Because Outside Assistance is not allowed and the Team Members are entirely responsible for solving their Problem, you may wonder what your role is. The Coach wears many hats and is vital to the success of a Team.
An Odyssey of the Mind Coach is a:
Organizer:
- Helps form a team of up to 7 members
- Decides where and when the team will meet
- Helps the team develop an overall timeline for solving the Problem as well making sure the team stays on track during meetings
- Helps the team keep track of deadlines
Facilitator:
- Communicates with parents about practices, Tournament plans, needed supplies, and reminds them about NO OUTSIDE ASSISTANCE.
- Finds people to teach general skills the students want to learn (how to sew, proper use of tools, etc.)
- Makes sure the materials that the Team Members requested are available when needed
- READS the Long Term Problem many times and makes sure the team members fully understand what is required and how the Problem is scored
Spontaneous Teacher:
- Gathers all three types of Spontaneous Problems to practice with their team during meetings
- Discusses the team’s Spontaneous solutions to determine what the team did well on and where they need more practice
- Practices Spontaneous over and over – repetition is key
Secretary:
- Makes sure deadlines are met for registration for trainings and Tournaments
- Makes sure fees are sent for Tournaments by the deadlines
One of the most important jobs of the Coach is to make sure the team members have FUN!