Teen Bible Quizzing Rules and Contrasts

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Updated January 21, 2002

N - Nazarene (See Rules Summary)
W - WBQA
YFC - Youth For Christ Style
CMA - Christian and Missionary Alliance
A/G - Assembly of God
FM - Free Methodist
NACC - North American Christian Convention Bible Bowl
YEA - Youth Evangelism Association (See Rules of one of the local YEA leagues)
WBB - Wesleyan Bible Bowl
UPC - United Pentecostal Church

* - See more details

More Details

Age Limits

• Nazarene: 7th - 12th Grade (6th grade in some cases)
• World: 7th Grade - Age 19
• CMA: 7th Grade - Age 19
• A/G: 7th - 12th Grade
• FM: ?
• NACC: 6th - 12th Grade
• YEA: 6th Grade - Age 19
• WBB: 7th - 12th grade
• UPC: Age 12 - 19

Seating

• Nazarene: A1 A2 A3 A4 B1 B2 B3 B4 C1 C2 C3 C4
  Quizzers remain in same seat unless a substitute comes in
  Preferred quiz is two team quizzes.
• World: A1 A2 A3 A4 B1 B2 B3 B4 C1 C2 C3 C4
  Quizzers remain in same seat unless a substitute comes in
  Preferred quiz is three team quizzes.
• YFC: A1 B1 C1 A2 B2 C2 A3 B3 C3
  20 point correct answer gives quizzer first chair until three correct answer. First to have three correct has frozen the chair, and the next person to get a 20 point questions takes the first unfrozen chair.
• CMA: A1 A2 A3 A4 B1 B2 B3 B4 C1 C2 C3 C4
  Quizzers remain in same seat unless a substitute comes in
• A/G: A1 A2 A3 B1 B2 B3
• FM: A1 A2 A3 B1 B2 B3
• NACC: Two teams at tables. Seating order does not matter
• YEA: 1A 2A 3A 4A 5A 1B 2B 3B 4B 5B 1C 2C 3C 4C 5C
  Quizzers remain in same seat unless a substitute comes in
• WBB: Two teams at tables. Seating order does not matter
• UPC: A1 A2 A3 B1 B2 B3

Quiz Leagth

• Nazarene: 20 questions, ends on 20 unless tied
• World: 20 questions, must end on a correct answer
• YFC: 15 Questions, must end on a correct answer, or position win
• CMA: 20 questions, ends on 20 unless tied
• A/G: 20 questions: three 30 pointers, nine 20 pointers, eight ten pointers
• FM: 15 Questions
• NACC: 20 Toss Ups and 20 bonus questions in two 10 minute halves (40 total questions)
• YEA: Two 6 minute halves (5 minute halves if only two teams).
• WBB: Match begins with a 5 question written test handed out to each person. Five minutes is allocated to everyone who needs it to complete the test. Each question is worth 5 points, so a maximum sum of 100 points can be awarded to a team for any one written score in any one game. The written is followed by two 12 minute rounds or oral quizzing. There is a three minute half-time between oral rounds.
• 20 questions: eight 10-pointers, nine 20-pointers, then three 30-pointers

Time Limits

• Nazarene: 30 seconds to complete the question (if pre-jump) and give the answer
• World: 30 seconds to complete the question (if pre-jump) and give the answer
• YFC: 5 seconds to start, 30 total seconds to complete the question (if pre-jump) and give the answer
• CMA: 30 seconds to complete the question (if pre-jump) and give the answer
• A/G: 30 seconds to complete the question (if quizzer interrupts) and give the answer
• FM: 20 seconds to finish the question (if pre-jump) and 20 seconds to give the answer
• NACC: Must begin their answer within 3 seconds of buzzing in, although this is not timed.
  Answer is finished when quizzer stops speaking or when the quizmaster rules them correct,
  incorrect, or determines that they are "fishing" and cuts them off.
• YEA: 3 seconds to start, 20 seconds to finish (memory verse questions get 30 seconds)
• WBB: ?
• UPC: 30 seconds to answer after quizzer is recognized

