Mind Quest Puzzles and Games

Winter 2027 Home School Speed Puzzling League

Updated Official Rules & Participant Guidelines

League Dates: January 12 – March 9, 2027
League Time: Tuesdays, 1:30–3:30 PM
Location: 872 Highway 105, Palmer Lake, CO 80133

1. League Overview

The Winter 2027 Home School Speed Puzzling League is a seven-session program designed for homeschool students ages 6–15.

The league combines speed puzzling instruction, practice, friendly competition, personal improvement, and recognition of achievement.

There will be two separate divisions:

• Younger Division: Ages 6–10, maximum 12 participants

• Older Division: Ages 11–15, maximum 12 participants

Both divisions will meet at the same time but compete independently.

Participants compete individually, not as teams.

2. Registration & Pricing

Early Bird Registration: $75 per participant

Early Bird registration ends December 31, 2026.

Regular Registration: $90 per participant

Registration covers the entire seven-session league.

Only 12 participants will be accepted into each division, for a maximum of 24 participants.

Pre-registration and payment are required to secure a spot.

Registration includes official competition puzzles for league use, instruction, practice opportunities, time tracking, weekly door prizes, and final awards.

3. League Schedule

Date	Activity
January 12	Introduction, instruction, rules, and practice
January 19	Official Puzzle #1
January 26	Official Puzzle #2
February 2	Official Puzzle #3
February 9	No League
February 16	No League
February 23	Official Puzzle #4
March 2	Official Puzzle #5
March 9	Awards Celebration

All scheduled league sessions take place from 1:30–3:30 PM.

4. Official Competition Puzzles

Each age division will have five designated official competition puzzles.

• All official puzzles will contain between 100 and 200 pieces.

• The younger and older divisions will use different sets of puzzles.

• Every participant within the same division will complete the same five official puzzles during the league.

• Official puzzles will be provided by Mind Quest Puzzles and Games.

• Participants may not practice with an official competition puzzle before their scheduled round.

• Practice puzzles will be available separately.

All participants in a division will have the same official puzzle challenges.

All official competition puzzles must be completed in person at Mind Quest Puzzles and Games. Virtual participation, remote attempts, and online time submissions are not permitted.

5. Competition Procedures

At the beginning of each competition session, the league coach will explain the assigned puzzle and review the rules.

Each participant will:

1. Receive the designated official competition puzzle.

2. Begin puzzling when instructed by the league coach.

3. Complete the puzzle independently.

4. Notify the coach when the puzzle is finished.

5. Have the completed puzzle verified by the coach.

6. Have their official completion time recorded.

A puzzle is considered complete when all pieces are correctly connected in their intended positions.

Participants must not receive assistance with assembling their official competition puzzle.

All attempts must be supervised and timed in person by the league coach or an authorized Mind Quest representative.

6. Second Attempts

To encourage improvement and give children additional opportunities to challenge themselves, participants may attempt their assigned official puzzle a second time.

Second-attempt rules:

• A second attempt is allowed only when sufficient time remains during the scheduled league session.

• The puzzle must be completely disassembled before beginning the second attempt.

• All pieces must be returned to the starting container.

• The second attempt must be timed and verified by the league coach.

• The fastest completed time from the two attempts will count toward official standings.

• A slower second attempt will not replace a faster first attempt.

• No participant may complete more than two official attempts for the same puzzle.

Second attempts are optional and subject to available time.

7. Timing & Score Recording

The league coach will record each participant's official puzzle completion times.

Each participant will have a record containing:

• Participant name

• Age division

• Official puzzle number

• First-attempt completion time

• Second-attempt completion time, if applicable

• Fastest verified completion time

Times will be recorded in minutes and seconds.

The fastest verified completed time for each of the five official puzzles will be used in calculating final standings.

All five official competition puzzle times must be completed, verified, and submitted to the league coach no later than March 7, 2027.

No competition times will be accepted after this deadline.

8. League Standings & Final Rankings

Each participant's five fastest official puzzle times will be added together.

Final League Score = Puzzle 1 + Puzzle 2 + Puzzle 3 + Puzzle 4 + Puzzle 5

The participant with the lowest combined completion time wins their division.

Final rankings will be determined separately for the younger and older divisions.

All five official competition puzzles must be completed and recorded by March 7, 2027, to qualify for final placement awards.

Tie-breaking procedure:

If two or more participants have identical combined times:

1. The participant with the fastest single official puzzle time ranks higher.

2. If still tied, compare the second-fastest official puzzle time.

3. Continue comparing individual puzzle times from fastest to slowest until the tie is resolved.

4. If all five times are identical, the participants will share the placement.

9. Missed Sessions & Make-Up Opportunities

We understand that scheduling conflicts and unexpected circumstances may occur.

