I. Purpose for these rules
The ministries participating in this program have seen the need for unified rules that can be applied at any
Regional or National tournament in which more than one of the ministries of Bible Quiz Fellowship
participates. These are not necessarily suggested local rules, but can be reproduced freely and used in that
way by anyone participating in Bible Quiz Fellowship. Bible Quizzing is designed to encourage people to
memorize and meditate on the Scriptures, to provide healthy competition and to build Christian character.

II. Purpose for Bible Quizzing
Bible Quizzing has the purpose of fulfilling part of the Great Commission, as found in Matthew 28:20
“...and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you.” We believe that helping people to
memorize and meditate upon the commands of Jesus will help them to obey His commands. The Psalmist
pointed this out when he said; “I have hidden your word in my heart that I might not sin against you.”
Ps. 119:11.

 

 

For each quiz, the tournament directors will designate a minimum of three officials. These officials will
include at least one Quizmaster, at least one Scorekeeper, and one Timekeeper.
IV. The Quizmaster
IV.A. The quizmaster is responsible for governing all aspects of the quiz. He/she will:
IV. Check all the lights before each quiz to determine that they work properly.
IV. If possible, check all questions before each quiz for accuracy and proper construction.
IV. Instruct the timekeeper to start and stop the clock, calling “time in” and “time out” as
appropriate. The quizmaster may permit the timekeeper the discretion to stop the clock at other
times, if appropriate.
IV. Read the questions during the quiz. The quizmaster will read each question only once,
and will make every effort to stop reading the instant a light comes on indicating that a quizzer
has jumped to answer the question. The quizmaster may not repeat part or all of a question for a
quizzer.
IV. Determine and indicate who has the right to answer each question.
IV. Determine whether an answer is correct (twenty points) or an error. Twenty points
should be awarded as soon as the quiz master determines the correct question and answer has
been given fully and completely. An error should be awarded as soon as any incorrect
information has been given, even if the answer is not yet complete.
IV. Call any fouls noticed in the course of the quiz.
IV. If time has run off the clock inappropriately for any reason, the quizmaster may instruct
the timekeeper to restore time to the clock at the quizmaster’s discretion.

IV. Work hard to ensure that each quiz stays on schedule and finishes on time.
IV.B. If more than one quizmaster is assigned to a quiz, quizmasters should be designated as
“primary” and “backup.” The primary quizmaster will then have final authority in all decisions.
Backup quizmasters will assist in calling fouls, making decisions about correctness of answers and in
all others ways assisting the primary quizmaster in judging the quiz correctly. Except for emergencies,
Primary and Backup quizmasters should not switch roles during the course of a single quiz, but should
switch roles between quizzes when more than one quiz is required.

V. The Scorekeeper(s)
V.A. The scorekeeper will maintain the official scoring records for the quiz. He/she will:
V. Make appropriate tally marks as the quiz progresses, indicating errors, fouls, bonuses, technical
fouls, timeouts and correct answers on the official score sheet. The scorekeeper must indicate,
on the score sheet, which points were scored in overtime, and these points will not be included
in team bracket points or individual averages.
V. Tally and announce the team scores at halftime and at the end of the quiz. He/she may also
keep a running score if desired.
V. Notify the quizmaster when a quizzer has quizzed out or errored out of the quiz.
V. Notify each team when they receive their third and sixth team errors, and when five, six or
seven people from the same team have answered correctly.
V. Assist the quizmaster in calling fouls and in judging the correctness of jumps and answers.
V.B. If more than one scorekeeper is assigned to a quiz, scorekeepers should tally and agree
on the official score before announcing the final results of a quiz. Scorekeepers can also consult each
other if scores or tallys are in doubt.

VI. The Timekeeper
VI. The timekeeper will operate a time clock or stopwatch during the quiz. He/she will:
VI. Keep regulation time for two six minute halves, keep overtime time for each overtime
period, and keep time for each time out. This timekeeping will follow the instructions of the
quizmaster to “time in,” “time out,” or restore time to the clock.
VI. Notify the quizmaster if a quizzer does not begin to answer within five seconds of being
called upon.
VI. Notify the quizmaster if a quizzer has not finished their answer within the allowed 20 or
30 seconds.
VI. Assist the quizmaster in calling fouls and in judging the correctness of jumps and
answers.

