General Academic Challenge Bowl Game Rules
The game is played in two, eight-minute
halves, running time. Four players may play at a time and
substitutions occur at the half.
There are three types of questions; toss-ups worth 10 or 15
points, bonuses worth 30 points and a special halftime lightning
round with five 10 point questions per team.
On all toss-up questions, a player must ring in and be
recognized before beginning an answer. A complete
recognition includes both the name and school. Players
have to wait for the complete recognition before beginning their
answer. If a player does not wait for the complete
recognition, the answer is considered incorrect.
A correct answer on a toss-up earns 10 points and the
opportunity for the team to answer a bonus question. If a
player rings in early enough to earn the power mark, 15
points will be awarded. For an incorrect answer there is
no penalty and the question is turned over to the other
team. The question is not repeated but if the reading of a
question was interrupted and a team answers incorrectly, it will
be completed for the other team. The second team will need
to ring-in and be recognized before answering.
At the end of a toss-up, players have 5-6 seconds to ring in
before “Time” is called. However, once a player has rung
in and been recognized, they must begin their answer without
more than a natural pause.
NOTE: extra time will be permitted on any computational
math questions.
During toss-ups, players may not confer or signal with each
other including any verbal communications, waving arms,
scribbling notes, use of sign language, etc. If conferring
is called on a team, that team loses the chance to answer the
question.
Bonuses rules are different. After a player has answered a
toss-up question correctly, that player’s team hears a bonus
question. Anyone may answer a bonus question -- players do
not have to ring-in and do not have to be recognized. The
first answer directed to the moderator will be accepted.
Players can and should confer on bonus questions. There are no
penalties on bonuses and they are never turned over to the other
team. If conflicting answers are given simultaneously, the
captain will be asked to clarify. In these situations, the
captain must answer. However, a captain may have someone
else answer by saying “designate” and either pointing to a
player or naming a players who then must answer.
Teams have roughly 10-12 seconds to confer on each part of a
bonus before being prompted to begin an answer. Moderators
may, if no one is conferring, ask if the team has no
guess. If a team has no guess, moderators can call
time. A team captain can also say “Pass” or “No guess” as
well.
NOTE: extra time will be permitted on any computational
math questions.
At the end of each half, if the moderator has begun to read a
toss-up question, the reading of that question will be completed
with all normal game rules in effect (players still have to ring
in and be recognized, no conferring is allowed, etc.). A
player does not need to 'beat the clock' with a ring-in.
If a player gives a correct answer, the team will be allowed to
answer a full bonus question.
At the half, the team that is trailing will select a set of
questions for a special lightning round. The trailing team
will hear five questions from the selected set. There is
no passing or stealing. After the first team hears their
five questions, the other team hears five from the same
topic. Responses in the lightning round are just like
bonus questions; first answer directed to the moderator counts,
and teams may confer.
Each league will set their own halftime substitution
policy. A league may require full substitution, or may opt
for partial subs, where only the top two scorers are replaced.