2009 Official Competition Rules & Eligibility Requirements

The following are the rules and eligibility requirements for RWDC participants in the 2008 – 2009 competitions. In order to qualify to participate in the National Event each participant and team must meet all criteria and follow all stated rules.

Student Eligibility Requirements

• Participation is limited to students living in OR enrolled in schools located in a state that is hosting a State competition. Schools are defined to include public, private or home schools.
• To be eligible to compete as a student team member, a student must be currently enrolled in grades nine, ten, eleven or twelve at the team’s school. Students enrolled in school environments with alternative grade or level designations must be engaged in a program of study equivalent to the corresponding high school grade level.
• Student team members must have attained the age of 14 as of October 1, 2008.
• Student team members shall not yet have attained the age of 19 as of October 1, 2008.
• Teams may be organized around extra-curricular organizations. Girl Scouts, Boy Scouts and science clubs are encouraged to participate.
• Student team members may only participate on one team.
• Student team members may not transfer from one team to another.

Team Composition

• An RWDC team consists of one designated coach and no fewer than three nor greater than seven student members.
• Only those team members identified on the official registration form are considered part of the team.
• Each team may compete in only one state competition and all team members must be permanent residents of that state OR be enrolled in a school located in that state.

Competition Rules

1. One coach may lead multiple teams
2. A team coach must be at least 21 years of age by October 1, 2008.
3. A coach must have been trained in ProEngineer software usage or an equivalent engineering design software program.
4. Coaches may be a teacher or other responsible adult.
5. All submissions shall be the original work of the students involved.
6. All communications between members of a team and external persons shall be documented using the Windchill collaborative software.
7. No team may register after 10:00 PM Eastern Time November 15th, 2008.
8. All work must be submitted prior to 10:00 PM Eastern Time February 1, 2009.
9. All submissions must conform to the specifications outlined in the Challenge.
10. Teams shall only contact mentors through the means and at the times specified by the mentors.
11. Only team members registered as of November 15, 2008 will be eligible to travel to the National Event.
12. A team can be represented by no fewer than 3 students at the National Event.
13. Students will be required to participate in all scheduled activities at the National Event.
14. The team coach must accompany the team if the team is selected to attend the National Event in Washington, DC.