Division BC Clarifications
Only VASO clarifications are valid in VASO tournaments.
Clarifications are updated throughout the season. Check back often for updates.
Astronomy
Division
C
Oct 19, 2022
Rule 3.c. corrections:
3.c.xiv. 47 Tucanae X9
Delete 3.c.xv.
Renumber 3.c.xvi. to 3.c.xv.
Bio Process Lab
Division
B
Aug 25, 2022
This event will not be held at VASO regional tournaments. It will be held at the State tournament.
Bridge
Division
BC
Oct 19, 2022
Rule 6. Test Apparatus: A list of possible questions, tasks, stations and/or examples that will help to demonstrate how the event may be run.
Bridge
Division
BC
Oct 5, 2022
Rule 4.f. - Logs will not necessarily be returned to teams. Teams should keep their original log and submit a copy to the Event Supervisor.
Cell Biology
Division
C
Aug 25, 2022
This event will not be held at VASO regional tournaments. It will be held at the State tournament.
Codebusters
Division
BC
Dec 30, 2022
The Rail Fence Cipher - Science Olympiad rules do not define Rail Fence. ACA rules allow encryption to be either writing into the rainfence pattern on the zigzag and reading off on rows, or writing into the pattern on rows and reading off on the zigzag. Are both encryptions allowed?
Only the pattern where the cipher text is written in rows and the plaintext is read through the zigzag is allowed. For example with the cipher text "RFEALECIN" would be written into three rows of "R F E" "ALEC" and "IN" and would be read out via zigzag as "RAILFENCE".
Codebusters
Division
BC
Dec 30, 2022
Rule 3.e.v. - Relating to the Fractionated Morse Cipher, will it always end with the last letter or will there be an XX at the end to mark the end of the word?
No. For a Fractionated Morse Cipher, the cipher can end with 0,1, or 2 X at the end depending on how many are needed to pad to a group of 3 symbols.
Detector Building
Division
C
Jan 13, 2023
Rule 3.b. - …All supporting circuits must be assembled on either a solderless or solderable breadboard. The following are construction violations: preassembled devices, load cells, preassembled load cells where the strain gauges are already wired together or attached to a flexible material, parts taken from such a preassembled load cell, printed circuit boards…
Detector Building
Division
C
Dec 20, 2022
National FAQ dated 12/2/22 regarding a team’s request to mill their own circuit board - While Nationals is allowing a team to mill its own circuit board, VASO will not allow it.
Detector Building
Division
C
Oct 19, 2022
Formatting error corrections:
Rule 5.Part II.a.ix(4) should become Rule 5.Part II.b.
Rule 5.Part II.a.ix(5) should become Rule 5.Part II.c.
These rules apply to all tournament levels.
Detector Building
Division
C
Oct 8, 2022
VASO considers writing code to be an integral part of building a device, so the Constructed Devices Policy applies to the code as well as the physical device. To ensure this policy is being followed, teams will be required to transfer a copy of their source code file (after they have modified it during the setup period) onto a USB flash drive provided by the Event Supervisor. The team is responsible for ensuring they will have a way to connect the provided USB flash drive to their laptop or calculator.
Detector Building
Division
C
Oct 5, 2022
Rule 4.e. - Logs will not necessarily be returned to teams. Teams should keep their original log and submit a copy to the Event Supervisor.
Environmental Chemistry
Division
C
Jan 18, 2023
Environmental Chemistry Equipment - Teams should not bring electrolysis equipment or glassware larger than 100-mL capacity. It is recommended that teams do bring enough disposable pipettes (droppers) and beakers to create and analyze up to 6 solutions during the session block. The glassware holding the solutions must have a wide opening (>1.25 inches) to allow for measurements.
Exp & Data Analysis (VA)
Division
BC
Sep 11, 2022
This event will serve as a substitute at VASO regionals for the Experimental Design event that is in the National rulebook. Its use will be re-evaluated for the State Tournament. The VA rules for this event can be downloaded here.
Flight
Division
BC
Aug 25, 2022
This event will not be held at VASO regional tournaments. It will be held at the State tournament.
Forestry
Division
BC
Oct 27, 2022
2023 National Tree List (Pg 2, Column 1, Line 4) - Moris Morus rubra (Red Mulberry)
It's About Time
Division
C
Oct 11, 2022
Rule 3.e. - Can different parts of the "one" mechanism trigger the signal (i.e. 3 sections of a mechanism trigger the same signal)?
Every signal happens because something (a mechanism) directly causes it to happen. For example, the bell sounding is a signal, but the sound is caused by a hammer striking the bell. The flag being raised is the signal, but it is caused by a string pulling it up the pole. The hammer and the string are the mechanism. The mechanism must be the same in all instances, so, in order to allow for the next signal, the mechanism will need to reset itself for the next signal (i.e. the hammer must retract back or the string must go slack to let the flag back down). However, multiple different components or parts in the device can initiate the action of the mechanism that causes the signal (i.e. different cogs initiating the hammer action or different elements pulling the flag’s string).
