Veterans PTA Spelling Bee Rules

1. In competition, after the pronouncer gives the speller a word, the speller will be
encouraged to say the word out loud before spelling it and after spelling it. If a
speller forgets to say the word before or after, the judge may not disqualify the
speller. However, pronouncing the word helps in two ways. 1) The pronouncer
will know that the speller has heard the word correctly if he or she pronounces it
before beginning to spell it. 2) Saying the word after spelling it will let the judges
know that the speller has finished.
2. The speller may ask the pronouncer to say the word again, define it, and/or use it
in a sentence. The pronouncer shall grant all such requests until the judges
agree that the word has been made reasonably clear to the contestant. Judges
may disqualify any speller who ignores a request to start spelling.
3. Having started to spell a word, a speller may stop and start over, retracing the
spelling from the beginning, BUT in retracing there can be NO change of letters
or their sequence from those first pronounced. If any letters or their sequence is
changed in the respelling, the speller will be eliminated. In other words, a speller
cant correct himself, even while it is still his or her turn.
4. There will not be an official time limit for each word in this particular spelling bee.
However if the pronouncer or judge feels that a participant is repeatedly taking
too much time to spell each word, they will be reminded to speed up their
responses. If this request is ignored, they may be eliminated.
5. The contest shall be conducted in rounds. Each speller remaining in the spelling
bee at the start of a round shall spell one word in the round. Spellers are
assigned numbers randomly at the beginning of the competition. This will
determine their spelling order for the entire Spelling Bee.
6. If a word has one or more homonyms (like bear and bare), the pronouncer will
indicate which word is to be spelled. If the listed word is not properly identified,
either by defining it or using it in a sentence, any correct spelling of any
homonym of the word will be accepted.

7. Misspelling: Upon incorrectly spelling a word, the speller immediately drops out
of the competition. If all of the members of a round misspell their words, a new
round begins, with everyone participating in the same order as before.
8. Determining the winner: In any round, if only ONE student spells a word
correctly, a new one-word round begins and the student is given a chance to
spell the new word (anticipated winning word). If the student spells this last word
correctly, he/she is declared the winner. If NOT, a new round begins with all
spellers from the last round.
9. A protest may be made by anyone who disagrees with how a participant is
eliminated. However you may NOT argue that another person should be
removed from the contest. The deadline to protest is at the end of that current
round. If there are only 2 or 3 players left, the protest must be voiced
immediately.
10.
Judges are in complete control of the competition. Their decisions are
final. Spelling bees are like sporting events in which referees call the plays as
they see them. Players dont always agree with the decisions or like them, but
accept them as part of good sportsmanship.
11. This is the most important rule of all. Please have fun and relax, whether youre a
participant or a spectator!

Disqualifications for reasons other than clear misspelling:

The judges will disqualify a speller (1) who refuses a request to start spelling; (2) who
repeatedly takes too much time to spell each word after being reminded not to. (3) who does not
approach the microphone when it is time to receive the word; (4) who engages in cheating or
unsportsmanlike conduct; (5) who, in the process of retracing a spelling, changes the letters or
sequence of letters from those first originally said; (6) who, in the process of spelling, utters
unintelligible or nonsense sounds; (7) whose parents/family members harass or interrupt the
Judges/or Pronouncer.