2003
Monroe County Middle School Quiz Bowl
Rules
7^th and 8^th Grades

The purpose of Middle School Quiz Bowl is to encourage learning through wholesome competition.

Each team will be made up of 4-6 members.  The teams represent students from each of the two grades from every participating school—Bedford, Dundee, Ida, Mason, Monroe Middle, and Whiteford.  The names of the team members must be submitted to the County Quiz Bowl Committee by May 1.

The Monroe County Middle School Quiz Bowl will take place on May 19 at Monroe High School in the afternoon.

In each grade, there will be three Round-Robin competitions, running simultaneously, each about 20 minutes long, based on a set number of questions that will be the same in each.  At the end of each match, coaches will be notified about the next location for the team’s competition.

The Finals (again, for each grade) will be 30 minutes long.

There will be two judges who will also keep score. 

Each participating school will provide one Quiz Master and two judges.

At the beginning of each round, the Quiz Master will identify the Team Captains.  Each member of the team will introduce himself.  The Quiz Master will conduct a test of the buzzers with the help of the team members. 

Toss-up questions are answered only by the contestant who first buzzed in.  Once a contestant buzzes in, the Quiz Master will stop reading the question, and the answer must be given.  No consultation or assistance from other team members is allowed on toss-up questions.

During the reading of a toss-up question, any contestant who thinks he knows the answer may interrupt the reading of the question by buzzing.  The Quiz Master will stop reading the question.  The contestant must wait to respond until identified by the Quiz Master by buzzer color and position.  (e.g., Red, 3)  At that time, the identified contestant may provide the answer.

The Quiz Master reserves the right to throw out any question.

If a toss-up question is incorrectly answered, the Quiz Master will repeat the question again for the opposing team.  Then, any member of the opposing team may buzz in, wait to be identified, and answer the question.  If no one buzzes in, the Quiz Master will provide the answer for both teams and no points will be awarded.

There is no penalty for answering any question incorrectly.

When a toss-up question is answered correctly, the team receives five (5) points and is allowed to answer the bonus question worth an additional five (5) points.  The team may confer on the bonus question, but only the team Captain may answer the bonus question.

When the clock marks the midpoint of the match, the scorekeepers will read the scores.  The teams will change sides.  Substitutions can be made at this time.  The second half of the match goes just as the first.

If time expires during the answer to a toss-up or bonus question, the person or team giving the answer will be able to finish giving the answer and win the appropriate points for the correct answer.  No additional questions will be asked after the time expires.

In the event of a tie at the end of a match, three additional toss-up questions and bonus questions will be asked.  If a tie still exists, play goes into sudden death.  The first team to answer the next toss-up question correctly wins.  The Quiz Master will ask toss-up questions until one is answered correctly.

If there is a tie for qualifying for the Finals, a 5 minute match will be held just prior to the Finals to determine the winner.

Good sportsmanship is expected of all participants, teachers, coaches, parents, and students.

GENERAL ITEMS

The judges’ decision as to whether an answer is correct or incorrect is FINAL.  Every effort is made by the Quiz Bowl Committee to provide correct questions and answers.  Mistakes sometimes occur.  The questions will be pristine, purchased for the purpose of the Monroe County Middle School Quiz Bowl.  Some additional questions concerning current events may be provided by the Monroe Evening News.

All materials such as scrap paper and pencils will be provided by the Quiz Bowl Committee on the day of the competition.

Teams must have a minimum of four team members on the day of competition.  All requests for team membership variances must be submitted in writing to the Quiz Bowl Committee.

No coaching from the audience will be permitted.  Violators will be asked to leave the auditorium and the matches will be suspended until they comply with that request.  Teams risk forfeiting a match if, in the opinion of the Quiz Master, any individual associated with that team has affected the ability for the Quiz Master to conduct a fair match.

The Quiz Master has the right to throw out any material when there is a question as to whether the answer has been suggested from the audience or any other circumstance affecting the ability of the teams to have a fair opportunity to provide the correct answer.

Equipment malfunctions may occur.  Every effort will be made to resolve these problems fairly by throwing out questions, increasing competition time, or whatever else needs to be done to satisfy the competitors.

The Monroe County Middle School Quiz Bowl Committee