Rules and Regulations

The International Spelling Team Olympiad has different regulations for local and regional tournaments versus national tournaments. The following explains how tournaments at these levels can be run.

Local and Regional Rules Regulations

  1. Spellers qualified to join the quarter final round should have pass the second paper test elimination round with in their district. While the spellers eligible to join the city semi final round should have pass the quarter final round.
  2. Competition format. The Quarter Final Round and City Final Round is an oral spelling competition only. Spellers are not allowed to use pens, pencils, or paper. Bringing any of these materials will make the speller subject to be eliminated.The bee follows the traditional American spelling bee format, with eliminations on a “miss-and-out” basis.
  3. Any kind of material with SPBCN word list such as printed material and electronic gadgets as well as any form of writing materials are not allowed to carry once the spellers fall in line, sit and prepare to spell on stage.
  4. Word sources. Words used in the SPBCN National Spelling Bee shall be selected from The Official Guide to the SPBCN, 2017-2018, and from Webster’s Third New International Dictionary, copyright 2002, and its Addenda section. Some word definitions will be taken from the Merriam-Webster Learner’s Dictionary. Only spellings that are listed in Webster’s Third New International Dictionary will be accepted as correct. No other spellings from other dictionaries will be accepted as correct.
  5. Spelling format. In competition, after the pronouncer gives the speller a word, the speller will be encouraged also to pronounce the word before spelling it and after spelling it. For example, if the speller is given the word apple, the speller is encouraged to say, “Apple. A-P-P-L-E. Apple.” However, no contestant will be eliminated for failing to pronounce a word.
  6. English alphabet. Spellers will only be judged by the 26 letters in the English alphabet. No speller will be eliminated for failing to note the capitalization of a word, a hyphen, a space, or any other form of punctuation.
  7. Repeating letters: Players can pause and re-read in spelling, but can't change the first spelling letter when spelling again. If the player changes the letter or changes the order of the letters, the player is eliminated as an error.
  8. Misunderstood sounds. Every speller is encouraged to pronounce each letter as clearly as possible. Any letter that is slurred, too quiet, or is otherwise misunderstood by the judges will be construed as a misspelling, and the speller will be eliminated.
  9. If the pronouncer believes certain information may be especially helpful, the pronouncer may offer that information without being asked. The pronouncer shall answer all questions until the judges agree that the word has been made reasonably clear to the speller. The judges may disqualify any speller who ignores a request to start spelling.
  10. Root word questions. If the speller believes the word may contain a root word, s/he may ask a root word question as long as it contains three pieces of information: 1) the root word, 2) the meaning of the root word, and 3) the root word’s original language. Without all three pieces of information, the pronouncer will have to decline the question. Root word questions will only be entertained during the SPBCN finals; no root word questions will be entertained during the semifinals.
  11. Time limit. During the semifinals, there is a time limit of one minute from the time a speller is given a word. If a speller fails to finish spelling a word correctly within the time limit, s/he will be eliminated.
  12. Homonyms. If a word has one or more homonyms (words with similar pronunciations but different spellings – for example, meet and meat), the pronouncer will indicate which word is to be spelled. If the listed word is not identified, either by defining it or by distinguishing the homonyms, any correct spelling of any homonym of the word will be accepted as correct.
  13. Elimination. Upon missing the spelling of a word, the speller is eliminated from the bee immediately, except as in rules 14 and 15. The next word on the pronouncer’s list is given to the next speller.
  14. Championship rounds, 1. If only one speller at the end of a round has spelled a word correctly, that speller will be given one more word to spell. If the word is spelled correctly, that speller will be declared the champion. However, if that speller misspells the word, all spellers in the previous round will be reinstated.
  15. Semifinal championship rounds. When two spellers remain at the end of a semifinals round, championship rounds will proceed according to rules 12 and 13. However, there will be a maximum of 30 championship words given. If neither speller has become a champion by the end of these 30 championship words, both spellers shall be declared co-champions
  16. Ranking. Spellers will be ranked strictly in the order in which they were eliminated
  17. Protests. Any question relating to the spelling of a word should be referred to the judges ideally within that round. The official deadline for filing a protest is before the speller affected would have received their next word if they had stayed in the contest. No protest will be entertained after that word has been given to another speller. When only two or three spellers remain, a protest must be made immediately. The judges are in complete control of the bee. Their decision shall be final on all questions.
  18. Audience assistance. Members of the audience should not give any clues to the speller about the spelling of the word. If an audience member is identified trying to give clues to a speller, that member may be asked to leave the audience, and the speller may be eliminated.
  19. Concerns while on stage. Spellers who need to use the restroom or have other concerns can notify a staff member, who will escort them off stage. It is recommended that spellers use the bathroom only shortly after they spell. If a speller is not on stage when it is time to spell, s/he may be eliminated.
  20. Behavior issues. Any speller on stage behaving in a disruptive manner may be eliminated, regardless of whether they have spelled or not.
  21. All words in the Quarter Final Round and City Final Round are selected from The Official Guide to the SPBCN, 2017-2018. Here are some preparation guidelines for the two sets of spelling competition.When words are used up, we will use the word from different language origin or the words out of the guide.

