California TSA Newsletter September 2013 | Page 13

COMPETITIVE EVENTS
GENERAL RULES AND TIPS
Competing at Conferences is a major part of everyone’s TSA experience. This month, the State Officer Team compiled some advice that we wish we had been given before competing. Starting next month, we will introduce two popular events per issue and share useful tips given by previous participants. There are over 30 high school and middle school events, separately. The competitions cover a wide range of interests but still focus on the importance of technology. Some will be completed, for the most part, prior to a Conference while others will be done entirely on site. It is important to choose a good number of competitions - not too little or too many. There is no magic number as it depends on individuals and the events. Rules and details can be found on the National TSA Conference Competitive Events Guide CD. As rudimentary as it sounds, READ THE RULES. Read them once and read them again. And again … until you can recite them in your sleep. Rubrics that are used by judges to grade your projects are also included in the rulebook. They specifically outline how points are awarded or penalized. The Event Coordinator Instructions, also found in the rulebook, give more insight into the judging process. Something may look amazing, sound amazing, and be amazing, but if it does not adhere to the rules, it will not stand a chance. Periodically check the national website under the “Competitions” tab for rule updates and clarifications. The Competition Regulations Committee may post modifications that can affect your score, making the difference between q V?g???rf?"?F????2?"??B??"f?'7B?B6V6??B?6R????FFVB'V?V&???2&Rf??&?Rf?"6??RWfV?G2?B6?&Rf?V?B???W"7FFRvV'6?FRV?FW"F?R( ?f?"7GVFV?G>( ?F"?F?R&Wf?6VBfW'6???'&V?2F?v?V6?6V7F????bF?R'V?W2?B?2f?F7F?2wV?FRW7V6???f?"?Wr?V?&W'2F?&R7V??FVBv?F?F?R7'?F?2??wVvR?bF?R'V?V&????F?W??6?v?fR6??R???'F?B???FW'2?7V6?2W6R6??WF?F????B??7FVB?b??R??F?R???bv?&???r??b??R&R6??gW6VB2F?v?B&VwV?F????V?2?6?6?FW"?ff?6W"?"Gf?6?"F?6VR?bF?W?V?FW'7F?Bv?B?B?26???r??b??B?V???F?R7FFRGf?6?"f?"6?&?f?6F???2??b?V6W76'????R6?WfV?6??F7BF?R6??WF?F???&VwV?F???26???GFVRf?"??7vW"F?B?27W&RF?&R&?v?B??V??B&W6?W&6W2&Rf??&?R?'WB?B?2WF???RF?6VV?F?V??G'VR?6??R?bF?W6RF???w2??6VV??'f??W2?&VBF?R'V?W2?F?W6?( ?BWfW'???RF?F?C???'WB6????f?F7F?2&??V7G2&RF?7V?f?VB&V6W6RF?W?f???FR6???R'V?R?7F'BV&?F????rF??Rf?"fVVF&6?2?B??&?fV?V?G2?2FV?F??r2?B??&RF?f???6?F???w2??F?R'W2&?FR?"f?v?BF?6??fW&V?6R???W"&??V7B?B6??G?v????F?R&?6R???VgV???F??2wV?FRv???vWB??R7F'FVB?B?b??R?fRVW7F????F???B?W6?FFRF?6????