Your role as a coach is to not be the expert in whichever problem the team chooses to solve. In fact it is often better not to be an expert because there is always a risk of outside assistance. Your role is to facilitate creative problem solving, team building, and brainstorming; teach kids how to manage a project or learn basic skills such as building concepts, theatrical principles, artistic qualities and more. We encourage you to bring in outside experts (parents, teachers, etc…) to help teach some of these skills or to take “field trips”. A large part of coaching is learning to ask questions to make the team think, providing moral support, and making sure the team stays within the rules and works safely. As a coach, you will be off to a great start when you set the example of adult behavior, sportsmanship, and Odyssey of the Mind spirit. Make the process of Odyssey of the Mind your goal and not the competition placements. All teams are winners because they have solved the problem to the best of their ability.
- Time commitment: 2-3 hours per week (plus more closer to tournament date), beginning in late September or October, plus a Saturday’s coaches’ training (optional but great for all coaches)
- Responsibilities: Work with a team of 5-7 students to help them brainstorm to solve the long term problem; teach skills or find someone who can teach them to the team; help the team understand all the rules; coordinate a place to meet; help the team gather necessary supplies; provide snacks; in general, be a cheerleader, a go-fer, and a referee … all while NOT telling the team how to solve any part of the problem they are tackling! All work must be the team’s own, and none may be an adult’s.