Competition Format & Rules
Congratulations on being named the SIFE National Champion from your country! This section of the website includes useful information that will help your team prepare for competition at SIFE World Cup 2009. Be sure to check this page often for important documents and updates.
Eligibility to Compete
Although each SIFE country may choose to have additional guidelines/requirements of its own (after consultation with SIFE World Headquarters), SIFE HQ itself requires that each team submit 4 mandatory reports in order to be eligible to compete. These four reports are: Project Verification Form, Active Team Sheet, Team Data Sheet, and a typed Annual Report. No team may compete without meeting this minimum qualification. Violations are described below.
Typed Annual Report
Each competing team is required to create a typed annual report on its educational outreach projects. Written annual reports are limited to the dimensions noted below, but can be bound or folded in any manner:
- Four single sheets of 8 ½" X 11" or A4 size paper with print only on one side of each sheet.
- Two single sheets of 8 ½" X 11" or A4 size paper with print on both sides of each sheet.
- One sheet of 11" X 17" or A5 size paper with print on both sides and folded in half.
If a team uses a cover or back page, it will count as one of those pages. Annual reports are distributed to the judges during the set up period outlined below.
Live Presentation
Each competing team will have a thirty-seven minute time block for their verbal/audio/visual presentation. After the faculty adviser and SIFE team are formally introduced, the time will be precisely divided as follows:
1. Set-up: 7 Minutes
The team will have a maximum of seven minutes to distribute written annual reports for judges to review prior to its presentation and to set up presentation equipment (start computers, power-up projectors, check lighting and sound, etc.). Remember: once the team has tested the equipment, projector lenses must be covered, no images or text are allowed to be projected and no music or sound effects are allowed to be generated for the remainder of the set-up period.
- Please remember that during set-up, once the team has tested the equipment, projector lenses should be covered, no images or text should be projected, and no music or sound effects should be generated for the remainder of the set-up period. Also, during the Question and Answer time, projector lenses should be covered, no images or text should be displayed, and no music or sound effects should be generated. For more information on competition format, please review the SIFE Team Handbook 2008-2009.
2. Live Presentation: 24 Minutes
The team will have a maximum of 24 minutes to give its verbal/audio/visual presentation.
Question and Answer Session - 5 Minutes (10 minutes if translator is required)
There will be a mandatory 5 minute question and answer session for the judges.
4. Exit: 1 Minute
The team will have 1 minute to return the presentation area to the original set up and exit the room.
Special Note: SIFE presentation timeblocks are uniform globally; however, the only exception applies to the Final Round of competition at the SIFE World Cup and at any SIFE National Competition that has a Final Round level. For these segments, there will be no timed set-up period. Final Round competing teams will be given a reasonable amount of time to set-up and test their audio/visual equipment and will receive assistance from SIFE's technical/production crew, especially where some of the equipment being used is provided by SIFE. After these have been successfully tested, the team will be introduced and then given 7-minutes to distribute its Annual Reports to the judges. The remaining segments of the Live Presentation for the Final Round will align with the timeblock outlined above. Teams are strongly encouraged to have their presentation on a jump drive or CD as back-up in case data transfer becomes necessary.
Anyone, including the advisor, may assist the team with the set-up or operation of audio/visual equipment; however, only student team members may participate in the presentation and/or take questions from the judges.
No team may set up any equipment in the presentation room before they are formally introduced. All equipment must be self-powered or use electrical outlets inside the judging room.
No documentation, materials, gifts or other handouts may be given to any judges with the exceptions of: (1) the team's annual report, and (2) a team roster with a brief biography of each team member for possible recruiting purposes.
Violations
If a team does not accurately submit any of its mandatory reports, it will be subject to the following process and penalty:
- The team will have an opportunity to compete so long as it rectifies the problem prior to its scheduled presentation time (i.e., secure appropriate signatures on Project Verification Form, complete the Team Data Sheet, etc.)
- If the issue is not rectified, the team will be permitted to participate in the event and deliver its presentation to the judges; however, it will not be scored nor will the team qualify for any awards.
Also note that if a team presents or displays any inappropriate/offensive material, it will be subject to automatic disqualification.
Equipment Failure
If a team's presentation equipment ceases to operate because of a power failure in the competition facility or LCD projector if provided by SIFE, the competition will be halted until the problem is corrected. If the electronic equipment the team brings into the competition room fails, the time will continue to count down from the presentation time block.
Competition Room Access
Competition rooms are open to all registered attendees. SIFE teams and visitors are invited to watch other teams present, but are asked to enter and leave rooms only during the set-up period. The area behind the judges is considered public domain.
Doors to the competition room must remain unlocked and unblocked at all times to provide access to SIFE staff.
Video/Copying Policy
By competing at any SIFE sponsored competition, each team grants the SIFE organization the right and permission to document and publicize, or otherwise utilize its annual report, oral presentation, pictures and outreach projects for illustration, advertising, training, or any other lawful purpose.
SIFE teams may record the presentations of other teams at SIFE competitions under the following conditions:
- No lights are to interfere with or inhibit the presenting team.
- The team videotaping should be courteous and cause minimal or no distraction to the presenting team, including no rewinding or fast forwarding of tapes or other distracting noises during the presentation.
- Equipment must be behind the judges and audience seating.
- Photos/videos may not be used in a derogatory or inappropriate manner.
Media Policy
The SIFE official photographer(s)/videographer(s) and approved members of the mass media shall have full access to all presentation rooms at any time. This includes the use of lights and necessary equipment. All teams should be prepared for the possibility of these representatives filming or taking pictures of their presentation.
Misbehavior
Behavior that is inconsistent with the SIFE Code of Conduct and defames the profile of a SIFE student and as a result, the SIFE organization, is unacceptable. The national SIFE organization reserves the right to determine what unacceptable behavior is, but it should be noted that this includes, but is not limited to: use of foul language, physical battery, intoxication, harassment, defaming other teams/judges/attendees/hotel staff, tampering with and/or destruction of venue or SIFE property, etc. The student and/or team involved in such negative activities may be disqualified/suspended/expelled from participation at that particular event or the overall SIFE program. The SIFE national office will determine the specific penalty for each action on a case by case basis and an official letter may be sent to the institutional administrator(s), notifying them of the incident and requesting their assistance in ensuring that it does not reoccur.
Observers
Upon approval from the SIFE organization, non-competing SIFE teams may be invited to attend any SIFE Regional Competition, SIFE National Competition and the SIFE World Cup as observers. Registration is required. Please contact your Country Leader for information on how to register.