REGION III LOUISIANA SCIENCE OLYMPIAD
2020 Policy Letter
Each team must complete this form and bring to the registration table (GYM) at the regional
competition on Saturday, March 28, 2020.
Cheating
1. An individual who cheats during the competition will be penalized by disqualification of the Team from the event.
Disqualification results in a score greater than the number of Teams registered in the region.
2. If cheating occurs by a Team in more than one event, or in successive years, the Team may be disqualified that year,
or the following year, from the entire competition.
3. If the event Team, or Team member, or anyone associated with the Team, deliberately takes an action that impairs
the ability of the other Teams to fairly compete, that Team will be disqualified from the event and be awarded three points
greater than the number Teams registered. In addition, the event Team member(s) involved in the incident may be ineligible for
any future Science Olympiad competitions. Furthermore, the Teams may be penalized points not to exceed the value of two
last place rankings.
Interference
Penalty points may be assessed for the following:
1. For a student, coach, teacher, chaperone or parent entering a building or area where events are set up for the
competition or are being held, without proper authorization to do so, five (5) penalty points may be assessed. Only those
students actually competing in an event and those teachers who may be assigned to assist in the conducting of an event may
enter areas where events are held. All other persons are to remain out of the building or the area at all times.
2. For a student, coach, teacher, chaperone or parent interfering with or disrupting the conduct of an event, ten (10)
penalty points may be assessed.
Constructive Devices
This policy applies to events that require a device to be constructed and brought to the Science Olympiad.
1. The student primarily responsible for the design and construction of the device (lead student) must be present and
operate the device when it is operated for scoring.
2. The event supervisor(s) may extensively question the lead student as to the design and construction of the device.
Questioning may include the overall design and construction as well as the component parts, how they operate and function in
the device. Other students on the Team may also be questioned.
3. If the students cannot answer the question correctly, then the event supervisor(s) has the grounds to believe that the
student did not design and/or construct the device. The Team will be disqualified from the event and scored accordingly.
Vandalism
1. If a Team member or members or persons associated with a Team commit(s) an act of vandalism, the Team will be
disqualified from the competition. No member of that Team will be awarded a medal in any event. An individual/team who
commits an act of vandalism may be barred from future competitions.
2. Each sponsoring school must agree to pay the cost of repairing damage from any act of vandalism. State officials will
be notified and a school must pay this restitution before it can register or participate in any Regional, State or National
Competition.
3. Vandalism means a deliberate action that results in the damage of property. This includes, but is not limited to,
graffiti, damage to facility property and damage to the personal property of competitors, judges and spectators.
4. Any vandalism will be reported to State Officials and may result in disqualification at Regional or State Competitions.
Other Rules
If a violation or ruling is in question, the Official Rules Book published by the National Science Olympiad Office and/or the LA
State Science Olympiad Website will be referred to for a final decision, interpreted first by the Event Supervisor then by the
Tournament Director and Staff.
