Bible Bowl Rules
 

1.      The selected Bible books for 2009 are the books of Galatians  and Ephesians.

2.      All Bible Bowl Questions will be taken from the King James Version.

3.      All questions will be multiple-choice.

4.      Each congregation may have one Junior Team and one Senior Team to represent them in the Tennessee State Regional Bible Bowl Competitions. Junior Teams shall consist of students grades 6 and below. Senior Teams shall consist of students grade 7 through 12; for the current school year. A Junior may participate on a Senior Team, but a Senior cannot participate on a Junior Team."

5.  Though all participants may not be baptized members, each participant must be a regular attendee of the congregation they represent. All participants must follow standing guidelines for Tennessee State Youth Conference activities.

6.      A team will consist of four players. One alternate may be assigned to each team. Team information, which includes the name of team members and the alternate, shall be submitted to the Regional host by that region's established deadline. Failure to comply may constitute disqualification.

7.      Team participants and the alternate that compete and qualify for the State Bible Bowl are expected to participate. Any substitution, (other than the original team and its alternate) shall require approval of the Tennessee State Bible Bowl Subcommittee. A team winning the Regional Bible Bowl must be registered for the State Youth Conference by the established deadline. Failure to comply will constitute disqualification and that Region's 2^nd place team will be the state representative. In the event a region cannot provide a team for either category for the Tennessee State Youth Conference Bible Bowl Competition, the regional coordinator should contact the Bible Bowl Committee Coordinator verifying this information. The Bible Bowl Coordinator will contact the other two regions and the next placed teams, “not already participating,” in the State Bible Bowl, from the other two regions will compete in a ‘semi-final’ round prior to the State Youth Conference Bible Bowl Competition. The ‘semi-final’ round will consist of seven (7) questions requiring a “word” or “fill in the blank” answer. The first team to receive four (4) points will be the State Conference Bible Bowl participant. If either of the requested teams forfeits, the other team will automatically become the State Bible Bowl participant without engaging in a ‘semi-final’ competition.

8.      Congregations in the same region may be able to participate as a “joint-team” upon approval of the regional Bible Bowl Coordinator and/or the Bible Bowl Sub-committee. Small congregations, without an adequate number of youth (4) to form a junior or senior team, may be able to combine with another congregation within the same region who also does not have a sufficient number to submit a team. In order to do this, a request must be submitted to the “Regional Bible Bowl Coordinator” and allowances of the “joint-team” will be made on a case by case basis. The regional coordinator must ensure the congregation has less than an adequate number of youth and select a team or teams from two or more congregations. The team or teams shall be submitted to the other Bible Bowl Sub-committee members prior to regional competition for confirmation. The combined team will be allowed to compete in the regional competition upon approval from the Bible Bowl Sub-committee. Congregations with four or more students in an age group (Junior of Senior) or a junior that could feasible be moved up to the senior level will “not” be allowed to combine with another congregation.

9.      Each individual congregation shall develop their own study questions from the selected Bible book(s) in preparing their team(s) for the region and state Bible Bowls.

10.  The Regional Bible Bowl Coordinator(s) shall select questions from the same selected Bible book(s) for Regional competition.

11.  The Regional Bible Bowl Coordinator(s) shall determine how the competition in their particular area will be carried out. Multiple choice questions, from the selected Bible book(s) shall be used to determine winners for each region. Regional Bible Bowl competitions shall be held using the same buzzer systems as the State Bible Bowl competition. 

12.  The Regional Bible Bowl Coordinator for the host area shall be responsible for assisting the host congregation with the State Bible Bowl whenever the State Conference is hosted in that region.

13.  Regional sponsors (congregations or groups of congregations that host the regional competitions) shall provide incentives and awards for all Bible Bowl Teams participating in their regional activities. (A small fee will possibly be required from each participating congregation to provide these services. The host of the Regional Bible Bowl will be responsible for setting this fee).

14.  The regional Bible Bowl coordinators are: (Charles Caruthers - East, Vanessa Gardenhire - Middle, and Richard Clark - West.

