State Tournament · Tuesday, March 4, 2025

Checklist for Coaches and Teams

Coaches' Kickoff · Virtual Orientation

New, potential, and returning coaches are encouraged to register for the Coaches's Kickoff, an online orientation in late fall each year.  Participants will meet the Science Olympiad staff, learn this year's events, gain access to resources, and learn tips shared by veteran coaches.  The online orientation is free, but registration is required.

Watch the Coaches' Kickoff recording HERE

Questions?  Contact us at mtscioly@montana.edu or (406) 994-7476

Coaches' Office Hours 

Coaches' office hours provide a virtual platform for coaches to ask questions of the SMRC staff and collaborate with each other. Office hours are faciliated by SMRC staff. Please register in advance, and feel free to ask questions in advance so we have answers for you during the office hours.

Coaches' Office Hours:

  • Wednesday, Jan. 8 - 4pm
  • Wednesday, Feb. 12 - 4pm

Questions?  Email us or call (406) 994-7476

Register HERE for Coaches' Office Hours 

FAQs

Answers to the most common questions can be found on our Frequently Asked Questions page.  Check back frequently as we update it with tournament information throughout the season.  You can find answers to your FAQs HERE.  

Don't see your question?  Email us and we'll get the information you need.  

Student Webinar Series

Students are invited to attend virtual 40-minute Q&A sessions with an Event Supervisor to learn about the event, ask questions about the competition, and clarify rules from the rules manuals.  You can register for one event or all the events offered in the series!  Student webinars are recorded and shared through the Coaches' Corner newsletter.

Calendar of Events:

  • Tower with Kirsten Matteson · Thursday, Dec 12, 2024, 4:10pm
  • Experimental Design with Mike Giroux · Thursday, Jan 9, 2025, 4:10pm
  • TBD Event · mid-January
  • Codebusters with Jake Chipps · Tuesday, Feb 11, 2025, 4:10pm
  • TBD Event · mid-Feburary
  • Tournament Wisdom with MSU Science Olympiad Club · late February, 4:10pm

Register HERE for Student Webinars!

Be advised, some information in previous years recordings may not be accurate based on changes in the 2025 rules manuals.  Use these recordings for general knowledge and understanding.

Watch recordings from the 2024 season:

Rules for Team Registration

Review these rules to ensure proper registration of your teams and students. You will be asked on the registation form to acknowledge your review, understanding, and compliance of these rules. Accurate registration ensures compliance with the national rules for Science Olympiad.

    • Register a Varsity team first (11-15 students or <11 students)
    • JV team(s) are registered seperately by filling out the registration form subsequent times for each JV team
    • JV teams may have up to 15 students
    • Students may not compete on a Varsity team in some events and a JV team in other events
    • Division B teams may have up to FIVE of last year's 8th graders competing on a team
    • Division C teams may have up to SEVEN 12th grade students competing on a team

Questions?  Contact us at mtscioly@montana.edu or (406) 994-7476

Team Registration 

Please review the 'Rules for Team Registration' above.  You will be asked on the registration form to acknowledge your review, understanding, and compliance with these national rules.

Please complete the registration form for individual teams. For example, if you have a high school Varsity team and JV team, you will complete the Division C (high school) form twice. If you have a middle school Varsity team and 2 JV teams, you will complete the Division B (middle school) form three times.

Questions?  Contact the Science Olympiad staff at mtscioly@montana.edu or (406) 994-7476.

Registration Due:  January 31, 2025

Register Div B (Middle School) HERE

Register Div C (High School) HERE

Team Fees

Complete the Registration Form above for each team (Varsity, JV).  Calculate Registration fees as follows:

  • Varsity Team (11-15 students):            $325
  • Varsity Team (10 students or less):     $275
  • JV Team (up to 15 students):                $200

Payment Information and Credit Card Portal

Fees are paid by check or credit card.  If paying by check, coaches will receive an invoice via email. Mail checks to:  MSU Science Math Resource Center, PO Box 172804, Bozeman, MT 59717.  Use the link below to pay by credit card.

Refund Policy:  If a team is unable to participate, a 50% refund of the registration fee is issued when the team withdraws prior to Friday, February 7, 5pm.  No refunds after February 7, 2025.

Registration Fees Deadline: February 7, 2025

Pay By Credit Card HERE

Hotel Room Blocks

Discounted room blocks are available for the tournament!  See listings below.  Check back for additional options as they become available.

Comfort Suites · $137 + taxes & fees · Book online HERE

Country Inn and Suites · $145 + taxes & fees · Book online HERE

Courtyard by Marriot · $189 + taxes & fees · Call +1 (406) 577-1155 · Book online HERE

Days Inn · $115 + tax & fees · Call +1 (406) 587-5251 · use Code: SCIENCE2025 to book HERE

Residence Inn Downtown by Marriot · $189 + taxes & fees · Call +1 (406) 586-7200 · Book online HERE

Springhill Suites by Marriot · $219 + taxes & fees · Call +1 (406) 586-5200 · Book online HERE

 

Lewis and Clark Motel · $259 + taxes & fees · Call +1 (406) 586-3341 · use Code: SciOly2025 to book HERE

 

Questions?  Email us or call us at (406) 994-7476.

Museum of the Rockies STEM Night!

dinosaurMonday · March 3 · 5:30-8:30pm

Students and coaches alike tell us a highlight of their Science Olympiad experience is the Museum of the Rockies STEM Night on the evening before the tournament. Students and coaches receive FREE admission to the museum, private access to exhibits, and planetarium shows. Local STEM organizations and Montana State University departments and student clubs host interactive exhibits.  It's a fun, immersive, exciting night of STEM!

Coaches, please RSVP on behalf of your team(s), not as individual attendees.  Questions?  Email us or call us at: (406) 994-7476.

Registration Deadline:  February 14, 2025

Register HERE for MoR STEM Night!

Team Numbers · Div B (middle school)

Coaches are encouraged to review the team names and numbers and contact us if you see an error or omission.

Team numbers will be announced in early February

Team Numbers · Div C (high school)

Coaches are encouraged to review the team names and numbers and contact us if you see an error or omission.

Team numbers will be announced in early February

Scilympiad Software

We are using the Scilympiad software for scoring of this year's tournament. 
Please visit the directions to register and add students on Scilympiad page. 

Block Schedule

Block schedules indicate the times your team are scheduled to compete based on team numbers.  Block schedules are announced several weeks prior to tournament day.  Once posted, please contact us if you see event conflicts, and we will work with you to ensure your teams participate.

Block Schedules will be posted in mid-February

Talks & Tours

Science Olympiad competitors say the Talks & Tours are among their favorite parts of the day by learning about the fascinating research and projects at MSU! For some Montana middle and high school students, including those from small and rural communities, this is their first time exploring the campus environment.  In just one hour, Talks & Tours can help inspire the next generation of STEM professionals.

Talks & Tours Registration · Coming Soon!

Registration Deadline:  TBD

Prepare your Team for Tournament Day

Hear from Dr. John Loehr and National Program Director Dan Nichols from National Science Olympiad about best practices for preparing your Science Olympiad team to compete in a tournament and what to do on competition day. Watch the presentation HERE

Parking

Instructions for bus, van, and private vehicle parking will be posted here closer to tournament day.  

Coach Newsletters

Coaches' Corner Newsletter · Subscribe HERE!

Please add mtscioly@montana.edu to your contacts to ensure the newsletter lands in your inbox.  Feel free to share the newsletter with prospective coaches and STEM enthusiasts!

Archived Newsletters

Previous years newsletters may be helpful for general information.  Please recognize that some information is specific to the year and tournament and may not apply to this year's tournament.