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Virtual Tournament Procedures

Welcome Virtual Teams!

Thank you for taking part in OM’s Virtual World Finals, where creativity has no boundary! The Tournament will be held April 14 – May 7, 2022. The deadline to register is April 7 at 5pm EST and you must submit your solution by April 12 (5pm EST). We can’t wait to see what you’ve come up with! Good luck and let the games begin! Download a certificate of participation for the Virtual Preliminary tournament here.

Read below for instructions on how to register and submit your solution.

  • After logging into the members area under your member number, select ‘Team Registration’ and fill out your information. You will be given a team-specific login and password. This is what you will use going forward to enter the Team Portal and compete in the tournament. If you’ve already created your team, login with that info and continue with the next step.
  • Select Tournament Registration and fill out the required information to complete your registration.
  • Once you are registered with your team there will be a URL box for each required element: solution video, explanation video, paperwork, optional photos, and team picture. You do not have to have everything when you register but be sure to have them uploaded by April 14!
  • The Spontaneous portion of competition will take place ???. When your team is ready to compete in Spontaneous, log in and select the Spontaneous link. Your team can only access the link once, so be sure to have a plan to be together either in person or virtually depending on health guidelines and your preferences before following the link.
  • Download a complete training on how to use the OdysseyHQ system, including how to participate in Spontaneous!

Registration: April 7 at 5pm EST.

Solution Submission: April 12 at 5pm EST.

Paperwork Review: April 14-15. An official will check your paperwork and contact you if anything is missing or not accessible. Be sure to list the best email address for the coach/team contact when registering and add odysseyhq@odysseyofthemind.com to your safe sender list.

Spontaneous: The Spontaneous portion of competition will take place April 14- 20. When your team is ready to compete in Spontaneous, log in and select the Spontaneous link. Your team can only access the link once, so be sure to have a plan to be together either in person or virtually depending on health guidelines and your preferences before following the link. Download a training on how to use the OdysseyHQ system and participate in Virtual Spontaneous here.

Scoring: Will take place April 16 – May 5. Be sure to continue to check your email during this time to see notifications from the Head Judge.

Awards: A ceremony will be broadcast May 7 at 9pm EST!

  • – You will submit filesharing URL’s to two videos: your 8-minute solution and an explanation video (max 7 minutes).
  • – The 8-minute portion must be a continuous and unaltered recording, the camera can move around the performance area, zoom in/out, etc. Edits in any way, added effects, etc. are not allowed in the solution video. All team members, props, settings, etc. must be in the frame at some time to be scored and do your best to show props, settings, and costumes.
  • – The 7-minute explanation video allows you to highlight components of your solution. This could be how certain items were created, how they operated, how they added to the solution, and so on. This portion may be edited. Non team members may appear in the explanation portion of the team’s video, but the team members should be providing the additional explanation regarding the required Long-Term and Style elements. This is your chance to talk to the judges and show off your ideas, so think about what you’d want the judges to know about your work! More specifics on what to include for each problem found here!
  • – If using conference/meeting software, the use of virtual backgrounds is not allowed with one exception: if the team creates a physical background it may be converted into a virtual background shared by other team members. However, at least one team member must use the original background during the performance.
  • – A physical membership sign is not required to be in the video. The file name of the solution and all additional paperwork must include your membership name and number. If part of your scored solution includes the membership sign it is allowed in addition to naming the video as described.
  • – The solution is allowed to be recorded by someone not on the team. Non team members may act as stagehands in supporting the team’s performance. They may not add to the solution in any other way.
  • – Recording devices, microphones, virtual meeting programs or apps are exempt from cost.
  • – You must begin with “Team Begin!” This is when setup occurs and the 8-minute performance time begins (placing backdrops, props, etc.). Time limits for presenting the solution and any overtime penalties still follow the problem rules. In cases of remote performance recording where the team is separated, teams may begin their performances with sets, props, costumes, etc. in place to allow performances to fit within the required time limit.
  • – The solution may have any type of ending the team wishes as described on the team list.
  • – The Team List, Style Form, Cost Form, Outside Assistance Form, and anything else required by the problem should not be part of the solution + explanation video. Teams must upload a separate link to this paperwork before the submission deadline through the Members Area. Download the Virtual forms here:
  • Problem 1 Escape VroOM: .pdf l .docx
  • Problem 2 Odyssey reOMvention: .pdf l .docx
  • Problem 3 Classics…(Name Here) The Musical:.pdf l .docx
  • Problem 4 Matryoshka Structure: .pdf l .docx
  • Problem 5 Life is a Circus! .pdf l .docx
  • Primary Tri-Cycle Transport .pdf l .docx
  • – Teams may recreate these forms in the format that is easiest for the team to fill out the information, provided they use the same language and items are in the same order. They must be a recognizable replica of the online forms provided by Odyssey of the Mind. They must be uploaded as a single .pdf to ensure judges will be able to open them. If you don’t have the ability to convert to .pdf you can convert the file at https://www.adobe.com/acrobat/online/convert-pdf.html.
  • – Pictures are optional, but can help highlight scored aspects of your solution. You may submit up to 10 pictures of your solution and up to 4 Style pictures, one for each Style category. These are NOT required to be taken while the solution is being presented. They will be uploaded via a shareable link, the same way as forms. All pictures must be in a single .pdf document and may include captions.
  • – All teams are encouraged, but not required, to submit a performance script. Subtitles edited onto the recording are not allowed.
  • – There is also a URL for a team picture, we’d love to include you in our Virtual Awards Ceremonies!
  • – The videos must be uploaded to a file sharing service of your choice (Google Drive, Microsoft, YouTube, etc.) provided it is publicly accessible in the USA.
  • – Create a shareable link for the video and paste it into the appropriate field after your team logs into the Members Area. Be sure your sharing settings allow anyone with the link to view it.
  • – Do the same with your paperwork, photos, and team picture as described above. Check and double check your sharing settings for all so the judges don’t miss an aspect of your solution!
  • – Be sure to check the email used during team registration regularly for any communication from the judges during the tournament.

Once judging is completed, the team will receive and review the scores similar to an in-person tournament. The Head Judge will notify the coach/team contact through email that the scores are available. The team has 24 hours after the email is sent to login and view the scores and any comments from the judges through the Members Area. If questions arise within that 24 hours, there is an area for the team to comment back. The Head Judge will then respond through the same online system. Stay tuned for the Virtual Awards Ceremony to find out where you placed!

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