Quiz bowl formats


The M-A Quiz Bowl team plays tournaments in two different formats: NAQT, and BAAL.  Everyone, not just the varsity students, play NAQT and BAAL.  If there are enough players, we field two teams for NAQT - one more experienced, and the other team less experienced.

NAQT format
Each match features two teams of four players each.  High school matches typically have 20 questions and there is a short halftime break after the 10th question.  There can be more players on a team, who can rotate in and out during a match, or between matches.  Teams earn points by answering questions correctly.  When a player buzzes in to answer a question, he CANNOT confer with other team members before answering.  If he is right, he earns 10 points for his team, and his team has the opportunity to answer three bonus questions for a total of 30 additional points.  (The team confers on the answer to bonuses, and answers are given by the team captain or a person he designates to answer.  The opposing team is NOT allowed to answer bonus questions.)  If a player buzzes and interrupts the question and his answer is wrong, his team LOSES 5 points, the other members of his team are NOT allowed to buzz in, and the moderator continues reading the question for the other team.  The other team is NOT allowed to confer before attempting to "steal" the question.  If a player gives a wrong answer after the question is completely read, there is no penalty for being wrong.  The buzzer is used to answer toss-ups, but is NOT used to answer bonus questions.  

BAAL format
Each match features three teams of four players each.  There can be more players on a team, who can rotate in and out during a match, or between matches.  Play is divided into two rounds.  The format is explained in excruciating detail at http://www.geocities.com/quizbaal/format.html


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