A How-To For
Coaches
Kentucky Association for Academic Competition
113 Consumer Lane
Frankfort, KY 40601
502.223.0088
Fax: 502.223.0430
Email: kaac@kaac.com
© KAAC, Inc., all rights reserved
Contents
Kentucky Association for Academic Competition ........................................... 2
Governor's Cup Overview ........................................................................... 3
Governor’s Cup Glossary ............................................................................ 4
1. How to Get Faculty and Administrators On Board ..................................... 6
2. How To Pay For and Manage Your Program ............................................. 7
3. How To Manage Your Time .................................................................... 8
4. How To Secure Help.............................................................................. 10
6. How to Select Your Team ...................................................................... 12
7. How to Set Rules and Behavior Standards .............................................. 14
8. How to Use the KAAC Content Guidelines ............................................... 15
9. How To Secure and Develop Practice Materials ....................................... 16
10. How to Practice for Quick Recall ........................................................... 18
11. How to Practice for Written Assessment ............................................... 21
12. How to Practice for Future Problem Solving .......................................... 22
13. How to Practice for Composition .......................................................... 24
14. How to Use Practice Statistics .............................................................. 24
15. How to Reach Higher .......................................................................... 26
Appendix: Forms....................................................................................... 28
Kentucky Association for
Academic Competition
KAAC is an independent, non-profit educational service agency established to provide
academic events for Kentucky students. Over 30,000 students representing over 1200 public
and private schools take part in KAAC events. KAAC activities are open to all public and
nonpublic schools in Kentucky.
KAAC administers the following academic events:
o
o
o
o
o
Governor's Cup
Future Problem Solving Component Events: Community Problem Solving,
Scenario Writing, Individual FPS, Junior Division FPS—these are offered in
addition to “Team” FPS, which is part of Governor’s Cup
Summer Camps at the Middle and High School levels
JV Challenge - for 9th and 10th graders
Kentucky Colonels' Sixth Grade Academic Showcase
KAAC partners with the following organizations in providing a high-quality academic
experience to Kentucky students:
o
o
o
o
o
Kentucky Department of Education
International Future Problem Solving Program
Kentucky Education Savings Plan Trust
Honorable Order of the Kentucky Colonels
The University of the Cumberlands
KAAC
113 Consumer Lane
Frankfort, KY 40601
502.223.0088
Fax: 502.223.0430
Email: kaac@kaac.com
Executive Director: John Bennett
Program Director: Brenda Darnell
Administrative Specialist: Cindy Clark
Administrative Assistant: Charlotte McFarland
A How-To for Governor’s Cup Coaches – Page 2
Governor's Cup Overview
was founded in 1986 as a way to promote, reward
and recognize outstanding academic achievement.
Since then, over a quarter of a million students have
taken part in the event.
Governor's Cup has become the state's premier
academic event, involving over 20,000 students,
nearly 1200 schools, and thousands of coaches,
administrators, parents and community leaders who see the rewards gained from
encouraging academic performance through properly structured and professionally
administered academic competition.
Governor's Cup consists of eight events:
Six individual events:


Five Written Assessment Examinations--in Mathematics, Science, Social Studies,
Language Arts and Arts/Humanities
Composition--On-Demand Writing
Two team events:


Quick Recall--also known as "quiz bowl"
Future Problem Solving--an award-winning creative thinking competition
In the Elementary (Grade 5 and below) division, students take part in a District and Regional
competition. The Middle Grades (6-8) and High School (9-12) divisions include a District,
Regional and State competition. Membership fees are $195 in the Elementary division, and
$295 in the Middle Grades and High School divisions.
If you would like more information about Governor's Cup, e-mail us at kaac@kaac.com or
call us at 502.223.0088.
A How-To for Governor’s Cup Coaches – Page 3
Governor’s Cup Glossary
ASAP: KAAC’s online system for registering students and scoring Governor’s Cup events.
Chief Official: The final authority on content-related matters during competition. Elected by the
coaches at the Competition Planning Meeting.
Combined FPS Districts: Several nearby Districts hold FPS competition together; allowing
evaluators to trade Districts. Recommended as a way to eliminate the possibility of evaluator bias.
Can only be accomplished if there are the same number of FPS teams in each District.
Competition Planning Meeting: Prior to each competition, all coaches meet to review competition
details, including the qualifications of officials. The Quick Recall draw is held at this meeting. The
date is set by KAAC and the time is set by the Contest Manager, working with the coaches involved.
Composition: On-demand writing event with student booklets scored by readers trained in
evaluating student writing. One of Governor’s Cup’s individual events.
Contest Manager: The local person in charge of administering the competition with guidance from
KAAC. The final authority on officials’ assignments, room assignments, etc.
District Competition: The first level of Governor’s Cup, usually 3-5 schools.
District Entry Form: The form that KAAC sends to all member schools prior to District competition.
The form asks you to list coaches certification numbers, your students, and officials. Sent to District
host and Regional host. The student list is printed off the Internet through ASAP.
Evaluator: Person trained and certified to score FPS booklets.
FPS Coordinator: Someone who runs the FPS portion of the District or Regional competition. If
FPS Districts are combined, someone who organizes several FPS District competitions at once.
Future Problem Solving (FPS): Team event of four students taking part in a nationally
recognized creative problem-solving competition.
Future Scene: scenario that describes the situation teams must solve in FPS.
Grader: Person who scores Written Assessment either by hand or electronically.
Head Scorer: Appointed by Contest Manager, the head scorer helps ensure the security of FPS and
Composition booklet codes; reviews FPS, Composition score sheets and Written Assessment response
forms; and assigns school points after each event is over.
Host School:
competition.
The school taking its turn in the rotation and holding a District or Regional
Inquiry: In Quick Recall and Written Assessment, a challenge to a question, answer or procedure.
A How-To for Governor’s Cup Coaches – Page 4
Governor’s Cup Glossary
(cont.)
Inquiry Panel: Representatives from the content areas of mathematics, science, language arts,
social studies and humanities who receive inquiries and advise the Chief Official on content-related
matters. Chosen by coaches attending the Competition Planning Meeting.
Judge: Primary Quick Recall match official.
Moderator: Quick Recall official who reads the questions for both teams. A school participating in
Quick Recall must provide either a KAAC certified judge or moderator for District and Regional
competition.
Participation Requirements: Manpower requirements each school must meet in order to take part
in a particular event.
Participation Limits: Guidelines each school must follow when filling out its District Entry Form.
Each student may take part in a maximum of three events; each school may enter one Quick Recall
team, one FPS team, and a maximum of three students in each individual event.
Proctors: Persons who administer Composition, FPS and Written Assessment examinations.
Prompt: Introductory passage given to Composition students that focuses the writing assignment.
Quick Recall: Known as Quiz Bowl, Scholars Bowl in other areas. One of the eight Governor’s Cup
events, and the only one open to the public.
Readers: Persons who read/judge Composition.
Regional Competition: The second level of Governor’s Cup. Teams and individuals advance to
the Regional competition based upon their District competition performance.
Regional Confirmation Form: Sent to the Regional host school, it asks you to list the coaches
certification numbers, students advancing from District to Regional, and available officials. Done
through the online scoring system, ASAP.
Scorer: Quick Recall official who keeps track of the match score and timeouts.
