Selecting the Challenge

There are two methods to select the Team Challenge. The team (kids) selects the challenge with the coaches facilitating the process or the coach picks a challenge. Both have their advantages and disadvantages. The first year I coached, we let the team select the problem. Subsequent years I/coaches selected the problem.

I have been selecting the problem for the team for these reasons:

1) We get organized and have our first meeting in early December which results in about 10 meetings before the first tournament. Selecting the problem can use up several of those scarce meeting slots. I like the team to be prepared and relaxed at the tournament. Giving the team as much time as possible to work on the challenge is one way to help accomplish that. Using up several of the meetings selecting a problem makes the season feel rushed and adds un-needed stress to the team.

2) Unfortunately the process of selecting the challenge leads to a feeling of "winners" and "losers" where the team members that get their problem selected win, and the team members that don't get their selection feel disappointed. Also, most of the team members don't get to work on their first choice. I don't like to start a season on this note.

3) There are plenty of opportunities for the team to work on compromising and problem resolution skills during the season. I like the team to apply their energy to the problem solution, and not to the problem selection.

This is why I like to simply select a problem that looks like there is something interesting for everyone and start to focus on the problem at the first meeting.

The first meeting

I will be sending email to my team's parents to kick off the first meeting. I still have to read the Challenges and pick a problem with my co-coach. Independent of the problem, the agenda for the first meeting will look something like this:

15 min - Introductions
20 min - Establish the rules
30 min - Read the problem
20 min - Instant Challenge (if time)
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85 min - total

What do I have in mind for each of these?

Introductions
Have each team member say their name, give their experience with odyssey or DI and say what they like to do (e.g. build, act, write, etc.)

Establish the rules
State your expectations. A few are: one person talks at a time, this means do not talk if the coach is talking; treat each other with respect; conduct the meetings as if a judge is watching and awarding (and subtracting) points for teamwork.

Follow this up by an "Instant Challenge" where you see how many rules of conduct the team can brainstorm in 3 minutes. Then have the team select a core set of rules to follow for the season. Write the rules on a large piece of paper, or type them up and hang them up in the meeting room

Read the problem
Go around the room, have each team member read a chunk (paragraph or so) of the problem and discuss with the team. It helps if the coach has read the problem first to help facilitate the discussion.

Instant Challenge (if time)
Have one or two fun instant challenges selected. There will be a separate blog post on this topic.

Purpose

I have coached Odyssey of the Mind for five years and I am about to start my first year coaching a Destination Imagination team. The purpose of this blog is to be a resource for the other coaches in town. Potential topics are:

• The first meeting
• Picking the problem
• A rough time line
• Combining instant challenges with progress on the long term challenge
• Ideas and resources for instant (spontaneous) challenges