Competition format
How the two rounds work
The season runs in two rounds, but it is one continuous competition. Every point your chapter earns in Round One carries into Round Two. Nothing resets. The only thing that changes is how much of the leaderboard you can see.
Sep 7 – Dec 31, 2026
Jan 1 – Feb 19, 2027
Open Competition
September 7, 2026 to December 31, 2026 · Leaderboards visible
During Round One you can see your own point total, the top ten chapters in each region, and the top ten chapters in the state.
Use this round to climb up the ranks and understand the system.
Blind Competition
January 1, 2027 to February 19, 2027 · Leaderboards hidden
Every leaderboard goes dark on January 1. Your chapter can see its own point total and nothing else: not where you rank, not whether you have held your position, not how many points separate you from the chapter ahead of you or behind you.
Scoring does not change. You keep submitting, reviewers keep awarding points, and your own total stays visible to you the whole time. You simply cannot see anyone else's.
What stays the same
Point values, submission limits, activity maximums, cooldowns, proof standards, the review process, the Code of Honor and every enforcement rule apply identically in both rounds.
Individual activities keep their own submission windows, which run on their own schedule regardless of which round you are in. The activity catalog lists the deadline for any activity that has one.
One rule specific to the blind round
Do not try to obtain concealed standings during Round Two. That includes asking a state officer or an SC DECA staff member for another chapter's total or for your own rank, and it includes any technical attempt to reach hidden data.
Doing so counts as circumvention under Section 7.1 and carries the same penalties as any other integrity violation, up to forfeiture of your season points. State officers and administrators will not share standings during Round Two, so please do not put them in the position of having to refuse.
Final standings
Standings close with Round Two on February 19, 2027. SC DECA reviews every submission properly filed before that date and announces final standings once the review is complete.
Questions about either round go to the program administrator.
The binding text for everything on this page is Article IX of the official rules. Questions go to the program administrator.