Match Rules

1. VALIDITY OF THESE RULES

1.1 The following match rules shall form part of the Constitution of the Quiz League of London, shall be governed by the Constitution, and shall hold for all competitions organised for member teams.

2. PROVISION OF QUESTIONS etc.

2.1 Sets of questions will be provided by the League Committee, and only these shall be used in the League's competitions

2.2 Question sets for a match will be issued to the HOME TEAM at the address specified by that team who have the duty of care of any set from receipt until the start of the match.

2.3 Sets will be issued in sealed envelopes, and the envelopes shall carry the official seal of the distributors. These envelopes should only be opened by the Question Master for the match in the presence of the captains of the teams playing in that match, and immediately prior to the start of the match.

3. RULES OF PLAY

3.1 Matches shall take place on the dates specified by the League Committee and at the time specified in these rules. Variations shall take place only in exceptional circumstances and only with the express permission of the League Committee, who must satisfy themselves that any match is played according to these rules, and that the security of the questions is not violated on any occasion.

3.2 A match will consist of one game of 64 questions directed in turn to individuals on each side. Where the nature of the competition is such that a win or lose result is required, extra questions may be asked. The winner shall be the team securing the more points according to the scoring system defined in these rules. A match is deemed to have started in the Question Master commencing to read out the first question.

3.3 Teams shall consist of not more than four players. Should players be missing then questions which would have been directed to them will count for bonus points only. Any arrivals after the start of the match cannot join a team.

3.4 The Home Team shall be responsible for providing a Question Master, Scorer and Timekeeper for each match, save where the League Committee has directed otherwise. At all times the Question Master will adjudicate in accordance with the Notes for Guidance which forms an appendix to these rules.

3.5 Matches shall commence at 8.30 p.m. unless the League Committee directs otherwise. A period of grace of 15 minutes shall be allowed. Should the start be delayed beyond the period of grace, the non-offending team shall have the right to claim the match.

3.6 In competitions where fixtures are arranged on a home and away basis, the visiting side will have the option of answering first or second. In competitions organised on any other basis, that choice should be decided by the toss of a coin. The order of answering is changed after 4 rounds. In competitions where a tie break is necessary, Rounds 9 & 10 will be played with the order of answering changing after Round 9.

3.7 All questions must be answered by the team member to whom the question is directed WITHIN TEN SECONDS. For a correct reply the Question Master will award TWO POINTS. An answer by the team member which is commenced after ten seconds has elapsed shall be treated as in 3.8 below. In accordance with the Notes for Guidance, the Question Master MAY award ONE POINT for a reply which is in their opinion at the time a near miss.

3.8 Should the team member whose turn it is to answer, not give an answer, the team captain may nominate any other team member to answer. A further FIVE SECONDS in addition to the ten seconds allowed in 3.7 shall be allowed for this answer. If it is correct ONE POINT shall be awarded.

3.9 If the team whose question it is are awarded no points, the captain of the opposing side MUST be offered the chance to nominate a member of his side to answer WITHIN FIVE SECONDS. ONE POINT shall be awarded for a correct answer.

3.10 Should any member of a team be adjudged by the Question Master to have prompted in any manner, the Question Master must treat any answer received as incorrect, and proceed as in 3.9 above. However should the Question Master give the answer inadvertently, then the team affected must be offered a supplementary question drawn from the set provided.

3.11 If any person present at the match prompt a person answering a question, the Question Master must cancel the said question and ask a supplementary drawn from the set provided. It is the duty of the team captain to ensure that persons supporting the team do not prompt or seek to influence competitors and otherwise interfere with the conduct of the match.

3.12 Either captain has the right to be told the score before a question is asked during the last round of a match.

4. RESULTS etc.

4.1 In League Competitions two League points shall be awarded to the winning team, and one to each team in the event of the scores being tied.

4.2 Scoring sheets for the match will be issued by the League Committee and shall be the sole record of a match result. They should be completed in compliance with these match rules and with the guidance notes.

4.3 Scoring sheets must bear the names of ALL EIGHT players in BLOCK CAPITALS and be counter-signed by BOTH CAPTAINS and the QUESTION MASTER within TEN MINUTES of the completion of the game. The signature by a captain indicates either agreement with the score as indicated or indication that the protest against the result will be duly lodged. The HOME TEAM is responsible for communicating the result in such a manner as may be indicated and in any event is responsible for the completed scoring sheet being in the hands of the person indicated thereon within THREE DAYS of the date of play. Failure to comply with this requirement shall render a team liable to such fines as the League Committee shall from time to time determine.

5. PROTEST etc.

5.1 The League Committee will ensure the formation of a body or bodies competent to hear protests from member teams, and hereinafter called a "Protest Committee". Any protest committee shall be empowered to recommend to the League Committee or any body charged by the League Committee with the management of a league or other competition the alteration of a match result or the replaying of a match. Such protest committee shall be deemed to be impartial and in any case at no time shall comprise any member of any team involved, or a member of any team which would clearly benefit from the ruling.

5.2 Any team wishing to protest against the awarding of points by a match official or otherwise protest about the conduct of a match shall have the right to do so and to present its case to any protest committee as constituted under 5.1 above. The right of protest shall not be construed as the right to abandon a match in progress without the consent of the opposing team, or to interfere with the conduct of a match.

5.3 Any team wishing to exercise their right to protest must indicate its intention to do so at the time of the incident and before the start of the next round or in case of protest arising in the last round of a match, before agreeing the final score. An indication of intent to protest shall not constitute a protest nor bind a team to proceeding with the protest procedure.

5.4 If at the close of a match a team decide to proceed with a protest, the captain of that team MUST write the "PROTEST" on the front of the result sheet, and ON THE REVERSE SIDE give brief details of the matter concerned.

5.5 The team entering the protest shall do so in writing stating the full facts of the matter to the League Committee within three days of the date of play, and send a copy of the protest to the other team involved. The protest committee shall give at least three days' notice of the hearing to both teams involved who shall have the right to send a team member to present that team's case and receive the ruling. Either side involved shall have the right of ultimate appeal to a full meeting of the League Committee.