Local and Regional Tournament Rules and Regulations

  1. Spellers qualified to join the quarter final round should have pass the second paper test elimination round with in their district. While the spellers eligible to join the city semi final round should have pass the quarter final round.
  2. Competition format. The Quarter Final Round and City Final Round is an oral spelling competition only. Spellers are not allowed to use pens, pencils, or paper. Bringing any of these materials will make the speller subject to be eliminated.The bee follows the traditional American spelling bee format, with eliminations on a “miss-and-out” basis.
  3. Any kind of material with SPBCN word list such as printed material and electronic gadgets as well as any form of writing materials are not allowed to carry once the spellers fall in line, sit and prepare to spell on stage.
  4. Word sources. Words used in the SPBCN National Spelling Bee shall be selected from The Official Guide to the SPBCN, 2017-2018, and from Webster’s Third New International Dictionary, copyright 2002, and its Addenda section. Some word definitions will be taken from the Merriam-Webster Learner’s Dictionary. Only spellings that are listed in Webster’s Third New International Dictionary will be accepted as correct. No other spellings from other dictionaries will be accepted as correct.
  5. Spelling format. In competition, after the pronouncer gives the speller a word, the speller will be encouraged also to pronounce the word before spelling it and after spelling it. For example, if the speller is given the word apple, the speller is encouraged to say, “Apple. A-P-P-L-E. Apple.” However, no contestant will be eliminated for failing to pronounce a word.
  6. English alphabet. Spellers will only be judged by the 26 letters in the English alphabet. No speller will be eliminated for failing to note the capitalization of a word, a hyphen, a space, or any other form of punctuation.
  7. Repeating letters: Players can pause and re-read in spelling, but can't change the first spelling letter when spelling again. If the player changes the letter or changes the order of the letters, the player is eliminated as an error.
  8. Misunderstood sounds. Every speller is encouraged to pronounce each letter as clearly as possible. Any letter that is slurred, too quiet, or is otherwise misunderstood by the judges will be construed as a misspelling, and the speller will be eliminated.
  9. If the pronouncer believes certain information may be especially helpful, the pronouncer may offer that information without being asked. The pronouncer shall answer all questions until the judges agree that the word has been made reasonably clear to the speller. The judges may disqualify any speller who ignores a request to start spelling.
  10. Root word questions. If the speller believes the word may contain a root word, s/he may ask a root word question as long as it contains three pieces of information: 1) the root word, 2) the meaning of the root word, and 3) the root word’s original language. Without all three pieces of information, the pronouncer will have to decline the question. Root word questions will only be entertained during the SPBCN finals; no root word questions will be entertained during the semifinals.
  11. Time limit. During the semifinals, there is a time limit of one minute from the time a speller is given a word. If a speller fails to finish spelling a word correctly within the time limit, s/he will be eliminated.
  12. Homonyms. If a word has one or more homonyms (words with similar pronunciations but different spellings – for example, meet and meat), the pronouncer will indicate which word is to be spelled. If the listed word is not identified, either by defining it or by distinguishing the homonyms, any correct spelling of any homonym of the word will be accepted as correct.
  13. Elimination. Upon missing the spelling of a word, the speller is eliminated from the bee immediately, except as in rules 14 and 15. The next word on the pronouncer’s list is given to the next speller.
  14. Championship rounds, 1. If only one speller at the end of a round has spelled a word correctly, that speller will be given one more word to spell. If the word is spelled correctly, that speller will be declared the champion. However, if that speller misspells the word, all spellers in the previous round will be reinstated.
  15. Semifinal championship rounds. When two spellers remain at the end of a semifinals round, championship rounds will proceed according to rules 12 and 13. However, there will be a maximum of 30 championship words given. If neither speller has become a champion by the end of these 30 championship words, both spellers shall be declared co-champions
  16. Ranking. Spellers will be ranked strictly in the order in which they were eliminated
  17. Protests. Any question relating to the spelling of a word should be referred to the judges ideally within that round. The official deadline for filing a protest is before the speller affected would have received their next word if they had stayed in the contest. No protest will be entertained after that word has been given to another speller. When only two or three spellers remain, a protest must be made immediately. The judges are in complete control of the bee. Their decision shall be final on all questions.
  18. Audience assistance. Members of the audience should not give any clues to the speller about the spelling of the word. If an audience member is identified trying to give clues to a speller, that member may be asked to leave the audience, and the speller may be eliminated.
  19. Concerns while on stage. Spellers who need to use the restroom or have other concerns can notify a staff member, who will escort them off stage. It is recommended that spellers use the bathroom only shortly after they spell. If a speller is not on stage when it is time to spell, s/he may be eliminated.
  20. Behavior issues. Any speller on stage behaving in a disruptive manner may be eliminated, regardless of whether they have spelled or not.
  21. All words in the Quarter Final Round and City Final Round are selected from The Official Guide to the SPBCN, 2017-2018. Here are some preparation guidelines for the two sets of spelling competition.When words are used up, we will use the word from different language origin or the words out of the guide.

