This Web-based document is a compendium of materials and information intended to assist Academic Decathlon coaches with selecting and mentoring teams preparing for State competition. This Handbook may be freely shared, printed, reproduced, and distributed, in whole or in part, for use by coaches and team members at no cost.

The material in this Handbook will be regularly updated by the GCI Alaska Academic Decathlon staff to reflect current information, rules changes published by USAD, and the needs expressed by the coaches of AAD teams throughout the State of Alaska.

Updates will be posted regularly to this AAD web site, where you will always find the most current material and information.

The Mission Of the GCI Alaska Academic Decathlon

To promote and reward academic achievement for high school students by emphasizing the value of academic excellence and personal self worth for every participant, and to foster fair and challenging local and state team competitions.

Acknowledgments

We would like to express our appreciation to USAD, Texas Academic Decathlon and Arizona Academic Decathlon for their assistance, and for allowing us to reproduce materials provided by those respective organizations.

Funding for this Academic Decathlon Coaches’ Handbook has been provided through a grant from USAD.

Welcome

Welcome to the GCI Alaska Academic Decathlon. This Academic Decathlon Coaches’ Handbook has been prepared to help you in preparing for the GCI Alaska Academic Decathlon State Competition.

The objective of this handbook is to provide the most fundamental “how to” information for a new coach who knows absolutely nothing about the Academic Decathlon, and to provide current and pertinent information for all coaches.

We hope that every coach, even those 16 plus year veterans, will find this Handbook useful in preparing for the State Competition.

We hope to see many new schools taking part in the GCI Alaska Academic Decathlon. Each coach is strongly encouraged to arrange for wide participation by involving as many students and faculty as possible. Expand the Academic Decathlon philosophy of encouraging, recognizing, and rewarding academic achievement. Foster the important TEAM concept in your school.