Definitions

Math Challengers shall mean The Canadian Math Challengers Society.
BC shall mean the Province of British Columbia
Team coach or coach shall mean a teacher employed by the school their team is representing.
Instructions shall mean General Instructions, Instructions to MC's Proctors and competitors, and instructions to Markers
Pools shall mean groups of teams competing with each other
Math Challengers Committee shall be composed of volunteers according to the bylaws of the society
Math Challengers will be re-examining grade level eligibility rules during this school year, with the possibility of making some changes for the next school year (with coaches' input). In the meantime, if you have any questions, please contact us and we will discuss these in future newsletters.

Rules

1 The Competition consists of 4 stages.
Stages 1 and 2 are individual competitions. Stage 3 is a Team competition. Stage 4 is a one-on-one competition between the top 10 individuals who participated in stages 1 and 2. Math Challengers competitions may consist of the following rounds:
1.1 Blitz Round
Blitz consists of one session on a variety of mathematical subjects. Participants will be allowed to work for 40 minutes on 26 questions written on four pages (each correct answer will count as one point). Thus, the maximum number of points available in this stage is: 26.
1.2 Bull's Eye Round
Bull's Eye consists of three sessions on a certain mathematical subject. For each of the sessions, participants will be given 12 minutes to work on the 4 questions on that subject. The total number of questions in Bull's Eye is 12 and each correct answer will count as two points. Thus, the maximum number of points available in this stage is: 24.
1.3 Co-op Round
Stage 3 is a Team competition and it consists of a single 30-minute session on a variety of mathematical subjects. Participants will be allowed to work for 30 minutes on 10 questions written on one page (each correct answer will count as two points). Thus, the maximum number of points available in this stage is 20. Scientific calculators are allowed for this stage of the competition. Graphing calculators and programmable calculators are not allowed at all. Devices with wireless communication capabilities are absolutely not allowed.
1.4 Face-Off round
- Face-Off is a one-to-one buzz-in verbal competition for the top scoring 10 individuals.
- There will be a total of 9 match up rounds.
- Participants should be provided with ample amounts of scratch paper and pencil for calculating answers.
- For each questions the participants will be allowed to work for 45 seconds from the time it appears on the screen.
- Participant who wishes to provide an answer must buzz. But, only the first person who buzzes will be called to provide an answer. Any answer without pressing the buzzer will be disqualified. Only ONE Answer per participant per question is allowed and he/she must provide it within 3 seconds after being called and in an acceptable format (i.e. simplified to lowest terms). The Opponent may continue working while an answer is provided and if the answer of the first participant who buzzes is incorrect the opponent may use the remainder of the 45 seconds to buzz and be called to provide an answer. Participant who was called on and provides the correct answer will score one point in the round. 

School Accreditation

2 All competitors shall be part of a team from a school accredited in a Province or Territory of Canada.To compete in BC all competitors shall attend a school accredited by the Province of BC.

Grade level Eligibility

There are two (2) grade divisions of competition in the Province of British Columbia: the Grade 8 Division and the Grade 9 Division, both at the regional and provincial level.
Grade 8 Competitors
 
3.1 Each competitor may compete twice at each Grade level provided he or she is young enough.  A first time Grade 6 competitor can compete two years in a row at the Grade 8 level, and then two more years at the Grade 9 level.  A first time Grade 7 competitor can compete two years in a row at the Grade 8 level, and then one more year at the Grade 9 level.  A first time Grade 8 student competes one year at the Grade 8 level, and the following year at the Grade 9 level.
 
3.2 Each competitor must have been registered last year in Grade 7 or below.  Anyone who was registered in Grade 8 last year must compete at the Grade 9 level this year, regardless of what grade or school he or she is currently registered in.  A Grade 8 competitor must be registered in Grade 8 or below at his school, although he may be taking a math course beyond Grade 8. 

3.3 An eligible Grade 8 competitor shall turn 14 during the calendar year of the competition (or a later year).
 
Grade 9 Competitors
 
3.4 An eligible Grade 9 competitor shall turn 15 during the calendar year of the competition (or a later year).
 
3.5 A Grade 9 competitor must be registered in Grade 9 or below at his school, although he may be taking a math course beyond Grade 9.

