The Purpose

What is quizzing?  Quizzing is a lot of things but most importantly it is the arena that provides youth with the motivation to memorize God’s Word.  It is a tool that encourages young people to “hide God’s Word in their hearts.”  It is where young people around the country study selected Scriptures for the opportunity to represent their church or conference in competition at FUEL each summer.  It isn’t about trophies.  It isn’t about the prizes.  It’s about building a bank of positive memories centered around the Word of God.

The Basics

Teams composed of three quizzers compete to answer twenty factual Bible questions asked by a quizmaster.  The first quizzer to jump to his feet after the quizmaster begins to read a question gets to answer that question.  The team with the most points after twenty questions is the winner.

The Material

The material will be selected from the New International Version by the quizmaster and announced by January 31st.  The material for 2006 is Romans 11-15.  If possible, we recommend that a series of lessons be presented on the quizzing material.  This helps provide students with a background for the material, increases their understanding and improves recall and memorization.

The Team

Teams must consist of three quizzers.  Each team may also select a substitute quizzer.  All quizzers, including the substitute, must be attending FUEL as a student in order to participate.

Answers

The quizmaster begins each question as follows, “Question Number ______, Question.”

The quizzers will jump from a seated position to their feet when they know the answer.  (An electronic device will be used to determine which quizzer was first.)  If no one jumps in ten seconds, the next question is asked.

From the time of recognition as first by the quizmaster, a quizzer has thirty seconds to answer the question. 

No question or part of a question will be repeated after a quizzer is recognized.

If a quizzer jumps before the question is finished, she must complete the question to the satisfaction of the quizmaster and answer within the thirty-second time limit. 

If a quizzer desires to change an answer within the time limit and before sitting down, the request should be, “I would like to change my answer,” and the change must be finished within the thirty-second time limit.

The quizzer will return to her seat after answering the question or at the end of thirty seconds.  Only after she has been seated will a ruling be made.

The quizmaster will decide whether an answer is correct or incorrect after the quizzer returns to her position on the bench.  He may determine an answer is incorrect if the answer contains too much or too little information, if a quizzer quotes a verse or verses containing the answer yet fails to answer the specific question or when asked to repeat an answer, the quizzer changes the answer enough to alter the meaning.  The quizmaster may discuss the answer with the judges but their deliberation should be limited to sixty seconds.

Bonuses

Bonuses are worth ten points and are awarded when:

A quizzer correctly answers a bonus question

A quizzer quizzes out without an error

A team has three members that correctly answer one regular question

A team has four members that correctly answer one regular question

Contests

A quizzer may contest a decision on the preceding question, by standing and politely saying, “I wish to contest.”  Upon being recognized, the quizzer should briefly explain the reasons for the contest.

A quizzer may wish to contest an answer that has been ruled incorrectly or a question that is inaccurate and/or misleading.  In both cases, the quizzer should provide Scriptural reference as support for the contest.

The quizmaster and judges will decide the validity of the contest and limit their discussion to sixty seconds.

If a contest concerning an incorrect ruling is upheld, appropriate corrections to the score will be made.  If a contest concerning the validity of a question is upheld, that question will be thrown out and replaced with another.

If a team contests and is overruled twice, each subsequent overruled contest in the same match will result in a ten-point deduction.

Coaches and quizzers off-stage are not permitted to contest or suggest that a quizzer should contest.  Therefore, contests will not be permitted after a time-out.

Errors

If a quizzer does not answer a regular question or toss-up question correctly, it will be counted as an error.  (An incorrect answer on a bonus question does not result in an error.) 

When a quizzer commits three errors she will be eliminated from the match and ten points will be subtracted from her team’s total.  She may be replaced without calling a time-out.

When a team commits its fourth error and each subsequent error ten points will be deducted from their score.

An error on questions eighteen, nineteen and twenty will result in an automatic ten-point deduction.

An error can only result in one deduction.  (One error = One deduction)

An error may not conclude a match.

Fouls

If a person jumps after the quizmaster says, “Question,” but before he starts the reading of the question, the quizzer is charged with a foul.

