Skate4Concrete Mini Concrete Skatepark National Competition

RULES & GUIDELINES

1.0 What is the Mini Concrete Skatepark Competition?

We are thrilled to announce the launch of this exciting opportunity for high school students across the country to get hands-on with concrete science and construction design. As a registered class or teacher in the Skate4Concrete Certification program, you have the unique chance to enter multiple teams into this competition and showcase your students' creativity, skills, and understanding of concrete construction.

This virtual event, set to take place on April 29, 2025, will allow students to present their mini skatepark designs to a panel of distinguished judges from both the concrete industry and the skateboarding community. This dynamic combination of experts will evaluate each project not just for its design and functionality, but also for its application of the principles of concrete science, construction techniques, and real-world skateboarding needs.

The virtual format of this competition ensures that students from every corner of the country can participate, collaborate, and learn from each other. Teams will work together to create their skatepark designs, gaining valuable experience in engineering, material science, and construction methods while exploring how concrete is used to build functional, durable, and exciting skateboarding spaces.

This competition is a great opportunity for students to connect the dots between their classroom learning and real-world applications. It’s a chance to explore the engineering, design, and materials science that goes into creating skateparks while gaining valuable insight into career paths in the construction and concrete industries.

Get ready to innovate, build, and learn as your students discover how their education can shape the future of skatepark design and concrete construction. We can't wait to see the exciting projects you bring to life!

2.0 Why Participate?

This competition is much more than a chance to build a mini concrete skatepark—it's about:

• Learning the Science of Concrete: Students will gain practical knowledge about concrete materials, mix design, curing, and the properties that make concrete the ideal material for creating strong, durable, and functional skateparks.
• Team Collaboration: Students will work together to brainstorm, design, and plan their skatepark projects, fostering collaboration and teamwork skills that are essential in any career.
• Exploring Concrete Careers: Through this competition, students will gain insight into the wide range of career opportunities in the concrete industry, from quality control to concrete batchman, concrete finisher, and beyond.
• Real-World Problem Solving: By designing a skatepark, students will face the same challenges that real engineers, architects, and designers encounter—balancing creativity with functionality, addressing safety concerns, and optimizing the use of materials.

3.0 Event Details:

• Competition Date: April 29, 2025
• Important Qualification Dates:
  • Submit the required information for each monthly check-in (to be described in the following section)
• Format: Virtual presentations—teams will present their projects live before a panel of expert judges.
• Judging Criteria: Projects will be evaluated on creativity, functionality, application of concrete science, structural integrity, and overall design. Students will also be assessed on their understanding of concrete materials and construction methods. (details to follow).

4.0 Important Qualification Dates

As part of the Skate4Concrete Mini Concrete Skatepark Construction Competition, your team's monthly check-ins will play a critical role in determining who advances to the final virtual competition on April 29, 2025. These check-ins not only ensure that your team stays on track, but they also provide the panel of judges with a clear picture of your project’s progress, creativity, and application of concrete science.

After reviewing each team's submissions throughout the qualification period, the judges will narrow down the teams based on their performance at each milestone. At the end of the qualification process, the top 10 teams will be selected to move forward and compete in the final virtual competition.

4.1 How the Selection Works

• Ongoing Evaluation: Each of your monthly check-ins will be reviewed by the panel of judges, which includes experts from the concrete industry and the skateboarding community. Judges will assess your team's progress based on creativity, technical understanding of concrete, teamwork, and adherence to the competition guidelines.
• Progress-Based Selection: The judges will look at the quality and consistency of each team's submissions, including:
  • Innovation in design and problem-solving.
  • Application of concrete science and construction techniques.
  • Collaboration and team effort as demonstrated through each check-in.
  • Clear communication of the design and construction process.
• Final Virtual Competition: April 29, 2025

5.0 What Happens After Selection?

Once the top 10 teams have been selected, they will be invited to present their completed projects in the final virtual competition. In this final round, each team will:

• Present their completed mini skatepark design to the judges.
• Discuss the concrete science and engineering principles behind their design.
• Explain any challenges they faced during the project and how they overcame them.

The final competition will be a thrilling event, where the top 10 teams will compete for recognition and potentially even career opportunities in the construction and skateboarding industries.

We encourage all teams to stay committed, complete each monthly check-in on time, and continue refining your designs and skills. The journey to the final competition is an exciting opportunity to learn, grow, and apply your education in a real-world context.

Best of luck to all teams—let's see what you can build with concrete!

6.0 Contest Rules and Guidelines

To ensure a fair and consistent evaluation process, each team will be judged based on a set of clear rules and guidelines throughout the competition. These criteria are designed to highlight the key skills and knowledge required to successfully design, build, and present a mini concrete skatepark. Below, you'll find the specific rules and guidelines your team should follow.

