PROVISIONAL RULES, REGULATIONS AND GUIDELINES FOR THE ROCHDALE AND DISTRICT QUIZ LEAGUE 2008/09 It should be noted the league is essentially a friendly league. As such, there are no rigid rules or regulations, but simple flexible guidelines that have proven their worth over previous seasons. The following is a set of those guidelines. They should be applied to all quiz matches in the Rochdale and District Quiz league (RDQL). Please ensure that all team members are aware of them. 1.        TIME AND VENUE (i)        Matches take place on Wednesday evenings with a start time of 9pm. Away teams should try to arrive at the home venue before 8.55pm at the latest. (ii)        If, for any reason, teams know that they are going to be late, then it is expected that they will contact their opposition and/or the home venues landlord/landlady. (iii)        There are no penalties for lateness, however it could be considered as disrespectful if a team arrives late, and a team NOT arriving to complete their fixture will forfeit the match and the win awarded to the team waiting to play the quiz match. (iv)        Matches should take place in an area that is free as possible from distraction and well lit. The teams should be seated a reasonable distance apart, as should the questionmaster. 2.        PLAYERS (i)        Teams consist of a maximum of 6 players. There is no minimum number – but there obviously needs to be at least one to start. If a player(s) arrives after a quiz has commenced then (s)he may join at a convenient point in order to make up the numbers, HOWEVER there are no substitutions allowed for a player already taking part in the match. (ii)        There is no registration for players to the league; however players may ONLY play for one team during the course of the season. Any player and/or team found to be in breach of this rule will have that game forfeited, and the player may be asked not to partake in any further games for the remainder of the season. (iii)        It is the responsibility of the home team to provide the Questionmaster, It has been known for the away team to do so in special circumstances and/or by prior arrangement but normally the home team should do so. The Questionmaster should be competent enough to run the contest and should be conversant with the RDQL guidelines. It should be emphasized that the Questionmaster can make or break a quiz. (iv)        Whenever possible, a timekeeper and scorer should be provided. These can come from either team. However it is not uncommon for the Questionmaster to do all these jobs. 3.        PROCEDURE (i)        The questions are provided in a sealed envelope that can be examined by both teams, if so desired. It is the responsibility of the league organizer to ensure that the questions arrive at the correct locations before the matches start. Questions will be delivered to the home venue at least 24 hours prior to the quiz starting. (ii)        Teams toss a coin to decide the order of play. Normally a member of the home team will toss a coin, asking the captain of the away team to call ‘heads’ or ‘tails’. Whoever wins the toss will have the choice of answering first or second. (iii)        The quiz consists of 8 rounds of general knowledge questions. Occasionally there may round(s) with a very loose theme. The teams will be asked questions alternately and there will be 4 questions per team in each round. All questions are for the whole team – THERE ARE NO INDIVIDUAL QUESTIONS. (iv)        Before the quiz starts each team should inform the questioner who will be their captain. Answers can be accepted from this person ONLY unless (s)he wishes to nominate a fellow team member to give a specific answer (e.g. a long, complicated word, a spelling or a foreign phrase). Again, it must be made clear who is being nominated (v)        The team to whom the question is being asked has 30 seconds in which to answer. This timing should start on completion of the question being read. The timekeeper should prompt the team if and when 20 seconds have elapsed. (vi)        If there is an incorrect answer or none at all, then the question is passed over to the opposing side, which has a further 10 seconds in which to answer. (vii)        The answer supplied on the answer sheets should be treated as the correct one. But in the event of a dispute or if it is OBVIOUS to both teams that the printed answer is incorrect or that there is an alternative one that is not given then a spare question should be substituted. Answers do not have to be word perfect, especially any requiring an explanation. The questionmaster should use discretion and common sense. The key should be consistency. On occasions there will be specific printed instructions as to what to accept or reject. Information that is correct but superfluous may be included in brackets. Information that is essential to a correct answer will be underlined or in bold. (viii)        The scoring is as follows: 2 points are awarded for a correct answer to a team’s own question. 