Blue Crab Bowl Expectations &Policies for Team Coaches
Also see the NOSB Coaching Policy, as set forth in National Competition
Rules #76-79 at:http://nosb.org/wp-content/uploads/NOSB-Competition-Rules-2019-2020.pdf
1. An official team consists of: a coach; four players, plus 1 alternate player (total of 5 students).
Teams of 3 players may not compete. Guidelines for student eligibility are found in the rules for
NOSB national competition. Guidelines for student behavior are outlined in the BCB Competitor
Behavior Expectations, see http://web.vims.edu/BCB/PDFteams.html.
2. Each team must have a single, designated adult coach, the Coach of Record. The coach must bea teacher, official or designate of the team’s school or an employee, official or designate of aneducation or science program that is sponsoring a team. The Coach of Record serves as the primaryand official contact for the team in all communications with the Blue Crab Bowl (BCB) or National
Ocean Sciences Bowl (NOSB), and accompanies the team to the Bowl. Coach responsibilities include:● ALL team correspondence with BCB or NOSB. Direct inquiries from students will not be addressed,Coaches must direct any questions to the BCB Coordinators.
●Timely completion of all registration forms and response to BCB Coordinators’ requests for information
regarding Bowl participation.
●Preparation and supervision of team members (and non-team observers/supporters), including:* Thorough review of all NOSB/BCB competition rules, BCB event guidelines and behavior expectations
with the team.
* Preparing the team through review sessions in ocean sciences content and competition skills practice.
* Supervision of team members at all BCB-associated events and venues, assuring that students adhere
to guidelines and expectations.
●Maintenance of high ethical and sportsmanship standards, in preparation of the team and in competition.
●Compliance with policies of the team’s affiliated school system or education program, the Blue Crab Bowl
and its host sites, and the National Ocean Sciences Bowl.
3. Once competition registration has closed, changes in designated coach can be made only with the priorapproval of the Blue Crab Bowl Coordinators. Any substitute coaches will be expected to meet the same
eligibility criteria and carry out the same responsibilities as the original coach. Teams arriving on the day ofcompetition without their designated Coach of Record will not be allowed to compete/forfeit theiropportunity to compete. The Coach arriving with the team on Bowl day must be the same individual as theCoach of Record on the Team Registration form.
4. Faculty, staff and students from the Institutions sponsoring/hosting the Blue Crab Bowl are not eligible toserve as coaches, but may serve as scientific advisors to teams under the following circumstances:●Scientific advisors who work with individual teams can have no contact whatsoever in current or pastyears with question development and review or with game preparation or practice sessions forofficials.
●Scientific advisors are expected to demonstrate the highest ethical standards. Should they
inadvertently be exposed to “insider” information of any kind (e.g. overheard discussion ofquestions, conversations about rules, or comments from officials about their perspective on policies
and rulings), they are expected to withdraw as team scientific advisors.
●Scientific advisors may not represent the team in communications with Bowl officials.
●Faculty, staff and students who wish to work directly wit students are encouraged to do so throughequitably available student preparation activities sponsored or endorsed by the Blue CrabBowl Coordinators.
●Team scientific advisors are not eligible for any coaching-related awards.
5. Any exceptions to the above coaching policies must be approved in advance by the Blue Crab Bowl
Coordinators or the NOSB national office. Failure to adhere to policy may result in immediate
disqualification of the team from competition.
BCB Coach & Team Participation Policy

Rev.3/2020