Scoring Team: Persons responsible for entering scores into ASAP, KAAC’s online scoring system.
Severe Weather Plan: Contingency plan decided by coaches at the Competition Planning Meeting.
State Confirmation Form: Sent to KAAC, it asks you to list the students and/or teams from your
school advancing from Regional to State Governor’s Cup. This form is used to produce the State
program, which includes the names of all of the participants. Done through the online scoring
system, ASAP.
State Finals: (MG/HS only) The final tier in Governor’s Cup. State champions are identified in each
event.
A How-To for Governor’s Cup Coaches – Page 5
1. How to Get Faculty and Administrators On Board
The support of your school administration, faculty, and staff is essential to the success of an
academic program. Do your best to make everyone in your school a shareholder in the
academic team’s success. How can this be done?
Administrative Support
Your principal will enjoy success achieved in academic competition. Consult with the principal
about use of the building for practices and competitions. If you are not familiar in arranging
transportation, enlist the principal’s help in getting buses or other transportation. Be sure to
give the principal, secretary, and other personnel a copy of the team schedule when it is
completed. Invite the principal, faculty, and other staff to attend competitions. As soon as
possible, make the principal aware of the budget needs for the academic team. Be prepared
to attend school council and school board meetings to both ask for funds and to report on
the team’s success.
Many coaches who complain of a lack of administrative support have simply never asked for
it. Prepare “your case” and take it to your school board or school council. Highlight the
positive recognition the academic team can bring to the school. One argument that often
resonates with decision-makers is this: shouldn’t we support academic programs
at the same level we support athletic programs? Ask your decision makers what sort
of message it sends to kids if they fail to support the academic team.
Faculty Support
Let your faculty know how important classroom instruction is to academic team success.
Material taught in the classroom will be heard in Quick Recall matches and seen in Written
Assessment competitions. Teachers have many valuable resources that may ensure the
academic team’s success. Ask them for study materials from their content areas. Inform
teachers when students correctly answer questions that have been covered in their classes.
Encourage teachers to attend training sessions and officiate practice matches with the team.
Should your school host district, region, or an invitational tournament, various classrooms
will be needed for the competition. Remember that a heartfelt thank you from you and your
team members will be greatly appreciated by your co-workers.
School Staff
Do not forget to include the school staff in any list of academic shareholders. The
instructional aides, bus drivers, clerical staff, custodians, and food service staff may all play a
role in the team’s success. These members of the school staff will often see the long hours
that are spent in making any extra-curricular activity successful. Some may become your
biggest supporters. Any staff member may volunteer to assist you in coaching or
chaperoning students. Remember that the staff may have to change their work routines to
accommodate practice and match times. Again, show your appreciation for staff support.
A How-To for Governor’s Cup Coaches – Page 6
Share Your Success
Create, or have one of your students create, a team web page. Use the academic success as
a recruiting tool, not just for securing adult help, but in securing quality players for the
future. You or your students should write announcements of team and individual academic
successes that could be broadcast to the school. Bulletin boards are great ways to show
what the academic team is doing.
2. How To Pay For and Manage Your Program
Sample Academic Team Budget
(This example is for establishing a team without prior resources.)
KAAC dues
$325 ($225 Elementary)
Practice supplies
$300
Buzzer system
$600
Competition materials – questions for 5 home matches
$175
Competition materials – 1 Written Assessment set
$100
Future Problem Solving materials
$150
KAAC Conference costs
$300
Uniforms: 15 players @ $20
$300
Travel – 5 away games, district, & regional tournament
$600
Total Proposed Budget
$2880
If you are the new coach of an established team, your budget could be considerably less.
You should already have a buzzer system and some practice materials. Some teams
participate in academic leagues that may reduce the cost of competition materials. If your
parents can afford it, ask them to pay for their own shirts or uniforms.
The more competitive your team becomes, the more it will cost. The top academic
programs in Kentucky will play many more games than “average” programs. Quite simply the
more a team plays the greater its financial needs. More play requires more travel, perhaps
overnight lodging, food, and tournament entry fees. As a coach, you will see a greater need
to supply your students with the resources they need for success. Resources such as
additional materials and manpower will simply cost more money.
Coach Stipend
You deserve a stipend for coaching the academic team. If your school has an established
academic team budget, you need to know if your stipend or increment is included in the
annual budget. A suggested amount for your coaching increment should be similar to that of
athletic coaches in your school, assuming you work similar hours.
Funding Sources
Start securing money by informing your principal of the team’s needs. Present your principal
with a proposed budget. Ask about available funds within the school. Ask the principal for
help in securing funds from your central office. Try to get a budget allocation for the team as
A How-To for Governor’s Cup Coaches – Page 7
part of the regular school or district budget. Enlist the help of your parents in talking with the
school administration. Parents often have great gifts of persuasion when talking to principals
and school superintendents. Team parents or alumni may organize a booster club. Start
work on next year’s budget now.
Until you have an established budget to work with, fundraising will be the best hope for
securing the teams needs.
Fundraising
Enlist the help of parents in fundraising. Parents may have connections in your area that
would be valuable in raising funds. Parents may also suggest what items could be sold most
easily. Local retailers and restaurants may offer fundraising projects for school and youth
groups. When fundraising, establish individual sale goals, group sale goals, sale cut off
dates, and state the purpose for the fundraising as specifically as possible.
Donations
Before seeking donations, develop an organization plan. Compile a list of possible
benefactors. Divide the list to ensure that each possible donor will only be asked
for one donation. Provide students with a form notifying possible donors of why the
donation is needed, who is asking for it, and what amount is being requested. Remember to
thank and recognize all the contributors. Many businesses, especially in rural areas, are
asked frequently for donations and may not be able to meet all requests.
Parental Support
Early in the year, talk to parents about the costs of the academic team. In some cases
parents may prefer to pay whatever costs arise for their child’s participation in academic
competition. While paying for an academic shirt, practice supplies, tournament fees, and
perhaps overnight lodging is expensive, some parents would rather pay the costs than deal
with fundraising. Simply ask the parents what they want to do in terms of meeting the
financial needs of their child. Once you have surveyed the parents, you can then devise a
plan to meet the team’s financial needs.
3. How To Manage Your Time
Go ahead, ask: How much time does it take to coach the academic team?
Before you can answer that question, two others need to be asked: (1) How well can you
organize your time, and (2) What is your desired level of success?
When and How Often to Practice
Most coaches practice after school; others before the school day starts. Many coaches will
reduce practice time when the team begins playing matches. Matches prior to KAAC District
Governor’s Cup often are viewed as simply practice matches. Most competitive coaches will
A How-To for Governor’s Cup Coaches – Page 8
increase practice sessions as the time for Governor’s Cup draws near. Do not be shocked to
hear about teams that play 50 or more Quick Recall matches.
How To Get Additional “Practice” for Governor’s Cup
1. Join an academic “league”. Most leagues have a season of six to nine weeks prior to
Governor’s Cup. KAAC does not run the fall leagues. Most teams will play one to two
times a week during this time. Some leagues include assessment in the schedule.
2. Attend, or sponsor, an academic tournament. This is a good way to get lots of matches in
a short time.
3. Coordinate scrimmages with nearby teams. If you don’t know how to contact nearby
teams, contact KAAC.