Meteorology
Division
B
Aug 25, 2022
This event will not be held at VASO regional tournaments. It will be held at the State tournament.
Remote Sensing
Division
C
Aug 25, 2022
This event will not be held at VASO regional tournaments. It will be held at the State tournament.
Rocks and Minerals
Division
BC
Oct 19, 2022
Minerals List (Column 2) - "Willemite*" and "Zircon*" should not be indented underneath "Tourmaline Group" since they are not members of the Tourmaline Group.
Roller Coaster
Division
B
Nov 4, 2022
Rule 3 (Construction Parameters) - The entire track must not be fully enclosed and the ball should be easily removable for the entire roller coaster, not just the loop in 3.k.ii. For the ball to be considered “easily removable”, the device/track must not have to be manipulated by the Event Supervisor to get the ball out.
Roller Coaster
Division
B
Oct 8, 2022
Add a rule 4.b.iv. - If a kit was used to build the team’s device, the Design Log must also include an explanation of at least one substantial modification made to the kit as required by the Constructed Devices Policy.
Roller Coaster
Division
B
Oct 5, 2022
Rule 4.e. - Logs will not necessarily be returned to teams. Teams should keep their original log and submit a copy to the Event Supervisor.
Scrambler
Division
C
Nov 10, 2022
Rule 3.e. - ...The egg backstop must be built of any rigid material, and it must have a flat surface of 5.0±0.5 cm wide by 5.0±0.5 cm high by 1.27 cm (0.50”) thick 1.1 cm or thicker.
Scrambler
Division
C
Oct 16, 2022
Rule 3.a. - Teams, even if they are from the same school, may NOT share an energy propulsion system (launcher) in VASO tournaments.
Scrambler
Division
C
Oct 9, 2022
Rule 3.g. - Event Supervisors at VASO tournaments will not allow the egg to be placed inside a bag.
Scrambler
Division
C
Oct 9, 2022
Rule 3.f. - Since dowels sold as “¼ inch dowels” are typically slightly narrower than that, VASO will accept dowels that measure approximately ¼ inch.
Scrambler
Division
C
Oct 8, 2022
Add a rule 4.b.iv. - If a kit was used to build the team’s device, the Design Log must also include an explanation of at least one substantial modification made to the kit as required by the Constructed Devices Policy.
Scrambler
Division
C
Oct 5, 2022
Rule 4.e. - Logs will not necessarily be returned to teams. Teams should keep their original log and submit a copy to the Event Supervisor.
Sounds of Music
Division
B
Jan 3, 2023
Song Excerpt (States) - The excerpt of Battle Hymn of the Republic original published in the Rules should be discarded and the State Tournament will use this version where the notes below G4 were re-written to different notes within the G4 to G5 octave.
Sounds of Music
Division
B
Oct 19, 2022
Rule 6.b.iv. Song Score (SS) = (Device Song Score/Highest Device Song Score of all teams) x 15 points 20 points
Trajectory
Division
C
Oct 28, 2022
Section 6: Is the bucket in the same location if two bucket shots are taken (one after being close to the near target and one after being close to the far target)? Does the bucket shot have to follow the shot that earned it?
The shot does not have to be taken immediately after the shot that earned it. The bucket is at the same location for both shots.
Wheeled Vehicle
Division
B
Oct 19, 2022
Rule 5.b.ii. 0.25 m Timing Line - a line of 2.5 cm tape, approximately 70 cm long, to be placed perpendicular to and centered on the imaginary Center Line. The edge of the line closest to the Start Point must be 0.25 cm m from the Start Point.
Wheeled Vehicle
Division
B
Oct 9, 2022
Rule 3.e. - Since dowels sold as “¼ inch dowels” are typically slightly narrower than that, VASO will accept dowels that measure approximately ¼ inch.
Wheeled Vehicle
Division
B
Oct 8, 2022
Add a rule 4.b.iv. - If a kit was used to build the team’s device, the Design Log must also include an explanation of at least one substantial modification made to the kit as required by the Constructed Devices Policy.
Wheeled Vehicle
Division
B
Oct 5, 2022
Rule 4.e. - Logs will not necessarily be returned to teams. Teams should keep their original log and submit a copy to the Event Supervisor.
WiFi Lab
Division
C
Jan 17, 2023
Rule 6c - At Charlottesville, the event will be held in a hallway 74 meters long, although the maximum distance will be set at shorter than that to allow space for the testing equipment setup.
WiFi Lab
Division
C
Dec 26, 2022
Rules 2.d. and 7.f. - As this is not an impound event, VASO is not requiring teams to bring their device in a box and will not be awarding the Submission Bonus (SB).
Write It Do It
Division
BC
Nov 5, 2022
Rule 4.e. - At regional tournaments VASO will use the submission timestamp on the form for uploading photos of the team’s build as the tiebreaker.
Write It Do It
Division
BC
Nov 5, 2022
Rule 3.b. - In VASO tournaments, the writer will be required to handwrite their description on paper. Descriptions may not be typed.