While this certainly seems to be within the spirit of the rules, it does not absolve the students within this event from being "extensively" questioned and understanding the concepts of the device. The Building Rules found on SOINC>ORG state:wlsguy wrote:One thing to consider is the requirement that one of the 15 competing students built the tower. This is not necessary the ones testing it. I have worked with a school previous which had a single expert tower builder who would let other team members test the tower at invitationals to “spread the medals around”. They only cared about the regional and state medals.
This is permitted for all build events but worked best with towers because the basic loading technique was easier to learn then flying planes or operating mission.
"INVESTIGATION OF SUSPECTED VIOLATION OF BUILDING AND TOOLS RECOMMENDATIONS
Tournament officials must rely on the integrity of principals, coaches, students and parents involved in Science Olympiad. Astute and professional Event Supervisors will be able to evaluate student compliance as such:
Event supervisors may extensively question the lead student as to the design and construction of the device. Questioning may include the overall design and construction as well as the component parts and how they operate and function within the device. Other students on the device team may also be questioned.
Each team coach will be required to certify that all work presented for the tournament complies with the Building and the Use of Tools Recommendations.
SANCTIONS FOR NON-QUALIFIED PARTICIPATION
If the students on the device team cannot answer the questions correctly and/or the coach cannot verify the device was student-built, then the Event Supervisors have grounds to believe the students did not design and build the device. The team will be disqualified from the event and scored accordingly."
