During the time that teams are preparing for the Preliminary Battles the coach's responsibilities are as follows:

1. To assure team members' attendance at regular "Battle of the Books" meetings.
2. To make sure that each team member understands which books on the reading list he/she is expected to read.
3. To meet with the team regularly to offer encouragement, check on reading progress, foster team cohesiveness and to help team members learn names of authors and the correct spelling of the authors' last names and facts from books.
4. To act as a communicating link between the library, team members and parents with all information regarding "Battle of the Books" (i.e. dates, times, reading expectations, etc.).
5. To make sure you and your team demonstrate appropriate behavior by being a good loser as well as a good winner. This means shaking hands with other teams at the completion of each "Battle", accepting the moderator's judgment on answers you may not agree with, and treating everyone with respect and courtesy on "Battle Day".
6. To make sure you and your team members, families, and friends understand the rules of "Battle" and the expectations the day of "Battle".

   The following applies to ALL AUDIENCE MEMBERS:
         - NO food or drink in the PAC
         - PAC doors close for each round of questions and open after questions 7, 14, and 21.
         - DO NOT approach the moderator at break times.
         - ALL CELL PHONES MUST BE TURNED OFF.
         - DO NOT ALLOW RESTLESS or NOISY children to enter the auditorium to watch "Battles".
         - ABSOLUTELY NO SIGNALS are to be given from the audience to Battle team members.

During Preliminary, Semi Final, and Grand Battles, each coach will be assigned to monitor one of the other competing teams. The monitor's responsibilities will be as follows:

1. To ensure that the team stops writing at the end of the 30 second time limit (whether the answer is complete or not).
2. To check if answer is correct as is given by the moderator.
3. To record the number of points earned for each question ...
         ... give the score sheet to assigned runner
         ... keep a cumulative score throughout the "Battle"
         ... at break time, check your score with that of the official scorekeeper. The scores should be the same.
   NOTE: If the scores do not match, you may send a team member to the moderator, who will in turn check on the discrepancy and make any necessary changes.
4. As a monitor it is important to remain focused on the team you are with so that you will be fair and equitable. Please remember that these children have also worked and studied hard and have earned the right to be on stage today. They need and deserve your understanding, encouragement, and respect.
5. To encourage all team members to shake hands at the end of each battle and to congratulate them on their achievement.