If all the time considerations sound frightening, do not despair. You can be a successful
academic coach without academic competition consuming your entire life. Here is an
example of how one coach “builds up” practice time prior to Governor’s Cup:
Monday
Off
Tuesday
1.5 hrs
September-October 15
Wednesday
Thursday
Off
1.5 hours
Friday
Off
Monday
League match
Tuesday
1.5 hrs
October 15-December 15
Wednesday
Thursday
Off
1.5 hours
Friday
Off
Monday
1.5 hrs
Tuesday
1.5 hrs.
January-February
Wednesday
Off
Thursday
1.5 hrs.
Friday
1 hr.
Two things to keep in mind: (1) this schedule does not include preparatory time,
tournaments, or other practice activities for your team; and (2) Adjust these times as you
see fit. One size does not fit all.
Develop an Academic Team Schedule
1. Consider your personal schedule and determine what days work best for you.
2. Consult with your principal about scheduling school space.
3. Review the schedules of other extra-curricular activities and try to avoid conflicts.
4. If your school belongs to a league, go to the league organizational meeting to get the
competition schedule.
5. Visit the KAAC website to find the Governor’s Cup dates for your team.
6. Distribute copies of the schedule to team members, parents, and school personnel.
7. Make the schedule available for school and district publications.
A How-To for Governor’s Cup Coaches – Page 9
How to Use Your Time Wisely
1. Teach students to set up, break down, and operate the buzzer system.
2. Develop a practice routine that will allow students to begin practice quickly and if
necessary move quickly to the next station.
3. If bus travel is necessary for away games, divide students into study pairs or content
study groups.
4. Create folders of material for them to study during the trips.
5. Recruit parent volunteers to organize refreshments.
6. If your school allows it, ask parents to help transport students to competitions or
coordinate carpooling.
Manage Deadlines and Paperwork
Academic coaches have various deadlines to meet during the year. KAAC has a list of dates
available at its website. Coaches will be contacted by KAAC about upcoming events and
participation deadlines.
Coaches must receive training and certification by a certain date each year. All Quick Recall
officials need to be trained and certified prior the district competition. Coaches who train
local officials must pass the information along to KAAC in order for the officials to receive
certification cards. Each school must have a certified coach and a certified evaluator to
compete in Future Problem Solving.
The coach is responsible for seeing that dues to KAAC are paid each year. The coach must
register her or his team with KAAC each year. Registration may be done online.
Prior to Governor’s Cup, coaches must register their players online for the various
competitions. Coaches assign players to Future Problem Solving, Quick Recall, Composition,
or Written Assessment using ASAP, which is KAAC’s online registration and scoring system.
After each level of competition someone must enter results into the ASAP system and
forward the results to KAAC. Coaches are responsible for checking ASAP for mistakes.
Officials are entered in the ASAP program prior to each level of competition. Coaches need to
confirm dates and times with all officials prior to the date of the competition.
4. How To Secure Help
There is a lot more to coaching an academic team than just reading questions to kids. You
are in charge of preparing students for competition in Composition, Future Problem Solving,
Quick Recall, and Written Assessment. Your team is looking to you for expert advice in arts
and humanities, language arts, math, science, and social studies. In addition to being an allknowing academic specialist, you need to be a personnel agent, counselor, finance whiz,
equipment manager, and time manager. Believe it or not, a few people can do it all; the rest
of us need help.
A How-To for Governor’s Cup Coaches – Page 10
Assistant Coaches
Don’t be afraid to ask for coaching help. What other extra-curricular program has this many
duties and only one coach? Ask your principal about hiring an assistant. When you request
an assistant, provide the principal or school board with as much data as possible about your
need. Safety and proper supervision of children always are major concerns.
If funds cannot be secured for a paid assistant, you need to seek a volunteer to help with
the coaching duties. You may be able to find a teacher to volunteer on a full time or part
time basis. Parents, instructional aides, other staff, or Governor’s Cup alumni may volunteer
to help with coaching duties.
Officials
To compete in the various Governor’s Cup events you must have persons to serve as Quick
Recall officials, test proctors, English Composition scorers, and an FPS evaluator. All of these
require some type of training, with Quick Recall and FPS officials requiring KAAC certification.
Thinking about all the officials needed may leave you asking, “Whom can I get to do all of
those jobs?” Trust us – the help is out there. Teachers, administrators, classified staff,
parents, high school students, and community members may all serve as officials. The key
to getting the help needed in officiating is asking early and often. KAAC will have
the dates for the upcoming season of competition posted soon after the completion of each
year’s Governor’s Cup State Finals. People can often make plans to help if given sufficient
notice. Don’t wait until your entry form is due before asking for help. Let the people in your
building know that help is needed in order for the team to compete. Check the KAAC website
for training and certification clinics in your area. Remember that all KAAC certified coaches
may train and certify officials for Quick Recall. Be willing to help co-workers with an extracurricular event in exchange for their help.
Use High School Students as Officials!
Elementary and middle school coaches, use High School students as officials. High School
Quick Recall team members will be extremely knowledgeable of the rules for competition.
They often make excellent moderators because they have heard thousands of questions in
their playing careers. Remember, players may be willing to help because of their love of the
game or respect for you.
Another great source for officials are former players. Facebook and Twitter can be great
ways to find them. Visit the Governor’s Cup Facebook page as well.
Your Responsibility
Please give every official you provide for competition sufficient practice to be
competent and comfortable in his or her duties. Allow moderators and judges to read
during practice and league matches before recommending them for Governor’s Cup.
Likewise, let scorekeepers and proctors get in some practice time with the team. Remember
that certification is not a substitution for practice among officials.
A How-To for Governor’s Cup Coaches – Page 11
Parent Involvement
Establishing a good relationship with parents is a key element in promoting the success of an
academic team. Meet with parents soon after team selection is completed.
The first meeting will offer an opportunity for coaches and parents to get acquainted. The
team schedule should be distributed and discussed during the meeting. Encourage parents to
attend as many academic competitions as possible during the season. This meeting is an
excellent time to discuss team rules, player expectations, and funding concerns. Parents can
be advised of your need for volunteers for the upcoming season. Explain the training and
certification requirement for officials and solicit their help. The meeting is an excellent time
to finalize an emergency contact list, with all necessary phone numbers including your own.
Parents should be encouraged to take an active role in their child’s academic success. Ask
parents, especially of younger players, to study with their child whenever possible.
There are forms in the Appendix you can adapt to communicate with parents effectively.
6. How to Select Your Team
There are several methods for selection of academic team members. Each method has its
advantages and its drawbacks. Your method should reflect your coaching philosophy.
Three…Is a Magic Number…Yes It Is…
Governor’s Cup students may compete in a maximum of three events at all
competition levels (District, Regional, State) combined. Your school can place a
maximum of three students in each of the six individual Governor’s Cup events—
the five Written Assessments and Composition.
Consider that you have these “slots” to fill on a Governor’s Cup team:
1. Four Quick Recall players
2. Four Future Problem Solvers
3. Fifteen Written Assessment test-takers (3 in each of the 5 events)
4. Three Composition writers
That’s 26 total slots to fill. Theoretically, if no one on your team participates in more than
one event, 26 students could compete for your school.
