GETTING READY: Bible Quizzing Rules

If you're talking with friends and family about joining the Bible Quiz Team for the 2013-2014 season, they'll want to know how quizzing works.  How many questions, what's the time limits, what kinds of questions, how are quizzes run, etc.  No single video can answer all of those questions, but the rules certainly can.  We've got them all online for your printing and reading pleasure.  Click here or the image below for the full rule-set.

Remember the rules!

This coming weekend - at Districts - we'll be quizzing with strict rules. And we'll likely be doing the same tonight to get the team used to them. Here is a reminder about the most important ones.

• You get 30 seconds for a regular question. You get 45 seconds for a finish-the-verse question or multiple part question.
• There are three ways to get bonus points: (1) Quiz Out with no wrong questions, (2) Have 4 people on the team get at least one answer correct, (3) Have 5 people on the team get at least one answer correct.
• Quiz Outs are 4 correct for Lower Division, and 5 correct for Upper Division, or 3 incorrect in either Division.
• Each team gets two time-outs during a quiz (30 seconds each) which can only be called by the Coach.
• Always finish the question, if the quizmaster does not! Reference questions must be completed, as questions. Situation questions must be completed as quotes.
• Every team must have an active Captain. The Captain can call for a Contest and present it. If the current Captain quizzes out, the Coach must designate a new one.

If you have any questions about the rules, bring them out at practice tonight!

How do "Contests" work?

There is one aspect of Quizzing we don't do much in the monthly practice quizzes, and pretty much never allow at the weekly practices. CONTESTS! Contesting is a mechanism built into the rules to allow a quizzer to challenge the ruling of a Quizmaster. If there is a ruling (either correct or incorrect) that you believe was truly in error and cost your team points, here are the things you need to know.

• A contest must be done before the next question is asked, or before a bonus question is asked.
• The contest can only be declared by either (1) the captain of the team, or (2) the quizzer ruled incorrect.
• The first step is to request to "confer". (A quizzer can confer with the captain, a captain can choose any member of the team to confer with.) Conferring lasts 30 seconds.
• Once you have conferred, the contesting person can either present their contest (within 30 seconds) or they may choose to sit down.
• After the contest, the opposing team may confer (quizzer with captain or captain with any quizzer) for 30 seconds.
• They may then choose to present a counter-contest (a rebuttal) or not.
• The quizmaster will then give a ruling. They may uphold the original ruling, reverse it, or declare a do-over on the question.

Remember, you can not contest against your own team. (i.e. If you were ruled right, you can't contest.) And you can not contest the question - only the quizmaster's ruling.

Also, remember that coaches can't present a contest. If you think one is needed, a quizzer needs to speak up.

Do you know the rules of Bible Quizzing?

It is almost exactly a month to Districts now. We've been quizzing all year, learning how quizzes work, how quiz meets work, what you need to know to win. But have you ever actually sat down and gone over the rules? Remember that you can always find the official ECA Bible Quizzing rules here. You just may want to review them before Districts, especially if this is your first year!

Rules of the stable...

Do you have your review materials?

As we come up to Districts, do you have your review materials and everything you may want for cram sessions? Don't forget we have almost everything you might want or need online:

• Reference Questions list
• Finish The Verse Questions list
• Quizzing Rules

New Bible Quizzing Rules

You may not know it, but every year the rules for Bible Quizzing change a little bit to keep up with the times. We keep the most current rules up here on the website for you, but it may not have occurred to you to actually take a moment and read them over. Well, here's your chance as we have now posted the new 2010-2011 rulebook. Read them online, or download them for review later.

Familiarity with these rules may be critical at Midwinter or Round-up, where Contests are allowed and the rules are strictly adhered to.

2010-2011 Season: Bible Quizzing Rules

As you prepare for the next year, you may wish to brush up on the "official" Bible Quizzing rules. These are actually the rules for 2008-2009, but not too much has changed. And as soon as we have the newest version of the rules, we will get them out to you. The general scope, breadth, and high level details have not changed.

Preparing for Nationals - Knowing the Rules

Tomorrow is the day the team leaves for Nationals. As you're doing your last-minute prep, here are a few rules to keep in mind which we do not usually emphasize during the year:

• Remember your team shirt. Everyone is expected to be wearing one. If you do not have one, and have not yet made arrangements with Coach Jim, now would be a good time to give him a call.
• No shorts or flip flops. Remember, quizzing clothes should be "respectful." This typically is interpreted to mean no shorts, no flip flops. And remember, guys must remove their hats during prayer.
• No bibles may be open during the quiz. This INCLUDES those in the audience. Keep the scripture portions closed during the quizzes.
• Remember, if you want to Contest, only the Captain or the person answering the question may initiate a Contest. If you're not one of those two and think a Contest should be offered, give your Captain the stink eye! (This is why it is important to always have a designated Team Captain on the pads.)
• Every two fouls results in a loss of 10 points. The first one is "free".
• If you are not sure whether or not to Contest, remember there is no penalty for requesting to "confer". If you're the Captain or the one answering the question, speak up right away and request to "confer" and this will buy you an extra 30 seconds to consider your position.
• Remember, 4 seats with a right answer scores 10 points, and 5 seats with a correct answer scores 20. Team Bonuses can make the difference between a win and a loss in a close quiz.

And don't forget to have fun. :-) You'll be meeting teens from all over the country who love scripture just as much as you.

