2009 Game Rules
The rules governing the BEST competition consist of the following:
Head-to-Head Competition
Generic Game Rules
The Kit and Associated Rules
Returnable Kit Checklist
Consumable Kit Checklist
2009 “High Octane” Game Specific Rules
The BEST Award (See Below)
General Rules
Project Engineering Notebook Requirements
Oral Presentation Requirements
Table Display and Interview Evaluation
Spirit and Sportsmanship Evaluation
Robot Performance Points
The BEST Award – General Rules
The BEST Award is presented to the team that best embodies the concept of Boosting
Engineering, Science, and Technology. This concept recognizes that inclusiveness,
diversity of participation, exposure to and use of the engineering process,
sportsmanship, teamwork, creativity, positive attitude and enthusiasm, and school and
community involvement play significant roles in a team’s competitive experience and
contribute to student success in the competition beyond winning an award.
In accordance with the BEST philosophy, materials submitted by teams must be the
work of students. The involvement of student peers in auxiliary roles to support a
school’s official BEST team with the documentation – i.e., journalists, photographers,
artists, musicians – is encouraged.
Space constraints at each Regional competition site will determine the number of teams
that can compete for the BEST Award (check with the specific guidelines published by
each Regional site). In order for a team to be eligible to compete for the BEST Award at
any of the Regional competitions, the team: (1) must have competed for the BEST
Award at their local hub competition, and (2) must agree to compete in all five of the
BEST Award categories at the Regional competition.
Evaluation and Criteria
Evaluation of competitors will be based on the criteria outlined in these guidelines. An
evaluation score of a total possible 100 points will be composed of the following:
• Category I - Project Engineering Notebook (mandatory for ALL teams, including teams NOT competing in the BEST Award)
• Category II - Presentation (at hub’s discretion for BEST Award inclusion)
• Category III - Table Display and Interviews (at hub’s discretion for BEST Award inclusion)
• Category IV - Spirit and Sportsmanship (mandatory for all BEST Award teams)
• Category V - Robot Performance (mandatory for all BEST Award teams)
Hubs are required to judge at least four of the above five categories using one of the
following scenarios:
Scenario 1: (preferred)
Judging Category |
Point Value |
Project Engineering Notebook |
30 points |
Oral Presentation |
25 points |
Table Display and Interviews |
25 points |
Spirit and Sportsmanship |
15 points |
Robot Performance |
5 points |
Total |
100 points |
Scenario 2:
Judging Category |
Point Value |
Project Engineering Notebook |
30 points |
Oral Presentation |
25 points |
Spirit and Sportsmanship |
15 points |
Robot Performance |
5 points |
Total |
75 points |
Scenario 3:
Judging Category |
Point Value |
Project Engineering Notebook |
30 points |
Table Display and Interviews |
25 points |
Spirit and Sportsmanship |
15 points |
Robot Performance |
5 points |
Total |
|
Judging Procedure
- A distinguished team of judges from private and public sectors with technical and
- non-technical expertise will evaluate teams. Judges will serve on a rotation schedule.
- As each team completes a category, it will be assigned a category score that is the average of individual scores of the judges reviewing it.
- Teams should know in advance that scores among many teams frequently differ by only fractions of a point.
- All teams do not have equal resources. The judges may take into consideration the resources available to teams to conduct their BEST programs (financial or technology resources, for example) so that a team is not penalized for its limited resources.
Judging Results
- Each advancing team will be mailed a copy of its score sheets following their local competition. Score sheets of non-advancing teams will be mailed upon request.
- Teams advancing to the Regional competitions can use judges’ comments to make improvements as they wish.
The BEST Award
Project Engineering Notebook Requirements
The purpose of the notebook is to document the process the team used to design,
build, and test their robot.
ALL teams (both BEST Award and non-BEST Award competing teams) are required
to submit a Project Engineering Notebook.
See local hub deadlines for more information on when the notebook should be
submitted.
