Blue Crab Bowl Competitors
Participation & Behavioral Expectations
Blue Crab Bowl promotes and expects sportsmanship and model behavior
from all attendees -- competitors and spectators alike.

Competing Teams

Team member eligibility and guidelines for participation are outlined in the Blue Crab Bowl Coaching &Participation Policy. Coaches and competitors are expected to adhere to all NOSB® Rules, including: coacheligibility, team eligibility and composition (Rules #1-9, #76-79); team member conduct (Rules #35 & 36, #61,and #69 to #74). Review the NOSB Competition Rules for teams, coaches, competitors and audience
members at: http://nosb.org/wp-content/uploads/NOSB-Competition-Rules-2019-2020.pdf or
http://web.vims.edu/BCB/PDF/NOSB_Rules.pdf.

Team Participation Expectations – Bowl Activities

Blue Crab Bowl expectations for team participation are patterned after those expressed in the national NOSB
Competition Rules. We expect BCB teams to fully participate in Blue Crab Bowl programming, including:* Friday field experiences & Friday evening All Teams Briefing.
If participation on Friday represents a hardship or violates school policy, Coaches must contact the RegionalCoordinators in advance to provide justification for missing these Bowl activities. Teams that fail to fully
participate may be penalized.
*Saturday Awards Ceremony
As an expression of good sportsmanship, all teams are expected to stay though the Awards Ceremony. To
receive participation awards, Teams and Coaches must be present. Teams that fail to inform the Coordinatorsin advance of their departure forfeit their awards.

Team Behavior Expectations - During Competition

BCB expects students and coaches to model sportsmanship by practicing self-discipline and by demonstrating
respect and courtesy toward competitors and Bowl Officials. Bowl competition is an ideal venue for thedevelopment of maturity and professionalism.
Special note: While questions are being read and teams are responding, players, alternates and coaches are
cautioned to avoid ANY gestures or use of electronic devices that may be interpreted (or even misinterpreted)as sending messages or signaling. This includes head nodding or fiddling with earrings, neckties, hair oreyeglasses. In the case of questionable gestures or use of electronic devices, the clock will be stopped, awarning will be issued and/or the individual will be asked to leave the room. The Rules Judges' decisions are
final on these matters. If cheating occurs, the entire team will be eliminated from further competition.
Remember: During competition, coaches, team members and audience members are NOT allowed to use
calculators, notes or references (with the exception of the event program). No electronic devices - including
cell phones, smart watches, cameras, tablets or recording devices – may be used by students, coaches oraudience members once a match is in session. Officials will issue warnings, confiscate any suchmaterials/devices, as necessary, or ask individuals to leave the room.
NOTE: All teams are expected to remain at their regional competition through the end of the awards ceremony.
BCB Coordinators enforce NOSB Rule #7. Coaches with special circumstances should discuss their situation with
the Coordinators in advance. Teams that do not stay through the awards ceremony forfeit team and coach awards.
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Teams Behavioral Expectations - At Other Program Venues

Additionally, there are expectations for team member behavior during other Bowl activities, including but notlimited to, field experiences and hotel stays. Your teams are representing the Blue Crab Bowl and its sponsors, Old
Dominion University and Virginia Institute of Marine Science.
BCB expects that at the hotel, during field experiences and other BCB-associated activities, students willshow model behavior. We expect that coaches and additional chaperones will provide guidance, reminding
the students of appropriate and responsible behavior. We have some specific rules:● All students must stay with their team throughout their participation in Blue Crab Bowl. This includes during
any scheduled tours, field experiences, as well as at the hotel and other venues.
● At the hotel, students should be in their assigned rooms between 10-11:00 pm and all quiet by 11:00 pm.
● Our program is zero-tolerance re: smoking, alcohol and drugs.
See NOSB Rule #73: If a player or team receives two (2) official warnings during any point at the competition
event (including free time during the Competition weekend), that player or team is disqualified from competingand is only permitted to respectfully observe the competition from the audience.

Questions?
If you have questions, please contact the BCB Co-Coordinators via the website at: www.vims.edu/bcb.

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