Division II

Helen Ruffin Reading Bowl

February 21, 2015

Volunteer Training

College of Education

Room 1123

Georgia Southern University

Game Format for the Southern Regional

Helen Ruffin Reading Bowl

• All teams will participate in 5 rounds.

• Each round will consist of 10 questions.

• Teams will receive 10 points for each correct answer.

• There will be no penalties for wrong answers.

• There will be five members on a team and up to five

alternates.

• Alternates may be substituted between rounds.

• A school may have no more than one team.

Reading Bowl Rules, pg. 1

Rules during the Game (to be read by the Moderator at the beginning of each round)

1. Seated team members may hold the buzzer.

2. When the student buzzes in, the console judge must acknowledge the team and student by

saying the color of the team and then the number of the student.

3. The answer must be given within 10 seconds by the student who buzzed in after being

recognized by the console judge. If a student who is not acknowledged answers the question,

that team’s response is not recorded and the question is repeated for the opposing team.

4. If the answer is correct, the team will earn 10 points. If the answer is incorrect, the question

will be repeated for the other team. They will have ten seconds to answer after buzzing in.

5. If neither team buzzes in, the moderator will answer the question and proceed to the next

question. A score of zero will be tallied for each team for that question.

6. If a student buzzes in before the completion of a question, the moderator stops reading and,

after being recognized, the student must answer immediately. If an incorrect answer is given,

the moderator reads the entire question to the opposing team and they have an opportunity

to answer the question within 10 seconds.

7. At no time during the actual round may the team have a time-out or consult with each other or

the coach, except to raise a concern about a question or an answer to their coach.

Reading Bowl Rules, pg. 2 8. Any concern about a question or an answer to a question MUST be addressed by

one of the five currently competing students to the coach(es) before the next question is

asked.

a. The student will get the attention of the coach by raising his/her hand.

b. The student will quietly tell the coach their concern.

c. The coach will determine if the concern needs to be addressed as a challenge.

d. If a challenge goes forward, the moderator may make a decision based on the

answers they have or the moderator may go outside the competition room to confer

with a bowl representative about the student’s concern. e. Once a decision has been made about the question by the moderator, their decision

is final.

9. Coaches, please stay with your team. Use your discretion when allowing a student

challenge. You are to direct any challenges and ask any questions to the moderator, not a

team member, a parent, or other visitor.

10. All parents, visitors, team members, and volunteers must turn off cell phones

and any other electronic devices. Talking during the competition is inappropriate.

Each team in violation, including team members, coaches, parents, and visitors, will

receive one warning. If a second violation occurs, the opposing team will receive ten

points for the question being asked or answered when the violation occurred. Even

though no one is to enter or leave the room once the round begins, small children may

be taken out by their parents if needed.

Moderator, pg. 1

Before the rounds begin:

1. Check envelope contents to verify that you have questions for the correct level (elem, middle, high). Verify the round and make sure it matches the number on top of the sheet containing the questions. You will also have the coaches’ verification forms for the scorekeeper and one copy of the “Rules”.

2. Welcome both teams to the Southern Regional Helen Ruffin Reading Bowl.

3. Make sure that Coaches sit behind their teams and that the audience sits quietly behind teams. No one is allowed between moderator and team or behind moderator except for the scorekeeper. (not even photographers or coaches)

4. Introduce self and fellow moderator, then introduce the QuikPro operator, timekeeper, and scorekeeper (or intro themselves).

5. Smile – help students relax & enjoy the competition.

Moderator, pg 2 At the signal to begin the rounds:

6. Make sure all students and coaches are in place and ready to begin, then read the “Rules”. (yes, every time)

7. Ask the console judge to check that all equipment is working. (they should call each student to buzz in: red 1, red 2..) (every time)

8. To begin the round, say, “We are ready to begin Round # ___. Question ___, In the book…”.

9. Read each question, and when a student buzzes in, wait for the console judge to call out team color and student number (ex.: red, one). Students have 10 seconds to answer the question.