Registration and Team Composition

4.1 What is the maximum number of teams per school?
A maximum of three (3) teams per Grade Division per school for a total of six (6) teams will be accepted for registration and competition.
4.2 What is the maximum number of students per team for registration?
Each team may register a total of 5 students, the scores of the top 4 only will be counted for team scores.
- Is there a minimum team size?
A team may consist of 5 or fewer students --however the team score will be adversely affected if the team consists of fewer than 4 students.
4.3 Can a School register additional team(s) on the day of competition?
Registration will NOT be accepted on the day of competition.
4.4 Will registration be accepted for individuals?
Under certain circumstances we allow for individuals to be registered. But, in general, all students must be part of a school team
4.5 Can elementary students compete on secondary school teams?
Secondary School teams may use elementary students on their teams, provided these students are from an elementary school within their catchment/feeder area, and that the elementary school does not have its own team in the competition.
4.6 Can the team roster be changed between the regional and provincial competitions?
Coaches may alter their team roster between the regional and provincial tournaments.
4.7 Math Challengers reserves the right to disqualify any team containing a member who is ineligible to compete in the division in which that team is registered.

Teams Advancing to the Provincial Final

Each region in the province will send a certain number of teams, based on the total number of schools and teams in the region, to the Provincial Finals. Canadian Math Challengers Committee reserves the right to determine regional boundaries.
5.1 What is the maximum number of teams per Grade Division per school to advance to the Provincial competition?
Only one team per Grade Division per school is allowed to advance to the Provincial competition. In other word, the top two, three, four, or more teams from a regional pool advancing to the Provincial competition must be teams from different schools. This is to ensure equal chances for advancement to the Provincial Final among the schools regardless of the number of teams they send to the regional competitions.
5.2 What are Wildcard Teams?
For regions with more than one pool in a Grade Division, one or more wild card team(s) may be selected within that Grade Division to advance to the Provincial Final. These must be teams, not from the top placing schools already selected, but those with the next highest scores within that Grade Division. This is to ensure equal chances for advancement to the Provincial Final among the schools regardless of the composition of the pool they are placed in. Math Challengers committee reserves the right to determine the maximum number of Wildcard Teams from multiple pools from each of the regions.
5.3 Can a student who places in the top 10 in a regional Face-Off Round but whose team does not qualify for the Provincial Final participate in the Provincial final on an individual basis?
Any student participating in the regional Face-OFF will advance to the Provincial Final on an individual basis if his/her school did not qualify in that grade competition.

Face - Off Oral Competition and Awards

6.1 What is the maximum number of students per school per Grade Division advancing to Face-Off at the regional, or Provincial competitions?
Schools will not have more than five students advancing to the Face - Off Round in each grade division at the regional competitions.
6.2 Prizes Trophies and Scholarships
Math challengers medals will be awarded to the Top 10 individuals in each Grade Division advancing to Face-Off at the Provincial final. These prizes will be awarded based on the individual standings from Stage 1 and Stage 2 of the competition..
6.3 Individuals Trophies
Math challengers individual trophies will be presented to the Top 3 individuals per pool per Grade Division at the Regional competitions. These prizes will be awarded based on the standings before Stage 4.
6.4 Team Trophies Regional Competition
Math Challengers team trophies will be presented to the Top 4 schools (not necessarily the top 4 teams) per pool per Grade division at the Regional competitions. These prizes will be awarded based on the team standings from the written rounds of the competition.
6.5 Team Trophies Finals
Math Challengers team trophies will be presented to the Top 4 teams (schools in each Grade Division) at the Provincial Final. these prizes will be awarded base on the team standings from the written rounds of the competition.
6.6 Individual Cash Prizes
At the 2010 provincial competition, cash prizes of $200, $150 and $100 were awarded to the three highest scoring individuals in each grade.

Advancing to Intramural Competitions

The top four (or more) Grade 8 students from the Provincial competitions may be invited to participate in an Intramural Competition with Washington and Oregon teams. They may form up to two Grade 8 teams, who will compete against teams from Washington and Oregon States at the Intramural Competitions.

Rule Clarification: Calculators are not permitted for the Blitz, Bull's-eye and Face-Off rounds, however Calculators are permitted for the Co-op round, and they must be scientific calculators. Programmable and graphing calculators are not allowed at all. Devices with wireless communication capabilities are absolutely not allowed.

Units Editorial comment only

Questions requiring conversion within or from British Imperial or US measurement unit systems to MKS metric or the reverse conversion will not be on any test, in general units should not be required.
However students are highly advised that they must be able to convert complex Multi dimensional measurement units between British, USA and MKS and EU metric measurement systems.

Instructions

Instructions shall have the same force as rules, and may be published or announced before and during the competitions
Disclaimer:

The sole responsibility of the organizers and directors is for establishing and conducting the match itself. Parents, coaches, and guardians are responsible for the conduct of the participating students. By agreeing to participate, the competitors, their parents, guardians and heirs shall hold harmless the organizers, directors, and volunteers of Canadian Math Challengers Society from any consequences of misbehaviour on the part of the participants and from any damage to property or injury whatsoever to persons attending this event.