State 4-H Dog Contests

Quiz Bowl

Objectives

The purpose of the Dog Quiz Bowl contest is to provide an opportunity for youth enrolled in the 4-H dog project to demonstrate their knowledge of dog related subject matter in a competitive setting where attitudes of friendliness and fairness prevail. It is also hoped that these contests will provide an educational experience for both participants and spectators.

General Rules

Team Members and Eligibility

1. Team members must be 4-H members enrolled in the dog project and approved by the 4-H Extension Staff of their respective counties, and are limited to Intermediate and Senior members.
2. Age groups are based on the current Washington State 4-H Policies and Procedures as published for the current 4-H year.

Teams

1. Each county is invited to enter one Intermediate and one Senior 4-H Dog Quiz Bowl team in the State 4-H Dog Quiz Bowl Contest. The Team members shall be selected in a manner determined by each county.
2. At the State Dog Quiz Bowl Contest, counties that do not have enough qualified members to fill a team may combine members with another county to constitute a team. No county may have members on more than one team at each age level.
3. Each team shall consist of four team members, an alternate and, optionally, a coach. The alternate shall not be seated at the panel and may not participate in the match unless:
   1. One of the regular team members is unable to participate in a contest.
   2. The moderator disqualifies one of the regular team members.
4. If an alternate is seated following the removal of a regular team member, the team member removed becomes the alternate and becomes ineligible to return to that match. The team member removed and the alternate remain eligible to participate in further matches unless the team member is excused from the contest.
5. A team may play with a minimum of three players. In the event that a team shall have three players, the fourth position shall be vacant and the team may not earn a team bonus.
6. All Dog Quiz Bowl teams are to remain in the contest area until they are eliminated.
7. No team member may talk out of turn. Should a team member talk out of turn, the moderator shall warn the member. If the member talks out of turn again during the match, the moderator shall excuse the member for the remainder of the match. The team may replace the excused member with an alternate member if one is available.
8. No team member may argue with a ruling of the moderator or referee judge. Should a team member become argumentative, the moderator shall excuse the member for the remainder of the match. The team may replace the excused member with an alternate member if one is available.
9. Any member that has been excused from two matches may not return as a member to any subsequent match.
10. No one may aid the team member answering the question in any way.
11. The coach must be an adult who is currently enrolled as a 4-H Leader or Teen Leader who is not a member of a participating team. The same coach must be used for a team for the entire tournament. Coaches may not be changed between matches.

Conduct

1. Team members must abide by the rules of the contest, the Washington State 4-H Dog Program Policies, and the Washington State 4-H Fair.
2. All participants must follow the Washington State 4-H Dog Program Policies Dress Code.
3. Poor sportsmanship, interference with a moderator or judge’s decision, use of profane language, interference from leaders, parents, or spectators will result in forfeiture of the match and all points earned in the match.

Cell Phones and Other Electronics

Team members and coaches are not allowed to bring any items into the contest area with them, including but not limited to, scribing materials, recording devices, cell phones, or other electronic devices, unless being used as a medical device.

Equipment

Game Panels: An appropriate device will be used which will provide a clear indication of the first team member to respond to a question.

Time Recorders: A stop watch or other appropriate timing device will be required unless a software application is used that includes built-in timers.

Signal Device: This signal device shall be used by the time keepers and shall have a distinctly different sound from that associated with the game panel, unless a software application is used that includes built-in timers with signaling.

Score Keeping Devices: A blackboard, flip chart, electronic light display, or other appropriate display device will be used to maintain team scores visible to the team member, and if possible, to the spectators.

Equipment Failure

It shall be the responsibility of each team member to check that all equipment is operating correctly at the start of each match. If the device being used ceases to function or is believed to be malfunctioning during a match, a time out may be called by a team member, moderator, or coach. If it is determined that there is an equipment malfunction, the faulty part or parts will be repaired or replaced and play resumed. Scores accumulated up to the point of the time out shall stand unless the referee judge and moderator deem it advisable to recall points for the two questions asked immediately prior to the equipment failure. In that case, two additional questions will be asked.

