Can a judge watch their own child compete?

Generally no. Judges are intentionally assigned away from the team or problem they represent to protect fairness, and judging is an all-day responsibility. Tournament workers usually can watch their team when shifts are scheduled appropriately.

How is the membership discount applied?

The discount is applied only after the volunteer is approved and has signed the Volunteer Commitment Agreement. Failure to complete the required training, shift, or tournament-day assignment may result in the discount being removed from the family's membership balance.

Tournament volunteers

Volunteer at the Odyssey of the Mind Regional Tournament.

Odyssey of the Mind tournaments are made possible by volunteers who create a fair, organized, and exciting experience for every student. Each participating team is required to provide both a trained judge and a tournament worker for the Regional Tournament — and CIP families who commit to one of these roles receive a membership discount.

Volunteer for Regionals

Central Regional Tournament

Saturday, February 20, 2027

Madison Meadows Middle School

Mandatory judge training

Saturday, February 6, 2027

9:00 a.m.–1:00 p.m. · Madison Meadows Middle School

Judge or tournament worker: which role is right for you?
	Volunteer Judge	Tournament Worker
Membership discount	$100	$50
Required training	Yes — mandatory	No
Commitment	Entire tournament day	Approximately 2 hours
Experience needed	No — training provided	No
Assignment flexibility	Assigned by tournament officials	Assigned according to event needs
Watch CIP perform	Generally no	Yes, when scheduled appropriately
Best for…	Someone available for training and a full tournament day	Someone who needs a shorter, more flexible commitment

$100 membership discount

Volunteer as a Judge

Judges play an essential role in creating a fair and encouraging competition experience. You do not need previous Odyssey of the Mind experience. Training is provided so every judge understands their assignment, the applicable rules, and how teams should be evaluated.

Judge commitment

· Register as CIP's official judge volunteer by the designated deadline
· Attend the complete mandatory judge-training session
· Review materials for the assigned problem or judging area
· Arrive at the Regional Tournament at the assigned check-in time
· Remain available for the entire tournament day
· Follow all scoring, confidentiality, fairness, and conduct requirements
· Notify CIP immediately if an emergency could prevent fulfilling the commitment

Training is mandatory. A volunteer who does not complete the required training cannot serve as the team's judge. Arizona Odyssey of the Mind has previously stated that a team may be ineligible for scoring when its required judge does not attend both training and the Regional Tournament.

What does a judge do?

A judge may be placed with a Long-Term Problem, Style, Spontaneous, scoring, staging, timekeeping, or another official competition area: watching performances, evaluating scoring elements, reviewing paperwork, checking time and problem requirements, asking appropriate post-performance questions, and recording scores accurately and confidentially.

Tournament day for a judge

Morning check-in with your judging team · team performances in your assigned area · breaks coordinated by the Problem Captain or Head Judge · careful scoring and review · release once all assigned teams have competed. Plan for an all-day commitment and bring any requested materials, identification, water, and personal necessities.

$50 membership discount

Volunteer as a Tournament Worker

Tournament workers keep the event organized and running smoothly. This is a shorter, more flexible option for families who want to support the tournament while still being able to watch their child compete. No separate training session is normally required — instructions are provided before or at the beginning of the shift.

Tournament-worker commitment

· Register by the required volunteer deadline
· Complete one assigned two-hour shift on tournament day
· Arrive approximately 15–20 minutes before the scheduled shift
· Check in at the designated volunteer location
· Remain at the assigned station for the entire shift
· Follow the instructions of the Volunteer Coordinator or station lead
· Notify CIP immediately if an emergency could affect the commitment

Possible assignments

Team registration · judge check-in or judge lounge · tournament-worker check-in · information table · merchandise sales · concessions · general event assistance (directing visitors, monitoring doors, traffic flow, delivering materials). Specific roles are assigned according to tournament needs and may change year to year. Whenever possible, shifts are scheduled around the represented team's performance.

Before you commit

Please make sure you can fulfill the entire responsibility before selecting a role. Odyssey of the Mind relies on each team to provide its required volunteers, and a last-minute cancellation can affect CIP's ability to participate or receive an official score.

Volunteers should not commit as a judge if they:

· Cannot attend the complete mandatory training
· Cannot remain for the entire Regional Tournament day
· Need to supervise their child during the tournament
· Must be available to help the CIP team prepare, move props, or manage costumes
· Are not comfortable missing CIP's Long-Term performance

Important note

Assignments, schedules, locations, registration deadlines, meals, dress guidance, and tournament procedures are determined by Arizona Odyssey of the Mind and may change. CIP provides confirmed details to approved volunteers as soon as they are released.

Volunteer registration

Completing this form indicates your interest and availability. CIP will review submissions, confirm assignments, and provide the information needed to complete the official Arizona Odyssey of the Mind registration.

Prefer a season-long role?

Head coaches receive $250 off membership per student; assistant coaches $150.

Coaching opportunities