Are you ready to enter the Move It Challenge? Use our ideation tips to crank out ideas for your new invention!

Step 1: Brainstorm

• Look at the three categories below. Write down at least two existing products in each category. Start by thinking about your favorites.

- Backyard Games
- Training Equipment
- Fitness Tracking Tool

• What do you like about them?
• What do you think could be better?

Step 2: Identify Your Challenge & Find Solutions

• Next to each of the inventions you listed, write how you would make it better or give it a twist.
• You might think of a new invention that would work even better, a new fun game to play with your little brother, what about a training device to help you play kickball better or a brand new way to track how far you run!
• Sometimes a great idea comes from combining a few other good ideas. Volleyball was invented in 1895 by William G. Morgan, who was trying to blend the ideas from basketball, baseball, tennis, and handball. He originally called it “mintonette.”
• Put a star next to the idea you think is the best solution.

Step 3: Design Once you pick your solution, you can start building on your idea.

• What does your product/idea look like?
• If it’s a game, how do you play it? What are the rules?
• Make notes of what you want to do and create drawings of your invention.

You need to understand that your first design is not always your best design. So keep doodling until you feel good about your idea!

Step 4: Refine Your Idea

Now, choose your favorite design from your list. On a separate piece of paper, answer these questions about it in an exercise called SCAMMPERR:

• Substitute –What can I do instead? How else can the game be played? What other equipment can I use?
• Combine – How can I combine this with another game or purpose? How can I combine different parts or ideas?
• Adapt –What else is like this? What could I add to it? How can I change it?
• Minify – How can I make the game or tool smaller or miniature? Should I use less equipment or fewer rules? (For example, mini-golf is a miniature version of playing a very long and serious game of golf!)
• Magnify - How can I make it bigger? Higher? Longer? Add something? Require more of something?
• Put to other uses – Is there a new way to play or use the game or piece of equipment? Other places to play it?
• Eliminate – What can I get rid of? What can I take away? Can I condense or combine some things?
• Reverse –Turn it backwards? Upside down?
• Rearrange - How can I interchange components? Swap or trade rules, equipment, or steps?

Step 5: Test Your idea

Get thoughts and reactions to understand if your idea really works. Use your friends as a sounding board to critique your idea. The Sports Authority Move It Challenge REQUIRES you to name your invention. Choose a name that best defines it – it is an important part of the description!

You do not have to submit a working version of your invention. It can be entirely conceptual. You will have to submit a detailed description of your idea by answering the entry questions online or on the official mail-in entry form.