Frozen Chair/Quiz Out

• Nazarene: 4 20 point questions correct 10 point bonus for no errors
• World: 4 20 point questions correct 10 point bonus for no errors
• YFC: Frozen Chair: 3 20 point questions correct, can come back in on Toss-ups
• CMA: 4 corrct answers, 10 point bonus for no errors
• A/G: 6 correct questions 10 point bonus for quiz out
• FM: ?
• YEA: 5 correct answers, 10 point bonus for no errors
• UPC: 8 correct answers, 10 point bonus

What happens on an error

• Nazarene: Corresponding number, same question 10 points.
• World: Toss-up on new question to other two teams.
  Error on that question: 10 point question to the team that is left
• YFC: Toss-up on new question to other two teams.
  Error on that question: 10 point question to the team that is left
• CMA: Toss-up on new question to other two teams.
  Error on that question: (2-16) 20 point question to corresponding chair of the team who did not err
  (17-20) 10 point question to corresponding chair of the team who did not err.
• A/G: The other team does not get a chance to answer UNLESS the question was interrupted.
• FM: ?
• YEA: The quiz goes on to the next question.
• UPC: Dead question unless the question was interrupted.
  If interrupted, it is reread to the other team without interruption.

Error Penalty Region

• Nazarene: Beginning at the 16th question or with a team's 5th error: 10 point deduction
  Error out is a 10 point deduction.
• World: Beginning with the 16th question or with a team's 4th error: 10 point deduction.
  Error out is a 10 point deduction.
• YFC: Beginning with the 15th question.
• CMA: Beginning with the 17th question or with a team's 3rd error: 10 point deduction.
  2 errors by an individual is a 10 point deduction.
• A/G: All quiz; an incorrect answer loses half the point value.
• FM: ?
• NACC: No penalty region
• YEA: A teams 4th - 6th error: 10 point deduction; beginning with the 7th team error: 20 points
• WBB: No penalty region
• UPC: All quiz: an incorrect answer loses half the point value.

Challenges/Contests/Appeals

• Nazarene
  • The captain may challenge a quizmaster's decision on an answer to a 20 point question.
    A quizmaster's decision on a 10 point bonus question cannot be challenged.
  • The captain may not confer with the quizmaster, coach or other teammates
    (or scripture portion) before challenging or while challenging.
  • The challenge must be made immediately after the quizmaster's decision.
  • The opposing captain(s) may make a rebuttal.
  • 10 points are deducted for a team's second overruled challenge in a quiz and every additional overruled challenge.
  • 10 points may be deducted for erroneous information in the challenge/rebuttal.
  • 20 total points may be deducted if a team's second (or subsequent) overruled challenge contains erroneous information.
• World
  • The captain may appeal a quizmaster's decision on an answer.
  • The captain may not confer with the quizmaster, coach or other teammates
    (or scripture portion) before appealing or while appealing.
  • An appeal must be made immediately after the quizmaster's decision.
  • The opposing captain(s) may make a rebuttal.
  • 10 points are deducted for a team's second overruled appeal in a quiz and every additional overruled appeal.
• YFC: ?
• CMA
  • A challenge must be made immediately at the time of the Quizmaster's
    decision and before the next question is called.
  • Only the Team Captain may challenge (Co-captain if the Captain has been removed).
  • The Captain may not confer in any way with his Coach or teammates
    (or scripture portion) before challenging.
  • Any question, including toss-up and bonus, is open to challenge.
  • Ten points will be deducted from the challenging team's score on the second
    and each subsequent overruled challenge.
  • When a challenge is made, the Quizmaster must give the Captain(s) of the opposing team(s)
    opportunity to speak to the challenge before making a ruling on the challenge.
• A/G
  • A quizzer who misses a question may request 30 seconds to confer with his
    Scripture portion and/or the team captain, in order to determine whether or not to
    contest the ruling.
  • The contesting team gets three minutes to prepare and argue its case,
    and opposing team gets one minute for rebuttal.
  • A team may requests as many contests as they wish in a game,
    but gets a team foul for each unsuccessful contest from the third
    one onward.
• FM: ?
• NACC: Only players may contest, not coaches. Contests are handled under an
  informal procedure at halftime or after regulation time. A quizmaster may consult
  other quizmasters or the tournament director if he needs help in ruling. A player
  may request that the quizmaster consult the tournament director, but the quizmaster
  is not compelled to.
• YEA: Unlimited challenges. When there are question errors, typing errors, incorrect information (both question and answer), or mispronunciations, a Coach or Captain can call time out, approach the table and state the challenge.
  a. The challenge can only be made immediately after the question being challenged.
  b. A Table Official may look up the Scripture.
  c. Opposing Head Coaches or Captains may rebut a challenge.
  d. The Quiz Master will then rule, and this decision is final.
• WBB: An appeals panel rules on challenges.
• UPC: Any team member may contest, but must confer first with the captain before going to the coach (if it is the captain contesting, they will go directly to the coach); there it is decided whether the contest will be brought down to the judges or will be withdrawn (the coach or the quizzer can bring down the contest). They have 30 seconds from the time the contest was called to decided this. The judges will consider the contest and either deny it or grant it. There is no rebuttal for either team and whatever is decided by the judges stands. If the team has two denied contests or two withdrawn contests in a quiz they cannot contest for the remainder of the quiz.