Additional National Rules and Regulations

  1. The National Team Spelling Competition is a competition for schools. Each school shall select players that will comprise their team.
    Players: Each team should consist of five (5) to seven (7) players. In each game set, there will only be five players competing. The coach/coordinator of each team shall select which players to go up on stage to compete in each game.
    • A Primary School Team should consist of one student of 1st or 2nd grade, one student of 3rd or 4th grade, and one student of 5th- or 6th grade. The other members of the team may be from any grade. For Primary Schools, the Letter by Letter Game requires the players be 1st or 2nd graders.
    • A Middle School team shall consist of members from 7th or 8th grade.
    • A High School team shall consist of members from 10th or 12th grade.
  2. The National Team Spelling Competition has two sets of game sequence also known as Set 1 and Set 2 (see below). After the pronouncer announces which set will be played, the competing teams have 2 minutes to arrange their players accordingly.
    After 2 minutes, coaches from both teams shall give a name list of players to the judges. The given list shall indicate the players name and the type of game they will play. The name of the team leader must also be included in the list. Then judges will arrange the seats of players from both teams. Judges will not accept any petition to change seats or players once the list was given. Any interference to this rule will result to disqualification.
    The SPBCN National Team Spelling Competition Committee will add additional games, so there will be a Set 3. Games included in Set 3 shall be discussed in the next conference.
  3. Game Order: There will be a toss coin (the first player of the competing teams will choose heads or tail then winning team in the toss coin will be the first to start the first game, and then take turns in the following games)
  4. Word List:Primary School Group Word list scope is the word listed in the SPBCN 2018-2019 official guide (from beginner, intermediate, and advanced).
  5. Middle School Group the word list includes words listed in the SPBCN2018-2019 official guide for Middle School.
  6. High School Group the word list includes words listed in the SPBCN2018-2019 official guide for High School.
  7. Only spellings in Webster’s Third New International Dictionary will be accepted as correct. No other spellings from other dictionaries will be accepted as correct.
  8. For the Origins Challenge game, the Primary School scope includes 10 languages of origin: old English, Latin, Greek, French, Spanish, Japanese, Italian, German, Dutch and other Asian origin; the Middle School and high school scope cover 14 origins that includes Slavic, Arabic, Eponyms and New World Languages, beside the above.