RULES

Rules for the Kansas Senior Spelling Bee

  1. Qualifications to enter the spelling contest:
    1. Be 50 years of age or older (By October 1, 2009)
    2. Be a citizen of the state of Kansas
    3. Turn in an entry form and fee by September 28, 2009
  2. Words used will be selected from the Merriam Webster's Collegiate Dictionary, 11th edition, 2003.
  3. Words will be pronounced, used in a sentence, and pronounced again.
  4. A contestant may ask to have the word pronounced one additional time and may ask for a definition and part of speech of that word.
  5. All participants will write 50 words given by the Pronouncer. These words are to be printed. Spelling protests (errors) must be presented to a judge on the written segment of the Bee with in 15 minutes of the words being handed back before the oral part of the Bee starts. Oral Bee protests must be made immediately during the Bee. All judges' decisions are final.
  6. The top spellers in the written contest will participate in the oral contest.
  7. Anyone needing special assistance to write or hear will orally spell the word to an individual "writer" who will record their spelling. "Writers" can be provided if notified before the Bee. A "writer or pronouncer" will be provided for anyone needing assistance writing or hearing if notified before the Bee.
  8. The contestant may pronounce the word before spelling it, after spelling it OR no pronounce it at all.
  9. Having started to orally spell a word, the contestant may stop and start again with the first letter of the word, no more than two times.
  10. Upon missing the oral spelling of a word, the contestant drops out of the contest. The next word is given to the next contestant.
  11. Any questions relating to the spelling of a word will be referred to the judges immediately. Judges decisions shall be final on all questions.
  12. Any changes of rules will be at the discretion of the judges and announced to all contestants.