Executive Spelling Bee Rules

1. Each team will consist of three spellers and a non-spelling coach.
   
   
2. Team members will be identified as Speller 1, 2, or 3. The designated speller will rotate with each round. Speller #1 will be the designated speller in the first round, #2 in the second round, etc.
   
   
3. A panel of three judges will make the final decision on all questions.
   
   
4. Words used in the Bee will be selected from Paideia 2003, the official word list. One copy of the list will be provided for each team.
   
   
5. The Pronouncer will pronounce the word, give a definition of the word, use it in a sentence, and then pronounce the word once more. A speller may ask for one additional pronunciation of the word, but no more.
   
   
6. Team members may consult and collaborate on the spelling of the word. The designated speller must begin spelling within 20 seconds.
   
   
7. Having started to spell a word, the designated speller may stop and start over, retracing the spelling from the beginning, but, in retracing, may not change any letters or their sequence from those first spelled. If letters and their sequence are changed in the respelling, the team will be eliminated.
   
   
8. Upon missing the spelling of a word, the team is immediately eliminated.
   
   
9. When the teams are reduced to two, the elimination procedure changes:
   
   

   1. A.When one team misspells a word, the other team shall be given that same word. If the second team spells that word correctly, as well as the next word on the Pronouncer's list, then the second team shall be declared the champion.

   2. If one of the last two teams misses and the other team, after correctly spelling that word, misspells the new word, then the misspelled new word shall be given to the first team. If the first team correctly spells that word, as well as the next word on the list, that team shall be declared the winner.

   3. If both teams misspell the same word, both shall continue in the contest. The team that first misspelled the word shall be given a new word to spell, and the contest will continue under above rules 9A and 9B.

   4. After each team member has spelled twice, a written test may be used. The Pronouncer will give all remaining teams a written test of 10 words. After 5 minutes writing time, the team with the most words spelled correctly will be declared the winner.