How to Get Involved with Georgia Odyssey
Georgia Odyssey is an all-volunteer organization, and we rely on the time, talent, and energy of passionate individuals like you to make our programs a success! Whether you’re interested in helping out with tournaments, judging, or coaching, there are many ways you can contribute and make a difference in the lives of young people. No matter your skills or interests, we have opportunities to suit you.
Here’s how you can get involved:
Tournament Volunteers
Time Commitment: 2-3 hours on one Saturday (the day of the tournament)
Responsibilities: Help with registration, assist with souvenir sales, act as doorkeepers, and other tournament-day tasks.
As a Tournament Volunteer, you’ll play an essential role in making the event run smoothly. You’ll help greet teams, direct participants, and assist with a variety of other activities to keep the day moving. This is a great way to support the event and interact with students and teams.
Judges (Officials)
Time Commitment:
- Training Day: 5-6 hours in January or February
- Judging Day: 6-9 hours on a Saturday in February or March
(You can also volunteer to judge at the state competition, but you must have already judged at a regional event.)
Responsibilities:
- Judge team presentations based on creativity, adherence to rules, and problem-solving strategies.
- Provide feedback and scores to teams.
Judges are a vital part of the Odyssey of the Mind experience! If you enjoy evaluating creative solutions and offering constructive feedback, this is a great way to get involved. You’ll attend a training session to learn the rules and judging criteria, then put your knowledge into action by judging teams at a regional competition. The most rewarding part? Seeing the amazing solutions students come up with!
Coaches
Time Commitment:
- 2-3 hours per week (with more time closer to the tournament date)
- Attend a Saturday coach training session (optional but recommended)
Responsibilities:
- Work with a team of 5-7 students to help them solve the long-term problem.
- Guide the team’s brainstorming sessions and encourage creativity without giving them direct solutions.
- Teach new skills or find experts to help the team.
- Ensure the team understands the rules and works within them.
- Provide logistical support: meeting space, supplies, snacks, and moral support.
Coaching an Odyssey of the Mind team is a unique and rewarding experience! As a coach, you’ll encourage creativity, critical thinking, and teamwork without directly solving the problem for the team. Your job is to ask guiding questions, help the team stay on track, and make sure everything is in line with the rules. While it’s a big commitment, it’s also a lot of fun and incredibly rewarding to see the growth of your team throughout the season.
Why Volunteer with Georgia Odyssey?
When you volunteer, you’re not just helping organize an event — you’re helping foster creativity, teamwork, and critical thinking skills in students who will carry these lessons for the rest of their lives. Whether you’re judging, coaching, or assisting at events, your contributions directly impact the experience of hundreds of students each year.
We want all of our volunteers to have a positive and rewarding experience, so we offer plenty of support along the way, whether you’re new to the program or a seasoned veteran.
Ready to get started?