VII. Basic rules and format of the quiz
VII.A. A quiz will consist of all the questions the quizmaster can read within two six-minute
halves. In case of a tie score, overtime periods may be added. The first overtime period will be two
minutes long, the rest will be one minute each until the quiz is decided.
VII.B. Three teams will compete at the same time in each quiz, sitting on chairs fitted with
electronic pads to help the quizmaster determine which quizzer was the first to jump. (These should be
as similar as possible to the pads marketed by Quiz-Time of Benton Harbor, MI.) Audience members,
coaches, assistants and substitutes should sit generally behind the quizmaster. No one except table
officials should be sitting close enough to the quiz official’s table that they may be able to read the
questions. No one may sit in front of the table officials’ table except the fifteen active quizzers.
VII. The first quizzer to jump will be called on by the quizmaster and must answer the
question.
VII. If no quizzer jumps within three seconds after the quizmaster has finished reading the
question, the quizmaster will close the question by saying “no question.”
VII. If a quizzer jumps before a question has been completely read, the quizmaster will direct
the quizzer to “Finish the question.” This wording will be used for both types of questions.
VII. If time (for a half or overtime period) runs out during a question, but after the quizmaster
has read the Scripture reference for that question, the first quizzer to jump must answer the
question, and is allowed the full 20 or 30 seconds.

VII. If time (for a half or overtime period) runs out during a question, but before the
quizmaster has finished reading the Scripture reference for that question, the question is thrown
out and the quiz is ended.
VII. If a question (including quotes) has been either repeated as a mistake by the quizmaster
or printed twice in a quiz, it should be thrown out and time put back on the clock. - added May
31, 2003
VII.C. Two types of questions will be used. These will follow as closely as possible the rules
spelled out in the “BQF Guide to Making Questions.” Questions will be based on the 1984 copyright
of the New International Version of the Bible. In general, the questions will follow these formats:
VII. Interrogative questions will consist of an interrogative word replacing a key word or
phrase from the Scriptures. These will be asked by the quizmaster as follows, “Question,
according to (book), chapter, verse, ...” To answer these correctly:
VII. A quizzer must supply the correct interrogative word (occasionally, another interrogative
word may be good enough if the meaning of the question is unchanged), and the quizzer
must clearly supply the correct and complete question and answer. Only the first question
and answer supplied by the quizzer may be considered, but if no incorrect information is
given, a quizzer may add more information to make the first question and answer correct,
as long as the quizzer finishes within the twenty second time limit.
VII. In some cases, a quizzer may receive twenty points if a “flip-flop” is awarded. This
means that the quizzer has given the question as the answer and the answer as a question.
VII. A quizzer must not include any information except what that particular Scripture
reference actually says, and whatever helping verbs are necessary to make the question
grammatically workable.
VII. A quizzer must begin to answer within five seconds and finish the answer within twenty
seconds after being called upon by the Quizmaster.
VII. Quote questions will be based on quote verses. Verses that may serve as quotes will be
indicated in the practice questions supplied by Bible Quiz Fellowship. These questions will be
asked as follows, “Question, according to (book) chapter, verse, ‘quote.’” The quizzer will then
quote the entire verse. To answer correctly:
VII. A quizzer must quote the entire verse, word for word and letter perfectly, within 30
seconds after being called upon by the quizmaster.
VII. A quizzer must begin to answer within five seconds of being called upon. If a quiz
master says “Finish the question” on a quote question, the quizzer must say “Quote” within
20 seconds. The quizzer would still have the full 30 seconds for the quote.
VII. A quizzer may go back and repeat part or all of the verse, provided that no incorrect
information is given, and no words are spoken in the wrong order.
VII. Approximately 15 percent of the questions should be quote questions.
VII. If a Quiz Master says “Finish the question” on a quote question, the quizzer must say
quote before they start quoting the verse.

VIII. During the quiz
VIII.A. The role of the Coach is to encourage the team, provide strategy and make
substitutions. During the quiz:
VIII. Coaches must provide a lineup for the table officials before each quiz, as indicated in III.
B. above.
VIII. Coaches may make substitutions at any time after points are awarded and before the
quizmaster says “question.” Coaches must call out “Substitution,” at which time the quizmaster
should call time out and allow the substitution.
VIII. Coaches should pray with and encourage their team during the 45 second break between
halves of the quiz.
VIII. Coaches may call one 15 second “Time Out” at any time during the quiz, after points
have been awarded and before the quizmaster says “question.” Only the coach may approach
the active quizzers during a time out.
VIII. Coaches must indicate who will replace a quizzer who has quizzed out or errored out.
VIII. Coaches may offer or rebut a challenge when external distractions disrupt a quizzer,
when a question contains typing errors, incorrect information or other types of errors, when the
quizmaster reads a question incorrectly, or an error has been awarded. If a coach’s challenge is
not upheld, that coach loses the privilege to challenge again in the quiz. This request should be

