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

Registration Closed for Coach 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:

  • Experimental Design with Mike Giroux · Thursday, Jan 9, 2025, 4:10pm
  • Tower with Kirsten Matteson · Tues, Jan 28, 2025 · 4:10pm
  • Disease Detectives with Paul Cross · Wednesday, Feb 5, 2025 · 4:10pm
  • Codebusters with Jake Chipps · Tuesday, Feb 11, 2025, 4:10pm
  • Tournament Wisdom with MSU Science Olympiad Club · Thurs, Feb 27, 4:10pm

Registration Closed for Student Webinars

Recordings of the Student Webinars are found HERE in the Student Particpant Resources

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 Deadline:  see you in 2026! 

Registration Now Closed

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: See you in 2026!

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, coaches, chaperones and family members accompanying the team 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. 

If you are registered for STEM Night, we will bring your tournament registration packet to the Museum so you can forego checking in at the registration desk on tournament day. Even if your students are not attending STEM Night, if you'd like to pick up your packet at the Museum, please register yourself so we know to bring your registration packet to this event.

NOTE: MoR is not offering pizza slices for sale as they have in the past.

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

Registration Closed

Team Numbers · Div B (middle school)

Div B team numbers HERE

Team numbers are available!

Team Numbers · Div C (high school)

Div C team numbers HERE

Team numbers are available!

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. 

Student Release Forms

Student participants, and a parent/guardian (if student under 18) are required to sign and submit release forms to compete on tournament day.  DO NOT submit forms on Scilympiad.  Forms include:

  1. Code of Ethics 
  2. MSU Photo, Video, and Comment Release Form
  3. Assumption of Risk and Release of Liability Form

Direct your students to the link below to complete the forms.  Students will complete their portion first, which prompts an email to the parent/guardian.  When the parent/guardian has signed, the coach will receive a CC: indicating the form is complete. 

Sign Release Forms HERE

Block Schedule and Conflict Form

Block schedules indicate the times your team competes based on team numbers.  Block schedules are announced several weeks prior to tournament day.  Once posted, please review to see if you have event conflicts. 

Review the block schedule and potential conflicts here.

Block Schedules now posted!

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

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.

Registration Closed for Talks & Tours

Registration Deadline:  See you in 2026!

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

To ensure safe and efficient unloading and loading of students, please read the following instructions:

  1. Follow instructions from Parking Officers
  2. Keep curbside parking to 5 minutes or less
  3. NO VEHICLES LEFT UNATTENDED IN UNLOADING OR LOADING AREAS
  4. Parking Maps and Traffic Flow can be found HERE

UNLOADING (AM Drop-Off) for Buses and Oversized Vehicles

  1. Unloading will occur along south 7th and in the SUB oval.
  2. Buses must approach the unloading area from Kagy to South 7th (Any bus that approaches from Grant St. will be turned back and told to approach from South 7th)
  3. When space is available in the SUB Oval a Parking Officer will direct you to proceed
  4. If the SUB Oval is congested, the Parking Officer will direct you to unload along South 7th
  5. Once your bus/van is unloaded, proceed to the south end of Lot 25, where a Parking Officer will assist you

LOADING (PM Pick-Up) for Buses and Oversized Vehicles

  1. All loading will occur on South 7th (there is no loading in the afternoon in the SUB Oval)
  2. Ensure your students are ready to load before directing your driver to bring the bus/van to South 7th
  3. Two Parking Officers will be on South 7th to assist with traffic control and help students cross Grant St.

Personal Vehicles

Personal vehicles may use the parking garage or off-campus parking options.  Streamline Bus and the Campus shuttle run service to the SUB.  Learn more HERE.

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.