Officials

Moderator

The moderator shall assume the direction of the matches, ask all questions, designate team members to answer questions, and accept or reject all answers unless the question or answer is challenged. The moderator shall indicate when a team member has exceeded the allocated time in which to answer a question. The moderator may ask the referee judge to rule on the accuracy and appropriateness of any question or answer at any time. The moderator will declare the match winner and shall be in control of the match at all times.

Referee Judge

At least one referee judge shall be used. The referee judge must be a knowledgeable dog person. The referee judge may rule individually or jointly on the acceptability of any question or answer.

Time Keeper

At least one individual shall indicate to the moderator the expiration of the time allowed in which to respond to a question. A referee judge may serve as time keeper. If a software application is used to present questions and manage the match, any built-in timer may be used by the moderator and a separate time keeper will not be necessary.

Score Keeper

At least one individual shall keep score for each team member. The individual maintaining team scores shall do so in such a manner that all points awarded or taken from each team may be checked and that the scores are clearly visible to the moderator and team members.

Sources

The sources of materials used for the development of the questions will be from the references listed below. Once a question has been approved and added to the official Dog Quiz Bowl Questions, they become their own authoritative source.

• All Washington State 4-H Dog Publications
• 4-H Dog Project Manual by AKC
• The AKC Complete Dog Book, 20th Edition
• All AKC official rules and regulations publications regarding registrations, dog shows, performance, or companion events
• Any National or Washington State 4-H official publications, including websites
• Quiz Bowl Contest Rules and Guidelines by Texas A&M 4-H Extension

Type of Questions

Toss-Up Questions

• Any team member may respond
• Each question is worth one point
• An incorrect response will result in the loss of one point for the team

Toss-Up Questions with Bonus Attached

• Any team member may respond
• Will have a bonus question attached
• Each question is worth one point
• An incorrect response will result in the loss of one point for the team

Bonus Questions

• Directed to the team correctly answering the Toss-Up Question
• Will be more difficult than toss-up question
• Team captain, or member designated by team captain, will answer the question
• All parts of the question must be answered correctly before any points are awarded
• Each question is worth two points
• An incorrect response will not result in the loss of points for the team

One-on-One Questions

• Two rounds of One-on-One questions shall be asked during the match
• Only one member of each team will be eligible to respond to a question
• Will rotate with each question beginning with the number one player on each team, the number two, and so on
• Each question is worth two points
• An incorrect response will result in a loss of one point for the team

Organization of Questions

To encourage full team participation, each match will be divided into two parts based either on time or number of questions.

The first part will be Toss-up questions to which any team member may respond. Between one-fourth and one-third of the questions will be toss-up with attached Bonus Questions.

The second part will be One-on-One Questions, which are directed to one member of each team. The two One-on-One rounds do not need to be consecutive but may be separated by Toss-Up Questions.

There shall be a maximum of 25 questions per round, including eight One-On-One questions. Bonus questions are not included in the total. Alternate questions should also be included. If the final bracket is for teams with one loss each, the number of questions must be increased to 31.

The moderator will make an effort to avoid asking the same question more than one time in the contest and may discard a previously asked question and substitute a new question should that be necessary. The referee judge may also rule to discard such questions. The moderator may consult with the referee judge if it is felt that the question to be asked is ambiguous or the answer provided is in error. Should the referee judge agree, the question will be discarded and a replacement question shall be asked.

Match Procedures

Starting the Contest

• Teams are seated at their panels and must keep the same position on the panel throughout the entire game. Each team member is given the opportunity to check the equipment.
• The designated team captain is seated nearest the moderator in position number one.
• The game is started by the moderator when the first question is announced.

Asking a Question: General Overview

• A question begins when the moderator announces Question or This is the question. Any accidental activation of a buzzer before the question begins will not be penalized. Instead, the buzzer will be reset and the game will continue.
• The moderator will read each question until the reading of the question is completed or until such time as a team member activates a buzzer.
• No part of any question will be repeated, nor will any additional information be given to the team member.

