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, 2008)
    2. Be a citizen of the state of Kansas
    3. Turn in an entry form and fee by September 10, 2008
  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.
  6. The top 15 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" are provided.
  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.