In reality, however, you will likely have students competing in multiple events. It will be your
choice where those students can make the most impact for your team.
There are forms in the Appendix you can adapt to help manage how you select your players.
A How-To for Governor’s Cup Coaches – Page 12
Team Selection Options
“Whosoever Will May Come”
This method of team selection involves inviting everyone and anyone to join the academic
team and come to the first practice. Many of you are already thinking this is totally
ridiculous, but this method has some definite merits. Some students with enormous potential
are terrified of tryouts because they are afraid of failure. This method relieves that stressful
situation. Other students may not look very promising at early practices but through
dedicated study and practice, they may emerge as academic stars.
The entire school will not show up. Discuss rules and expectations for the academic team at
the first practice. Some students will politely excuse themselves when they find out that
work will be involved. Begin a regular practice routine as soon as possible because this will
allow students to identify their particular areas of interest within academic competition.
Within a few practices, only those students truly interested in the academic team will remain.
Hopefully, some of them have found their niche to be part of the academic team.
Tryouts
Many successful coaches conduct tryouts to determine who should be on the academic team.
The tryouts will often start with some type of written test to determine prospective players
depth of knowledge. You may have a preset cut off score to decide who will make the team.
Ask students to participate in Quick Recall scrimmages, and keep some type of statistics that
may be used in selecting players for the team. Examples are in the Appendix.
While tryouts work well for many coaches, there are drawbacks to this method. Tryouts over
a few days only show what a student knows or can do on those certain days, not what they
may do in the future. Tryouts will not demonstrate the work ethic of an individual. As stated
before, tryouts may actually discourage some talented individuals from participating in
academic competition.
Teacher Recommendations
Some coaches are successful in selecting teams based on teacher recommendations.
Teachers working with students on a day-to-day basis should be good judges of academic
potential, as well as student work ethics. Teacher recommendations are often good for
finding quality participants in Composition and Written Assessment.
Problems may arise, however, if you base team selections only on teacher referrals or
recommendations. Some teachers may base recommendations on behavior rather than
ability. Classes with task-oriented structures may overlook the knowledge needed for
academic competition. Some teachers may not appreciate the competitive drive academic
team members need. A student’s weakness in a particular content may be noted, without
recognizing strengths in other content areas.
A How-To for Governor’s Cup Coaches – Page 13
A Solution: Mix and Match Methods
Consider incorporating all three methods into your team selection process. You may get
some excellent player recommendations from your faculty. There may be players that
sparkle during tryouts. You may find that diamond in the rough just waiting for your
polishing skills during practice sessions.
When making your final choices, remember what you need. Students who did not shine
during Quick Recall may be wonderful writers or Written Assessment test-takers. A child that
may not have the Social Studies glossary memorized may be wonderfully creative and be an
excellent addition to the Future Problem Solving team.
Mandatory Cliché Insertion: Think Outside the Box
Consider some non-academic factors when making choices for academic team members.
Team players with good social skills can make your job much easier. A very popular student
can draw other talented people to the team. As a coach, you can overcome about any
obstacle except student apathy. Students with a competitive drive will rise to challenges
and keep their composure in the “heat of battle.”
Selecting an FPS Team
There is no secret formula for creating a good Future Problem Solving team, but there are
few key ingredients. A Future Problem Solving team must have some creative individuals.
The team needs some well-informed individuals with a decent knowledge of current events.
Every team needs at least one excellent writer. The team needs to work together as a
cohesive unit. The FPS team is not the place for conflict. The more diverse the team is in its
makeup, the greater the chance for divergent thinking.
7. How to Set Rules and Behavior Standards
Team Rules
Good teachers have rules that provide order for their classrooms. The number one rule on
rules is: have only a few rules which are religiously enforced. Your rules should
reflect your goals and concerns. After establishing your rules, share them with the team and
parents. Any rule is only as good as its enforcement. In the Appendix you will find some
sample rules for your team you can use or adapt to your needs and philosophy.
Protect yourself by getting these rules approved by your school council or governing Board.
A How-To for Governor’s Cup Coaches – Page 14
8. How to Use the KAAC Content Guidelines
The Governor’s Cup content area guidelines are available at the KAAC website and in the
Governor’s Cup Coaches’ Manual.
The content for Quick Recall and Written Assessment questions is taken from these
guidelines. KAAC uses these content guidelines to ensure that Governor’s Cup is centered
upon valued learner outcomes. The guidelines are based on the Kentucky Department of
Education’s Program of Studies.
Governor’s Cup Content Areas
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
Mathematics
Science
Social Studies
Language Arts
Arts/Humanities
WITHIN each Content Area are sub-categories: e.g., in High School
Mathematics there are 6 Trigonometry, 9 Algebra, 5 Geometry
and 1 General sub-category.
Online resource: http://www.kaac.com/governors-cup/governors-cup-quickrecall-and-written-assessment-content-areas/
Many coaches are not aware that Quick Recall questions are drawn from an equal proportion
of each of the five content areas, or that Written Assessment examinations have balanced
proportions from each sub-category.
As you begin practice, you will need to assess your team’s depth of knowledge in each
content and sub-category. After identifying areas of weakness, develop plans to improve
your team’s performance. Begin by finding material about the area in need of improvement.
If you are not an expert about British literature, but need help in the area—ask a literature
teacher in your building for assistance. A good starting point is to locate a glossary or table
of contents in an area where the team lacks sufficient knowledge. Once you and the
students begin study you are likely to find more resources. Many of you may prefer to begin
your search for materials online.
A How-To for Governor’s Cup Coaches – Page 15
After you have become comfortable with the core content guidelines, you will want to copy it
and explain its use to your players. Team members should be familiar with categories within
their content area or areas of interest and responsibility. Team members will soon recognize
their areas of need and will turn to you for help. Encourage them to find or create study
materials that they can share with the team. Dedicate parts of your practice time to content
area practices.
9. How To Secure and Develop Practice Materials
KAAC
KAAC sells past Governor’s Cup Quick Recall sets, Written Assessment examinations, FPS
Future Scenes, Composition prompts, and other materials. The KAAC materials are excellent
tools for Governor’s Cup preparation.
Outside Vendors
In addition to KAAC, many companies offer Quick Recall sets and collections for sale. Most
companies offer to sell older sets for practice at a lower price than competition sets. Several
companies have books, bound collections, or compact disc collections of Quick Recall
questions for sale. Use questions for practice similar to those that will be used for
competition. If you know that a tournament is going to use a particular vendor for a
tournament, then you need to use those to practice for that tournament.
Textbooks
Textbook publishers have access to the same KDE guidelines used by KAAC in developing its
own content guidelines. Encourage your players to use the reference sections of textbooks
for study. Fellow teachers may be able to offer suggestions about major topics for study.
Perhaps teachers may have old textbooks or resources that could be loaned or given to the
academic team.
General Resources
General reference works such as The New York Public Library Desk Reference, The New
Dictionary of Cultural Literacy, and The World Almanac and Book of Facts are all excellent
additions to an academic team collection. Over time, reference works for arts and
humanities, language arts, math, social studies, and science should be added to the team
collection. The materials collected can be used in preparation for Quick Recall, Written
Assessment, and Future Problem Solving.