Buzzer is Activated

• To answer a question, a team member must activate a buzzer before the five second time period has elapsed following the completion of a question.
• If a buzzer is activated during the reading of any question, the moderator will immediately cease reading the question.
• The team member activating the buzzer shall have five seconds, after being recognized by the moderator, to begin the answer to the question.
• The repeating of the question by the team member shall not be considered the initiation of an answer.
• It shall be the responsibility of the moderator and the referee judge to determine if an actual answer is started within the five second time period.
• If a team member activates a buzzer and an answer has not been started within the five second time period, there will be a one-point penalty against the team.

Incorrect Answer

• If the answer to a Toss-Up or One-on-One question is begun during the five second time period and the answer is incorrect, the moderator shall give the correct answer and there will be a one-point penalty against the team.
• If an incorrect answer to any question is given, whether it is complete or incomplete, the question shall not be used again during that match.
• If a Bonus question is attached to an incorrectly answered Toss-up question, the Bonus question shall be discarded.

Correct Answer

If a question is answered correctly within the five second time period, that team shall be awarded one point for a Toss Up or One-on-One question, and two points for a Bonus Question.

Clarification Of Answer

The moderator may ask for clarification of an answer if a question is read to completion but may not ask for clarification if the reading of the question is interrupted by a buzzer.

No Response to Question

• If no team member activates their buzzer within the five second time period following the completion of a question, the moderator shall read the answer and there shall be no points lost or awarded to either team.
• If a Bonus question is attached to an unanswered Toss-up question, the Bonus question shall be discarded.

Toss-Up Question

• The moderator will clearly indicate the start of Toss-Up questions.
• The point values of a Toss-Up Question are as follows:
  • Correct Response = one point
  • Incorrect Response = loss of one point
  • No Response = no points lost or awarded

Toss-Up with a Bonus Question

• The moderator will clearly indicate when a Bonus question is attached to a Toss-Up question.
• If a Bonus question is attached to a correctly answered Toss-up question, the moderator will read the Bonus question and a 10 second discussion period will be permitted for Team consultation to determine the answer. The end of the 10 second period is signaled by the Timer. At the signal from the Timer, a five second time period is then permitted for the Team Captain or designee to begin the answer.
• All parts of the Bonus questions must be answered correctly with no partial points permitted, regardless of the number of parts of the question answered correctly.
• The point values of a response to Bonus Question are as follows:
  • Correct Response = two points
  • Incorrect Response = no loss or gain of points
  • No Response = no points lost or awarded

One-on-One Questions

Asking a Question by Type

• The moderator shall clearly indicate the start of One-on-One questions.
• One-on-One questions shall be addressed to one member of each team, beginning with the number one team member of each team and progressing with subsequent questions to the number two, three, and four team members, respectively.
• The moderator shall indicate prior to the reading of each question which two team members are eligible to respond.
• If any team member other than the two designated team members responds, there will be a two-point penalty for the team that responded.
• If a team member responds two times to questions directed to another team member, they shall be replaced at the panel by an alternate. If no alternate is available, the remainder of the match will be played with less than the full team and all questions normally addressed to the eliminated team member will be addressed only to the opposing team member.
• There will be no Bonus questions asked during the One-on-One period of the match.
• The point values of One-on-One questions are as follows:
  • Correct Response = one point
  • Incorrect Response = loss of one point
  • No Response = no points lost or awarded

Completing the Contest

• The moderator will continue reading questions until all questions have been asked. If a question is discarded due to either incorrect reading by the moderator or a decision of the referee judge, it will be replaced by another question so that the total number of questions to be asked remains constant.
• Following the final question, the team with the highest number of points will be declared the winner of that match.
• In the event of a tie after the designated number of questions, five additional Toss-up questions will be added. If a tie remains after the overtime, the first team to win a point or gain a one-point advantage due to a penalty against the opposing team, will be declared the winner.
• Once the moderator has declared a winner based on the scores, there shall be no protests.

