2008 Guidelines for the Interscholastic Reading Competition

For a printable version of this document, please go HERE
For a printable version of the online Registration Form, please go HERE
Please read this information prior to the first round.

Rules

• No one is permitted to bring food, drinks, pens, paper, books, or booklists into the competition rooms. If you have a cell phone, please make sure that it is turned off. No one is permitted to leave the room while a round of questioning is in progress unless there is an emergency. Alternates and coaches are to be seated away from the rest of the team and may not confer with team members.

Competition Procedures

• There are three different rounds of questions. Each Moderator will be asking the same questions during the same round.
   
• The Moderator calls the team captains for a coin toss in order to designate TEAM A. Team captains will be given team cards to place on their tables.
   
• The Moderator directs the first question to TEAM A. The Moderator reads the question twice and allows the teams to confer for twenty seconds. The Moderator then says, “Your answer please.” The team captain has the option of answering the question or of designating a specific team member, by name, to answer the question.
   
• TEAM A has 20 seconds to answer the question.
   
• The Moderator acknowledges the correct answer: “TEAM A (or TEAM B) answered question 1 correctly”.
   
• The Scorekeeper and coaches mark the score sheets in the following manner:
   
• If Team A answers the question correctly, its column is marked with a “C”. If Team A does not answer the question or provides an incorrect answer, the column is marked with an “X”.

• The second question on the sheet is directed to Team B, using the same procedure as outlined above.
   
• After each team has been asked 20 questions, the Scorekeeper will tabulate the score by counting the number of C’s in each team’s column and printing the total on the line provided in the box at the top of the sheet.
   
• As soon as the scores are tabulated, the Scorekeeper and Moderator will both sign the individual Team Score sheets and return them to the team coaches. The Scorekeeper will then send the Moderator’s Official Score sheet, showing the final scores for each round. Team scores will be posted on a chalkboard following each round.
   
• When all teams have finished the round, the Moderator’s Folders for the next round will be brought to each Moderator. TEAMS WILL NOT MOVE ON TO THE NEXT ROUND UNTIL THE MODERATOR’S FOLDER HAS BEEN RETURNED. Obviously, the next round cannot begin until all the teams are finished.
   
• Awards will be handed out after the third round is completed.

Etiquette

• The Moderator has complete control in the competition area. No comments or discussion from the audience are permitted.
   
• The Moderator will be the judge of each answer. The Moderator will make final decisions, and all students must abide by those decisions. Please remember that our Moderators and Scorekeepers are volunteers who have graciously donated their time so that we can hold this competition. The Moderators have not read the books; they can only accept what is written on their question form. As in any competition, there will be occasions when you don’t agree with a judgment. You are welcome to write down your concerns on the Evaluation Form, but the Moderator’s decision to accept or reject an answer is final.
   
• Our objective is to have fun. So, just like last year, remember that good sportsmanship expresses itself by “Graciousness in Victory and Defeat”. Most importantly, PLEASE HAVE A GREAT TIME!!

Please read this information prior to the first round.

• Check your schedule and be sure that the correct teams are present. Count the number of students on each team. There may be no more than 8 students on a team. Alternates and coaches are to be seated away from the rest of the team and are not to confer with team members. Allow students to rearrange seating to facilitate conferencing. Distribute the Moderator’s Score Sheet to the scorekeeper.

• No one is permitted to leave the room while a round of questioning is in progress unless there is an emergency. No one is permitted to bring food, drinks, pens, paper, books, or booklists into the room. Please check to make sure that these rules are being followed.

• The rules and quizzing procedures have been read to each team by its coach. Ask if there are any questions about the rules or procedures. Call the captains and determine by coin-toss which team will be asked the first question (Team A). Give each team captain the appropriate card.

• The Questions Folder will contain questions for one round only. Announce the question number and book’s name before each set of questions. Read the question two times and allow both teams twenty seconds to confer. The Moderator then says, “Your answer please.” The team captain then has the option of answering the question or of designating a specific team member, by name, to answer the question. Do not allow other team members to shout answers.

• If part of an answer appears in parentheses, it is not a required answer. It is intended to give you additional information or to reflect an alternate correct response. The moderator’s decision to accept or reject an answer is final. Questions are not to be thrown out. The Moderator acknowledges the correct answer by saying, “TEAM A (or TEAM B) answered question 1A correctly”. If the accuracy of the answer shown on your sheet is questioned, a note concerning the question should be made on the Evaluation Form.

• The Scorekeeper will maintain the score and point totals. Do not announce the running point total after each question, as this discourages the losing team. If asked, the Scorekeeper may announce the score once or twice during each round. Once all 40 questions have been answered, record the total points on the Moderator’s Score sheet. Moderator and Scorekeeper must sign both the Moderator’s Score sheet and the individual Team Score sheets. Team coaches will retain individual Team Score sheets. Do not release your competitors until you receive the Moderator’s folder for the next round.

• If a problem arises and you need assistance, contact a Competition Official.