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 through sixth grade program): 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!
JV: JVers in (Sixth grade Relay) Seventh or eighth grade who have not reached their fifteenth birthday by the previous September first. First year JVers must have passed "Starting Blocks" by the day of the meet. Second year JVers must have completed ten units in their JV manual (not counting Projects).
VARSITY/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.

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, AwanaGames, JV AwanaGames, Varsity/Journey 24-7 AwanaGames) with the latest Addendum, NOT the AWANA game books. Rule books are available for sale at the Fall Leadership Conference, Coaches & Judges Meetings, on the day of the AwanaGames/Sparks-A-Rama and free online on the AwanaGames Resources page. (Note: if there is a disagreement between these web pages and the Official Rule Book and Addendum, the Rule Book and Addendum 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 (some regions require a Line Judge Fee). One other helper (scorekeeper, a number hanger, etc.), in uniform, is also required from each team.

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)
JV: Hebrews 12:1b & 2.

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.

SPORTSMANSHIP AWARD:

AwanaGames teams (Club, JV and Varsity) are evaluated starting the moment they walk onto the game floor for the Awana Sportsmanship Award. This recognizes a team that has gone above and beyond the norm to show true Christian Sportsmanship exemplified in attentiveness, praising players (on any team), Christian attitudes (from team members and coaches) and general conduct. An explanation and sample of the Sportsmanship Evaluation Form used is available for review.

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 16 players, maximum of 18, cannot include more than 9 older clubbers (Fifth-Sixth Graders). Teams with 12 - 16 can play, but will be disqualified/penalized in certain events.
DIVISION 3: 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.
JV: Minimum of 10 players, maximum of 14, requires an even distribution of Girls/Guys. May substitute Fifth-Sixth Graders if needed.
VARSITY/Journey 24-7: Minimum of 10 players, maximum of 14, requires an even distribution of Girls/Guys). May substitute with JVers (in this region only - not at JV 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, JV, or Varsity/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!