COACH’S HANDBOOK
2016-2017
2016-2017
COACH'S ORIENTATION
Welcome to the 2016-2017 Decathlon year!!!
This handbook has been prepared to help you in preparing for the 2017 ARIZONA ACADEMIC DECATHLON competitions. Each coach is strongly encouraged to arrange for wide participation of students in his/her own school. Nine students eventually make up the Decathlon team which will represent your school at the Regional competition, but you should have your own mini-competitions within your school involving many students. Remember, you need to have students who will be able to move up as a regular team member in emergency situations. Involve as many students and faculty as possible. Expand the academic decathlon philosophy of encouraging, recognizing, and rewarding academic endeavor; foster the important team concept in your school.
The following pages will provide information concerning the support levels, the schedules, the events and scoring procedures for the Arizona Academic Decathlon during the 2016-2017 school year.
PAGE
What Is The Academic Decathlon? 2
Who Is Involved? 3, 4
Composition Of Each Region 5
Schedule Of 2016 Competitions 6
Calendar of Events and Deadlines...... 7
Participation Policies 8
Student Eligibility
Team Composition 9
Computation Of Student’s Grade Point Average 10-12
Registration Regulations 13
Verification Of Eligibility Procedures 13
Completion Of Team Entry Process 13
Student Forms (SAMPLES ONLY)
Registration 14
Code Of Behavior 15
Interview Resume 16
Parent Consent For Medical Care For A Minor 17
Regional Competition Schedule(may vary from region to region) 18
Test Procedures And Scoring
Essay 19
Speech 20
Interview 21
Written Tests 22
Calculator Guidelines...... 23
Super Quiz 24
Awards Distribution And Scholarships 25-28
Questions/Answers 29-30
WHAT IS THE ACADEMIC DECATHLON?
The Academic Decathlon program promotes student achievement in public, private and parochial high schools. Decathlon activities provide opportunity for students to realize the potential of their intellectual ability and to appreciate the intrinsic value of academic pursuit.
The Academic Decathlon, like its ancient Greek counterpart, consists of ten events. Unlike the Greek Decathlon, however, this is an academic, rather than an athletic, competition and a team competition as well as one for individuals. In a typical day-long Decathlon, high school freshmen, sophomores, juniors and seniors are tested in seven areas: economics, art, language and literature, mathematics, music, social science, and the Super Quiz. In addition, the students amass points in three communication events: the prepared and the impromptu speech event, the oral interview event, and the essay writing event. The Decathlon concludes with the Super Quiz Public Relay and the “regular” Super Quiz team event.
The Academic Decathlon has three main thrusts: 1) to overcome intellectual mediocrity through intellectual competitiveness; 2) to combat academic over-specialization by broadening academic horizons; 3) to promote the ability to communicate.
By encouraging students to compete for awards and recognition academically, just as athletes do physically, the Decathlon provides an antidote to intellectual apathy and under-achievement. In this major thrust, the Decathlon has already proven successful -- as evidenced by the annually growing interest and participation in the Decathlon program.
The second thrust works to remedy the modern dilemma in which we have engineering specialists who know little about the humanities, medical specialists who cannot write a coherent report about their findings, fine arts specialists who lack knowledge of the sciences. We need more generalists -- to tie together, to see relationships between, and to apply combinations of specialities for the benefit of mankind. The Academic Decathlon recognizes the individual winners in each of its events. However, the largest monetary awards and the highest recognition go to the overall Decathlon winners -- the generalists whose combined scores for all 10 events bring them to the topmost ranks of the champions. This is the Decathlon's way of de-emphasizing over-specialization.
The lack of ability to communicate is one of the basic causes for trouble between both men and nations. To explore the discoveries of scientists, to promote peace, to maintain harmony around us as individuals, we must all be able to communicate with each other, both in writing and in speech. The Academic Decathlon devotes three of its ten events to communication. Young people all over the country work through the school year to acquire the skills in communication that will enable them to score well in Decathlon tests of speech making, essay writing, and conversation. Once acquired, these skills will remain with them throughout their lifetimes.
The Decathlon program provides incentive for the average, as well as for the brilliant student, to become interested in intellectual activities; it opens the door to academic achievement for all. It gives to scholars similar public recognition and status that has traditionally been afforded outstanding athletes.
High school teams participate in building, regional and state competitions to represent their state at the national level.
The Arizona Academic Decathlon Association (AADA), which is made up of representatives of the business community, civic organizations, and concerned individuals, has been formed to promote Decathlon programs throughout the state. Contributions to the Decathlon program help students and are tax deductible under IRS 501 (c) (3) provisions.
