Rules for the 2009 Missouri State University History Bowl

  • The bowl begins at 9:00 a.m. and should conclude about 1:00 p.m.
  • All teams participate in the entire bowl, which is held in a single room, the Plaster Student Union Campus Ball Room.
  • Each team consists of no less than four and no more than six members, one of whom is designated captain.  Alternates are not allowed.
  • Each team sits at a designated table.  Students may not leave the table except during designated breaks.  Students not present and seated at the end of breaks may not participate in the remainder of the bowl.
  • Bowl questions are shown a screen.  At the same time an announcer reads the question twice, using a PA system.  The announcer pauses thirty seconds before reading the next question.  All teams answer all of the questions, competing simultaneously against all other teams in the bowl.
  • The answers to all the questions within a single round are written on the answer sheet supplied.  All responses are made by team deliberation rather than single team members.  The captain records the team’s answer.  Students should deliberate quietly, to prevent their deliberation from being overheard.  Students may write down the question, but that is not a wise use of the time available.
  • At the end of the round teams have three minutes in which to complete deliberations and turn in their answer sheets.  Teams failing to submit on time receive no points for that round.
  • The bowl consists of ten rounds; each round has ten questions.  Each round focuses on a single category, which will be announced to the participating schools in the fall semester.  Within the category the questions will be progressively more challenging.   
  • While the next round proceeds, judges score the team answer sheets; partial credit is possible.  During breaks between rounds four and eight, team scores will be displayed on the screen.
  • At the end of the bowl ties for first and/or second place are broken by a play-off.  The announcer reads single questions.  Team(s) missing questions are progressively eliminated until there is a winner.
  • During closing ceremonies all teams and sponsors are recognized; awards are given to first and second place.
  • Students will place coats, packs, purses, pens, cell- phones, and all other personal property in a designated area.  Students may not take any electronic device to the table; students may not touch any electronic device during the bowl except during breaks.  If a student violates this rule, the student’s team is eliminated from the bowl.   
  • School faculty sponsors/coaches sit on the sidelines and may have contact with students only during designated breaks.  School faculty sponsors/coaches may write down the questions (the questions and categories will change each year; they will not be repeated).
-