League+Rules

__**RULES 2012-2013**__
** DUE TO A CHANGE IN OUR QUESTION SUPPLIER, WE HAVE MADE SOME CHANGES TO THE RULES. THESE CHANGES ARE NOTED IN RED. ** I. The Match A. Each match will begin at 4 pm or earlier at the host school. This time may vary upon common agreement of the coaches. Postponement of a match and rescheduling occurs only rarely and should not be done for convenience purposes. B. If a team misses a match, it must be made up before the next scheduled match or be forfeited. An exception to this rule is if both coaches agree to a make-up date after the next match. If a match is forfeited, the winning team will be awarded 3 round points and an “average” number of game points to be determined at the end of the season. C. Each match will consist of three games (rounds). Each round will have 20 toss-up questions and bonus questions. The round will continue until all toss-up questions are used. D. The home team will provide an adult moderator, a timekeeper, a scorekeeper, and any additional personnel they deem essential, such as a judge. Refreshments may be provided. E. The host school is responsible for providing the required questions for the moderator as sent out by the League. F. The host school is responsible for sending the results of the match within 24 hours to the League’s recording person.

II. Competition A. A team consists of four (4) players. Four players will compete in a given round. Teams may substitute members only before the beginning of a round. Therefore, a school’s team in any competition will consist of between 4 and 12 players. B. Questions in the competition are of two types: toss-up and bonus. The first team with a correct answer to a toss-up question receives 10 points. If the correct answer has been given before the asterisk (*) indicated in the question, the team receives an extra 5 points, known as “power”. A correct answer to a toss-up gives the team a chance to answer a bonus question worth up to 30 additional points. C. The moderator, and/or judge, and timekeeper will conduct each match.

III. Scoring A. A victorious team in a round will win 1 round point. B. A losing team in a round will receive 0 round points. C. Each team will receive its accumulated number of points earned for answering questions at the end of the match. D. There will be no ties. In case a tie does prevail at the end of a round, the moderator will resolve the tie with a sudden-death toss-up question. E. All toss-up questions are worth 10 points or 15 points with power. F. All Bonus questions are three parts. Each part is worth 10 points.

IV. Procedure A. The team captain will sit in the designated chair. B. The moderator starts the round by beginning to read a toss-up question. A player may attempt the question at any time by pressing the signal button. C. No player signaling on a toss-up question may give an answer until recognized by the moderator or judge**__.__** Any team member answering with out recognition disqualifies the entire team for that question. In addition, if the question had not been completely read, the team will be penalized 5 points. D. If the player answers correctly before the asterisk (*) of the question, this is known as “power” and the team earns an extra 5 points for the question, for a total of 15 points. E. Team members may not confer on toss-up questions. When the moderator recognizes a player to answer a toss-up question, that person must reply immediately upon being recognized. F. The moderator will read each question one time in accordance with the following; 1. If a toss-up question is read through completely and the team member responding answers incorrectly, a member of the other team may signal, but not until the moderator rules on the first response. A team member signaling prematurely disqualifies the entire team for that question. There is no penalty for a wrong answer. 2. If a team member interrupts the reading of a toss-up question, is recognized and answers incorrectly, the moderator will penalize the team five (5) points, and continue to read the rest of the question for the other team. Should the other team buzz in before the moderator finishes reading the question and is incorrect also, they will not be penalized 5 points. If, however, they have buzzed in with a correct answer before the asterisk, they will earn the extra 5 points of power. 3. If no team responds to a toss-up question within 10 seconds, that question is dead, and the moderator will proceed to the next toss-up. G. Teams may confer on bonus questions before answering in accordance with the following: 1. The moderator will read the first part of the bonus and the team will be given up to 10 seconds to answer. 2. The team captain only will give the answer. If no answer has been given by the time the 10 second buzzer rings, the moderator will give the correct answer and go on to the second part of the bonus. 3. This process repeats for each part of the bonus. 4. Each part of the bonus is worth 10 points. Thus the team can earn up to 30 points per bonus question. H. The moderator and/or judge rules authoritatively on the correctness of an answer. The moderator may ask for more specific information or clarification. I. Prompting by coaches or members of the audience is forbidden. Violation of this rule may disqualify a team for the entire match. J. In any situation concerning an interpretation of these regulations or in any manner not covered explicitly or implicitly by them, the decision of the moderator and/or judge is final.

This is a brief summary of the duties of essential personnel. a) Moderator – This person must be an adult. He/she is responsible for reading the questions, acknowledging a team player when the buzzer sounds, and ruling on the answers. b) Timekeeper – This person operates the buzzer and timer system. c) Scorekeeper – This person keeps an accurate track of the score, preferably where audience and players can see it. It is recommended that the scorekeeper keep a running score. Some schools provide a judge for the matches. The judge can help the moderator by taking on the duties of acknowledging the players and helping to settle disputes.
 * The following is not part of the Rules. It is for informational purposes only. **