Once the student answers, you will determine whether or not the student’s answer is correct by comparing the answer with what is written on the question/answer sheet. (look for major words, names, etc. – don’t give away any answer clues)

If you feel more detail is needed to verify a correct answer, you may ask, “Can you be more specific?” Answers should be correct, but don’t have to be worded exactly as they are written. You may not ask any other questions of the student. Students will challenge if they feel they are correct.

If the student who buzzed in doesn’t answer within 10 seconds, the Time Keeper will say “time” and you will reread the question for the other team.

Moderator, pg 3 During the rounds:

10. If the student’s answer is correct, say “That is correct” and wait for the scorekeeper to add 10 points to that team’s score.

11. If the student’s answer is incorrect, say “That is incorrect” and then say, “I’ll now reread the question for the other team.” After you reread the question, the other team will have the same 10 seconds to buzz in and answer. Follow the same procedure as in #s 9, 10, & 11a.

12. If neither team buzzes in, nor answers correctly, say, “The answer written here is…”. Both teams are given a score of zero (0) for that question.

13. If a player buzzes in before you finish reading a question, STOP reading and allow the console judge to call on player who must answer immediately.

14. If a student who is not acknowledged blurts out an answer to the question, that team’s response is not recorded and the question is repeated for the opposing team.

Moderator, pg 4

15. Acknowledge challenges/questions from a coach ONLY after a student raises his/her hand and speaks with the coach before the next question is asked. A coach cannot initiate a challenge or question on their own. If, as a moderator, you decide that a question is unanswerable or a question or its answer is unfair or confusing, you may elect to throw out the question and use one of the alternate questions provided at the end of the question sheet.

The moderator may: step outside and go to the challenge room to confer with the

challenge judge (but not the coach, student, or guest). Take the question sheet with you so you can identify book title,

question, and page number where answer can be found. Go to challenge room and get help from one of the challenge judges – do not discuss question and/or answer in competition room.

Moderator, pg 5

At the end of the rounds:

17. Once you have read 10 questions, the round is over (whether

or not all 10 have been answered). To signal the end of the

round, say, “This is the last question for Round __. Question

10, In the book…” At the completion of the round say, “This

concludes Round ___ of the Southern Regional Helen Ruffin

Reading Bowl. Congratulations to both teams. Please do

not leave until the announcement ending this round has

been made.”

18. If the round ends in a tie, do not ask tie-breaker questions at

this time. If needed, there will be a tie-breaker round at the

end of the competition. Please do not allow teams to leave

your room until the runner returns. (Winners are not

announced until the end of the competition.)

19. Prepare for the next round by previewing questions, if time.

When the next round is ready to begin:

Reading Bowl committee member will let the runner

know when to return to rooms to signal time to

switch rooms.

Moderator: Please remind students to switch rooms

quickly and quietly (parents & visitors, too ).

When all teams, coaches, parents, and visitors are

in the room and seated the moderator begins

the process all over again.

If we have tie-breaker rounds, we have chosen

rooms 3155 (high), 1128 (middle), & 1123(elem).

Please do not clean up these rooms until we let

you know they are not needed.

Scorekeeper, pg 1

Before the Rounds:

1. Locate markers and make sure they write.

2. Chart paper score sheets for rounds are set up to write in scores for both teams (red/yellow).

At the very top of each sheet write the round number and the room number.

The rest of the sheet should be divided in half lengthwise - write the team names (will change with each round) at the top of each half, depending on where teams sit.

The numbers 1-10 should be written down the left side and center of the sheet for each team.

3. Make sure the round # and room # are written on the coaches’ verification forms for each round.

Tie-breaker round

• A tie-breaker round will consist of 7

questions (5 questions with 2 alternate

questions) with the winner being the team

that answers the most questions correctly.

An HRRB committee member will come to

the room and let the teams know if they will

be in a tie-breaker and where. Questions

will be delivered to the moderator currently

in the room.

Console Judge (QuikPro) Operator

Before the rounds:

1. Familiarize yourself with how the QuikPro works (QuikPro will already be set up on tables by number & color).

2. Once teams arrive, make sure each team only seats 5 members at the buzzers.

3. When directed by the moderator, have team

members check the QuikPro. Call their number and

color and have them buzz in (ex.: red, one).