Notebook Specifications:
- Submitted in a standard 3-ring binder with a maximum 2” ring size
- 30 typed single-sided pages or less (note that title page and Table of Contents page will not be counted as part of the 30 pages)
- Research paper: Within the 30 pages, include a description of how the current year’s game theme is related to current technological practices or scientific research (minimum of 2 pages, maximum of 5 pages out of the 30 allotted)
- Binder cover must identify the school, team name, teacher contact, and team number
- Provide description of the process the team used to design and complete its robot
- Standard, 8 ½” x 11” paper, double-spaced, 1” margins, and Times New Roman (preferred) or similar business-style font no smaller than 12 pt. Single-spacing is acceptable in tables and outlines.
- Teams may include a supplemental appendix of no more than 20 pages in length; front and back pages are allowed. The appendix may include support documentation such as drawings, photos, organization charts, minutes of team meetings, test results, etc. This material should directly support the process described in the primary document and NOT reflect activities related to community or promotional efforts, spirit development, or team-building.
Notebook Evaluation
The notebook will be judged on the documentation of the team’s:
Implementation of the Engineering Design Process
Evidence that the engineering process was effectively used.
Research Paper
Correlation between game and current and future use of similar technology; Any related information of game theme, such as history, famous inventor(s), or major milestones; Creativity in linking game theme to appropriately related science/technology content; Proper use of grammar and composition throughout paper; citations of sources used to gather information for paper; staying within 2-5 page limit
Brainstorming Approaches
How well organized and productive was the brainstorming approach used and documented?
Analytical Evaluation of Design Alternatives
Use of analytical and mathematical skills in deciding upon and implementing design alternatives
Offensive and Defensive Evaluation
Analysis of gaming strategies and design elements to achieve goals.
Design Creativity
Overall use of design creativity to solve the problem presented in the game.
Support Documentation
CAD /other drawings, photos, organization, team minutes, test results, etc. that support the main document.
Overall Quality and Completeness of Notebook
Organization, appearance, adherence to specifications, quality of content and submission of required Team Demographics Form.
The BEST Award
Oral Presentation Requirements
For the oral presentation, the team should view themselves as employees of a
“company” that is marketing their “product” (robot) to a potential buyer (judges). This
marketing team is an integral part of the engineering team that has designed a
specialized robot. The marketing presentation should provide information about their
company, the engineering team involved in the design and construction of the product, and why their product is the best one on the market that can complete the assigned
task. The potential buyer will be assessing the following:
- The company’s design and manufacturing process (engineering process of “design to market”, including a discussion on the advantages of your company’s robot design)
- Discuss the technological resources your company used to design and construct the robot
- Marketing strategies to promote product (e.g., school and community involvement, promotional efforts, etc)
- The company’s demographics and operations (e.g., diversity of team members involved, team building experiences, displays of sportsmanship, etc)
- Each BEST Award team will sign up for a presentation time slot to occur at a time designated by the local hub.
Oral Presentation Requirements
- A minimum of 4 students must actively participate in the presentation. A maximum of 8 representatives for the team may be in the presentation room, including the presenters.
- Adults are not allowed to participate, but may be present in the room (counting as one of the 8 representatives).
- Representation by student presenters from more than one grade level is encouraged and will be considered in the evaluation as part of the team’s recruitment efforts.
- Videotaping/photographing by team representatives will be allowed during the presentation, however, the person(s) handling videotaping will be counted in the 8 maximum number allowed.
- The presentation format is the prerogative of the team.
- The team must provide any equipment it wishes to use, or check with the local hub for information about what equipment can be provided.
Oral Presentation Evaluation
Presentations will be evaluated with consideration of:
Company Information
Well-defined roles as company employees/owners/managers;
organization of company departments for product development
Design and Manufacturing Process (Engineering Design Process)
Brainstorming approaches; analytical evaluation of design alternatives;
offensive and defensive strategy evaluation; effective implementation of
the process
Use of Available Technology
CAD or other drawings; Web page development and computer simulations
Marketing Strategies
Publicity efforts to inform school and community of their product (e.g.
school newsletters, presentations to community and/or school groups,
fliers/brochures, posters, press releases, commercials, etc)
Team Demographics and Operations
Company team-building (team-building activities, representation and
percentage of team involved in robot development, methods of team
decision-making, etc.); Company team demographics (evidence of team
diversity – male, female, variety of grades represented, minority
involvement)
Quality of Presentation
Well organized and prepared; met required specifications; communication
skills and professionalism; creativity of format; quality of question and
answer session with judges
The BEST Award
Table Display and Interview Evaluation
The purpose of the table display and interviews category is to:
- Communicate through a display, and through discussion with judges, information about the team’s efforts to promote BEST in the community and schools
- Foster BEST spirit, camaraderie, and participation
- Give evidence of sportsmanship
Display and Interview Guidelines
- Check with local hub for standard table size. At Regional competitions, each team will be provided with a standard six-foot long table (approximately 29 inches wide) upon request.
