Team Formation FAQ

Refer to Rules of the Road for complete information.

Team Size

How many students can be on a team?

Teams must have at least 2 members. Every team, including Rising Stars!, is limited to 7 members.

Combining different grade Levels and Schools

Can students from different grade levels be on the same team?

It depends on your school or district policy, but the DI Rules of the Road say yes. When you have students in different grade levels, the eldest team member determines the team's competition level. (see "Determining Competition Level" section below)

Can students from different schools be on the same team?

It depends on your school or district policy, but the DI Rules of the Road say yes. In Frisco ISD, if all team members are not Frisco ISD students you should list your district and school as Independent.

Adding Team Members

We started our team/registered our team with fewer than 7 team members. Can we add more members?

Yes. "Once your team has begun working on the Team Challenge solution, you may add team members up to a maximum of seven until you submit your registration roster to your first tournament.

After your team has registered for the first tournament but before competing, you may add team members with the permission of the Tournament Director, but only if you have not previously reached seven team members."

REMOVING or Replacing Team Members

One team member never showed up. Can we replace them?

If that person never contributed towards the Team Challenge solution, they can be replaced.

A team member quit, moved away, or found out that they can't come to the tournament. Can we replace them?

It depends.

If a team member contributed ideas or labor towards the Team Challenge solution, they cannot be removed or replaced. That person must remain on the team's official roster, but is not required to show up at the tournament. The only exception is if the team completely abandons all solution ideas generated and starts fresh. If a team starts fresh and does not use any of the previous ideas, they can replace the team members.

If the team had not yet generated any ideas that they are going use in their solution, they can be replaced. If the team member stopped coming before the team generated ideas towards the Team Challenge solution, they can be replaced.

Changes after the Regional Tournament

We advanced to the State Tournament but need to make a change to our team roster. Can we do that?

No. Once a team competes at a tournament their roster is fixed, no changes can be made.

Determining Competition Level

"...the level at which your team must compete will be determined by the participant in the highest grade level or by the participant who is oldest...Each team may independently determine whether its competition level is decided by grade or date of birth." (See Rules of the Road for specific dates.)

Rising Stars! The Rising Stars! Team Challenge

preschool through 2nd grade

Elementary Level (EL)

Kindergarten-5th grade

Middle Level (ML)

6th-8th grade

Secondary Level (SL)

9th-12th grade