Talking, whispering or signaling after the quizmaster says, “Question,” is also a foul.  This continues until the quizmaster gives a ruling and while the judges discuss a contest.

Any quizzer placing his hands or feet on his chair or bench while jumping will be charged with a foul.

If a quizzer starts to answer the question before she is recognized by the quizmaster, a foul will be called.

If a quizzer looks at his coach or bench while answering, or after answering but before sitting down, he will be charged with a foul.  (This is to prevent him from innocently getting indication from his bench concerning the correctness of his answer.)

If a coach or team member is suspected of helping a quizzer, a team foul will be charged.

If a quizzer commits three fouls, she will be eliminated from the quiz and may be replaced by a substitute.

When a team commits four fouls and each subsequent foul, ten points will be deducted from their score.

Questions

Questions should be grammatically correct.

Questions should not call for any interpretation or implications to be drawn from the Scriptures, but should call for some fact found in the text.  Interpretation is to describe the meaning of the Scripture from the facts given.

Questions, as much as is practical, should be worded in the phrasing of the verse or verses from which they are taken.

Questions requesting more than one fact should be so stated.  If the answer is divided into three parts, the question should begin, “What three . . .” or “Give three . . .”

Questions should have enough identifying words or phrases to designate exactly what answer is desired but no more than necessary.  If this isn’t possible, the question should begin, “According to . . .”  In these “According to . . .” questions, the answer should accurately reflect the words used in that particular reference.

Questions may vary on their level of difficulty as long as the required answer can be given in thirty seconds.

Questions that ask the quizzer to “Quote,” “Finish this verse and give the reference,” and ask what someone said must be answered exactly according to the text.

In addition to factual questions, quizzers will also be asked to answer the following types of questions:

“Quote”- Quizzers will be given a reference and asked to recite these verses.  A list of memory verses will be provided.

“Finish this verse and give the reference,”- Quizzers will be given the beginning of a memory verse and they will be asked to complete it and give the reference.  A list of memory verses will be provided.

“Formulate a question and give a supporting reference for the following answer:  The answer is _________.”-  This new question format was started in 2005.  Quizzers will be given an answer and they will be asked to formulate their own question and give a supporting reference. 

Quizzing Out

A quizzer will have quizzed out when they have correctly answered an assigned number of regular or toss-up questions in a match. 

In the two-team format, a quizzer must correctly answer five regular questions.  In the three-team format, a quizzer must correctly answer four regular or toss-up questions.  (Bonus questions will not be counted toward this number.)

A quizzer who quizzes out without an error will receive an additional ten-point bonus and may be replaced without calling a time-out.

Scoring

Additions

Twenty points will be added for correctly answering a regular or toss-up question.

Ten points will be added for correctly answering a bonus question.

Ten points will be added for quizzing out without an error.

Ten points will be added for having three quizzers correctly answer one regular or toss-up question.

Ten points will be added for having four quizzers correctly answer one regular or toss-up question.

Subtractions

Ten points will be subtracted when a team commits an error on questions eighteen, nineteen and twenty.

Ten points will be subtracted when a quizzer commits a third error.

Ten pointswill be subtracted when a team commits a fourth error and each subsequent error.

Ten points will be subtracted when a team commits a fourth foul and each subsequent foul.

Ten points will be subtracted for each overruled contest greater than two.

NOTE: No more than ten points will be deducted for an incorrect answer.

Staff

Currently the quizzing staff consists of one quizmaster, two judges and one recordkeeper.

The quizmaster is responsible for selecting the material, writing and asking questions and corresponding with coaches and quizzers throughout the year.

The judges will assist the quizmaster on questionable answers and contests.

The recordkeeper will keep a current record of each team’s score.

Substitutions

Substitutions should be made during time-outs.  If a team would like to make a substitution, they should inform the quizmaster at the beginning of the time-out.

Substitutions may be made anytime for quizzers who have quizzed out, committed three errors or three fouls without calling a time-out.

Substitutions may be made during the official time-out after question ten.  Teams may also substitute at a second official time-out that is called if a match is tied after question twenty.

