Introduction

Alaska Academic Decathlon Coaches' Handbook

Submitting Your Intent to Participate Form

After you have confirmed that you will have a team qualified to participate at the State Competition it will be necessary to submit an “Intent to Participate” form to the State Directors office. A sample of this form is included in the appendix. The internet to participate form is due November 1st, and registration is due February 1st.

IMPORTANT NOTICE:

Intent to participate is due Nov 1.

Registration is due Feb 1.

Well in advance of the State competition all coaches who have submitted their Intent to Participate form will receive a packet of registration materials. These materials are also available in a printable format on-line at this web site.

Registration Requirements and Deadlines

IMPORTANT NOTICE: All Forms, Transcripts and Computation of Grade Point Averages Are Due in the State Director’s Office by No Later than February 1. No transcripts or other paperwork will be accepted at the competition unless you have had to make a last minute substitution.

(Samples of the required registration forms are included on this web site. All forms on our web site are available in a printable format.)

A set of forms must be completed for each student. Numbers 1-5 may be submitted on-line from our web site. Numbers 6-8 must be mailed by the deadline. ALL mailed paperwork MUST be submitted in one packet.

	Coaches Registration Form (May be submitted on-line)
	Hotel Housing Form (May be submitted on-line)
	GPA Computation Form for each student (May be submitted on-line)
	Student Extracurricular Activities Form for each student (Recommend submitting on-line so the judges can clearly read the student’s activities)
	Student Feedback Luncheon Reservation (May be submitted on-line)

IMPORTANT NOTICE: The following forms MUST be submitted by the deadline. These must be mailed to the State Director.

	Official school transcripts for each student (Copies are acceptable)
	Student Registration Form for each student - (Original signatures required)
	Code Of Student Conduct for each student - (Original signatures required)

Be sure to check each student’s paperwork for omissions. Incomplete paperwork may delay your team or disqualify individuals on your team at the registration for the State competition.

Motivating Students

Experienced coaches indicate anything that builds team morale helps to hold your team together and to keep the students motivated to study. Here are some ideas to try if you are looking for additional ways to motivate your team.

	Vary study places and methods; go to a local college library to study if one is available. In small communities a change of pace might be found in the town hall or community center.
	Set team and individual goals.
	Remind students about winning individual medals and scholarships.
	Plan social occasions; celebrate their achievements and special events not necessarily related to Decathlon activities.
	Create a team spirit where every Decathlete truly feels like a part of something special.
	Arrange for an all school assembly to recognize the Decathlon team.
	Find a member of the community who might be willing to host a party for Decathlon participants
	Create mini-competitions with rewards; who finishes reading the novel first, who finished reading the Super Quiz materials, who can identify all the music, etc.
	Encourage competition between team members … sophomores vs. juniors, boys vs. girls etc.
	Serve food at team study sessions. Food typically motivates teenagers.
	Always be positive and stress that the rewards of the program are well worth the effort.

Holding Practice Competitions

Many coaches use the competitive challenge throughout the preparation period. Holding practice competition will help your students prepare for the State Competition. A practice test booklet is included in the USAD curriculum package. The State will send out practice tests to teams who check the appropriate boxes on the Intent to Participate Form. The first practice test will be available in mid November (Test A) to teams submitting their Intent to Participate Form by the November 1 due date. January Test (B) will be available by mid-January.

The January test is used as the Regional Test in areas hosting a Regional Competition. In order to maintain our charter with the United States Academic Decathlon we must follow certain rules for administering these tests. They are as follows:

	Teams requesting a practice test must provide the State Director with a Test Administrator. (See the Intent to Participate Form)
	Tests are copyrighted property of USAD and may not be used for any purpose other than an Academic Decathlon competition.
	These tests may not be released out into the public domain nor at any time be given to students or coaches for study, practice or any other purposes.
	All tests and answer sheets must be destroyed after they have been administered.

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Special thanks to our Presenting Sponsor

GCI Alaska Academic Decathlon is a 501(c)3 Nonprofit Corporation

Curtiss Clifton, State Director

PO Box 241448
Anchorage, AK 99524-1448

Phone: (907) 868-6994

Fax: (907) 868-5676

E-mail:cclifton@gci.com

E-Mail: gciaad@gci.net

Last updated: March 15, 2008

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