During the rounds:

4. Make sure QuikPro is reset between answers.

5. When a student buzzes in, call out the color and

number (ex.: “red, one”) (be sure to say it loudly

enough for everyone to hear).

Timekeeper

• Familiarize yourself with how the timer works

(should be able to set it for 10 seconds).

• Make sure timer is reset between questions/answers.

• Start/restart timer as soon as console judge says

“color, number” (“red, one”).

If student begins to answer within the 10 seconds, restart the timer after the student completes their answer (don’t distract student).

If student does not begin answer within the 10 seconds, you say, “Time”, and the moderator will continue by repeating the question for the other team. Reset timer for 10 seconds for other team.

If student buzzes in before the question is finished, they must answer immediately (no timer).

Scorekeeper, pg 2

During the Rounds:

4. Keep score by counting each correct answer as ten (10) points. (write large so all can see) Write a zero (0) for an incorrect answer and if there is no answer by either team.

5. At the end of each round, tally the final scores at the bottom of the sheet. Write the scores on the “Coaches’ Verification Forms”, sign, and take to each coach for their signature.

6. Give the score sheet and the verification form to the runner. The runner will wait for the signal to go back to the room to let the moderator know to allow teams to change rooms for the next round.

Runners

Before rounds: Stand at door and help anyone who has

questions about where to be (coach should have

schedule). Once both teams are in and seated and all

visitors seem to be in the room, close the door.

During rounds: Once the round begins, no one enters or

leaves (unless for emergency). Stand or sit outside door.

After rounds: Take score sheets to head score keepers.

Wait to be dismissed back to competition rooms. On your

return, let moderators know that teams can be dismissed to

go to next room.

At end of 5 rounds, have moderators hold teams needed

for tie-breaker rounds; all others can go to Lecture Halls.

Once teams are dismissed, please help clean up rooms.

QuikPro boxes go to the registration desk.

Other volunteers

• See Jaime Rearley for parade list, team schedule, and

map of sign locations :).

• Scoring Vols: You will stay in the designate scoring

room the entire bowl and help the moderators with

challenges as they occur. Sets of books are in the

rooms.

• Hall monitors: You will assist with book challenges.

Please stay in the hallway with the books for your level.

• Parade Coordinator: Prior to Opening Ceremony

(12:15), put teams in level and alpha order for parades in

the lobby.

• Runners: After rounds, help “clean” rooms. After Closing

Ceremony (3:30), take down all HRRB signs (take to the

registration desk) and pick up all trash in both lecture hall

(Thanks!)

May I have some Volunteers, please?

• Moderators

– Read questions; manage challenges

• Console judge/timekeeper

– Run QuikPro and timer

• Scorekeeper/runner

– Keep score sheets & coaches’ verification forms

• Students

– Buzz in and answer questions

• Coaches

– Sit behind team; manage challenges

• Audience (everyone else)

– Sit behind coaches; be quiet

Let’s Review!

• Moderator – ask for a buzzer check

• Console Judge – do a buzzer check

• Moderator – read question

• Timer – start timer

• Team – buzz in to answer

• Console Judge – call on color, number

• Team – answer

• Moderator – correct or incorrect, etc…

Clean Up, Clean Up • Volunteers, at the end of all the rounds, we

would appreciate your help. Please: – Unplug buzzers, remove the labels, and roll each

section of wiring so it will fit into the QuikPro box

– Also place into the box: the controller box, timer, and all extension cords and permanent markers

– Place the room back into its original state (see back of set-up sheet taped to board)

– Take the QuikPro boxes to the registration table, and take rounds envelopes, question sheets, and anything else “HRRB” to the registration table before leaving

– Throw away trash and gather up your things, please

– See you at the closing

– Thanks!!

THANK YOU!!

The Division II Helen Ruffin Reading Bowl Committee thanks you for being willing to volunteer your time and energy to promote reading. Your service will be acknowledged during the opening ceremony (and given a prompt to leave and get ready), so please join us in the lecture hall.

All our students benefit greatly from the great literature they are reading and enjoy the competition that has built up around the bowls.

If you would like to volunteer at the state level, please email Mary Etta Thomas at methoma@comcast.net . Thanks!