Proposed Individual Qualification for Nationals

[94]

Okay, so I think that I have an idea for individual qualification for Nationals.

So, let's use the event "Fossils" as an example.

Depending on how each team does in the event, they (the pair of teammates in the event) can qualify for a next level of competition.

The number of teams to qualify would be determined as follows:

4 - The states that have 2 teams at nationals that are the largest and most competitive
3 - The other states with two teams at nationals
2 - States with one team at nationals with regional and state competitions
1 - States that only have a state competition.

People who were qualifying for nationals as a result of the whole team's placement would not count.

The people who qualify would be able to take a test sanctioned somewhere based upon geographic region- e.g., a mid-atlantic test day for people in delaware, new jersey, maryland, etc..

The top 3 or so teams (as in partners) would be able to go to nationals for that event.

[starpug]

Maybe you should look at the all-star thread
http://www.scioly.org/phpBB3/viewtopic.php?f=19&t=258

[dudeincolorado]

I really like the idea, but you forgot to assume that (i know it's horrible i say this but...) people are sometimes just well lazy. and this requires alot of extra work. but i like it

[Deeisenberg]

This is far to complicated, it isn't really feasible.

Also there is only 1 state that I know of that has states but not nationals. That being New Hampshire. Some states have no olympiad, and others compete in neighboring states.

[andrewwski]

No, no, no, no, no. Science O is a team activity. This takes the entire team aspect out of it.

[EastStroudsburg13]

Well yes, but its an idea for people who really work hard but no one else on their team does. It would require immense teamwork though, and I don't think it would work.

[croman74]

It's an interesting concept, but like andrewwski said, it takes the team concept out. It would also be very complicated.

[gyourkoshaven]

The whole point of Science Olympiad competitions is that you get your place based on how well-rounded your entire team is. If this were to happen, it would wreck the foundation of Science Olympiad being a team competition. I think it should stay as is, and that you should only make nationals if your team is really good at 10 or more events, not just 2 or 3. Not to mention how complicated it would be to set up.

[EastStroudsburg13]

I know, SO is a team thing, but sometimes I wish I was on a traditionally successful team.

[Phenylethylamine]

Yeah, SciO is really about the team over the individual (hey, not even the individual events can be taken full credit for by a single person, because they're all at least in pairs). Still, although my team does very well, I can definitely see the allure of being able to compete at a higher level for people who are far more dedicated than the rest of their team. This topic has come up repeatedly, and all the pros and cons have pretty much been listed... the be-all and end-all of which is that regardless of how appropriate or inappropriate such a system would be for Science Olympiad, there is simply no practical way to implement it.