BOB Program Guide
Joining a Team
- Teams include 4–5 students and one adult coach.
- Teams must have a minimum of 3 students to participation on competition day.
- A coach may only coach one team.
- Assistant coaches are permitted as backup support if the primary coach is unavailable on event day.
- Any adult age 18 or older may serve as a coach, including parents, volunteers, teachers, scout leaders, or older siblings.
Registration typically requires:
- Student first and last name
- Parent or guardian phone & email
- Coach name, phone, email, mailing address
- School or homeschool organization information
- Team name
- Required forms
- Registration form (October)
- Participation form (February)
- Any accommodation requests
Choose a unique team name. Consider having alternate choices available in case another team selects your first choice. Team names may be eligible for recognition awards.
Information about coach and student participation forms coming in 2027.
Accommodation requests and all required forms must be submitted to [email protected] by the permission form deadline.
Preparing for the Battle
- Teams should read the official editions supplied for the competition whenever possible. Questions are written from those editions.
- Questions may come from any part of the books, including illustrations, photographs, maps, diagrams, covers, and text features.
- Audiobooks can be helpful, but students should also review visual content.
Frequently Overlooked: Visual elements are part of the
competition and may appear in questions.
Books at the Event
- Teams may not bring books to the competition.
- An official answer key with book titles and authors will be provided during the event.
- Create a reading plan early.
- Encourage more than one student to read each book.
- Assign book experts.
- Hold practice battles and quizzes.
- Write practice questions.
- Practice with other teams when possible.
- Attend one required coach meeting before the event and one spring logistics meeting.
- Coordinate practices.
- Communicate with families.
- Submit required participation forms.
- Encourage sportsmanship and teamwork.
Teams often create T-shirts, posters, traditions, games, celebrations, and other team-building activities. The friendships and teamwork developed during the season are an important part of the experience.
Deadline
April 2, 2026
Late submissions cannot be accepted.
File Requirements
File name format: Section Number Team Name
Example: 200B Book Lovers
Section numbers will be emailed to coaches.
Accepted file types:
- JPG/JPEG
- PNG
Recommended image sizes:
- 1920 × 1080 pixels (preferred)
- 1280 × 720 pixels (accepted)
You may create your poster using:
- Adobe Express
- LucidSpark
- Google Slides
- Microsoft PowerPoint
- A physical poster photographed or scanned for upload
- Poster Content Guidelines
Posters should:
- Represent your team name
- Include team members
- Reflect your team theme
Posters may include:
- Team member photos
- Emojis
- Clip art
- Small illustrations that do not provide hints or clues
Posters may not include:
- Book titles
- Author names
- Book cover art
- Drawings of characters from Battle of the Books titles
Physical Posters
Physical posters are optional and will not be used by judges at the event. If you create a physical poster, upload a photo or scanned image for display on event screens.
Recommended poster sizes:
- 22″ × 28″
- 24″ × 36″
For best results:
- Use a flat poster board
- Avoid tri-fold display boards
- Poster Orientation
Landscape orientation is recommended because it matches the display screens used at the event.
Upload Confirmation
If you are unsure whether your poster uploaded successfully, email [email protected] before the deadline to confirm your submission.
AI Use
- Teams may use AI-generated images or design tools when creating posters.
- All AI use must follow the HCPSS Student AI Guide and align with HCPSS expectations for responsible and ethical use of generative AI.
Costumes, team shirts, and spirit wear are encouraged but not required. Teams that choose to dress up may be eligible for the Best Team Costume Award, which is presented during the event.
Dress Code Requirements
- All costumes must comply with HCPSS Policy 9210: Student Dress Code.
- If a costume, prop, or sign would not be permitted at school, it will not be permitted at Battle of the Books.
- If an item is found to be out of compliance, it cannot be used at the event.
What Can Be Included?
Costumes and team attire may include:
- School names
- Team names
- Face paint
- Sunglasses as part of a costume
- Costumes, team shirts, and other spirit wear
What Cannot Be Included?
The following are not permitted on costumes, signs, props, team members, or coaches:
- Book titles
- Character names
- Author names
- Prop Guidelines
Props are allowed; however, teams should keep space limitations in mind.
Judging is typically completed by the middle of the third round, so props do not need to be worn or carried for the entire competition.
Costume Design Approval
Pre-approval is not required for:
- Team logos
- T-shirt designs
- Costume concepts
- Teams may use their creativity as long as all event and dress code requirements are followed.
Coach Participation
- Coaches are not required to wear costumes.
- Some coaches choose to dress with their teams, while others do not. This is entirely up to the coach and team.
Event Day
Event Information
General information
- Check in, receive seating information, and get settled.
- Students may arrive with their coach or separately.
- Teams may arrive together or individually. Coaches should arrive before 6:45 PM to help students locate their assigned seating section.
Plan Ahead: Coaches should arrive early enough for students to find their team seating area.
Weather Reminder: Battle of the Books is held rain or shine. The event will only be canceled if weather conditions are considered dangerous. Any day-of-event changes will be communicated to coaches by email and posted on the Battle of the Books website.
- Teams are assigned seating sections in advance. Coaches receive section assignments by email prior to the event.
- Specific seat assignments are distributed at check-in.
- Team members sit together in reserved seating areas.
- One coach is seated with each team.
Opening activities often include welcome remarks, competition instructions, announcements, and practice questions.
- The event consists of four rounds of competition with one intermission following Round 2.
- Students and coaches are encouraged to eat before the event begins.
- Teams may bring snacks, drinks, and coolers for use during the event. Teams are responsible for cleaning up all trash.
The event typically concludes with awards, recognition, team photos, and closing remarks.
Rules and Scoring
- Teams collaborate on answers.
- Teams receive one answer sheet per round.
- Teams submit one completed answer sheet at the end of each round.
- Questions are read twice.
- Teams have 30 seconds to answer after the second reading.
- A visible countdown timer will be used.
- Students should record team answers.
Answer Format
- Teams do not write book titles on answer sheets.
- Each title is assigned a letter on the official answer key. Teams indicate answers by circling the appropriate letter.
- Students, coaches, and volunteers are expected to act honestly, fairly, and respectfully throughout the program.
- Students may not use phones or electronic devices during competition play.
- Coaches may use phones or devices for communication with parents, assistant coaches, or event staff.
- All participants are expected to follow the same academic integrity standards expected during the school day.
- Standard and bonus questions may carry different point values.
- Official scores are shared with coaches after the event.
- Team scores may not be publicly posted, and official rulings are final.
- Answers are announced after each round, not after individual questions.
- Bonus questions may be more challenging and may carry different point values.
Families
- Confirm required participation forms have been submitted.
- Review transportation plans.
- Know where to meet after the event.
Family Tip: Choose a meeting location before the competition
begins so students and families can easily reconnect when the event ends.
- Transportation to and from the event is the responsibility of each team and family.
- Parking is available in nearby lots and garages at Merriweather Post Pavilion.
- ADA parking and accessibility accommodations are available.
- Restrooms and accessible facilities are available throughout the venue.
- Spectators are welcome to attend at no cost.
- Spectator seating is separate from team seating.
- Covered pavilion seating is reserved for participating students, coaches, and assistant coaches.
- Spectators should plan to use designated spectator areas.
- Coaches are the primary source for event updates and communications.
- Event organizers may take photographs during the event.