GENERAL RULES

1. High school Quiz Bowl is a question-and-answer game played between two teams. (Only one team per high school.)
2. Each MATCH consists of FOUR players with an unlimited number of players as substitutes. A team is not required to use the same players for each different match. (Note: Although there is no limit to the number of players on a team, only six medals will be awarded to winning teams.)
3. Substitution of players is allowed during the match, but only during half time and any time outs.
4. Each team designates one player to be team captain.
5. The game is played in two, 15-minute halves.
6. There will be a 3-minute recess between halves.
7. Each half begins with a Toss-Up Question. The first player to signal must answer the question without delay or consultation with other team members.
8. Each team is allowed one, 1-minute time out per half. A coach may call for a “question” if there is a dispute in score or judgment without being assessed a time out. However, disputes in score or judgment must be settled immediately. Judges may and are encouraged to confer with moderators; however, DECISIONS OF THE JUDGES SHALL BE FINAL.
9. Points are scored by correct answers to questions asked by the Moderator.
10. There are two types of questions:
    1. Toss-Up Questions, worth 15 points each, and
    2. Bonus Questions, worth 10 points each.
11. Five points are subtracted for incorrect answers to Toss-Up Questions only; however, there is no penalty for incorrect answers to Bonus Questions.
12. The team that is ahead when the final buzzer sounds wins (see end of game rules).
13. State Quiz Bowl participants will be able to use paper. Paper will be provided at the beginning of each round; participants will be required to provide their own writing utensils. Players may not use paper to confer or collaborate with other team members during Toss-Up Questions. If, in the opinion of the match’s officials, a player confers with a teammate the answer DOES NOT count, the conferring team is penalized 5 points, and the question will be finished for the other team. Calculators are not allowed during the matches.
14. Unsportsmanlike and/or disorderly conduct by either players or coaches will not be tolerated. The penalty for such behavior is as follows:
    
    • First offense—Verbal Warning
    • Second offense—15-point penalty assessed to team
    • Third offense—Expulsion of player/coach from tournament
15. If either team has requested that the Moderator read the question categories, the Moderator must read the categories during the entire match. Requests for categories to be read must take place BEFORE the start of the match. There can be no requests to change the format by either team, or the moderator, after the match has begun.

TOSS-UP QUESTION RULES

1. Toss-Up Questions are worth 15 points.
2. Team members MAY NOT confer with other teammates on Toss-Up Questions.
3. If a player confers with a teammate, the answer DOES NOT count and the team is penalized 5 points.
4. Players will have approximately 3 seconds from the time the Moderator stops reading to signal, and then must answer as soon as recognized. Players will be given 10 seconds to answer math problem questions. The Moderator should allow for a natural pause, but no stalling. A stall is considered an incorrect answer. The stalling team will be penalized 5 points and the question is given to the other team.
5. If a player answers a Toss-Up Question correctly, his or her team scores 15 points and this team only is given a chance at a Bonus Question.
6. On a Toss-Up Question, the first response given is the one that counts. Sometimes a player will attempt to give more than one piece of information in their answer, and there will be instances when such a response is acceptable. The Moderator and Judge must distinguish whether the player has in fact pinpointed the answer or is just rattling off a list of facts on a given subject. This situation is particularly likely to occur on an interruption.
7. If a player believes he or she knows the answer to a Toss-Up Question before it has been completed, he or she may interrupt the Moderator by signaling; however, the Moderator will not complete the question. If the answer is correct, the team scores 15 points. If wrong, the team is penalized 5 points.
8. If a player answers a Toss-Up Question wrong, the team is penalized 5 points and the question is turned over to the other team for a possible 15 points. On the turn over, if the question was not completed, the Moderator will read it in its entirety. If the Toss-Up Question was completely read, the Moderator does not reread the question. In addition, a player must still signal and be recognized before answering.
9. The only time a TOSS-UP QUESTION IS NOT TURNED OVER is when the HALF or GAME ENDS.
10. If a player answers WITHOUT being recognized, the answer DOES NOT count, and the following occurs:
    1. IT IS THE SAME AS A WRONG ANSWER and 5 points are subtracted from this team. The first offense will result in a warning from the Moderator. All subsequent offenses will result in a 5-point penalty each.
    2. The next question is given to the other team ONLY.
    3. If a player on this team answers the Toss-Up Question correctly, the team receives 15 points and gets a chance at a Bonus Question.
    4. If a player on this team answers the question incorrectly, 5 points are subtracted. However, the team in violation DOES NOT get an opportunity to answer this question.
11. If the Moderator inadvertently gives the answer to a Toss-Up Question without giving either team a chance to respond, then the next question is given as a Toss-Up Question.
12. If the Moderator inadvertently gives the answer to a question after an incorrect answer has been given but before the other team is given a chance to answer it correctly, then he or she takes the next Toss-Up Question and reads it only to the other team to respond.
13. If someone in the audience shouts out an answer, the Moderator throws out the question and goes to the next question in the stack, with all other rules of the game as set forth in effect.

BONUS QUESTION RULES

1. Team members MAY confer on Bonus answers. All team Members are encouraged to participate as much as possible. The team captain may defer to another team member to provide the answer to the Moderator.
2. The team will be given approximately 5 seconds to confer on the Bonus Question answer (math questions 10 seconds). You can anticipate some delay in response because of conferences, but again, the Moderator should allow for natural pauses, but no stalling.
3. If a Bonus Question calls for two or more answers within a one-part question, the Moderator will allow ONLY the initial 5 seconds for the team to begin its answer.
4. If a person answers a Toss-Up Question during regulation time, a Bonus Question is awarded to that team regardless if time has run out.

END OF GAME RULES

1. When the timer goes off at the end of the half or end of the game, a player must have already buzzed in to be eligible to answer. There can be no exceptions to this rule made by the Moderator, Judge, or Timekeeper.
   1. If a player has buzzed in, he or she may answer the Toss-Up Question. If correct, they are awarded the points and receive their Bonus Question. If incorrect, they lose 5 points, BUT the other team does not get to answer.
   2. If a player has already answered the Toss-Up Question correctly, his or her team is awarded the Bonus Question.
   3. If a player has already answered the Toss-Up Question incorrectly, the other team does not get to answer.
2. If the score is tied at the end of the regulation time, the tie is broken by a sudden-death play-off of Toss-Up Questions. The FIRST correct answer scores 15 points and wins the game. An incorrect answer to a tiebreaker during sudden death LOSES 5 points, AND THE GAME.
3. DECISIONS OF THE JUDGES SHALL BE FINAL. The official declaration of the outcome of the match shall be irrevocable. As in any contest, a game shall not be replayed, even if the outcome could have been altered by judgment errors.