Summary of the AwanaGames/Sparks-a-Rama

Summary of AwanaGames/Sparks-a-Rama Rules

"The first official games competition was held in Chicago in 1955 - for boys only. About 120 boys, representing four churches, participated. In 1956, the girls insisted on a meet of their own. AwanaGames meets are now held around the world. This unique Awana ministry to young people - and their parents - has grown tremendously, and potential for future growth is practically unlimited." From the Awana Official Rules and Regulations, 2002.

This document explains the basics of an AwanaGames or Sparks-a-Rama event including basic rules, team building suggestions, and game tips. To find out when an AwanaGames/Sparks-a-Rama event occurs in your area, please refer to the Event Calendar.

CLUBBER QUALIFICATIONS:

SPARKS:Sparky clubbers in Kindergarten through second grade who have not reached their ninth birthday by the previous September first and must have passed ten sections in the current club year.
Truth & Training: Third/fourth grade clubbers who have not reached their 11th birthday by the previous September first. Fifth/Sixth grade clubbers who have not have reached their 13th birthday by the previous September first. All must have successfully passed ten sections in the current club year!
Trek 24-7: Teens in Sixth, seventh, or eighth grade who have not reached their fifteenth birthday by the previous September first. First year Trek clubbers must have passed "Starting Blocks" by the day of the meet. Second year Trek clubbers must have completed ten units in their Trek handbook.
Journey 24-7: All teenagers in the ninth through 12th grades who have not reached their 19th birthday by the previous September first. All high school students must have successfully completed the current year's "Faith Foundations".

ELIGIBILITY:

Teams registering must be from an Awana church that has an active registration with Awana Clubs International.

ENTRANCE TICKETS:

Tickets are available prior to the event through the teams coach or at the door on the day of the event. Ticket sales cover the cost of awards, administration and any associated rentals. Tickets cost $2.00 for adults and $1.00 for children with the following exceptions:

All children under 3 years old
All team members participating in that days event
All Awana clubbers in their current uniform (no Trek clubbers wearing Sparky vests, please!) - this does not apply to leaders in uniform
All coaches (limited to two per team - Sparks, AwanaGames, Trek 24-7, and Journey 24-7)
All pre-approved Circle Directors and Line Judges

GAME CIRCLE:

All game circles will be official size unless otherwise announced. Events run on smaller game circles will not be timed for AwanaGames records.

GAME RULES:

Use the latest edition of the Official Rules & Regulations for your event (Sparks-a-Rama, T&T AwanaGames, Trek AwanaGames, Journey 24-7 AwanaGames) with the latest Rule Book Clarification, NOT the AWANA game books. (Note: if there is a disagreement between these web pages and the Official Rule Book and Clarification, the Rule Book and Clarification always supercede)

INCOMPLETE TEAMS:

Churches that are unable to gather enough qualified clubbers to make a team or lose members are welcome to team up with other churches with Awana in their area to create a joint team.

LINE JUDGES/HELPERS:

Every team must provide a Line Judge who has been certified by test, and has kept current on being retested (now also requires a Line Judge Fee). One other helper (scorekeeper, a number hanger, etc.), in uniform, is also required from each team.

Line Judge Qualifications:

All line judges must pass the line judges test to judge - no exceptions.
A score of 90% earns a Certified status (can judge for your team for the year passed and for three additional years without retaing the test)
A score of 70 % earns a Qualified status (can judge for your team in the year passed)
A line judge name must be submitted on the registration for each TEAM (name listed for both Sparks-a-Rama and AwanaGames registering for). If two AwanaGames/Sparks-a-Rama teams are being registered, two SEPARATE line judge names must be listed since both teams will be running at the same team.
The submitted Line Judge(s) names will be checked against last year's Certification list. If not they must take the test by the deadline given. It is the church's responsibility to make sure they have at least a qualified or certified line judge.
Teams who do not have a line judge or who fail to pass the test by the deadline will forfeit the $ 20.00 line judge deposit and lose 5 sportsmanship points for their team.
Answers will not be given for missed questions from the Line Judge test, no exceptions.
If a person DOES NOT pass the test (at least a 70%), they may retake the test. Those that pass the test CANNOT retake the test in an attempt to earn the Certified status.
Every attempt should be made by line judges to study (or re-study) the line judge information (including rule books) prior to taking the test to ensure that all of the major rules are fresh in memory.
Every attempt must be made to obtain a line judge per team from your church. Churches cannot simply 'buy' a line judge using the $20 fee - your team registration will be in a tentative status until you have a qualified or certified line judge.
A separate $20 check must be included along with your registration fee for each team registered. More information about the Line Judge Fee is on the Line Judge Fee Information page.
All Line Judges must pass the appropriate line judge certification test (Sparks-a-Rama or AwanaGames) in order to be a line judge for their team - if line judging in both events, both tests need to be passed.
We will not hold a physical Coaches & Judges meeting in 2009. All new or Qualified line judges (those required to pass a test for the 2009 season) are encouraged to study the AwanaGames/Sparks-a-Rama summary, online training slides (PDF or PPT format), the Online Line Judge Guide Book, and the T&T AwanaGames Rule Book or Sparks-a-Rama Rule Book to prepare for the test and the event. Please direct any questions about specific events to the event specialist listed at the bottom of the registration form.
More information about the Line Judge requirements are on the Line Judge Fee Information page. To view or print the Online Line Judge Guide Book or the Coaches & Line Judge training slides require a free Acrobat reader.

