EIGHTEENTH ANNUAL ADULT SPELLING BEE RULES FOR COMPETITION
1. Spelling must be done by residents of Santa Barbara or San Luis Obispo Counties.
2. Each team will consist of two spellers.
3. Team members will be identified by their team number (1-40), drawn at random prior to the Bee. The team numbers will be two different colors, and the spellers will rotate according to color.
4. Words used in the Bee will be selected from the 2009 speller's publication by Merriam-Webster Inc. & The E.W. Scripps Company. Spellers can download copies of the words at Google (search "Spell It 2009 booklet"), or pick them up at Central Coast Literacy Council office in the Santa Maria Public Library.
5. The Pronouncer will say the word, give its definition, use it in a sentence, and then pronounce it once more.
6. Team member may ask for only one additional pronunciation of the word.
7. When the word is a homophone, only the correct spelling for the word defined and used in a sentence will be accepted.
8. Team members may write the word down and collaborate on it; but the designated speller must begin spelling within 20 seconds. The speller must not refer to the paper while spelling.
9. A speller may stop spelling and start over, provided the Pronouncer and judges are told he or she is starting over. The speller must retrace the spelling from the beginning, but cannot change the letters or sequence from those first spelled.
10. When a speller misses a word, the team is eliminated.
11. When there are only two teams left, the procedure changes. If one team misses a word, the other team is asked to spell the same word.
A. If the second team also misspells the word, the competition continues.
B. If the second team spells the word correctly, they will be given an additional word. If it is also correct, they are declared the winners.
C. If the second team spells the word correctly, but fails to spell the next word, the first team is asked to spell that word under 10a and 10b above until a winner is declared.
12. The decision of the judges will be final.
13. Spellers please check in between 12 Noon and 12:30 P.M. Saturday, September 18th, 2010 at the Souza Center.
14. Dress appropriately (no beachwear).