Future Problem Solving Materials
FPS materials may be purchased through the KAAC website or from the International Future
Problem Solving Office. A Readings, Research and Resources Guide is published each year
for the current FPS topics. Activity units for the various topics are available. Another good
resource to purchase is the collection of winning FPS booklets from previous years. New
coaches may want to purchase the FPS Coaches Handbook. Many other items are available
to Future Problem Solving teams.
A How-To for Governor’s Cup Coaches – Page 16
A list of resources and vendors follows. This is by no means a comprehensive list and these
vendors are not endorsed by KAAC.
Quick Recall Questions
KAAC - 502-223-0088 - www.kaac.com
B & R Questions - 270-286-4279 - robingrey@usadatanet.net
Academic Hallmarks - 800-321-9218 - www.greatauk.com
Jefferson Co. Academic Competitions - janet.morris@jefferson.kyschools.us
Answers Plus - 618-622-1709 - www.quizbowl.com
National Academic Quiz Tournaments - www.naqt.com
The Stanford Packet Archive – www.quizbowl.stanford.edu/archive
Future Problem Solving Materials
KAAC - 502-223-0088 – www.kaac.com/store
Buzzer Systems
The Inquisitor: http://www.educationaltechnologies.us/
Zeecraft: www.zeecraft.com
Slam-In: www.slammersystems.com
These vendors exhibit at our annual Conference.
Written Assessment Questions
KAAC - 502-223-0088 – www.kaac.com/store/index.html
B&R Questions - 270-286-4279 - robingrey@usadatanet.net
Jefferson Co. Academic Competitions - janet.morris@jefferson.kyschools.us
One of the Best-Kept Secrets of Successful Coaches: Self-Created Materials
Some of the best materials for academic competition preparation are those materials created
by coaches and players. All materials should be created with the KAAC content guidelines in
mind if your primary focus is Governor’s Cup.
Some players may find past Governor’s Cup or other Quick Recall questions a bit tough
during early practices. Create some “You have to know this” type lists for use during practice
and home study. Lists of states and capitals, authors and titles, and terms and definitions are
examples of “you have to know this” type lists. Lists can be found or made for about any
subject area. There are several books of lists available online or from bookstores.
Students can learn content by creating and reviewing study (flash) cards. Terms and
definitions, authors and titles, chemical elements and symbols, and people and
accomplishments are all subjects easily committed to study cards. Some coaches cut up
previously used Quick Recall sets to make study cards. The cards are fairly durable and easy
for students to carry with them.
A How-To for Governor’s Cup Coaches – Page 17
Students can generate data sheets for study on any topic. An example would be author data
sheets with a short biography, a list and synopsis of major works, and a bibliography of
lesser-known works. The possibilities for data sheets are endless.
A good way to gauge your students’ dedication to study is through quizzes. Quiz players over
all handouts given to them. The quizzes can be oral or written. Written quizzes can be
scored and returned to players for continued study. Make the quizzes worth something to
the players. Top placements on a written quiz earn them spots in a written testing
competition. Players with greatest recollection of facts will make up the team for an
upcoming tournament. Most people tend to perform better when rewards are involved.
Encourage students to generate as much study material as they possibly can. This has a
two-fold advantage. First, students are studying as they create the materials. Second, it
allows you some time to dedicate to other concerns. Provide some guidance to students and
you may be amazed at what they can do. Students may produce all Quick Recall questions,
lightning rounds, pyramid questions, quizzes, and written examinations. Team members and
coaches should check student generated study materials for errors. Again, you are getting a
double bonus because a student who is analyzing a friend’s work hoping to find an error may
actually learn something from the study.
Many coaches are good at finding, copying, and distributing material to be studied by
academic players. Don’t assume that just because the players have materials that
they will study them. It is your job to prepare them for competition. If you want a
guarantee that material has been studied, then make sure that you study it with the players.
Many coaches have been heard saying, “You should know that because you were given a
sheet about it or we went over that in practice.” Remember that even though a topic may
have been studied, quizzed, and reviewed in Quick Recall, it must be refreshed from time to
time in practice.
10. How to Practice for Quick Recall
The single greatest determinant of success in academic competition is effective practice. The
purpose of any practice is to prepare the team for competition. Basketball coaching legend
John Wooden said it best with his quote, “Those who fail to prepare are only preparing for
failure.”
Many coaches erroneously believe that reading questions from start to finish is the only
method of practice. Other coaches believe they are only facilitators of learning; therefore,
they just copy and distribute study materials. If reading questions and passing out material
isn’t practice, then what is?
The old adage “practice makes perfect” is not necessarily true. Good practices make
perfect; poor practices, regardless of their frequency, will do little to improve a team.
A How-To for Governor’s Cup Coaches – Page 18
Consider the following scenario: You step into your family doctor’s examining room. The
doctor reaches into her supply of free pharmaceutical samples and says, “Take this.” “There
is no need for a detailed account of your ailment,” the doctor explains, “because these pills
might work. If the medicine doesn’t work, come back again and we will try something else.”
Would you be satisfied with your doctor’s approach?
Consider, then, a typical Quick Recall practice. Just before practice, you pull out a set of
previously used questions. When practice begins, the players sit down with buzzers in hand.
You begin reading questions. Students buzz and answer questions in the allotted time.
Practice ends and everyone goes home.
Have you…
o Identified team and individual strengths and weaknesses?
o Discussed and explained any of the questions missed in practice?
o Taken note of quickness and accuracy of the players?
o Developed a new practice plan for tomorrow based on today’s practice?
Or, did you just read the questions?
Fundamental Rules for Effective Practices
1. Develop a practice plan that includes having all supplies together before practice.
2. Practices should be positive in tone and fun whenever possible.
3. Involve all team members in the practice.
4. Base each practice on the needs of the team.
5. Set up a rotation system in which specialized activities are happening at different
stations. This keeps players actively engaged in the practice.
6. Keep a record of attendance at practice sessions.
7. Allow yourself some time after practice to reflect on accomplishments made and
improvements needed.
Practicing to Gain Knowledge
Teams with the greatest knowledge base win matches, tournaments, and championships.
There are essentially two practice situations to improve depth of knowledge: content area
practice and specific content drills.
An example of a content area practice would have all science specialists meet together with
a coach. The coach would simply read as many science Quick Recall questions as possible.
The questions could come from Quick Recall practice or match sets, study cards, or any
science reference source. The coach may stop for instruction if the need arises. Keep tallies
of correct and incorrect answers. Ask students to record missed items for future reference.
This is very much a shotgun approach, with the goal being to cover as many items per
content area as possible. This type of Quick Recall practice strategy could be used for any of
the five Governor’s Cup content areas.
A How-To for Governor’s Cup Coaches – Page 19
Specific content area drills would begin with students being assigned a particular handout to
study. At the next practice all students receiving the particular handout on U. S. Presidents,
for example, would be called together for a practice session. The coach would read questions
from the handout, until he felt the students had reached some level of mastery of the
content.
Practicing to Gain Speed
The single greatest way for an individual or team to gain speed is to gain greater knowledge.
Simply put, the more that a student knows, the faster he or she will be on the buzzer.
Aside from gaining greater knowledge, there are a few things that can be done to improve
team speed. Speed drills can effectively increase buzzer speed. Speed drills simply require
going over important lists or facts numerous times. The repetition allows the students to get
faster and faster. The goal is to buzz as quickly as possible. In this type of drill, all questions
are tossups and everyone is encouraged to buzz.
