When I was in college, I thought "Hey, I miss OM, I am going to start a Division IV team." I started planning my freshman year (1992-93) for a team to go to Iowa in my sophomore year (1994).

Before I knew it, I was coordinator, team member, chief fund raiser, co-coach, and campus-wide OM advocate. It was a lot harder than I ever imagined, and we made mistakes along the way. We fought, scrimped, saved our pennies, begged for money, and the four of us (yes, only four of us made it the duration) ended up going to Iowa and having a great time. We did well at the Tournament, and were glad we did it. Unfortunately, BGSU hasn't had a team go to World since.

In retrospect, I know now that I could have done things better from the start to get a solid program going, and things would have been much simpler for my team and teams of the future at Bowling Green State University. I since have communicated with many others who also tried to geet a Division IV team going on their campus. Here is the culmination of all my research and personal experiences:

Beginning Considerations

What one should consider before starting a Division IV team or program.

Getting Started

Laying the foundation for a good team or program. Also, some hints from the experts.

Keys to a Successful Program

A list of four things all good Division IV programs do.

As always, refer to the rules of Odyssey of the Mind when solving OM problems or particiating in an OM tournament. This guide is only a special supplement to the rules and policies of Odyssey of the Mind (be sure to read the disclaimer below!) meant to help deal with the unique environment for Division IV teams.

Finally, Please don't hesitate to ask either Jake Willis or Sue Welsch, Division IV Coordinator, and we will try to help you as best we can. We are anxiously awaiting the opportunity to help. Good Luck!

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