Beyond the

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news, tips & activities

Oodles of Beyond the Box thinking, all collected into one handy blog!

  • Team Tip: Performance

    Team Tip: Performance

    It would be considered Outside Assistance for the coach to direct the team’s performance. But the coach (or a parent volunteer) can give short stagecraft SKILLS lessons. 

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  • Volunteering as a Tournament Judge or Official

    Volunteering as a Tournament Judge or Official

    One of the most important volunteer opportunities that OM has to offer is being a judge or an official. Officials are the faces of Odyssey of the Mind that teams will remember about their experience. So make it memorable and HAVE FUN as you get an insider’s view of OM teams and their creativity!

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  • Team Tip: Style

    Team Tip: Style

    What is Style? Style is the team’s WOW factor! It’s what makes the team’s performance memorable to the judges and audience members.

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  • Team Tip: Roles and Jobs

    Team Tip: Roles and Jobs

    If your team can handle it, here is a way they can each become experts on specific, important parts of solving the Long-Term problem. All team members should become experts on the LT problem.

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  • Team Tip: Time Management

    Team Tip: Time Management

    Teaching your team members how to organize themselves, how to make and keep calendars, the importance of checklists, and how to divide labor is NOT considered Outside Assistance.

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  • Team Tip: Brainstorming

    Team Tip: Brainstorming

    Once the team has chosen the long-term (LT) problem, it’s time to start brainstorming different parts of the problem. This should be exciting for everyone!

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  • Team Tip: Choosing a Problem & Parent Involvement 

    Team Tip: Choosing a Problem & Parent Involvement 

    To narrow down the choices, consider reading only Section A of each problem to the team and then ask the question, “What sounds like fun in this problem?”

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  • Team Tip: Your First Meeting(s)

    Team Tip: Your First Meeting(s)

    The time before your team really starts solving the problem is a GREAT time for Spontaneous problems and getting to know the team member’s strengths.

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  • Register for Coach Training now!

    Register for Coach Training now!

    The 2024-2025 Odyssey of the Mind season is underway! Time for Coach Training. All coaches must complete coach training each season. Coach training is held online and consists of three basic parts.

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  • Full problems are here. Do you have your membership?

    Full problems are here. Do you have your membership?

    Welcome to the 2024-2025 Odyssey of the Mind season. If you’re new to Odyssey, you may have reviewed our problem synopses and wondered, how do I participate?

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