Odyssey of the MindOdyssey of the Mind

Coaches Training: Coaches Panel: Concrete Tips for Coaching Spontaneous

Speaker: Joy Volarich

Introduction

Team Scoring

Team ScoringTeam Scoring

Long Term 200 points

Style 50 points

Spontaneous 100 points

Team ScoringTeam Scoring

Spontaneous can make or break you…

My example from 2012 Regionals:Team Long Term Style Spont Total

A (Me) 171.58 (3rd) 38.2 (3rd) 100 (1st) 309.78

B 200 (1st) 45.15 61.97 307.12

C 164.46 50 (1st) 77.46 291.92

Scheduling

SchedulingScheduling

So…when your long term problem

solution starts to take over your meeting schedule, be sure to make time to continue practicing spontaneous!

Plus, it’s fun and gives the team a mental break.!

SchedulingSchedulingRecommend using 30 minutes per meeting, every meeting, for spontaneous

At least 2 problems with post-problem analysis session.

At beginning, mid-break, or end!

Extra problem as a reward

Types of Problems

Types of problemsTypes of problems

Verbal

Hands-on

Verbal/Hands-On

Your team will probably have a favorite, but need to practice all types!!

Resources

ResourcesResources

Region 12 website, under “Coaches” tab

ResourcesResources

Region 12 website, under “Coaches” tab

ResourcesResourcesExample:

1. Your problem is: Name as many points as you can. Ex. Fingers point.2.Your problem is: Name as many bears as you can. Ex. Teddy bear, bare naked, unbearable3. Your problem is: Name as many bills as you can. Ex. Electric bill, dentist's bill, Bill Cosby

Pros: 32 pages of short, easy examples

Cons: not many rules provided. Ex: time limit, scoring, etc.

ResourcesResources

Google other websites

Buy an OotM Book

Buy a Kit

Best- some combination of these.

Practice, Practice, Practice

Selecting ProblemsSelecting Problems

Lighten your workload: have your team parents provide problems (and snacks)

Keep extra problems on hand

Start easy, work up to more challenging

Supplies you will needSupplies you will need

Timer

Tablet paper/journal

Spontaneous supply kit

Solve the problemSolve the problem

Pretend you are at competition: follow the rules (no talking, etc.)

Read the problem, time them and score them, just as if you are the judge.

Solve the problemSolve the problem

Give them their scores

Post –problem discussion: What did you do well? What could you do better? How could you have scored higher? What lessons learned do you want to record?

Keep track of these strategies for them. Review each week. Ex.- identify connectors first.

Repeat difficult problems at another meeting

Mock TournamentMock Tournament

TJHSST

St. Andrew

Your own school, if multiple teams

Questions?