NOTICE – THIS IS AN OVERVIEW OF THE HISTORY OF YSC STRUCTURE OVER THE YEARS. SOME ITEMS MAY OR MAY NOT BE CURRENTLY FOLLOWED.
The Youth Spiritual Competition (YSC) is open to three age levels, Junior High, High School and College youth (see “Rules and Regulations” for age restrictions).
An individual multiple-choice exam used to be administered On-Line to all registered participants, and prizes were given to the top individuals. This individual exam was only for the 2005-2007 competition years.
Each team competes as a group in three categories listed below. During the YSC years from 2001-2007, scores from all three categories were averaged and the top three teams were awarded prizes. Due to the immense growth and success of the YSC, the YSC scoring and prize system was re-structured in 2008. Currently, the scores from the categories of Bible Studies, Church Studies, Hymns and Memorization are averaged into a single score. Churches are awarded trophies within Excellent, Very Good, or Good. The YSC no longer uses a 1st, 2nd, or 3rd place prize award for the Churches.
During the earlier years of the YSC, the College level teams, and the High School Teams, would have a Jeopardy Style Finals round covering all the material studied. The scores from the Finals round would be averaged into their scores. Due to the immense growth of the YSC, the Jeopardy game no longer factors into the final scores, but rather is used as a fun activity for all (if time allows).
The day will start with the Celebration of the Holy Eucharist followed by instructions for the day. The Team Competitions then take place where each team will go to various assigned rooms to compete in the categories discussed below. After the team competitions and grading is completed, the awards and prizes will be distributed.
The study material is intended to help the YSC coaches/youth servants to help prepare their team(s). All the material is available for downloading and printing.
The YSC will consist of these categories:
Coptic Hymns
Bible Studies
Coptic Church Studies
The Book of Hours (“Agpeya”) [Added as of the 2009 YSC]
The first category, Coptic Hymns, is designed to familiarize our youth with the treasures of the spiritual hymns that our fathers have preserved for us. These hymns, along with the Coptic language, tell us who we are, and link us directly to the past with the lives of the saints who were praying and contemplating these same hymns in a life of devotion and meditation. These hymns were used in order to set the atmosphere around them to reach up toward heaven while they were still on earth, joining the heavenly multitudes and praising the Almighty God with the angels.
In the second category, Bible Studies, a book from the Holy Bible is chosen and studied. The book does not need to be memorized, but its contents (i.e. messages) need to be analyzed and thoroughly understood.
The third category, Coptic Church Studies, focuses on learning about the theology, history, doctrine, and rites of the Coptic Orthodox Church.
In the Youth Spiritual Competition 2009, this new category was added to the curriculum. It focuses on the Coptic Book of Hours (or “Agpeya”) and is designed to help students adapt prayer from the Book of Hours in their own spiritual lives through memorization and repetition.