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WHO IS INVOLVED?
I. Governing Board and Administration should:
* Give encouragement to students and teaching staff
* Plan for and provide financial support for staff assistance, team and coach travel to competitions, and necessary study materials
* Serve as volunteers at competition events within the district; volunteer to assist as volunteer workers at your Regional Competition Day
* Involve the community in the Decathlon program; enlist community volunteers to assist in the local building competitions
II. High School Principal should:
* Promote the involvement of students in the Decathlon program; encourage with participation
* Find staff members who have enthusiasm and high energy level to work with Academic Decathlon participants
* Support payment of coach-coordinator and/or team coaches as other related activities in your school
* Establish own building procedures for intra-school competitions (in collaboration with team-coach coordinator) which will result in the final selection of the nine member team which will represent your school at the Regional competition
* Develop support across the staff and student body; involve student council, student newspaper, classified as well as certified staff
* Promote parent involvement in the preparation for and conducting of school competitions
III. Coach/COordinator should:
* Establish a plan for giving the opportunity to participate in Decathlon activities to as many students as possible
* Prepare a schedule of activities, study sessions, etc., for students (& coaches)
* Keep your principal informed about progress of activities
* Meet with the parents of Decathlon team members; inform them about the program and explain what is involved; enlist their support and assistance
* Seek other staff members and volunteers from the community to help prepare the students for competition
* Keep track of time-lines published by the Arizona Academic Decathlon Association; make certain you are on time
It is a lot of work, but you WILL enjoy the students involved and be pleased to
see how much the students learn about their own abilities and how to work with
others in a real team effort.
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IV. ACADEMIC DECATHLON ORGANIZATION’S RESPONSIBILITIES:
A. United States Academic Decathlon Association (USAD)
– Establishes rules for national competition
-- Prepares annual Study Guides
-- Prepares Basic Guides, Resource Guides, Art Slides, Music CD’s
– Prepares test items for regional, state, and national competitions
B. Arizona Academic Decathlon Association (AADA)
– Provides leadership for state wide Academic Decathlon program
– Establishes rules for state and region competitions
– Acquires funds to support the Decathlon program for:
* state competition
* regional scholarships
* sending Arizona team to National competition * ten-thirty percent of budgeted minimum cost of each Region competition
– Provides various printed materials for all Region & State competitions
including:
* invitational mailing to all public, private, and parochial high schools in Arizona
* packets for all Decathlon team coach/coordinators
* packets for all competition day volunteers
* regional & state tests and related materials
* award certificates for students and coaches
– Provides three training sessions for Region Coordinators annually and additional help, whenever possible, in planning for region competitions
– Conducts state competition
– Seeks support/funds to provide scholarships for State competitions
C. Regional Academic Decathlon Association/Region Coordinator
– Provides leadership and coordination for the Region competition
– Conducts Region competition
– Secures funding for:
* seventy-ninety percent of budgeted, minimum cost of Region competition
* additional awards, scholarships, etc.
– Provides assistance and leadership, whenever possible, to local districts and high school principals in establishing and maintaining Academic Decathlon programs.
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COMPOSITION OF EACH REGION
All public and private high schools in Arizona are invited to participate in Arizona Region Competitions scheduled for Feb 6 & 7, 2015. This is the proposed composition but there may be changes depending on the number of teams involved.
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Region I All schools in: Region Coordinator:
Kingman Academy High School Apache County Mr. Michael Perrine
3420 N. Burbank Ave. Coconino County 3420 N. Burbank Ave.
Kingman, AZ 86409 Mohave County Kingman, AZ 86409
(928) 681-2900 Navajo County (928) 681-2900
Yavapai County (928) 279-6500 (cell)
La Paz County
Gila County
Approved 1A-3A programs in other counties
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Region II All schools in: Region Coordinator:
Boulder Creek High School School Districts: Deer Valley District
40404 N. Gavilan Peak Pky. Deer Valley Christopher Bennett
Anthem, AZ 85086 Dysart 40404 N. Gavilan Peak Pky.
(623)445- 8832 Glendale Union Paradise Valley (623)445- 8832
Peoria
Phoenix Union
Xavier College Prep
Tolleson Union
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Region III All schools in: Region Coordinator:
Sunnyside High School Cochise County Mrs. Adriana Molina
1725 E. Bilby Rd. Greenlee County Sunnyside High School
Tucson, AZ 85706 Pima County 1725 E. Bilby Rd.
