Rules

See also: Code of Practice for Question Masters

1 - VALIDITY OF THESE RULES

1.1 The following match Rules, annexed to the Constitution of the Quiz League of London, shall be governed by the Constitution and shall hold for the principal competition organised by the League and for any other competitions organised by the League subject to such variations as the Committee may agree.

2 - PROVISION OF QUESTIONS etc

2.1 Sets of questions will be provided by the 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. These envelopes should only be opened by the Question Master (QM) 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. Should the seal be found to be broken, the visiting team shall have the right to claim the match.

3 - RULES OF PLAY

3.1 Matches shall take place on the dates specified by the 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 Committee who must satisfy themselves that any match is played according to these Rules and that the security of question sets is not violated on any such 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 a 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 when the Question Master (QM) starts 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 one point only. Any arrivals after the start of a match cannot join a team.

3.4 The Home Team shall be responsible for providing a QM, a Scorer and a Timekeeper for each match (who may be the same person), save where the teams agree otherwise. At all times, the QM must adjudicate in accordance with the Code of Practice which forms an appendix to these Rules.

3.5 Matches shall commence at 8.30pm unless the Committee directs otherwise. A period of grace of 15 minutes shall be allowed. Should the start be delayed beyond that 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.

3.7 All questions must be answered by the team member to whom the question is directed within ten seconds. The QM will award two points for a correct reply. 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 Code of Practice, the QM may award one point for a reply which is in his opinion at the time a near miss.

3.8 Should the team member whose turn it is to answer, not give an answer within 10 seconds, the team captain may nominate any 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 to which a question is directed is awarded no points, the captain of the opposing team shall be offered the chance to nominate a member of his team 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 QM to have prompted in any manner, the QM must treat any answer received as incorrect and proceed as in 3.9 above. However, should the QM give any answer inadvertently, then the team affected must be asked a supplementary question drawn from the set provided.

3.11 If any person present at the match prompt a person answering a question, the QM must cancel that 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, four results points shall be awarded to the winning team, and two results points shall be awarded to each team in the event of the scores being tied. Additionally, bonus points shall be awarded as follows:

a) One bonus point to a losing team where the difference between the final agreed scores is three points or fewer.

b) One bonus point to either or both teams, irrespective of the match result, on the first instance only by each team, of all four players in a team in any one round correctly answering the question directed to them for two points.

Bonus points shall be added to the result points to give the total league points.

4.2 Scoring sheets for the match will be issued by the Committee and shall be the sole record of a match result. They should be completed in compliance with these Match Rules and with the Code of Practice.

4.3 Scoring sheets must bear the names of all eight players in block capitals and be counter-signed by both captains and the QM 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 a protest against the result may be 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 or deduction of points as the Committee shall determine.

4.4 If two teams are level on league points, league positions will be determined as follows:

i) highest number of results points; if equal:

ii) highest number of match points scored during the season; if equal:

iii) cumulative match points difference over the season; if equal:

iv) results points in matches between the teams concerned; if equal:

v) match points scored in matches between the teams concerned; if equal:

vi) number of questions answered for 2 points during the season; if equal:

vii) toss of coin.

4.5 If the teams have played different numbers of games during the season due to forfeit matches, (i), (ii) and (vi) above will be calculated on an average basis (with a forfeit match counting as a match played by the forfeiting team but not by their opponents).

4.6 If a team withdraws from the League during a season,

a) when fewer than half of the season's games have been played, all League and match points scored against it shall be discounted;

b) with half of more of the season played, its remaining matches shall count as forfeit, with each remaining opponent awarded League points as though they had won, and match points averaged as in rule 4.5 above.

4.7 In the President's Cup competition, there shall be no bonus points, and rule

4.4 shall apply with sub-rule (vi) used as the first tie-breaker and the other sub-rules re-numbered accordingly.

5 - PROTESTS etc

5.1 Any team wishing to protest about the awarding or not awarding of points (whether in respect of the accuracy of a question or the decision of the QM) shall have the right to do so. 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.

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

5.3 At the close of a match, unless a team decides to withdraw its indication, the captain of that team should write the word “PROTEST” on the front of the Result Sheet and brief details of the matter on the reverse side.

5.4 The team wishing to pursue a protest must do so within three days of the match by sending full written details of the matter to the Secretary or other person nominated for the purpose by the Committee, with a copy to the other team involved. A protest may be lodged where the indication process above has not been followed, but will only be considered at the discretion of the Committee (or any sub-committee with delegated authority to deal with protests) if the circumstances justify the failure to lodge a timely indication.

5.5 The protest will be considered by a tribunal of at least three members nominated by the Committee or any relevant sub-committee. The tribunal must not include any person associated with either team involved in the match or any other team that would clearly benefit from any resulting ruling. The tribunal must consider the matter impartially, and send its ruling within three days to both teams involved. If either team is dissatisfied with the ruling, it may within three days request a meeting with the tribunal, which shall be arranged as soon as practicable, and with at least three days' notice to both teams involved who shall each have the right to send a team member to present that team's case. There shall be no appeal against the ruling of a tribunal following a meeting.

5.6 Any protest or complaint about the conduct of a match not falling within paragraph 5.1 shall be made in writing to the secretary within 7 days of the match, and shall be considered by the Committee. Any decision by the Committee to impose sanctions on a team involved is subject to paragraph 6 of the Constitution.

6 - TEAM MEMBERSHIP

6.1 In any given competition under the auspices of the QLL, a player may not change teams during the course of a season without first obtaining the permission of the Committee or any sub-committee nominated by the Committee for this purpose.