1 point is awarded for a correct answer to a question that has been passed over. There are no half points for answers that are partially correct – An answer is either right or wrong. If an answer is partially correct but insufficiently so, then the questionmaster should try to avoid hinting as such when passing it over for a potential bonus. (ix)        There will normally be a short break at the end of round 4, although other breaks can be taken if both sides agree. (x)        After 4 rounds the order of play is reversed. In other words, the team that went first in rounds 1 to 4 will now go second. (xi)        At the end of the quiz both teams should agree on the final score AND THEN THE RESPONSIBILITY OF THE WINNING TEAM to inform the quiz organiser of the result. In the event of a draw then IT IS THE RESPONSIBILITY OF THE HOME TEAM to inform the quiz organizer. There are 4 ways to inform the organizer of the quiz result. •        Phone call to 0161 633 5696 •        Text the result to 07752 922140 •        Email the result to Rdql@aol.com •        Email the result through the leagues website at www.Rdql.org 4.        REFRESHMENTS (i)        Home teams are expected to provide sandwiches or similar light refreshments at the end of the quiz. Wherever possible, vegetarians and vegans should be catered for. If a team has special dietary requirements then they should let their opponents know at least 5 days before the match(otherwise, you ‘get what you are given’) 5.        THE ‘GALLON’ ROUND (i)        There is an optional set of ‘Gallon challenge’ questions attached to the main question sheet that can be used at the end of the main quiz. These will consist of 20 general knowledge questions(RULE CHANGE – 13/09/06)  For the 2006/07 season there will be NO set 'link' or connection throughout the 20 questions; each set of gallon questions will be entirely made up of 20 random questions. The answers will be written down, papers exchanged and marked (one point for each correct answer). These can be used for fun, money, or even a drink. 6.        ALTERNATIVE ARRANGEMENTS (i)        (RULE CHANGE – 13/09/06) For the 2007/08 and future season there will be NO POSTPONEMENTS, in any league or cup game, A team wishing to either call-off or ask for a postponement will immediately forfeit that game, 2 league points will be awarded to the opposition, cup games- the opposition will gain a bye into the next round. The one except to this rule and where the ruling will be exempt will be in the case of adverse weather conditions,   IF a team does wish to call off a fixture then the league organiser should be contacted as soon as possible. (ii)        RULE CHANGE(AGM 14/9/05) -  Due to the make up of the league structure for the 2007/08 season Teams will/and do receive a random date in which they are on a 'league planned' bye week (iii)        In the unlikely event that a fixture cannot be fulfilled by a team then the following will apply •        The team failing to appear will score 15 points less than the lowest actual score by any team in the same division on the night of the originally scheduled date •        The team they should have played will score the average number of points for the winning teams in their division on that same night •        League points will be awarded accordingly(see section 7) (II) Any team, dropping out of the league during the course of the season will have ANY fixtures played will become null and void, thus effecting teams already played the ‘dropping out’ team. 7.        LEAGUE POSITIONS (i)        A team winning league game gains 2 points, teams which draw gain 1 point each, losing teams 0 points. On this basis the league table will be drawn up on the following criteria: •        The team with the most LEAGUE points •        The team scoring the most match points so far in the season •        The teams with the higher or highest number of points scored against(RULE CHANGE - AGM 3/09/08 •        The team scoring more match points in games between the teams that have tied on league points •        The team with the better record against those above them in the league •        Most points scored against teams above them in the league •        Fewer points conceded against teams further up the league •        The above criteria cannot separate the teams then a ply-off will be arranged at the earliest possible opportunity. 8.        