The coaster must be built on a base. Foam core board is the easiest material to use. It is available at Walmart, Kmart, Target, CVS and Michael's -to name a few stores. The base can be as long as 30 inches or as short as 21 inches. The base must be 12 inches wide -no less, no more. These dimensions have been chosen to make construction easier and to ensure that you don't bite off more than you can handle. The track and curves may extend slightly beyond the columns and beams supporting the ride. This means the track itself can go slightly beyond the 12 x 30 inch base dimensions.

Every entry starts with 50 points, next to each bullet below are the number of points you could lose by not reaching the associated design requirement. The lowest grade earned will be a 30.

• You will be supplied with a special blue column template. For your entry to county at all, you must have 2 blue columns incorported in your design.
• It needs to work without helping the marble along and by starting the marble from rest. (2 pts)
• At least 2 loops (3 pts)
• At least 1 funnel. (2 pts)
• At least one track design piece that is not one of the supplied templates. But it can be made from them or pieces of them and you can add your own pieces from any material. The piece you add cannot be part of a commercial product that utilizes the transportation of a marble. (4 pts)
• The smallest dimension on the base is to be exactly 12" (2 pts)
• Two diagonal supports must be used where each vertical column touches the base. They are blue in the animation shown below. (4 pts)
• After it has been shown to be a successful design, one of the vertical supports, (the tallest,) will be pushed sideways. The rest of the coaster should not sway when this is done. Follow design instructions illustrated below and this will not happen. (5 pts)
• Horizontal beams must make a ring around the vertical supports as shown. The rings can be at the same height or at different heights. The animation below shows green beams as different heights. (3 pts)
• The largest dimension on the base is between 21 and 30" (4 pts)
• Maximum height is 30 inches or less for the track. Decorations may exceed this height. (2 pts)
• Your coaster must have a name. (2 pts)
• Remove the coaster from the room by or before the removal date. (3 pts)
• Vertical column at every corner and at least one vertical column in the middle of the base's longest dimension. (4 pts)

You are also competing for extra credit points to be added to the score. This will make it possible to receive more than 100 % for the project. This is done by winning one or more of the following competitions. Each teacher will make an award to someone in his or her own class.

What's the name of your roller coaster? Does your scenery support this theme? Does the design support your theme? Is there a coolness or cleverness factor to your name?

You will not automatically earn all the points for turning in a project.

If you pick up the templates and do not turn in a project, then you will earn an "F" on the project. It will count as 17 out of 30 points. (The only way around this is to turn for your parent or guardian to send me a note stating why you were unable to finish project. (Poor "time management" is not an acceptable excuse. Your project will also be excused if I know were out due to an extended illness close to the deadline.)

Late projects are not eligible for extra extra-points from the "Best Scenery, Best Theme, Most Creative Design Element, or Most Complex Design competitions.

A roller coaster cannot earn more than 6 additional points above what is awarded for the project.