Ties

In case of a tie, questions will be added for the teams involved in the tie until the tie is broken.

Time-Outs

Time-outs may be called by a coach or any quizzer on the bench for consultation or substitution.

Time-outs will be limited to two per team per match but may not be used after question seventeen.

Time-outs will be thirty seconds long.

An official time-out will be called after question ten.  In case of a tie, there will be another official time-out following question twenty.

Two-Team Format

Two teams compete at one time.

There are twenty questions in a match.

Quizzers will quiz out after correctly answering five regular questions.  If they do so without an error, a ten-point bonus will be awarded.  They may be replaced by a substitute.

If three quizzers from one team correctly answer one regular question, the team will receive a ten-point bonus.  If four quizzers from one team correctly answer one regular question, the team will receive another ten-point bonus.

If a quizzer commits an error, the question will be re-read, as a bonus question, for the quizzer in the corresponding seat on the opposing team.

Quizzers committing three errors will be asked to leave the stage and should be replaced by an alternate.  Their team will be charged a ten-point deduction.  Errors on all questions after 17 and every team error after three will also result in a ten-point deduction.  No more than ten points will be deducted for any one incorrect answer.

Quizzers are not permitted to talk or do anything to indicate that another quizzer is right or wrong.  If they do so, a foul will be given to that quizzer.  A ten-point deduction will be charged after four team fouls and every foul thereafter.

A match cannot end in a tie.  Questions will be added until the tie is broken.

A match cannot end on an error.  Questions will be added until a correct answer is given or no team jumps.

Each team will have two thirty-second time-outs.  There will be an official time-out after question ten.  In case of a tie, there will be another official time-out following question twenty.

This is a double-elimination format. 

Three-Team Format

Three teams compete at one time.

There are twenty questions in a match.

Quizzers will quiz out after correctly answering four regular or toss-up questions.  If they do so without an error, a ten-point bonus will be awarded.  They should be replaced by a substitute.

If three quizzers from one team correctly answer one 20-point question, the team will receive a ten-point bonus.  If four quizzers from one team correctly answer one 20-point question, the team will receive another ten-point bonus.

All three teams will jump on “regular” questions.  If a team commits an error, the remaining two teams will jump on a “toss-up” question.  If one of those two teams commits an error, the remaining team will be given a “free” question which is unnumbered.

Quizzers committing three errors will be asked to leave the stage and should be replaced by an alternate.  His/her team will be charged a ten-point deduction.  Errors on all questions after 17 and every team error after three will also result in a ten-point deduction.  No more than ten points will be deducted for any one incorrect answer.

Quizzers are not permitted to talk or do anything to indicate that another quizzer is right or wrong.  If they do so, a foul will be given to that quizzer.  A ten-point deduction will be charged after four team fouls and every foul thereafter.

A match cannot end in a tie.  Questions will be added for the teams involved in the tie until the tie is broken.

A match cannot end on an error.  Questions will be added until a correct answer is given or no team jumps.

Each team will have two thirty-second time-outs.  There will be an official time-out after question ten.  In case of a tie, there will be another official time-out following question twenty.

This is a three round tournament format.

The first round is the preliminary round where all teams will quiz at least two times.  First place receives five points, second place receives three points and third place receives one point.  The six teams with the highest point totals will advance to the semi-final round.  If there is a tie, match points will be used to determine which team advances.  If there is a tie in match points, a five-question quiz-off will determine who advances.  As these six teams advance they will begin the next round with a clean slate.

The second round is the semi-final round and will begin with the remaining teams selecting numbers to randomly determine their position in the first two semi-final matches.  The winners of the first two matches automatically advance to the final round.  The third match will include the two second place teams from the first two semi-final matches and the third place team with the highest match points.  The winner of this match will advance to meet the other two teams in the final round.  These three teams will advance to the final round with a clean slate.

The final round will consist of two twenty-question quizzes between the three remaining teams.  If there is a tie in points and match points at the end of two quizzes, the teams involved in the tie will participate in a five-question quiz off to determine our champion.