You may vary the drill by stating you are only going to read questions to an essential clue.
Students must buzz in at that clue. It is important to teach students what essential clues are
for various questions. For example, if a student hears Globe Theater in a question, chances
are the answer is William Shakespeare. Teach students a reasonable alternate response. If a
question requires the name of a Whig president and the other team incorrectly guessed
William H. Harrison, then teach your players that Zachary Taylor is a good alternate answer.
Again, the deeper your player’s knowledge becomes, the faster they will be.
Another variation is to reduce the response time for a tossup or bonus. Tell the students
they will only have three seconds to respond with a correct answer or time will elapse.
Practice Like You Play!
The most important way to prepare students for Governor’s Cup is to conduct
practices using KAAC Quick Recall rules. Students must know about time limits,
hesitations, infractions, and all the other rules prior to competition. A player who has never
been called for hesitation or illegal conferring will be confused and upset when it is called at
District. If you fail to teach your players KAAC rules, you are orchestrating a disaster.
When practicing in a game situation, be sure to teach your students to respect the authority
of the officials. Many students may become accustomed to stopping their coaches during a
practice to ask a question; this is prohibited in Governor’s Cup. They may occasionally want
to point out a slip the coach makes during practice. Be sure to advise your players that
questioning an official’s decisions or authority is not acceptable during Governor’s Cup.
Teach your students the value of good sportsmanship. Every team will not win the district,
region, or state Governor’s Cup in Quick Recall competition, but every team can conduct
itself like a champion. Kind words and kind deeds will be remembered long after scores have
been forgotten. Likewise, unkind words and poor attitudes will be remembered for years to
A How-To for Governor’s Cup Coaches – Page 20
come. Teaching good sportsmanship can be done at every practice. Teach students
appropriate game day behaviors and expectations. If you don’t allow players to criticize one
another in practice, it will be unlikely that they will criticize each other, opponents, or officials
during a competition. Coaches that maintain a positive tone with their team will most likely
have a team that conducts itself in a positive manner.
Use drills to simulate game-like situations. One such practice drill would be to set the score
in such a way that your “A Team” must score a set amount of points on a limited number of
questions to win or tie the match. This teaches students to handle the pressure of trailing an
opponent late in the game. Players can be taught to hold a lead using drills. Set up a
situation with limited time and questions left in the game. The team with the lead must play
to maintain that lead against a good opponent.
11. How to Practice for Written Assessment
It is impossible to win Governor’s Cup District, Regional or State championships without
doing well in Written Assessment testing.
Event(s)
5 Written Assessments
Composition
FPS
Quick Recall
Possible Points
60
12
8
8
Teach your team the value of Written Assessment early in the year. Some coaches have
success in Written Assessment by taking students that have been referred by classroom
teachers to assessment competition. Other coaches choose and develop their Written
Assessment competitors from within the ranks of the academic team.
The first step in achieving success in Written Assessment competition is to secure some
assessments for practice. If you have been coaching for a few years, you have probably
developed an inventory of past assessments to use. Several vendors were listed earlier in
this handbook for those needing to purchase sets for practice.
Begin your Written Assessment practices by asking each student to choose one, two, or
three areas in which he or she is most interested. Each student would then take an initial
test in each area of interest. The initial test scores would simply be recorded as a starting
point. The coach will need to assess student progress in testing over the course of the
season. Students should know about their progress or the lack thereof.
Incorporate Written Assessment as a regular part of practice. If your buzzer system does not
accommodate everyone on the team, then students may rotate between Quick Recall and
Written Assessment practice. Score the tests as quickly as possible and return to the players.
Record the scores for future review. All tests should be corrected so that the students can
A How-To for Governor’s Cup Coaches – Page 21
use them for study. Also, be sure to allow time to review the tests with the players. This
provides an excellent opportunity to help students gain a greater knowledge base.
As students begin taking and scoring assessments, areas of weakness within a subject area
may become evident. Address a weakness by devoting some practice time to that particular
area. The coach may be able to teach a mini-lesson on that topic. A sheet with websites that
address the topic could be given to students. Find a book or handout that could help
students gain greater knowledge of the topic, or find a teacher or even an older student that
could tutor the player needing help.
Some coaches use computer programs to help develop a team for Written Assessment
competition. The coach needs to search for any testing programs that are available within
the school first. There are several student testing sites available online. Coaches may want
to develop their own test banks which students can take online or from a disc.
12. How to Practice for Future Problem Solving
The goal of FPS is to teach students how to think, not what to think. KAAC has developed a
handbook for FPS coaches that is available at the KAAC website. The Future Problem Solving
Program has a coaches’ handbook available.
The first meeting of potential academic team members should address FPS. Ask how many
people present are familiar with the FPS program. If few students are aware of the program,
then give a short overview of FPS.
If most of the students are new to FPS, then you will need to spend some time introducing
them to the basics of the program. After a preliminary introduction, you may want to have
students read a familiar story or fairy tale. In its training, KAAC uses the fairy tale of Humpty
Dumpty and applies the FPS six step process to that situation.
Early practices need to address higher level thinking skills. Students should be introduced to
both creative and critical thinking strategies. Also, early practices should deal with using a
variety of generating tools such as: brainstorming, force fitting, checklisting, focusing and
combining. Encourage all players to participate, without fear of criticism.
Students must understand the FPS six steps:
1. Identify Challenges
2. Select an Underlying Problem
3. Produce Solution Ideas
4. Generate and Select Criteria
5. Apply Criteria
6. Develop an Action Plan
A How-To for Governor’s Cup Coaches – Page 22
Using past FPS future scenes and booklets is an effective way to introduce the six-step
model. Coaches may purchase past championship booklets from KAAC, then direct their
players through each of the steps using the booklets. This method bypasses research and
allows students to focus on the process.
Very early, students must become familiar with the category list used for generating ideas.
The category list provides team members with some guidance for research and for
generating ideas. Players should know the value of category use in scoring FPS booklets.
Topic research may begin after students have become familiar with thinking styles and the
FPS process. An obvious starting point for topic research is the Readings, Research &
Resources book produced each year by the Future Problem Solving Program. The book has
condensed articles from various periodicals that deal with the FPS topics for the current year.
An overview of each topic, key vocabulary, and some guiding questions are included, also.
Students and coaches may further their research through use of the Internet. Try to locate
local individuals that could share their knowledge of the topic with the FPS team. Students
should collect and organize their research for future use. At practices, the FPS members can
share their research with teammates. Also, coaches may want to organize study sessions to
review content and vocabulary.
Activity packets are available from KAAC and from the Future Problem Solving Program.
These activities can be used during FPS practice to gain greater knowledge of the topics
under consideration. You may also create your own activities to help students.
Students MUST complete an FPS booklet before the actual FPS competition. Often FPS teams
may have their first opportunity to complete a booklet at the district tournament. Many
players will be overwhelmed if they have not practiced completing booklets before district
level competition.
