Start a Science Olympiad Team
New to Science Olympiad? Tulane Science Olympiad wants to help middle and high schools across Louisiana feel confident starting a team, even if no one at your school has competed before.
You can start small.
A Science Olympiad team can begin as an after-school club, a few curious students, or a group preparing for a future tournament. Schools can start at any time of year. Planning in the spring can help with budgeting, but fall starts are common and workable.
You do not need to be an expert to start.
Coaches help students organize, practice, and find resources. Students learn by trying events, asking questions, and growing together through the season.
Six Steps to Get Started
This path is adapted for new schools from the official Science Olympiad team-building process.
Build school and community support
Start with a teacher, coach, administrator, parent, or community mentor who can help the team get permission, space, and encouragement. Spring planning is helpful for school budgets, but many teams begin in the fall too.
Recruit students with different strengths
Invite students who like science, engineering, building, writing, research, problem solving, or working with a partner. A competition roster can include up to 15 students, but a new club can begin with fewer.
Learn the events and rules
Each season has its own event list, rules, and study materials. New teams do not need to master everything at once; start by choosing a few events that match student interest and available supplies.
Practice regularly
Weekly or biweekly meetings are enough to build momentum. Use practice time for studying, testing builds, trying sample questions, and helping students learn how tournaments feel.
Match students with events
Pair students with events based on curiosity and strengths. Some students will prefer research-heavy events, some will like labs, and others will want to design, build, and test devices.
Attend a tournament and celebrate progress
Teams can jump into a regional tournament, attend invitationals for practice, or spend a first season growing as a club. The goal for a new team is confidence, connection, and steady improvement.
What Your Team Needs
Most first-year teams already have more of this list than they realize. Start with the people, then add materials as students choose events.
- A teacher, coach, or adult sponsor
- School and administrator support
- Interested middle or high school students
- A classroom, lab, library, or other practice space
- Access to the season's rules and event resources
- Basic supplies for study, lab, and build events
- A plan for tournament registration and transportation
Divisions B and C
Science Olympiad has separate divisions so students compete with schools at a similar grade level. Division B is for middle school teams. Division C is for high school teams.
Each competition team can bring up to 15 students, and many schools also keep extra students involved through practices, club meetings, and preparation for future seasons.
Tournaments
Invitationals are practice tournaments. They help students try events, learn pacing, and meet other teams, but they do not determine advancement to State or Nationals.
Regional and State tournaments are managed through state Science Olympiad chapters. Tulane Science Olympiad can help new Louisiana teams understand where to look and what questions to ask next.
Event Types
A balanced team usually includes students who enjoy different kinds of STEM work.
Knowledge Events
Students prepare by studying a topic, practicing questions, and learning how to use reference materials well.
Lab Events
Students practice hands-on skills such as measurement, observation, data analysis, and safe lab procedures.
Build Events
Students design, build, test, and improve a device before competition day, learning from each round of iteration.
Hybrid Events
Students combine studying with hands-on work, often using both written knowledge and practical performance.
Useful Links
Keep these bookmarked as your team moves from first conversations to registration and event preparation.
Official Science Olympiad
National Science Olympiad information, season resources, event lists, and official program updates.
Open resource →Official Start a Team Guide
The national guide for schools, coaches, and families starting a Science Olympiad team.
Open resource →Scioly Wiki
Student-friendly event background, study tips, build examples, and explanations from the Science Olympiad community.
Open resource →Louisiana Science Olympiad
State chapter information, tournament dates, regional contacts, and Louisiana-specific announcements.
Open resource →Louisiana Registration
School and team registration details for Louisiana Science Olympiad through Scilympiad.
Open resource →A local partner for new Louisiana teams
Tulane Science Olympiad is a student-run STEM outreach organization, not a governing body. We can point new teams toward resources, answer beginner questions, encourage participation in invitationals, and help schools feel connected to the Louisiana Science Olympiad community.
Ready to ask a question?
Tell us your school, grade level, and where you are in the process. A first email can be simple.