Bad Event Coordinators

[quizbowl]

doing experimental at regionals was the entire basis of my opinion here. The event did not start until 9:00 exactly, but people got there at 8:50 and were allowed to start. We got there at nine, and were dumbfounded while several teams were already doing the experiment.

Which region? WLI?

Yeah. And it wasnt fun to just miss medaling, and what was worse is of the teams that medaled, i recognized at least four of them had started before us.

[zyzzyva980]

Man, it's never fun to have something like that happen, but you really can't control it all. Sometimes, not even the coaches can control it (Heck, my coach filed several complaints at state last year, and when reading off the awards, they conveniently forgot that we finished third). You can't do anything about it now, but you can do something about it later, as jander14indoor and packer-backer said. When you get the chance, volunteer to help, and make sure no one starts a thread like this again .

[lllazar]

I generally don't like to complain about coordinators, especially having been one myself, but I do feel that when volunteering to do the job, you should expect to have to become familiar with the rules and specifications for the events - to actually do some preparation. A few years ago there was a supervisor that was not checking a certain specification on WS planes. We appealed, and it was turned down on the grounds that "the supervisor was not aware of the rule prior to the start of the event." That's just bad. Really bad. I'm still a little bitter about that, three or four years later. It was the difference between 1st and 5th places - the top 4 teams were in violation of spec.

If your going to do something, you do it right. I'm sure your a magnificent coordinator, but not all are. And seeing as most of the kids doing the events probably know the events BETTER than the majority of regionals coordinators, and even some state directors, all appeals should be taken seriously. And i mean seriously to the point where the bias should be against the coordinator.

[kjhsscioly]

well, theoretically, the bias shouldn't be in any direction

regionals directors are not great where we go, but the state directors are always extremely knowledgeable, except some building proctors, who let too much slip

[lllazar]

Well yes, i was referring to regionals, because as much as i appreciate them, they should be understanding of the fact that we've worked and worked for 6+ months and that what we have to say is important.

[zyzzyva980]

I say we put whoever's in charge of Science Olympiad on "Undercover Boss"

[HannahD413]

At our state competition they had to throw Write-it-do-it out twice because the event coordinator could not run it correctly. The first year they actually allowed both the writers and the builder to be in a hallway together after the writers were done, and the second year they had different models for each team to build so there was a very bad standard of comparison.

At the same state competition they have an office so that if an event is run terribly wrong you can tell them. If enough people point it out they usually do something about it.

[JustDroobles]

At our state competition they had to throw Write-it-do-it out twice because the event coordinator could not run it correctly. The first year they actually allowed both the writers and the builder to be in a hallway together after the writers were done, and the second year they had different models for each team to build so there was a very bad standard of comparison.

At the same state competition they have an office so that if an event is run terribly wrong you can tell them. If enough people point it out they usually do something about it.

Then this year it was thrown out again in Division B because they used playing cards in the structure and gave different playing cards to each team. In Division B 1 point separated 2nd and 3rd place... that mistake may very well have cost Plymouth Christian a trip to nationals.

In 2008, I think it may have actually helped my team. Because of scheduling, we had a brand new doer for WIDI who turned out to be not-so-good the next year. Luckily my division wasn't thrown out the two times I competed in WIDI at state!

[HannahD413]

I do not see how they could possibly mess it up twice in three years, every other competition that I have heard of or been to has never had a problem with it.

[purplepeopleeater]

hmmm... know your rules!!! on my team, our coach sometimes gives us mini pop quizzes on our rules, so we KNOW what should be done, and then, if its content, we learn out side of it . like lots of people have said, always have the clarifications with you, and these people ARE volunteers... if youre tested over something not in the rules, but you know it, why complain? it gives u an advantage. and the DP state test last year was the same one as the year prior for us and we had the same people on the event. i like to complain alot, but, i havent run into many TERRIBLE proctors, most have been pretty on top of it.