Some coaches have success by requiring mastery of one portion of a booklet before going to
the next step. In this method team members would be given a future scene and would be
instructed to only identify challenges. Students would dedicate that practice session to only
writing challenges in the proper way. The coach would then score the challenges using an
FPS scoring sheet. The next practice would begin with a review of the score sheet and the
challenges written. The coach may give team members an opportunity to rewrite the
challenges. Once the team has shown that it has mastered the essentials of step one,
identifying challenges, the team would move on to the next step. The coach would continue
in this manner until the team has mastered all parts of the booklet and the six-step process.
Other coaches are have students to complete the entire booklet. These coaches then follow
up with an analysis of the booklet at the next practice.
A How-To for Governor’s Cup Coaches – Page 23
You must score team practice booklets for feedback the team may then use to
improve their efforts. If the team knows what scorers are looking for, then the team is
more likely to create a high scoring booklet.
Many coaches have difficulty in finding or creating future scenes for practice. KAAC provides
a practice problem, which is an opportunity to practice the entire process prior to District.
You may want to duplicate articles about the topics and use them as a future scene. In using
the article, FPS team members could search for challenges and an underlying problem, and
then use the information they gathered from the article to complete a booklet. If you are
particularly creative, create future scenes for your team to practice.
13. How to Practice for Composition
It is hard to “coach” good writing. That said, there are a few things that can help you
maximize student performance in Composition.
Your writers must be familiar with the score sheet in the Governor’s Cup Coaches’ Manual,
and they must know the type of writing the prompt will ask them to produce.
Conduct several “mock” events under Governor’s Cup time constraints. Have an experienced
writing instructor evaluate student booklets, and determine areas that need attention.
14. How to Use Statistics
Keep statistics during practice sessions. Better yet, assign a younger player to do so.
Statistics should be kept in every part of practice. Accumulate them and keep them on file.
Attendance Statistics
What you choose to do with your attendance record is entirely up to you. In the event that
an emergency arises, the coach has a record of who was in attendance. It may be necessary
to review the attendance of players with their parents. Attendance records may be used to
determine who attends a tournament and who does not.
Quick Recall Statistics
Quick Recall statistics should tally speed, accuracy, and knowledge base. The coach may use
the statistics in determining who starts a game or who plays in a certain situation. The coach
may rely on Quick Recall statistics in choosing members for a tournament team.
Create a simple chart with a column for tossup questions and rows for player names. The
coach could then devise a method for marking correct, incorrect, early correct, and early
incorrect answers on the chart. Point values could be assigned to each category. Coaches
would then have visual evidence of which players are fastest and/or most accurate. Coaches
could use the information in slowing down the pace of some players, while asking other
players to pick up the pace.
A How-To for Governor’s Cup Coaches – Page 24
Another common chart is similar to the first one, but it has five columns – one for each
content category. Again the coach may use tallies to keep up with questions answered or
missed by each student in every category. The coach can use the information from this sheet
to determine who is the best player in a content area. Examples of Quick Recall statistical
charts are in the Appendix.
Written Assessment Statistics
Written Assessment statistics are kept for much the same reason as Quick Recall. Coaches
need to determine who will compete in testing events. The statistics should provide the basis
for your decisions.
Each assessment that a team member takes should be scored and recorded. Early in the
year, stress that the score isn’t that important. Every coach’s and every player’s goal should
be to see the assessment score improve over the course of the year. The scores must be
recorded in order for improvement to be charted.
Aside from the score, misses within a sub-content area should be noted. If most assessment
takers miss the same question, then that question and that even sub-content may require
review or a mini-lesson.
Composition Statistics
Use the Composition score sheet as a type of statistical resource. Review the score sheet to
determine areas of weakness. You, or a writing teacher may use the information to help the
Composition student improve in a given area. Likewise, the score sheets may reveal an area
of weakness for the entire team that needs to be addressed.
FPS Statistics
Use the score sheets from FPS as a basis for your decisions. Some coaches allow all FPS
students to complete an individual booklet, which is then scored. The individual booklet
should indicate the strengths and weaknesses of each player. As a coach, you may select a
person with strength for identifying challenges from past score sheets. You might find a
person who develops excellent action plans. Again, you will need to score and record the
data in some fashion.
Benefit of Statistics #1: Dealing With Parents
You may end up being that one coach in 1000 who is never asked, “Coach, why didn’t my
child get to…?” If you aren’t so lucky, statistics give you hard data to back up your decisions.
Sometimes it becomes very difficult to decide who should take various assessments. A record
of accumulated test scores makes the task easier. If you are ever limited on the number of
players that you may take to a tournament, statistics should help in the decision.
A How-To for Governor’s Cup Coaches – Page 25
Benefit of Statistics #2: Motivating Students
Use practice and game statistics in motivating players. Sheets may be posted showing which
players have the most points in Quick Recall or assessment. Sometimes a friendly in-team
rivalry may occur. This rivalry may encourage greater study by the team. Sometimes posting
points may have a negative effect. Students may doubt their worth to the team. Each team
will respond in a different manner. The coach will soon be able to tell if posting scores will
help or hurt the team spirit and can adjust accordingly.
15. How to Reach Higher
Like any new job or responsibility, coaching an academic team may seem overwhelming.
Always remember you are not alone. The KAAC staff is only a phone call or e-mail away. The
staff has been helping new and experienced coaches since the Governor’s Cup was
established. KAAC may be able to give you a list of contacts in your area that can advise you
when the need arises.
The KAAC Fall Coaches’ Conference provides an excellent opportunity for coaches to improve
their knowledge of academic competition. The conference offers a variety of workshops to
Kentucky academic coaches. Experienced coaches from across the state and nation present
their coaching methods and philosophies. Coaches can find practice and competition
materials from the various vendors at the conference. Several certification clinics for Future
Problem Solving and Quick Recall are available during the conference.
Great coaches are truly observant. Watch the teams, players, and coaches as you compete
this season. You can learn something from nearly every game or practice. Often, you will
learn things to do, but equally important you will learn many things not to do. Ask more
experienced coaches for advice. Most coaches are willing to share some of their knowledge
with you. If you encounter material that you are not familiar with, remember to ask your
fellow teachers for help. Also, remember that older more experienced players may be great
resources for a new coach.
Your players are looking to you for leadership! Don’t let them down.
A wise, experienced coach once summed up the keys to Quick Recall success in this succinct
fashion, “Buzz quickly. Answer correctly. Don’t mess up!” The keys for tournament success
might be summed up as, “Plan well. Execute better. Don’t mess up.” Before taking part in a
tournament, the coach has arranged transportation, secured necessary officials, packed
supplies, notified parents, arranged for meals, reviewed statistics, entered players online in
ASAP, and practiced with the team on numerous occasions.
Here are some “above and beyond” ways to assure tournament success:
1. Encourage all your players to get a good night’s sleep before the tournament.
Try to put as much of this burden on the parents as possible. Let the parents and players
A How-To for Governor’s Cup Coaches – Page 26
know what your expectations are. If your team is staying overnight for a tournament, set
a curfew. You might not be able to make them sleep, but you can make them go to bed.
2. Players need to eat well to perform their best. Enlist the aid of parents in helping
you with nutrition. Many tournaments will offer breakfast and lunch items for sale to
students. Make sure that your students eat something. The human body is a wonderful
machine, but like all machines, it needs fuel.