directed at the quizmaster after points are awarded, but before the next question. The decision
of the quizmaster is final.
VIII.B. The role of the team Captain is to provide leadership for the team. Besides answering
questions:
VIII. A captain may challenge a question or answer if information given in the question or
answer is incorrect, or if the question contains typing errors, or was read incorrectly by the
quizmaster.
VIII. A captain may challenge an error if external distractions or other factors disrupted the
quiz while a quizzer was attempting to answer.
VIII. Any challenge should be made immediately. Reasonably prompt challenges take priority
over substitutions, team time outs, halftimes or any other break in the quiz.
VIII. If appropriate, opposing captains should be given an opportunity to rebut a challenge.
VIII. In all challenges, quizzers should maintain an attitude of respect and kindness as is
fitting for a Christian.
VIII. Once a quizmaster has considered the challenge, looked up the reference and rendered a
decision, that decision is final. No further challenges are permitted on that issue.
VIII.C. Quizzers may score or lose points in the following ways:
VIII. For each correct answer, a quizzer earns 20 points.
VIII. When a team has five different people answer correctly in the same quiz, an extra 20
points is added to the team total. This also applies when six and seven quizzers answer
correctly.
VIII. If a quizzer answers five questions correctly with no errors, he/she has “quizzed out,
perfect score.” The quizzer is awarded a bonus ten points, and is eliminated from the quiz.
VIII. If a quizzer answers five questions correctly, but has received one or more errors, he/she
has “quizzed out,” and is eliminated from the quiz, but no bonus points are awarded.
VIII. A quizzer earns an error by answering incorrectly, or by receiving two fouls. Errors
follow these rules:
VIII. When a quizzer receives his or her third error, he/she is eliminated from the
quiz, having “erred out.”
VIII. A team’s first three errors are “free.”
VIII. For team errors 4, 5 and 6, ten points each will be deducted from the team
score.
VIII. For each error after the sixth, 20 points will be deducted from the team score.
VIII. If one quizzer receives two fouls, that combines to count as an error.
VIII. If two different quizzers have one foul each, that combines to count as a team
error.
VIII. See also 6.e. below
VIII. Fouls are called using the following rules:
VIII. A foul is given for disruption of the quiz while the clock is running.
VIII. A foul is given for communication with a quizzer after the quizmaster says
“question,” and before points are awarded.
VIII. A foul is given if a quizzer’s hands touch the chair seat, or touch another
quizzer during a question.
VIII. A foul is given when a quizzer answers out of turn, or without being called
upon:
1) If a quizzer answers when a member of an opposing team was called on, the quizzer is
given a foul and the member of the opposing team may answer the question at the
discretion of the quizmaster.
2) If a quizzer answers when a member of his/her team was called on, the quizzer is given
a foul and the question must be thrown out.
VIII.D. If a quizzer’s light comes on or stays on after the quizmaster finishes saying the
word “question,” but the quizzer does not rise to full stature in one continuous motion and
attempt to answer the question, one of the following must be done:
VIII.E. A foul must be awarded if the light came on before the quizmaster read any part
of the reference. The question can then be reused, and any quizzer may answer.
VIII.F. An error must be awarded if the light comes on after the quizmaster begins to
read the reference. The question must then be thrown out.
VIII.G. A quiz will not end on a foul.

1. If a team or individual is awarded a technical foul, ten points are deducted from that team’s
score. If a second technical is awarded to the same person in the same quiz, ten points are
deducted from the team score, that person is disqualified, eliminated from the quiz and finishes
the quiz with zero personal points (any points added to the team score will be removed). If a
team receives a total of three technical fouls on any combination of coaches, quizzers or
cheering section, that team is disqualified and eliminated from the quiz in last place with zero
points and zero bracket points. Technical fouls are awarded for:
VIII.H. Failure to submit a correct lineup before the quiz, as detailed above in III. B.
VIII.I. Persistent or inappropriate challenges.
VIII.J. Unsportsmanlike conduct, or any conduct unbecoming of a Christian by any
member of the team.
VIII.K. Inappropriate cheering at any time or communication while a quizzer is
attempting to answer by any member of a cheering section.
VIII.L. If a team purposely delays giving the correct answers with the apparent intent of
stalling to protect a lead in a quiz, that team will be given a technical foul and the wasted
time will be restored to the clock.
VIII.M. If a team is not at the scheduled quiz site on time, and is not still engaged in or
coming from a previous quiz (to be checked by the quizmaster), the quizmaster will start
the quiz. If the team arrives late, a technical foul is awarded and the team may join the quiz
in progress. If a team arrives later than halftime, they may join the quiz with one technical,
but will finish in third place regardless of their score.
VIII.N. Time remaining may only be asked for the by the captain or coach when the
clock is stopped. Any other request for time remaining will be assessed a technical foul.

IX. Tournament format
IX.A. Bracket points will be calculated during the round robin portion of a tournament to
determine the “seeding” placement of each team in the elimination bracket. The following basis will be
used to calculate bracket points:
IX. Ten bracket points will be awarded for a first place finish.
IX. Six bracket points will be awarded for a second place finish.
IX. Two bracket points will be awarded for a third place finish.
IX. One percent of the team score for each quiz will be added to the bracket points. For
purposes of calculating bracket points or individual averages, points scored in an overtime
period are not “counted.”
IX.B. The Bible Quiz Fellowship committee will decide upon rule changes.