DIVISIONS (i)        For the past few seasons the league has operated on a divisional basis determined by previous performances and not geographical location. A ‘2 up 2 down’ rule has been used when formulating the divisions for the following season. Normally, new teams will start in the bottom division and all divisions adjusted accordingly. However, if there are several new teams and some dropping out it may be necessary to adjust the divisions in order to balance the league. This will be done at the discretion of the league organiser. 9.        PROCEDURES FOR THE KNOCK- OUT COMPETITIONS (i)        The league incorporates 2 knock-out competitions (RULE CHANGE – 14/9/05 – Divisional cup competition will be with held for the 2005/06 and future seasons, this maybe re-introduced for further seasons, depending on League decisions AGM 2005) The Simon J Roberts Handicap Cup and the Memorial Plate Handicap. Both will be run on a handicapped basis (RULE CHANGE AGM 2000). Both cup competitions will start in the second half of the season rather than after the completion of the league (ii)        Each league team is given a ‘handicap’ score in which they carry through both competitions with them, this handicap score is worked out on the basis of each team’s league performance of the first half of each season. (iii)        The format and guidelines for both cup competitions are the same as the league with the following exceptions. •        Any team failing to attend a cup match, or asking for a postponement will forfeit the game. •        All of the questions will be ‘general knowledge’ (i.e. there will be no theme rounds (rule change 22/9/93 AGM) •        In the event of a tie at the end of round 8 there is an additional Round 9. The team who is answering the (a) set of questions will continue to do so. This applies until a winning result is arrived at. •        In the event of the scores still being tied at the end of Round 9 then the teams should proceed to answer questions in the additional Round 10. •        If the scores are still level at the end of Round 10 the Gallon questions should be used using the normal gallon guidelines (Section 5) •        If this still fails to separate the teams then unfortunately in a knock-out competition a definite result needs to be arrived at. At this stage the home team captain should toss a coin for the away team captain to call. It is to be hoped that this will never have to be used – and so far it has not been needed. 10.        END OF SEASON (i)        TROPHIES – (i)        All teams either winning and/or runners-up each division, Cup winners and runners-up will be entitled to a trophy. The teams entitled to a have the option of – 1 bigger, better quality trophy for the pub/club or as traditionally, a smaller trophy and 6 individual shields. Nearer the end of the season the organiser will be in touch with teams to discuss on the teams decision. All trophies are presented at the league’s end of season bash. PAIRS BRAINS OF ROCHDALE – (i)        After the league and cup fixtures have been completed, the league ‘hosts’ a Pairs Brains of Rochdale event this is made up by – •        Any 2 people who have played at least ONE league or Cup fixture are entitled to take part •        The ‘Pairs’ maybe a colleague from the same pub/club team and/or a colleague/friend from another pub/club. •        Each team may submit as many ‘Pairs’ as they deem fit to do so. PRESENTATION NIGHT (i)        This is the end of season party/bash/celebration/quiz. A 3 Round general knowledge table team quiz takes place, also this is where the presenting to all teams their trophies 11.        SUBSCRIPTIONS (i)        The cost of entry into the league for one season is £80 per team. For the 2008/09 season. THIS IS A ONE-OFF PAYMENT. This covers all costs of running the league – questions, books, printing, photocopying, phone bills, postage, stationary, petrol expenses, purchases of trophies, and all sundries. 12.        GENERAL/ANOTHER OTHER BUSINESS (i)        Please remember that the league is a ‘Friendly’ league and these are guidelines in which are there to be adhered to and not meant to be used against any individual/team. (ii)        All issues which may arise throughout the season are treat with understanding and respect by the league organiser, there maybe at times a dispute between teams, which in case the organiser will fully listen to both sides of a dispute in the hope of a full resolve from all 3 parties involved, If no resolvement can be met, after all avenue’s of discussion have been met and exhausted, The league organiser decision will be final. The rules/guidelines will be updated and will incorporate any new changes for the 2007/08 season after the league’s AGM on Wednesday 14th September 2007 Mark Preston Rochdale and District Quiz League Organiser.