MEMORY VERSES:

Certain Bible verses are recited by everyone on the game floor: clubbers, coaches, Line Judges, Circle Directors, Scorekeepers, etc. at the start of the Event. Below is a list of the verses that will be recited.

SPARKS: Sparks Yell, Theme Song, Key Verse (John 3:16), Motto, and I Corinthians 15:3 & 4.
AwanaGames: II Timothy 2:15 (new Truth & Training key verse)
Trek: Hebrews 12:1b & 2.

AWANAGAMES RECORDS:

Since many of the games have changed, new speed records will be recorded from each event. The older AwanaGames speed records is still available for AwanaGames (Boys and Girls), Trek AwanaGames, and Journey 24-7 AwanaGames.

PERMISSION SLIPS/ROSTERS:

Coach must have in their possession a permission slip signed by the parent of each player stating "Emergency treatment may be given if necessary" (Even if the parents are in the stands or on the Awana Game Circle). Please refer to the AwanaGames Resources page for sample permission slips in Microsoft Word format. Churches must supply insurance protection to cover their team in the event of injuries at this event. The Circle Director (or appointed Line Judge) will check with each coach to make sure coaches have valid permission slips and a completed Team Roster (available on the AwanaGames Resources page) before allowing specific team members to participate.

TEAM BUILDING & GAME TIPS:

Tips for creating an AwanaGames or Sparks-a-Rama team, as well as tips for the individual Sparks-a-Rama games and AwanaGames are also available.

TEAM SIZE:

SPARKS: Minimum of 15 players, maximum of 17, must include five boys/five girls.
NOTE: Cubbies may not be used on a Sparks team.
CLUB: Minimum of 10 players (co-ed), maximum of 14, cannot include more than half older clubbers (Fifth-Sixth Graders).
NOTE:May use Third-Fourth Graders in place of Fifth-Sixth Graders - but not the reverse. In addition, no more than four second grade Sparks may be moved up to AwanaGames (Third-Sixth grade). Where possible, Sparks moving up to the AwanaGames should not have competed in both Sparks-a-Rama and the AwanaGames meets.
Trek: Minimum of 10 players, maximum of 14, requires an even distribution of Girls/Guys. May substitute Fifth-Sixth Graders if needed.
Journey 24-7: Minimum of 10 players, maximum of 14, requires an even distribution of Girls/Guys). May substitute with Trek clubbers (in this region only - not at JAM) if needed, but no more than four of them.

WHAT TO WEAR:

Everyone on the gym floor must wear gym shoes/sneakers/athletic shoes! Coaches should wear either their full Awana uniform (lady's blouses buttoned, men in ties - new casual uniforms accepted) or the team's uniform shirt. All clothing should be respectable and reflect Christian standards. No shorts allowed for anyone participating in the Third-Sixth Grade, Trek, or Journey 24-7 AwanaGames (i.e. players, coaches, helpers, workers, Line Judges, score keepers). Line Judges will be given the proper shirt to wear when they check in with the officials. Line Judges should wear dark slacks, not blue jeans or sweat pants.

For more information and resources, please check out our AwanaGames/Sparks-a-Rama Resources page.

REMEMBER: LEARNING GOOD SPORTSMANSHIP AND RETAINING A GOOD CHRISTIAN WITNESS ARE IMPORTANT, WINNING IS NOT!