person that drags the team score down, it's a terrible feeling, we also have many team traditions, events, fundraisers, etc. and once you spend so much time with people it really just becomes a big family
- Teamwork: overall support for each other in various aspects: making tests/quizzes (especially code test, WIDIs, fermi tests, ID quizzes, etc. that requires less work/knowledge than an actual test)
- Invitationals for unexperienced members: helps people who are newer to adjust, and so when it is their time to compete, they are more prepared
- Practice tests: if you practice you get better

Thanks! The only thing is, how do I express that I want to work this hard as a team to my team? Maybe for the communication thing I could ask my coach to ask the team to make accounts on here and we could get a team forum? As for the grind, I dont thnk everyone in the team will agree. I would certainly love to do that, but many people are in multiple clubs after school.

[TheCrazyChemist]

It's a bit late to chip in, but I hope I can help people in newer/fresher teams.

A few things my team does that I believe makes us very consistent in terms of doing well:
- The Grind: 3 hrs/day, 5 days/week, 5 hrs on fridays, no joke, of course we don't all come all the time, but people generally come at least 4/5 days of the week, I think the grind really is the key to success, top teams aren't "smarter" by any means, they just spend more time as a whole
- Communication: Everyone knows what's going on at all times. There's no forgetting to bring something, not doing something, everyone collaborates and works towards a common goal.
- Avoiding bombs: I find that the best way to overall improve scores is to not bomb events. Bombing can easily raise your score by dozens of points, while making a 4th place go to a 1st place is basically negligible in improving your score.
- Team Spirit!: no one wants to be *that* person that drags the team score down, it's a terrible feeling, we also have many team traditions, events, fundraisers, etc. and once you spend so much time with people it really just becomes a big family
- Teamwork: overall support for each other in various aspects: making tests/quizzes (especially code test, WIDIs, fermi tests, ID quizzes, etc. that requires less work/knowledge than an actual test)
- Invitationals for unexperienced members: helps people who are newer to adjust, and so when it is their time to compete, they are more prepared
- Practice tests: if you practice you get better

Thanks! The only thing is, how do I express that I want to work this hard as a team to my team? Maybe for the communication thing I could ask my coach to ask the team to make accounts on here and we could get a team forum? As for the grind, I dont thnk everyone in the team will agree. I would certainly love to do that, but many people are in multiple clubs after school.

The thing with getting the message out is that everybody on the team needs to be very invested in science olympiad. If they aren't, then they just won't grind. But even if a few people on your team grind, it'll probably make your team better.

[Rossyspsce]

It's a bit late to chip in, but I hope I can help people in newer/fresher teams.

A few things my team does that I believe makes us very consistent in terms of doing well:
- The Grind: 3 hrs/day, 5 days/week, 5 hrs on fridays, no joke, of course we don't all come all the time, but people generally come at least 4/5 days of the week, I think the grind really is the key to success, top teams aren't "smarter" by any means, they just spend more time as a whole
- Communication: Everyone knows what's going on at all times. There's no forgetting to bring something, not doing something, everyone collaborates and works towards a common goal.
- Avoiding bombs: I find that the best way to overall improve scores is to not bomb events. Bombing can easily raise your score by dozens of points, while making a 4th place go to a 1st place is basically negligible in improving your score.
- Team Spirit!: no one wants to be *that* person that drags the team score down, it's a terrible feeling, we also have many team traditions, events, fundraisers, etc. and once you spend so much time with people it really just becomes a big family
- Teamwork: overall support for each other in various aspects: making tests/quizzes (especially code test, WIDIs, fermi tests, ID quizzes, etc. that requires less work/knowledge than an actual test)
- Invitationals for unexperienced members: helps people who are newer to adjust, and so when it is their time to compete, they are more prepared
- Practice tests: if you practice you get better

Thanks! The only thing is, how do I express that I want to work this hard as a team to my team? Maybe for the communication thing I could ask my coach to ask the team to make accounts on here and we could get a team forum? As for the grind, I dont thnk everyone in the team will agree. I would certainly love to do that, but many people are in multiple clubs after school.

The thing with getting the message out is that everybody on the team needs to be very invested in science olympiad. If they aren't, then they just won't grind. But even if a few people on your team grind, it'll probably make your team better.

Everything for team placements at my school is individual results leading up to states. If you don't want to grind that's fine, but with that comes not being on the top team, unless you place consistently better than everyone else in your events. Generally, the younger students are eager to prove themselves, while seniors have dedicated enough time to know what it takes to be good, while still having to defend their spots from the freshblood. Practice tests, as well as working with local offices or unis who specialize in a field related to an event really helps boost our team as well

[Raven]

Thanks! The only thing is, how do I express that I want to work this hard as a team to my team? Maybe for the communication thing I could ask my coach to ask the team to make accounts on here and we could get a team forum? As for the grind, I dont thnk everyone in the team will agree. I would certainly love to do that, but many people are in multiple clubs after school.