Team Participation Bonus

• To encourage full team participation, bonus points will be awarded in each match to the teams who have each team member correctly respond to at least one question other than bonus questions. This bonus shall be worth two points to the first team to qualify and one point to the second team. To obtain these bonus points, each member of the team seated at the time must have correctly answered a question.
• Card markers will be used to indicate the first correct answer by a team member. When a team member has given their first correct answer, they shall display the card marker at their position for the remainder of the match.

Team Awards

• A first and second place team in each age category will be declared.
• Team winners will be determined by a double elimination contest; no team will be eliminated until they have lost two matches.

Time Outs

• Time outs, of any type, are only allowed after a question has been answered and before the next question is started.
• Any team member or the moderator may call for a time out for equipment failure, for clarification of a rule, or to allow for unexpected problems.
• Team captains are given three one-minute time outs, which can be used for rule clarification, equipment check, to boost team morale, discuss team strategy, etc.
• Coaches are allowed one, two-minute time out during the match to visit with their team. A coach’s time out should be used to preserve the positive youth development experience of the quiz bowl. A coach is not allowed to encourage their team to protest during their coach’s time out. If a coach behaves in a way that undermines positive youth development or is unsportsmanlike, the coach will be dismissed from the contest.
• Coaches may also call a time out for clarification of a rule. There is no limit on the number of times a coach can call this type of timeout; see abuse provision below.
• Teams may not call a protest, unofficial or official, immediately following a coach’s time out.
• Abuse of time-out provisions may result in one or more of the following:
  • Dismissal of team member, coach, or both.
  • Dismissal of the entire team with forfeiture of any points or standing.

Protests

• Any team member may declare an unofficial protest to a question or answer to a question, but only at the time a question is read, or the answer is given. Once an unofficial protest has been made, the team lodging the protest has a 10 second consultation period to declare an official protest. The team captain buzzes in and announces the team’s intent to lodge an official protest.
• When an official protest is made, play will be suspended until the protest is resolved. Any type of question or answer to any type of question may be protested. The protesting team will then be given two minutes to support their protest.
• The decision in all cases is final. The moderator and the referee judge will consider the protest and must agree on the acceptability or rejection of any question or answer, and the subsequent action to be taken. If no referee judge is present, the moderator and at least one other contest official must agree on the action to be taken. A one-point penalty against the team will be assessed if the protest is not upheld.
• Depending on the situation, the moderator will take one of the following actions as is deemed appropriate:
  • A question is protested before an answer is given and the protest sustained: discard the question. A substitute question will be read.
  • A question is protested after an answer is given: the moderator and referee judge will determine the validity of the protest of the question. The question may then be discarded at no loss of points and a substitute question will be read, or the question may be allowed with the appropriate gain or loss of points.
  • An answer is protested: the moderator and referee judge will determine the validity of the protest. Points will be added or subtracted as appropriate.
• There shall be no protest once the reading of the next question has begun or the moderator has declared a winner based on the scores.
• Abuse of protest provisions may result in one or more of the following:
  • Dismissal or replacement of the team captain.
  • Dismissal of the entire team with forfeiture of any points or standing.
• No source of information is infallible. There may be answers given to questions which are in agreement with the approved sources, which are in fact erroneous or out of date. Every effort shall be made to eliminate such questions, but in the event of such occurrence, the referee judge and moderator may agree to:
  • Accept the answer and give an explanation of the correct or up-dated information for future use of the question.
  • Accept only the correct answer.
  • Replace the question to the appropriate team members.
• Spectators, parents, and visitors may not protest any question, answer, or procedure during the contest. They may submit any suggestions, complaints, or protests in writing to the contest officials at the conclusion of the contest. Spectators engaging in unsportsmanlike conduct or disruptive behavior will be asked to leave the contest area.
• If a score is protested, the official scorekeeper’s records are reviewed. If used, the scoreboard attendant’s record is unofficial and posted merely as convenience for the participants and coaches where appropriate.