15.  Regional winners will participate in the Tennessee State Youth Conference Bible Bowl, and the winner of the competition will claim the “BOWL or TROPHY” which must be returned and defended at the Conference the following year. Each participating congregation will receive a “Trophy” to keep. This “trophy” will be given based on the congregation’s rating in the State Bible Bowl Competition. The first place “Junior” and “Senior” teams from each region will compete in the Tennessee State Bible Bowl. Individual trophies or medals (Gold, Silver, and Bronze), the preference of the host congregation, shall also be made available to each participant (five for each team) based on their rankings at the completion of the competition. A total of 10 first place trophies or medals, 10 second place trophies or metals, and 10 third place trophies or medals shall be provided for all participants in the State Bible Bowl for a total of 30 awards.

16.  Names of regional winners shall be provided to the State Conference Bible Bowl Rules Coordinator at least one full week prior to the State Conference. Failure to comply may constitute a disqualification.

17.  An audio visual buzzer system (a 12-port system with a light and a buzzer that activates when a team is ready to answer) shall be used during the State Bible Bowl Competition.

18.  Each Region will be designated by color, East Tennessee (Green), Middle Tennessee (Blue), and West Tennessee (Red).

19.  The Youth Conference Host shall select a Bible Bowl Operations Team. This team shall consist of a moderator, at least three judges, a buzzer operator, and two official score keepers. Note: The moderator shall call on the judges as needed to make decisions that will assure those conflicts and disturbances are avoided. The judge’s calls are final up to and including disqualifications, if necessary. Members from a congregation that has a competing team cannot be a part of the Bible Bowl Operations Team.

21.  Once a team buzzes-in, the moderator will acknowledge that team and state that the team has ten seconds to answer. The team may converse during this period and will be awarded a point so long as the correct answer is given before time is called. If the moderator completes the reading of a question before a team buzzes in, the moderator will state, “You have ten seconds to answer.” From that point, a team must buzz in and answer the question correctly within the allotted time to be awarded a point.

22.  The moderator shall read the question to all teams. If a team, at anytime, feels that it is ready to answer the question, the team may buzz in. The moderator will stop reading, acknowledge that team, and allow the team to answer the question with the available information. If the team answers correctly, a point will be awarded, and the moderator will proceed to the next question. If the team answers incorrectly, the moderator will disqualify the team that answered incorrectly from buzzing in during the remainder of the current question and read the entire question to the other two teams. If either of the teams answers correctly, a point will be awarded, and the moderator will continue the competition. If either of the teams answers incorrectly, the moderator will remove that question from the competition. The moderator will read all questions in their entirety and give the correct answer. If a disqualified team buzzes-in or interferes in any way during the period that the question is being read to the other two teams, one point will be deducted from their total score for any kind of disruption. If that team has not received any points at that time, they will receive a negative point.

23.  The correct answer or the correct letter will be acceptable when the question is read in its entirety. A team must give the complete correct answer, not the multiple choice letter when the team buzzes in early.

24.  The Bible Bowl Committee will provide all questions for the Tennessee State Youth Conference to the host congregation.

25.  A total of 25 questions will be asked in each competition. In case there is a tie, a “sudden-death” competition will begin, and the first team to get a correct answer will be the winner of the State Competition.

26.  Registration Fee to the National Youth Conference will be paid for the winning “Senior Team” [a total of five places]. The Tennessee State Youth Conference host shall provide a budget to cover these fees. (These fees shall be sent to the local congregation allowing ample time to meet the registration deadline of the National Conference, and a copy of this transaction shall be sent to the Treasurer of the Tennessee State Youth Conference Steering Committee.) The Youth Director/Counselor of the winning team shall contact the host within “one month” and verify the status of their team's attendance at the National Youth Conference. In the event the first place team cannot attend the National Conference, the host will contact runners-up in the order of placement, and they shall be given an opportunity to attend the National Youth Conference. If no State Youth Conference Bible Bowl participants are able to attend the National Conference, these funds will be retained by the Youth Conference Steering Committee.

27.  The winning “Junior Team,” consisting of four to five people will be provided free registration to the following year's Tennessee State Youth Conference. Certificates will be provided at the State Conference for each member of the winning “Junior Team.” To receive credit, this certificate shall be attached to the registration form the following year. The host will be responsible for providing a budget to cover this expense. The past year’s host will send five  copies of the past year’s winning certificates for Junior team members to the host congregation for verification.

28.  A Bible Bowl Report of Participants, Winners, Trophies or Medals received, and disbursement of funds shall be provided in the Host Congregation's exit report. This is requested to provide a record of all activities and the responsibilities of the upcoming Host Congregation.