Victory

• Nazarene: High score at the end of 20 questions wins.
  Tie breaker is single questions until tie is broken. Error breaks tie.
• World: Most points after question 20 wins.
  Tie breaker: Single questions are added until the tie is broken by a correct answer.
• YFC: Most points after 15, end on a correct answer, or a position win.
  Position win: all three members of a team own the first three chairs by 20
  point questions starting with question six.
  Tie breaker: Single questions are added until the tie is broken by a correct answer.
• CMA: High score at the end of 20 questions wins.
  Tie breaker: Quiz continues with sets of three additional questions until the tie is broken.
• A/G: High score at the end of 20 questions wins.
  If the score is tied after regulation, the game goes into sudden death - first a 10-point question,
  then a 20, then a 30 and so on as needed to break the tie.
• FM: ?
• NACC: Most points at the end of the time limit wins.
• YEA: Team with most points after two six minute halves.
  Tie breaker: The teams that are tied have a 2 minute overtime.
• WBB: Most points at the end of the time limit wins.
• UPC: Team with most points at question number 20.
  Tie breaker: The teams go on to the tie breaker round involving 3 20 point questions

Officials

• Nazarene: Quizmaster, Content Judge, Timekeeper, Scorekeeper. A person can fill more than one position.
• World: Quizmaster, Material Judge, Technical Judge (Timekeeper) and Scorekeeper.
  One official may fill more than one position.
• YFC: Quizmaster, Material Judge, Technical Judge (Timekeeper) and Scorekeeper.
  One official may fill more than one position.
• CMA: Quizmaster, Answer Judge(s), Scorekeeper(s) and a Timekeeper.
• A/G: Quizmaster, three judges (sometimes just two with the QM serving as the third judge) and a scorekeeper.
  A timekeeper is also used if the buzzer box doesn't have a built-in timer.
• FM: Quizmaster, ???
• NACC: Quizmaster, board operator, score keeper, and time keeper (who times the game, not the answering).
• YEA: Quizmaster, Timekeeper, and Scorekeeper
• WBB: Quizmaster, appeal panel
• UPC: Quizmaster, 2 judges (the quizmaster is counted as the third judge), a time keeper, foul judge,
  and 2 scorekeepers}

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