If a participant cannot attend a scheduled competition session, a make-up day and time may be coordinated with the league coach.

• Families should notify the league coach as early as possible.

• Make-up sessions must be arranged in advance.

• All make-up sessions must take place in person at Mind Quest Puzzles and Games.

• Participants will complete the same official puzzle assigned for the missed competition round.

• The same timing, verification, and competition rules apply.

• Make-up times will count toward official league standings.

• All make-up attempts must be completed and recorded by March 7, 2027.

• No virtual submissions, home-completed puzzles, or self-reported times will be accepted.

• Make-up opportunities are subject to coach availability and scheduling.

Participants are encouraged to attend all scheduled sessions whenever possible.

10. Practice & Coaching

The first league session on January 12 will focus on speed puzzling fundamentals.

Topics may include:

• Sorting puzzle pieces

• Identifying edge and corner pieces

• Recognizing colors and patterns

• Organizing a puzzle workspace

• Developing effective assembly strategies

• Using a timer

• Setting personal goals

• Practicing good sportsmanship

Additional practice puzzles may be available during league sessions when time permits.

Coaching and instruction are permitted during designated practice activities.

During official timed competition attempts, participants must complete their puzzles independently.

11. Weekly Door Prizes

A door prize will be awarded at each of the seven league sessions.

Door prizes are intended to recognize participation and add excitement to the league.

All participants attending that session will be eligible for the drawing, regardless of their competition standing.

12. Final Awards Ceremony

Tuesday, March 9, 2027
1:30–3:30 PM

The final league session will include recognition of participants and presentation of awards.

Prizes will be awarded separately in each division.

Younger Division — Ages 6–10

• 1st Place

• 2nd Place

• 3rd Place

Older Division — Ages 11–15

• 1st Place

• 2nd Place

• 3rd Place

Winners will be determined using the lowest combined official competition times.

All competition times must be finalized by March 7, 2027. No additional competition attempts or time submissions will be accepted during the March 9 awards ceremony.

All participants are encouraged to attend the awards celebration.

13. Parent & Guardian Requirements

Younger Division — Ages 6–10

• A parent or legal guardian is required to remain on-site for the entire duration of every league session.

• Children in the younger division may not be dropped off.

• Parents may observe and encourage their children but may not assist during official timed competition attempts.

• This requirement also applies to any scheduled make-up session.

Older Division — Ages 11–15

• Parents or guardians are welcome to stay.

• Participants ages 12–15 may be dropped off.

• Participants age 11 must have a parent or guardian remain on-site.

All Participants

• A signed participation waiver must be completed before the participant's first session.

• Parents must ensure participants arrive on time and are picked up promptly.

• Parents may observe competition rounds but may not assist with official puzzle assembly.

14. Sportsmanship & Conduct

Mind Quest Puzzles and Games is committed to creating a welcoming and encouraging environment.

All participants are expected to:

• Treat other participants and coaches respectfully.

• Follow league coach instructions.

• Handle puzzles and equipment carefully.

• Refrain from touching another participant's puzzle or pieces.

• Avoid distracting others during timed attempts.

• Demonstrate honesty when reporting completion.

• Celebrate personal improvement and encourage fellow puzzlers.

Disruptive behavior, intentional interference, or cheating may result in an invalidated attempt or additional action determined by the league coach.

15. League Administration

Mind Quest Puzzles and Games will oversee competition procedures, official timing, scoring, and league standings.

The league coach will verify completed puzzles and maintain official records.

Any scoring questions or rule concerns should be brought to the coach as soon as possible.

The league coach will make final decisions regarding rule interpretation, timing disputes, and competition procedures, with the goal of maintaining fairness and consistency.

16. Acknowledgment

By registering for the Winter 2027 Home School Speed Puzzling League, families acknowledge that they have reviewed the league schedule, participation requirements, competition procedures, and scoring rules.

A signed participation waiver is required before participation.

Mind Quest Puzzles and Games
872 Highway 105, Palmer Lake, CO 80133
719-623-7494
www.mindquestpuzzles.com

Come Get Puzzled With Us!

Important Competition & Attendance Information

All five official competition puzzles must be completed in person at Mind Quest Puzzles and Games and verified by the league coach. Virtual participation, at-home puzzle attempts, and online time submissions are not permitted.

If your child misses a scheduled competition day, an in-person make-up session may be coordinated with the league coach.

All five official puzzle times must be submitted by Sunday, March 7, 2027, to qualify for the final league standings and placement prizes.

Parent Attendance: Parents or guardians must remain on-site throughout every league session for children in the Younger Division (ages 6–10). For the Older Division, parents must remain on-site for 11-year-olds; participants ages 12–15 may be dropped off.