Each September, students from around the world come together to form Odyssey of the Mind teams. A creative problem-solving program, Odyssey offers a fun and supportive environment for students to think outside the box while learning to work together.
For a team of students to begin an Odyssey season, they must have a coach. In some regions, Odyssey is a part of a Gifted or Advanced Learning program and offered as an elective by a teacher. But more often, Odyssey is a parent-run organization filled with volunteers who enjoy helping children learn how to work together and use their creativity to develop solutions.
Responsibilities of a Coach
Anyone over the age of eighteen can coach an Odyssey of the Mind team. Each school district has different rules regarding volunteers who work with students, so check with the district or local Odyssey Program Coordinator before beginning.
The coach needs to keep in mind that the team must develop, design and execute the solution without help from others – Odyssey is a strictly hands-off activity for adults. Here is a list of responsibilities for a coach:
- Ensure the safety of the team at all times
- Schedule meetings
- Make sure the paperwork for competitions is completed
- Suggest ways the team can resolve conflicts
- Encourage creativity and freethinking by all members of the team
- Communicate expectations of the team and parents
The most dreaded phrase in the world of Odyssey is Outside Assistance. This refers to any portion of a solution or performance that was not 100% the idea of the team. No one is allowed to offer any suggestions to the team regarding the solution to their Long Term Problem. Here are some other examples of what a coach should not do:
- Do not suggest how a team should solve their problem.
- Do not make any decisions regarding a solution.
- Do not build, create, or assist in the creation of any portion of the solution.
- Do not allow the team to act in an unsafe or irresponsible manner.
Time Commitment for Odyssey of the Mind Coaches
Each team handles the challenges of a new season differently. The youngest teams meet once a week or less and spend most of their time learning the basics of Odyssey and how to work well together. Older students with more experience may wish to meet more than once a week, especially when the competition time approaches.
At each level of competition, the coach needs to ensure that all team members arrive at the designated performance sites on time. Outside Assistance is closely monitored at tournaments, so coaches must also remind parents and other well-meaning adults of the rules to ensure a fun and memorable day for the Odyssey team.
Benefits of Coaching
Odyssey coaches gain as much, if not more, than the students on the team. A coach’s preconceived notion of what is possible grows and changes as the team members stretch their minds and imagination. Oftentimes, coaches continue to volunteer for the program long after their own children graduate because they strongly support the principals emphasized by Odyssey of the Mind.
Coaches in the Odyssey of the Mind program must help their team members reach their goals and complete their solution by organizing the team's time, paperwork, and expectations. Coaches may not offer solutions or allow the students to work in an unsafe manner. Many coaches enjoy the season as much as the team and come back to coach year after year.
Sources:
The Official Odyssey of the Mind Website
Micklus, Dr. C. Samuel and Carole Micklus. Odyssey of the Mind 2009-2010 Program Guide. Sewell, NJ: Creative Competitions, Inc., 2009.
For more information on Odyssey of the Mind, please read Teaching Creativity Through Teamwork.
Alison Hess - I am an aspiring novelist, screenwriter and blogger. My topics of interest include parenting, technology, education, literature, movies, ...