The Skate4Concrete Mini Concrete Skatepark Competition will be judged based on a set of specific criteria that reflects both the creativity and the technical knowledge required to design and construct a functional skatepark. Teams will need to demonstrate an understanding of concrete science, construction principles, and the impact of their designs have on the community where they are built. Below are the key areas that judges will focus on when evaluating each team’s project:

Size and Scale of the Skatepark

• Criteria: The overall size and complexity of your skatepark design will be assessed. Teams are encouraged to create a layout that fits within the project’s size constraints while maximizing the use of space for various skateboarding features. Each design must be no greater than 12” x 32” or 24” x 16”
• Key Considerations: Balance between ramps, rails, bowls, and flat areas. The design should be functional and provide a diverse experience for different levels of skaters.

Materials Used

• Criteria: Teams must use the Skate4Concrete mini skatepark kit materials.
• Key Considerations: The type of concrete mixes, materials used to create skatepark features, and use of tools to assist with finishing the concrete.

Team Structure and Roles

• Criteria: Judges will look at how well your team is organized and how each member contributes to the project. A well-structured team is crucial for collaboration and effective problem-solving.
• Key Considerations: Teams must consist of no more than 6 students from the same class[1].  Each team must create their own concrete company name and logo.  Then each team member should have a clear division of roles (e.g., project manager, lead designer, materials researcher) and effective communication within the team. Documentation of individual responsibilities and contributions will be important.

7.0 Judging Criteria and Scoring

• Size and Scale of Park (max 20 points)
• Park size is not greater than 12”x 32” or 16” x 24” (up to 10 points)
• Skatepark features are placed systematically to allow adequate flow and transitions. (up to 10 points)
• Design and Creativity (max 20 points)
• Originality and innovation in design features (up to 10 points)
• Aesthetic appeal and functionality (up to10 points)
• Connection to the Community (max 20 points)
• What community is the park created for? (up to 10 points)
• How does the park enhance the community? (up to 10 points)
• Concrete and Construction Details (max 40 points)
• Accuracy and thoroughness of the concrete mix design (up to 20 points)
• Quality of finishing methods and their impact (up to 20 points)
• Concrete Careers (max 30 points)
• Each team member has a clear job role and describes how they participated (up to 15 points)
• The team showed how the collaboratively worked together as a team allowing each team member fulfill their job’s role to contribute to the project (up to 15 points)
• Presentation Quality (max 20 points)
• Clarity and effectiveness of the presentation (up to 10 points)
• Engagement and team coordination (up to 10 points)

Total Score out of 150 points.

8.0 Suggested Job Roles for Teams

Project Manager

Overview: The Project Manager is responsible for overseeing the entire project, ensuring that the team meets deadlines and stays on track.

Key Responsibilities:

• Coordinate team meetings and keep track of project timelines.
• Ensure all team members understand their roles and responsibilities.
• Serve as the main point of contact between the team and the teacher/supervisor.
• Monitor progress and provide guidance on project development.
• Prepare and lead the final presentation, ensuring all elements are cohesive.

Designer –

Overview: The Designer is responsible for creating the visual aspects of the skatepark, including layout, features, and overall aesthetics.

Key Responsibilities:

• Develop the initial design concepts and sketches for the skatepark.
• Incorporate at least three distinct features into the design.
• Create a digital design portfolio that includes sketches and descriptions
• Conduct research on current skatepark designs and trends to inform creative designs.
• Collaborate with teammates to ensure design feasibility.

Concrete Batchman –

Overview: The Concrete Batch Man is responsible for developing the concrete mix design that will be used for the skatepark features.

Key Responsibilities:

• Research and determine the appropriate concrete mix for different park features.
• Conduct tests on the concrete mix to ensure quality and durability.
• Document the mix design process, including proportions and materials used.
• Work closely with the Quality Control and Concrete Finisher to ensure consistency.

Quality Control –

Overview: The Quality Control team member is responsible for ensuring that all aspects of the skatepark meet specified standards and guidelines.

Key Responsibilities:

• Review the concrete mix and finished park features for quality assurance.
• Conduct tests on the finished concrete to check for strength and durability.
• Ensure that safety measures and accessibility features are incorporated into the design.
• Provide feedback and recommendations for improvements as needed

Concrete Finisher –

Overview: The Concrete Finisher is responsible for the final touches on the skatepark, ensuring that the surface is smooth and visually appealing.

Key Responsibilities:

• Execute the finishing methods as per the design specifications.
• Use various tools and techniques to achieve the desired surface quality.
• Collaborate with the Concrete Batch Man to ensure the mix is suitable for finishing.
• Document the finishing processes used and any challenges encountered.

[1] A teacher who is enrolled in the Skate4Concrete Certification may enter more than one team per class based on the number of students.  Students must have completed and received the Skate4Concrete Certification.

[CH1]This section no longer applies, instead they would need to register by April 22, 2025 to enter the contest.  From these submissions we will select 10 teams to participate.

[CH2]This doesn’t apply either.