The thing with getting the message out is that everybody on the team needs to be very invested in science olympiad. If they aren't, then they just won't grind. But even if a few people on your team grind, it'll probably make your team better.

Everything for team placements at my school is individual results leading up to states. If you don't want to grind that's fine, but with that comes not being on the top team, unless you place consistently better than everyone else in your events. Generally, the younger students are eager to prove themselves, while seniors have dedicated enough time to know what it takes to be good, while still having to defend their spots from the freshblood. Practice tests, as well as working with local offices or unis who specialize in a field related to an event really helps boost our team as well

It needs to be established early in the year how much of a commitment Scioly really is (and the benefits that can be reaped). Competitive invitationals are a good way to introduce that element of "oh, this is what it takes". Regularly scheduled practices, doesn't have to be too often, but with enough attendance so that people can see other people working hard and therefore think to themselves that they too, should probably work hard, may help. Also possibly agreeing on what work to finish by the next time you meet so there's a real deadline and tangible results from each person can help keep people accountable. A few team meetings early in the year in which there is a speech/discussion on what's going to happen could keep everyone on the same page and maintain team cohesiveness. Just a few ideas.

[kaurs]

What do you guys think would be a reasonable goal for next year?
My team is in Michigan, and I am in the great lakes bay region - I think its region 4.

We got 2nd at regionals/ 9 teams
We got 40th at states/60 teams

[kaurs]

What do you guys think would be a reasonable goal for next year?
My team is in Michigan, and I am in the great lakes bay region - I think its region 4.

We got 2nd at regionals/ 9 teams
We got 40th at states/60 teams

Not sure if this should go here or somewhere else...

[eagerlearner102]

It's a bit late to chip in, but I hope I can help people in newer/fresher teams.

A few things my team does that I believe makes us very consistent in terms of doing well:
- The Grind: 3 hrs/day, 5 days/week, 5 hrs on fridays, no joke, of course we don't all come all the time, but people generally come at least 4/5 days of the week, I think the grind really is the key to success, top teams aren't "smarter" by any means, they just spend more time as a whole
- Communication: Everyone knows what's going on at all times. There's no forgetting to bring something, not doing something, everyone collaborates and works towards a common goal.
- Avoiding bombs: I find that the best way to overall improve scores is to not bomb events. Bombing can easily raise your score by dozens of points, while making a 4th place go to a 1st place is basically negligible in improving your score.
- Team Spirit!: no one wants to be *that* person that drags the team score down, it's a terrible feeling, we also have many team traditions, events, fundraisers, etc. and once you spend so much time with people it really just becomes a big family
- Teamwork: overall support for each other in various aspects: making tests/quizzes (especially code test, WIDIs, fermi tests, ID quizzes, etc. that requires less work/knowledge than an actual test)
- Invitationals for unexperienced members: helps people who are newer to adjust, and so when it is their time to compete, they are more prepared
- Practice tests: if you practice you get better

Raven, where would these practice sessions be held? In the library, science classroom, or at the team member's house?
What type of traditions and events do you do?

[Raven]

It's a bit late to chip in, but I hope I can help people in newer/fresher teams.

A few things my team does that I believe makes us very consistent in terms of doing well:
- The Grind: 3 hrs/day, 5 days/week, 5 hrs on fridays, no joke, of course we don't all come all the time, but people generally come at least 4/5 days of the week, I think the grind really is the key to success, top teams aren't "smarter" by any means, they just spend more time as a whole
- Communication: Everyone knows what's going on at all times. There's no forgetting to bring something, not doing something, everyone collaborates and works towards a common goal.
- Avoiding bombs: I find that the best way to overall improve scores is to not bomb events. Bombing can easily raise your score by dozens of points, while making a 4th place go to a 1st place is basically negligible in improving your score.
- Team Spirit!: no one wants to be *that* person that drags the team score down, it's a terrible feeling, we also have many team traditions, events, fundraisers, etc. and once you spend so much time with people it really just becomes a big family
- Teamwork: overall support for each other in various aspects: making tests/quizzes (especially code test, WIDIs, fermi tests, ID quizzes, etc. that requires less work/knowledge than an actual test)
- Invitationals for unexperienced members: helps people who are newer to adjust, and so when it is their time to compete, they are more prepared
- Practice tests: if you practice you get better

Raven, where would these practice sessions be held? In the library, science classroom, or at the team member's house?
What type of traditions and events do you do?

Thankfully, we have a few very dedicated and supportive coaches that are willing to take turns to stay after school and supervise practice. Practice is held in three separate science classrooms that are adjacent to each other. As for traditions and events, we have a social chair that arranges team events, e.g. capture the flag, potlucks, bowling, skating, etc. as fun activities throughout the year. Traditions are usually individual to each event (e.g. everyone in an event wears the same accessory to every competition).