6.2 If a player represents a team in contravention of this rule, any league points awarded to that team in any game in which the player took part without permission shall be deducted and the game shall be considered forfeit.

All London Cup and Plate

1 All QLL member teams are automatically included in the draw which will be circulated towards the end of the main League Competition. Guest teams are welcome and member clubs are encouraged to form extra sides specially for the purpose of this Competition. Entries from guests or non-regular teams must be by entry form available from the General Secretary. An entrance fee may be charged.

2 Teams losing their first game in the Cup are automatically entered in the Plate. For the purpose of Rule 6 of the Match Rules, the Cup and Plate are a single competition and players may not play for more than one side without permission during the whole Competition.

3 Handicaps in the form of starting scores are awarded at the discretion of the QLL Committee, whose decision regarding same shall be final. Handicaps will be awarded to QLL teams on the basis of performance during the Season and will be the same in each round of the Competition (Cup and Plate).

4 Starting scores appear on the draw sheet in brackets and must be appended to the Score sheet before the start of the first round. The QM should announce what scores will be added before the start of the first round - e.g. “The score before the start of Round One is ........”

5 The following additions to the Match Rules apply:

3.2(a) If, after eight rounds have been played, the scores as agreed by the two captains are tied, then the order of answering will change and Round Nine will be played under normal rules.

3.2(b) If, after Round Nine has been played, the scores as agreed are still tied, the order of answering will change and Round Ten will be played on a “sudden death” basis ,that is, the first side to gain the lead after an even number of questions have been played shall be the winner.

President's Cup

1 The following amendments to the Match Rules apply:

1.1 Matches take place on Sunday afternoons at shall commence at 2.30pm. The 15 minutes grace period (rule 3.5) applies.

1.2 No bonus points are awarded (rule 4.1).

1.3 Rule 4.4 is varied so that the first tie-break for League positions is (vi) number of questions answered for 2 points.

Summer Quiz League

1 The following amendments to the Match Rules apply:

1.1 Three teams attend play one another at each venue (three matches in all).

1.2 The first match shall commence at 8.00 pm.

1.3 Order of the matches shall be decided by agreement between the teams, and the order of play shall be decided by the toss of a coin.

1.4 The questions are not provided by the League Committee, but set by the participating teams or otherwise obtained by the organiser. Accordingly, Rule 5 (Protests) does not apply.

1.5 Rule 6 (Team membership) does not apply.

Brain of London

1 - General

1.1 The Competition shall be known as “Brain of London” and shall be played at such times as the QLL Committee shall determine in accordance with the Mode of Play below. QLL own the title of the Competition and sole rights to publish or otherwise issue any statements concerning it.

1.2 The Competition is open to all comers save anyone who has played in the Merseyside Quiz Leagues' Mimir trophy in the current season. Contestants may be asked for an entry fee.

1.3 The number of rounds in the Competition prior to the Final shall be at the discretion of the QLL Committee but shall always be sufficient to ensure that four players are selected for the Final.

2 - The Players

2.1 The Competition is played in groups of three or four players as may be determined from time to time, games being played simultaneously as needed, and two from each group going forward into the next round of the Competition.

2.2 Players will be allocated to groups in each round including the Final by means of a random draw made on the night and will play in their groups in the order in which they are drawn.

2.3 In Preliminary Rounds, players not participating in a round are expected to assist by acting as QM or scorers.

3 - The mode of play

3.1 Each match consists of five rounds.

3.2 The player who was named first in the draw will answer first and will sit opposite the QM to the QM's left. Each player will be asked three questions in succession per round. A correct answer scores one point.

3.3 There is no time limit for answering but the QM may ask a player to give an answer for the sake of progress in the match.

3.4 If a player gives a wrong answer or passes, the QM shall offer the question to other players for a bonus point. Correct bonus answers score one point. The QM shall offer the question first to the player who, having signalled a wish to attempt the bonus, has made the lowest number of previous bonus attempts (whether correct or incorrect) during the match. If two or more players have made the same number of bonus attempts, the bonus shall be offered in turn to those players starting with the one next on the left of the player originally asked the question. For the purposes of this Rule, player number one is deemed to be on the left of player number four.

3.5 The scorer or scorers must keep a record of bonus attempts and assist the QM in directing the offer of a bonus to the appropriate player under 3.4 above. A bonus attempt is defined as any attempt to give an answer, whether complete or not and whether correct or not. An offer to answer made by giving a signal is not in itself an attempt for this purpose, and a player may pass when offered a bonus opportunity without penalty.

3.6 Players must signal that they wish to attempt a question by holding a hand out above the table in front of them. The signal must be made before either the QM states that the original answer is incorrect or, as the case may be, the player originally asked the question says “Pass”. But if that player passes or gives an incorrect answer before the QM finishes reading the question, the QM shall complete the question, and any players wishing to make a bonus attempt must then signal immediately. No player may be offered a bonus attempt unless they have made a timely signal in accordance with this Rule. This includes players other than the one entitled to the first attempt. When the QM offers a bonus opportunity, the player must then answer promptly, or the QM shall pass the opportunity to make a bonus attempt to the next player entitled to it.

3.7 At the end of each round in the match, the QM should announce both the scores and the number of bonus attempts. Any player has the right to ask for the scores and attempts during the last round of a match.

3.8 In the event of scores being tied, the same tie break questions will be asked in turn to each contestant until a winner emerges. If available, tie-break questions shall be asked in two groups of three, followed by a 'nearest guess' question. Otherwise, tie-breaks shall be arranged at the discretion of the QM.