ARIZONA ODYSSEY OF THE MIND
Pin Trading at World Finals

Pin trading is a HUGE part of your World Finals experience. Participants from all over the world trade pins with each other. It's a way to meet many people, and to have a great time.

People usually have a small towel to use to put the pins on that they trade for. The most valuable pins are those which have "Odyssey of the Mind" on them. People will sometimes add city pins or state pins in on a trade, if they want a bigger pin for a smaller pin. If your state has a two pin set, you would usually trade it straight across for another two pin set, or for two single pins.

Money is not to be used with pin trading. It is supposed to be a "trade" situation, with no money changing hands.

You will see participants trading pins everywhere! In the airports on your way to the tournament, outside the registration area (while the coach is inside registering the team), at residence/dining halls, at the student union, outside of the competition sites, before and after ceremonies, EVERYWHERE!!

It is best to take 25-50 pins per team member, if your team can afford that. We think that our pins this year will be very popular for trading. Grown ups trade pins, too. Coaches and Odyssey Officials are good to trade with (but never try to trade during a performance, or when an official/judge is involved working with a team).

Division I coaches may want to "hold back" some pins for their team members, so they have some pins left to trade after the first day. It doesn't take the kids long to get the hang of it. Brothers and sisters who go also get caught up in "pin fever", so sometimes it's nice for them to have a pin "washcloth" (instead of a pin towel) and to have something to trade.

If you have any questions about pin trading, please e-mail treas@azodyssey.org

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Last modified: April 3rd, 2007

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