- Check with local hub for maximum allowed floor space for table displays (note: a 10’ X 10’ X 10’ display space will be allocated per team at the Regional competitions).
- Skirting for the table will not be provided.
- Each team should bring one extension cord and one power strip. Check with local hub for possible electricity and electrical limitations.
- Other display items may be used, but must not exceed the space allocated by the hub.
- Teams are encouraged to avoid using expensive store-bought display boards and structures and opt for more creative and hand-made display props.
- Any audio-visual equipment needs and extra extension cords will be the responsibility of the team.
- Each team is responsible for security of its own material.
- Each team is also responsible for breakdown of its team materials and clean-up of its display area following the awards ceremony on Game Day.
- All material should be clearly marked with the appropriate identification and contact information.
- Check with the local hub concerning when and where table displays can be set up.
- Candy and other food and drink items are not permitted at table exhibits as complimentary handouts.
- During the designated interview time, at least one student representative from the team must be present who is able to respond to informal questions asked about the display. In addition, student representatives should be aware that judges may ask questions concerning robot design and construction. These questions will be part of the interview evaluation of the team.
- Teams should expect to be visited by three to four different judges during this period.
- Judges may also interview team members in the pit area and in the seating area.
Display and Interview Evaluation
Displays will be evaluated on:
- Recruitment of new schools
- Sharing information and/or technology resources, and mentoring other schools, including other BEST teams
- Presentations and robot demonstrations to other schools and community groups
- Publicity (materials, media/press) in school and community efforts to other schools and community groups
- Fund raising and/or sponsorship efforts (strategies used to recruit sponsors, team fund raisers, description of how funds were allocated to support team, team budget information available for review)
- Use of technology, display models or boards, or multi-media at display in promotion of BEST
- Creativity in design and presentation of this exhibit
- Compliance with specifications (did not exceed space allocation)
Interviews will be evaluated on:
- Enthusiasm and learning experience from BEST
- Team recruiting (cross section of student population and multi-grade levels)
- Level of student participation (students were the primary designers and builders of the team’s robot)
The BEST Award
Spirit and Sportsmanship Evaluation
Judges will evaluate this category on Game Day. They will observe the spirit promoted by the team during the competition rounds as well as the team’s conduct throughout the day in the seating area, table display area, game floor, and pit area.
Spirit and Sportsmanship Evaluation
- Spirit includes the vigor and enthusiasm displayed by team representatives
- Teams can use posters, props, t-shirts, cheerleaders, musicians, mascots, costumes, and lower-frequency noise-makers to increase the level of spirit (check with local hub to determine specific noise-maker restrictions)
- Community involvement: number of team supporters present at competition (other than students)
- Sportsmanship includes outward displays of sportsmanship (e.g., helping other teams in need), grace in winning and losing, and conduct and attitude considered befitting participation in sports
- Overall team sportsmanship is also demonstrated by students (not mentors) making the majority of robot adjustments and repairs during the competition
The BEST Award
Robot Performance Points
The Robot Performance category will determine the final 5% of possible BEST
Award points. These 5 points will be based on the total game points earned throughout
the seeding competition (prior to the championship rounds) according to the following
scale:
Team finishes in top 20% of all teams competing at hub |
5 Points |
Team finishes in top 40% of all teams competing at hub |
4 Points |
Team finishes in top 60% of all teams competing at hub |
3 Points |
Team finishes in top 80% of all teams competing at hub |
2 Points |
Team finishes in top 100% of all teams competing at hub |
1 Point |
Team is unable to score any points during the competition |
0 Points |