Midwinter Rules Reminders

During practice quizzes, we tend to relax things a bit to allow everyone to have fun. But it is important to remember that Midwinter is one of the two big Quiz Meets each year where every rule is followed to the letter. Here are some notes to keep in mind this weekend:

1. The only person who may talk during the question is the Quiz Master. The only person who may talk during the answer is the person whom the Quiz Master has called upon. Any other quizzer speaking or communicating in any way (sign language, mouthed words) will be assessed a FOUL.

2. Only a Captain or the Quizzer who answered a question may CONTEST the Quiz Master's ruling. The Captain may then choose one other quizzer to confer with, before presenting the contest. Random quizzers on the pads can not contest.

3. No Bible or Scripture Portion may be open during a quiz. Not even in the audience or "bench". Once the quiz begins, it must be put away.

4. A Quizzer, once having jumped and been called upon, can not turn off his or her light, even by accident. Doing so may result in a FOUL.

5. You may contest only the results of a given question or ruling. You may not contest the question. Even if the question was poorly phrased, constructed, or read. The Quiz Master may choose to throw out a question, but a quizzer may not contest it.

The rest of the rules you know. If you have any questions on the rules, please be sure to bring them on Wednesday and ask them of the coaches.

FOCUS ON RULES: Contesting

This year, Districts saw more Contests than ever before in my experience. It was an interesting phenomenon because most years they are kept to one or two quizzes where a truly egregious call was made. But the spirit of these contests still seemed to be right to me - they showed knowledge, had real arguments, and were kept respectful... and stayed respectful even if ruled against. If you choose to use a Contest at Nationals, be sure to keep it in the same spirit. If you do want to Contest, be sure to keep the rules in mind.

1. If there is reason to believe the quizmaster has erred in ruling an answer
‘correct’:

a. Then any member of the opposing team may request to ‘confer’ with his/her
captain. If the captain requests the ‘confer’, he/she may talk to any one of
the four (4) remaining quizzers of his/her choice. Maximum time: 30
seconds.

b. At this time the captain may present a contest to the quizmaster. Maximum
time: 30 seconds.

c. Before ruling on the contest, the quizmaster shall allow the other team an
opportunity to confer. This confer shall be between the captain and the
quizzer whose answer is being contested. If the captain’s answer is being
contested, he/she may talk to any one of the four (4) remaining quizzers.
Maximum time: 30 seconds.

d. At this time the captain may present a ‘counter contest’. Maximum time: 30
seconds.

2. If there is reason to believe the quizmaster has erred in ruling an answer
‘incorrect’:

a. Then the captain or the quizzer who was ruled against, or the captain and
any quizzer from the opposing team may request a ‘confer’. The quizzer
whose answer has been ruled incorrect may confer with his/her captain. If
the captain’s answer has been ruled incorrect, he/she may confer with any
one of the remaining four (4) quizzers. Maximum time: 30 seconds.

b. The captain may then present a contest to the quizmaster. Maximum time:
30 seconds.

c. The captain of the opposing team may then confer with any one of the four
(4) remaining quizzers. Maximum time: 30 seconds.

d. The captain may then present a ‘counter contest’ to the quizmaster.
Maximum time: 30 seconds.

3. A contest must be given before the next ‘jump’ question, ‘bonus’ question, or
time-out.

4. The judges may be consulted if an answer or decision is contested or if the
quizmaster needs help, but the quizmaster will make the final decision as to
whether an answer is correct or incorrect. The quizmaster and judges are the
only persons allowed to look in the Bible during a quiz.

5. If the quizmaster decides that he/she has ruled incorrectly on an answer, the
score will be appropriately adjusted. Only the quizmaster can decide if a
particular question is scripturally incorrect or ambiguous. If so, he/she may
discard and replace the question.

FOCUS ON RULES: Important Highlights

As we approach Nationals, now is a good time to review the rules under which we quiz. We'll start off with a few highlights to remind us about key points of quizzing.

Finish the Verse Questions:

From the rules, "Once the verse or verses are begun by the quizmaster, the quizzer must quote the entire verse word-perfect and must state the reference. A quizzer may go back and repeat what has been said from any point, but will be charged with an error any time the exact words are not used."

A few extra notes from experience: Keep in mind that the Quizmaster's ear is the FINAL judge of your performance. Try to speak slowly and enunciate clearly. If the Quizmaster did not hear you, then they can call you wrong, even if you know you said all the words. The tape will be there as backup, but typically is less reliable for catching detail than the human ear.

Reference Questions:

From the rules, "If the quizmaster does not complete the question before a quizzer jumps, the quizzer must state the basic question
that is being asked, in question form, although the answer may be given first. There will be no indication as to the need for a multiple part answer to the ‘reference’ question. The quizzer will be expected to know all of the appropriate parts of the answer from the reference given. (When an official reference question list is being used, the question that is on that list must be the one that is stated.)"

A few extra notes from experience: Since identifying the question is key to a reference question, always be sure to start the question, even if you think the Quizmaster finished it. This ensures maximum clarity.

Situation Questions:

From the rules, "The quizzer will be expected to know all appropriate parts to the answer. The quizzer does not need to complete the total quote ‘word perfect’ as long as enough of the quote has been given to satisfy the quizmaster that the quizzer is sure of the location of the quote."

A few extra notes from experience: The "satisfaction of the quizmaster" is a very flexible term. If you have given the answer and the quizmaster has not called you right or wrong, tell the quizmaster as much about the quote as possible, until s/he is satisfied.