A Coach within “Odyssey of the Mind” chaperones a team from the day it is formed until the competition. She or he is mainly an organizer and motivator. Setting up a time and place to meet, registering the team for events and competitions, and looking up all necessary information are the main tasks of the Coach. Although she or he may stimulate the thinking process of the team with various excercises (brainstorming, spontaneous problems, etc.), the Coach may not interfere with the problem solution. It is not allowed to provide ideas, help with building the props or to apply the make-up of a team member before a performance. However, Coaches help when motivation is at an all-time low and when a conflict needs mediating. Team members especially love to be cheered up by a pizza or some candy from time to time …
A coach can be a teacher, a parent or older student. The school has to agree.