The following procedures must be followed by all teams:

1. All teams should have a designated speller who will write the response on the white board. This person does not have to be the captain.

2. The pronouncers will pronounce the word, define it and use it in a sentence and then repeat it. The group of teams participating in a "swarm" may ask the pronouncers to repeat the word one more time but no more.

3. You have 30 seconds to spell. When the judges call time, all markers must be put down and the white boards must be held up and shown to the audience. Any team continuing to write after time is called or attempting to change the word as written on the slate will be disqualified. If the word as written is illegible or if letters are ambiguous, the word will be treated as misspelled.

4. Do not erase your slate until you have been told whether your spelling is correct. If a team erases its word too soon, it may be disqualified. If a team attempts to rewrite the word on the slate, the team will be disqualified.

5. If you have spelled the word correctly, please prepare for the next word.

6. If you have spelled the word incorrectly, please lower one of your flags and prepare for the next word. If you spell a word incorrectly and it is your second incorrect spelling, your team is eliminated. Please lower your second flag, and turn over your team name sign.

7. If your team is eliminated, please wait until the end of your round before leaving the stage.

These procedures and the official rules will govern at the Spelling Bee. Any disputes shall be resolved by the judges per their instructions. There will be no appeals. The judges may resort to whatever remedies are necessary, as the situation demands.