Cass County Spelling Bee

1) All team spellers, regardless of school or grade level, who miss only one word in the team competition will move on to the individual competition. Fourth grade competition will be separate from fifth through eighth. *(Spelling Bee Director reserves the right to include spellers who may have missed two words. Decision will be made Day of Bee Competition.)

2) Individual spellers will have as many rounds as necessary from the Red & Blue lists (4th grade) OR HSISD Spelling Lists, for the 5th-8th grade individual competition to determine a winner.

3) There will be one warm-up round. After the warm-up round each student will be eliminated when she/he misspells a word.
4) The contest will continue until a winner is declared.

5) The Cass County Individual Contest Rules and Procedures will follow those outlined as in previous years. During the individual competitions, students will be eliminated when they miss a word. All contestants eliminated in the same round will be tied for the same place (rank). When the contestants are reduced to two, the elimination procedures changes. At that point, when one contestant misspells a word, the other contestant shall be given an opportunity to spell that same word. If the second contestant spells that word correctly, plus the next word on the pronouncer's list, then the second contestant shall be declared the champion.
If one of the last two spellers misses and the other, after correcting the error, misspells the new word submitted to him/her, then the misspelled new word shall be referred to the first speller. If the first speller then succeeds in correcting the error and correctly spells the next word on the pronouncer's list, then he/she shall be declared the champion.
If both spellers misspell the same word, both shall continue in the contest, and the one who first misspelled the word shall be given a new word to spell.
As a last resort, a Lightning Round may be used when there is a tie and a winner must be declared. The pronouncer, Judge and Scorekeeper will make this decision.

(1) Contestants will be assigned areas (rooms) and seats in which to sit during the spelling contests.

2) Each team will rise and rotate in front of the pronouncer when it is their turn to spell.

3) The pronouncer will give each contestant a word to spell.

4) After the pronouncer gives the word, the contestant may pronounce the word before or after spelling the word or not at all. RECOMMENDED: Student pronounce the word before and after.

5) The contestant may request the pronouncer to re-pronounce the word, define it, give its part of speech, or use it in a sentence. No other information about the etymology or history of a word including its root will be given. 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 CONTESTANT WHO IGNORES A REQUEST TO START SPELLING AFTER A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME HAS BEEN GIVEN.

6) Having started to spell a word, a contestant may stop and start over. In the retracing there can be no change of letters and their sequence from those first spelled. If letters and their sequence are changed in the re-spelling, the speller will be eliminated in individual competition or receive no score in team competition. To avoid confusion, it is best if the speller informs the pronouncer that he/she is “starting over” or “re-spelling.”

7) Team Competition: Upon missing the spelling of a word, the contestant will be seated and receive no score.
Individual Competition: Upon missing the spelling of a word, the contestant immediately drops out of the contest until only two competitors remain. All contestants eliminated in the same round will be tied for the same place (rank).

8) Any questions relating to the spelling of a word should be referred to the judges immediately. Any contestant or coach may question the judges before the next speller is given a word or before the speller reappears for the next round.

9) After discussion or deliberation, the judges' decision is FINAL.

10) Tape recorders will be used during the spelling contests to verify questionable spellings.

11) An Alternate can sub in after the spelling has started in emergency cases, The Alternate’s score will count for team but not for individual. This would need to be approved by Pronouncer, Judge and Scorekeeper.