For Volunteers

How do you volunteer at a speedcubing competition? Volunteers help attempts run smoothly and give competitors clear instructions.

This page explains what a WCA competition volunteer does, which tasks they may take on and which rules they must follow.

Volunteers keep a speedcubing competition running smoothly. You may be asked to carry puzzles, scramble, enter results, help at registration or prepare the venue.

You do not need to know everything before volunteering. Listen to the briefing, follow the organisers’ instructions and ask for help whenever you are unsure.

Exact procedures may differ between competitions. Instructions from the organisation team and WCA Delegate always take priority.

Before the competition

Check the competition page or message from the organisers for:

the time you should arrive;
the role you have been assigned;
the expected length of your shift;
the entrance and volunteer meeting point;
anything you have been asked to bring.

Try to arrive early enough for the volunteer briefing. This is especially important if you will be scrambling, entering results or working with official competition materials.

Wear comfortable clothes and shoes. Competition days can be long, and some roles require a lot of walking or standing.

When you arrive

Check in with the organisation team and tell them that you are volunteering.

Find out:

who is coordinating your role;
where you should work;
when your shift begins and ends;
where you can take a break;
who to contact if a problem occurs.

If this is your first time volunteering, say so. The organisers can explain the task and let you observe an experienced volunteer before you begin.

Do not start moving puzzles, entering results or handling scramble sheets until you have received instructions.

General rules for all volunteers

Arrive on time and stay at your assigned position.
Listen carefully to the organisers and WCA Delegate.
Keep official puzzles, score sheets and scramble information secure.
Never give hints or information to a competitor.
Do not distract competitors during inspection or solving.
Do not change an official result yourself.
Do not photograph or record scramble sequences.
Ask before leaving your role or taking a break.
When something is unclear, stop and ask instead of guessing.

Carrying puzzles

Volunteers who transport puzzles are often called runners. They move covered puzzles and score sheets between the scrambling area, solving stations and score-taking table.

Before carrying a puzzle

Check that:

the puzzle is covered;
the score sheet stays with the correct puzzle;
the competitor’s name can be read clearly;
you know where the puzzle needs to go.

While carrying puzzles

Keep every puzzle covered.
Do not look under the cover.
Do not let competitors see a scrambled puzzle.
Keep each score sheet with its matching puzzle.
Carry puzzles carefully and avoid accidental turns.
Do not leave official puzzles unattended.
Use the routes shown by the organisers.

You may be asked to call competitors’ names. Speak loudly and clearly enough for the competitor to hear you.

If you are unsure how to pronounce a name, politely ask the competitor instead of repeatedly calling it incorrectly.

After an attempt

Return the puzzle and score sheet to the place indicated by the organisers. Depending on the competition system, this may be the scrambling table or score-taking table.

Do not mix completed score sheets with sheets for attempts that have not yet taken place.

Scrambling puzzles

Scrambling is an important role and should only be done after you have received instructions or approval from the organisation team.

You should be comfortable reading official puzzle notation for the event you are scrambling.

Before scrambling

Check:

the competitor’s score sheet;
the event and round;
the group and attempt number;
the corresponding numbered scramble sequence;
the required starting orientation of the puzzle.

Use only the official scramble sequence provided for that attempt.

Applying the scramble

Begin with the puzzle in the required orientation.
Apply every move carefully and in order.
Do not skip, add or change moves.
Keep track of your place in the sequence.
After finishing, compare the puzzle with the scramble image when one is provided.

If you make a mistake or lose your place, do not guess. Solve the puzzle and apply the full scramble again, or ask the person supervising the scrambling area for help.

Checking and signing

After scrambling, verify that the puzzle is correct. Sign the score sheet to confirm that you used the correctly numbered scramble and checked the result.

Use the same clear and identifiable signature throughout the competition.

For 5x5x5, 6x6x6, 7x7x7 and Megaminx, the organiser or WCA Delegate may give different checking instructions.

Keep scrambles secret

Do not show scramble sheets to competitors or spectators.
Do not read scramble sequences aloud.
Do not photograph, copy or record the scrambles.
Keep scrambled puzzles out of competitors’ view.
Do not discuss scrambles near competitors.
Return all scramble sheets to the authorised person after use.

Scramble sequences normally remain confidential until the competition is finished, unless the WCA Delegate gives different instructions.