(520) Santa Cruz County Tucson, AZ 85706
Yuma County (520) 545-5305
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Region IV All schools in: Region Coordinator:
High School Pinal County
3700 S. Arizona Ave . And schools in the .
Chandler, AZ following school districts
(480) 883-5000 in Maricopa County: 480-
Chandler
Fountain Hills
Gilbert
Higley
Mesa
Queen Creek
Scottsdale
Tempe Union
East Valley parochial & charter schools
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SCHEDULE OF 2017 COMPETITIONS
I. Region Competitions (Feb 3 & 4, 2017)
All Region competitions will allow students to have Essay in addition to Speech and Interview sessions on Friday afternoon and evening; seven Test sessions and Super Quiz Relay will be on Saturday.
Region I Region I Academic Decathlon Coordinator:
Kingman Academy High School Mr. Michael Perrine
3420 N. Burbank Ave. 3420 N. Burbank Ave.
Kingman, AZ 86409 Kingman, AZ 86409
Phone: (928) 681-2900
Fax: (928) 681-2822
Region II Region II Academic Decathlon Coordinator:
Boulder Creek High School Mr. Christopher Bennett
40404 N. Gavilan Peak Pky. 40404 N. Gavilan Peak Pky.
Anthem, AZ 85086 Anthem, AZ 85086
Phone: (623)445- 8832
Region III Region III Academic Decathlon Coordinator:
Sunnyside High School Mrs. Adriana Molina
1725 E. Bilby Rd. Sunnyside High School
Tucson, AZ 85706 1725 E. Bilby Rd.
Tucson, AZ 85706
Phone: (520) 545-5305
Fax: (520)
Region IV Region IV Academic Decathlon Coordinator:
High School
3700 S. Arizona Ave ..
Chandler, AZ 85248
Phone: (480)
II. State Competition (March 10-11, 2017)
As a result of 2017 Region Competitions, forty team(s) will advance to the State Competition at on March 10-11,
2017, based on the following policy adopted by the Arizona Academic Decathlon Association Board of Directors:
All schools competing in the 2017 Region Academic Decathlon competitions on Feb 3-4,2017 will be divided into size (enrollment) classifications according to the A.I.A. definitions of Classes 5A, 4A, 3A, 2A, 1A. Following the Region competitions, the scores of all schools in each of those classifications will be ranked. The first and second highest scoring teams in each of those five classes will be seeded to compete in the state competition. Thereafter, the next 30 highest scoring teams from throughout the state will be invited to compete in the state competition for 2017.
III. National Competition (April 20-22, 2017)
The highest scoring team at the Arizona state competition will will be sent to the United States Academic Decathlon National Finals which will be held in Madison, WI.
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CALENDAR OF EVENTS AND DEADLINES
June 1 – Aug. 28, 2016 Names of high school decathlon coaches received by the Arizona Academic Decathlon Association Executive Director.
Sept. 4, 2016 All coaches clinic registrations received.
Sep. 8, 2016 New Coach Orientation at TBD
Sep. 9, 2016 Coaches’ Clinic at ASU, Old Main, Carson Ballroom.
Sept 30, 2016 School team participation forms (with checks and/or purchase order attached) received by: Anne Edelstein, 6010 N. 10th Way, Phoenix, AZ 85014.
Sep. – Dec. 2016 Several teams organized at each local high school. Scrimmages held in districts or regions.
Early Nov Student Clinic at ASU.
Nov. 30, 2016 Deadline for receipt of all student Registration Forms with transcripts attached. Forms are to be received by Anne Edelstein, 6010 N. 10th Way, Phoenix, AZ 85014. This is to include 5 things for each student: Student Registration form (signed); Medical Release form; Code of Behavior; GPA Worksheet, and transcripts for the 2014/2015 and 2015/2016 school years.
By Dec. 16, 2016 Evaluation of all transcripts will have been completed: “Notice of Team Eligibility” mailed to all team coaches.
By Jan. 4, 2017 Region Coordinators will have received from all team coaches in respective regions The Coach Registration Check In form.
Feb 3 & 4, 2017 Region Competition Dates
*NOTE: Each region competition will require attendance for a partial day on Feb 3 and all day on Feb 4. Please check with your region coordinator for a specific schedule of test events.
Feb. 7, 2017 State Director will have notified the forty teams that qualified for state competition.
By Feb. 9, 2017 Coach’s Registration form for STATE Competition received in the AADA office.
Feb. 27, 2017 On-Line Essay for state competitors
Mar. 10-11, 2017 State Competition at TBD.
Apr. 20-22, 2017` U.S. Academic Decathlon finals in Madison, WI.
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PARTICIPATION POLICIES
The Board of Directors has adopted the following Participation Policies (which continue for the 2012-2013 school year):