3. Prepare your team to expect the unexpected. Players need to know that all
moderators are not alike. Players need to adjust to different moderators and different
locations. Practice questions or assessments similar to those that will be used in the
tournament. Give your students some opportunity to play in front of large numbers of
spectators if possible. The list of situations goes on and on.
4. If the team is performing badly, it is your fault. If the team is performing well,
it is to their credit. Remember Master Yoda’s advice, “Calm is the way of the Jedi.” If
you can stay calm and collected, your team will do the same. Most of all, everyone is
looking to you for guidance. By tournament time you should know how to talk to, and
deal with, your team. Relax everyone with a good joke or even a bad one. A warm smile
and a pat on the back might be worth ten points in a Quick Recall match.
5. Never fault a player during a match, just make a note to go over it at the next
practice. A harsh criticism might crush a team’s spirit.
6. Share your team’s success. Local newspapers will print articles about academic team
competitions. You may need to write the article yourself, but the paper will print it. Your
principal will be glad that some good news has appeared about the school. Provide
announcements that can be read over the school intercom after victories or outstanding
academic accomplishments. Some coaches have created websites to share information
about the academic team.
7. Success is about more than just winning. Success is about every player and every
team performing to the best of their ability. If player betters his Written Assessment
scores from the beginning of the season to tournament time, then that player has
enjoyed success. A Quick Recall team that moves from laughable to admirable is a
success. A successful FPS team may have started the season with no knowledge of the
program, but end with a correctly completed booklet and a love of the event. Hopefully,
you will have a long and fulfilling coaching career. In the end your success will not
ultimately be determined by your won/loss record or Governor’s Cup titles, but by the
number of lives that you touched in a positive manner.
A How-To for Governor’s Cup Coaches – Page 27
Appendix: Forms
Please keep in mind these are actual forms used by coaches whose situation may be
different than yours. They are provided as a starting point. Feel free to adapt them for
your particular circumstances.
A How-To for Governor’s Cup Coaches – Page 28
Academic Team Notification / Permission Form
To:
Academic Team Members and Their Guardians
From:
Date:
Congratulations! If you are receiving this letter then you have earned the honor of
participating on the Academic Team.
Practice Information:
-------------------------------------------------------------------First Parent Meeting:
This will be to discuss the academic team and its requirements as well as to answer any
concerns or questions you may have.
-------------------------------------------------------------------Governor’s Cup Dates:
If you already have any conflicts with these dates let me know immediately.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Students, complete this part:
I promise to maintain quality classroom work and behavior. I also promise to study and do my
best as a representative of the __________________ Academic Team. I will support my
teammates in every competition and study group by being cooperative and having a positive
attitude.
Signed by________________________________ Date_________________________
(Student Signature)
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Parents or guardians, please sign below and return this form to me by ________________.
I give my permission for __________________________ to participate on the
___________________ Academic Team for the _______________ school year.
Signed by_______________________________________Date_____________________
(Parent or Guardian Signature)
Academic Team Rules and Expectations
Behavior
1.
Students shall be on their best behavior at all times. While at school, they are ambassadors of our
team. Away from school, they are representatives of our school, our coaches, and our parents. All
of their actions, positive and negative, reflect upon all of us.
2.
Students who will not behave correctly lose their right to attend practice for a certain period of
time (at the discretion of the Coaches). Frequent minor violations of school rules (both during the
school day and at practice) will result in a student being sent home for a period of three
practices. If this does not correct the behavior, the student will then be suspended for the rest of
the school year.
Grades
1.
Students are required to keep at least a B average in all of their classes. Students with a D or F in
one or more subjects are under probation until the mid-term of the next grading period. If the
grades in question have improved by this point, the probation is lifted. If the grade remains the
same or declines, the student will be suspended until a B average is earned.
2.
Students who fail to turn in assigned work will not be permitted to attend matches or practices
until such work is handed in to the classroom teacher.
Attendance
1.
Unless prior arrangements are made, a student must attend at least ____% of all practices to
qualify for match play. Special circumstances will be dealt with on a case-by-case basis.
NOTE: It is not the intent of this rule to prohibit students from participating in other activities. It
simply keeps students who only come to a few practices a year from demanding to play in
matches/tournaments.
Studying
1.
Students should make every effort to study the materials given to them. Knowledge of subject
area will be one of the many factors used to determine our final tournament teams.
Teamwork
1.
At no time shall a student or parent criticize a member of the Academic Team (“You buzzed in too
much”, “I knew that, but you missed it”, etc.). All coaching is to be done by the coaches.
2.
Students who have problems with interpersonal relationships will be dealt with under the
behavior guidelines above.
Signed by_______________________________________Date_____________________
(Student)
Signed by_______________________________________Date_____________________
(Parent or Guardian)
Governor’s Cup Information
Dear Parent or Guardian:
Your child will be participating in the Governor’s Cup academic competition to be held at
________________________________ on __________________________.
YOUR CHILD WILL BE COMPETING IN:
_____Future Problem Solving
_____Social Studies Written Assessment
_____Composition
_____ Language Arts Written Assessment
_____Mathematics Written Assessment _____Arts/Humanities Written Assessment
_____Science Written Assessment
_____Quick Recall
_____ Alternate in_______________________
TRANSPORTATION INSTRUCTIONS:
WHAT TO BRING:
Future Problem Solving:___________________ Composition:________________________
Written Assessment:__________________ Quick Recall: ________________________
Other:______________________________________________
OTHER INSTRUCTIONS:
IF YOU ARE COMING TO THE QUICK RECALL MATCHES:
o Turn off all cell phones, pagers, and electronic devices.
o Do not talk, whisper, or mouth the answers to the questions.
o Do not address officials concerning decisions or match procedures.
o Our team will show good sportsmanship, win or lose; you are expected to do the same.
Governor’s Cup Participation Worksheet
Future Problem Solving
1. _______________________
2. _______________________
3. _______________________
4. _______________________
Alternate:
Composition
1. _______________________
2. _______________________
3. _______________________
Alternate:
Mathematics Written Assessment
1. _______________________
2. _______________________
3. _______________________
Alternate:
Science Written Assessment
1. _______________________
2. _______________________
3. _______________________
Alternate:
Language Arts Written Assessment
1. _______________________
2. _______________________
3. _______________________
Alternate:
Social Studies Written Assessment
1. _______________________
2. _______________________
3. _______________________
Alternate:
Arts/Humanities Written Assessment
1. _______________________
2. _______________________
3. _______________________
Alternate:
Quick Recall
1. _______________________
2. _______________________
3. _______________________
4. _______________________
5. _______________________
6. _______________________
7. _______________________
8. _______________________
9. _______________________
10. _______________________
11. _______________________
12. _______________________
(KAAC provides awards for 8)
Check: no one assigned to more
than 3 events!
Quick Recall Accuracy Chart
Date______________
Player
Science
Correct
Math
Correct
Lang. Arts
Correct
S. Studies
Correct
Arts/Hum.
Correct
Correct
Interrupts
Incorrect
Interrupts
Other
Incorrect
Tossup Statistics
Date _____________
Name
Game _____________________ Practice _____________
Early
Tossups + 2
Tossups
+1
Early
Misses -1
Total
Rank
Academic Team Roster
Name
Grade
Guardian(s)
Home Phone Cell Phone
Other Contacts