If you are also competing

Do not scramble for competitors in your own group before you have completed all your attempts in that round.

If you are unsure whether you are allowed to see or use a set of scrambles, ask the WCA Delegate before opening it.

Entering results

Score takers enter official results into WCA Live or another system chosen by the organisers. This role requires accuracy and attention to detail.

Before entering a result

Check that the score sheet shows the correct:

competitor;
event;
round;
attempt;
recorded time or result;
penalty, if applicable;
judge’s signature;
competitor’s signature.

Entering the result

Enter exactly what is written on the score sheet.
Check every digit before moving to the next result.
Pay special attention to decimal points, penalties, DNF and DNS.
Keep completed score sheets in the correct order.
Work carefully even when several score sheets arrive at once.

Do not guess what unclear handwriting means. Do not correct a result because you think it looks wrong.

Changes to a result on a score sheet are only allowed at the discretion of the WCA Delegate.

Stop and ask for help when:

a result is missing or unreadable;
one or both signatures are missing;
the written calculation does not make sense;
a penalty is unclear;
the score sheet belongs to the wrong round or competitor;
the result has already been changed;
the computer system shows an unexpected warning.

Keep all score sheets safe. They are official competition records and must not be thrown away or taken home.

Helping at registration

Registration volunteers welcome competitors and visitors when they arrive.

Your tasks may include:

checking names against the registration list;
marking competitors as present;
giving out badges, schedules or other materials;
directing people to the competition area;
explaining where spectators should sit;
telling competitors where to submit their puzzles.

Use only the check-in procedure provided by the organisers.

Do not make decisions about registration problems, payments, eligibility or WCA rules unless the organisers have authorised you to do so. Call an organiser or WCA Delegate.

Keep personal information private. Do not photograph or share registration lists.

Helping competitors find their groups

You may be asked to help organise the competitor waiting area or call the next group.

Use the official group list.
Call names clearly.
Tell competitors where to submit their puzzles.
Keep entrances and walkways clear.
Do not allow competitors into restricted scrambling areas.
Tell the coordinator when a competitor cannot be found.

Do not move a competitor into a different group without permission from the organisers.

Venue setup and cleanup

Volunteers may help prepare or restore the venue.

Tasks may include:

arranging tables and chairs;
placing timers, mats and puzzle covers;
putting up signs and barriers;
preparing registration and score-taking tables;
keeping walkways clear;
collecting rubbish;
packing equipment after the competition.

Handle timers and displays carefully. Report damaged equipment instead of trying to repair it without permission.

Never move an active solving station, scramble sheet or official puzzle unless an organiser asks you to do so.

Judging

Competitors and volunteers are often asked to judge. Judging has its own official procedure.

If you are assigned as a judge, read the separate guide for judges and receive a briefing before your first attempt.

Do not judge when you do not understand the procedure. Ask an experienced judge or WCA Delegate to help you.

Breaks and changing roles

Tell your coordinator before leaving your position, even for a short break. Some roles must always have someone present.

If you need to compete during your volunteer shift, inform the coordinator early so another volunteer can replace you.

When another person takes over your role, explain:

what has already been completed;
what still needs to be done;
whether any problem is waiting for a decision;
where the official materials are kept.

If something goes wrong

Stop and contact an organiser or WCA Delegate if:

a puzzle and score sheet become separated;
a covered puzzle is accidentally uncovered;
a competitor sees a scramble too early;
the wrong scramble may have been used;
a puzzle appears to be incorrectly scrambled;
a score sheet is missing or damaged;
an official result is unclear or disputed;
a timer or other piece of equipment fails;
someone enters a restricted area;
there is a safety or medical problem.

Do not try to hide or quickly fix an official mistake. Leave the puzzle, timer and paperwork as they are whenever possible and explain exactly what happened.

Only the WCA Delegate can make certain official decisions, including whether an extra attempt should be given or an official result should be changed.

Quick volunteer checklist

Arrive in time for the briefing.
Know your role and coordinator.
Follow the competition’s exact procedure.
Keep puzzles covered and matched with their score sheets.
Keep scramble information secret.
Enter results exactly as written.
Do not give hints or distract competitors.
Ask before leaving your position.
Report mistakes immediately.
Never guess when an official decision is needed.

Reliable volunteers make the competition faster, fairer and more enjoyable for everyone. Be attentive, communicate clearly and ask for help whenever you need it.