**Register NOW for Virtual Quiz Bowl League**
Virtual Quiz Bowl: At a Glance
Virtual Quiz Bowl Quick Start Guide
Quiz Bowl Conference: September 29 - October 31, 2025
Regionals: Saturday, February 21, 2026
State: Saturday, March 21, 2026
Quiz Bowl
Quiz Bowl is an academic competition in which two teams of four students compete head to head using a buzzer system to be the first to answer questions read by a moderator. The fast-paced format tests the combined prowess of the teams to determine the ultimate winner.
Quiz Bowl is presented in cooperation with National Academic Quiz Tournaments (NAQT).
Participation
As an NCASA-hosted event, the State Quiz Bowl Tournament is a component of the Joe Childers Scholastic Cup and NCASA Challenge Cup. Only NCASA Member Schools may participate in NCASA Quiz Bowl Leagues and Tournaments and earn Cup points.
Overview
NCASA is proud to present quiz bowl in cooperation with National Academic Quiz Tournaments (NAQT). We use nationally-recognized NAQT standards, rules, and questions for our Quiz Bowl competitions.
Leagues
Virtual Quiz Bowl Leagues are forming again for the fall of 2025. Middle and high schools will play up to seven weeks. Weekly meets are after-school on a day and time chosen by the coaches in each league. There is no cost for member schools to participate in these meets and no equipment is required.
Schools will use Zoom or a similar video technology along with Buzzin.Live to facilitate each match. NAQT written questions will be provided by NCASA.
Practice Equipment and Materials
Teams are not required to purchase practice questions or electronic buzzer systems for competitions. However, NCASA recommends that Teams purchase questions and buzzer systems so they can practice under in a setting similar to an actual match.
-
Practice Questions: National Academic Quiz Tournaments (NAQT) is the Official Provider of NCASA Quiz Bowl Questions and Rules. NCASA recommends that schools choose NAQT as their source for practice questions and other training materials.
-
Buzzer Systems: Many companies produce quality buzzer systems including Zeecraft, Novel Electronic Devices, and Quik Pro Systems. Contact these companies for more information on the purchase of a quiz bowl buzzer system. Ask for a system that supports two teams of four people per team.
Additional Resources
While the NCASA Quiz Bowl District and State Tournaments are held in the Spring, schools across North Carolina host tournaments year-round.
Quiz Bowl Events:
Basics of a
Quiz Bowl Match
Here are the basics of NCASA Quiz Bowl:
-
A team has up to eight players but only four play at a time.
-
Each match has twenty toss-up / bonus combinations, ten in each half.
-
Each toss-up / bonus combination begins with a toss-up question available to any player on either team.
-
As the question is being read any player may buzz-in to answer the question.
-
A correct answer earns ten points and the right for that team to answer the three-part bonus question worth thirty points.
-
An incorrect answer means only the other team may answer the toss-up and have the opportunity at the three-part bonus.
-
Only the team answering the toss-up correctly may answer the three-part bonus question.
-
Players may briefly confer with each other on the bonus questions but not the toss-up questions.
-
Teams may substitute at halftime or after a time out. Halftime lasts just 30 seconds or so.
-
Each match lasts 35-40 minutes. A typical tournament lasts all day and 7-8 matches are played by each team.
Complete rules can be found in our Competition Rules on this page. NCASA uses NAQT rules and questions for all quiz bowl competitions.
NCASA – Quiz Bowl Rules
A. Registration
All teams must register before the tournament according to Rule IX of the NCASA Competition Rules.
B. Withdrawal
Teams that choose to not participate in a Tournament after registering to participate in that Tournament must notify NCASA. 1) Registered Teams that withdraw from a Tournament during the Tournament registration period will not pay a penalty. 2) Registered Teams that withdraw from a Tournament after the conclusion of the Pre-Tournament Registration period must pay a penalty.
-
Registered Teams that withdraw from a Tournament eight (8) or more days prior to the day of the Tournament must pay a $30 penalty.
-
Registered Teams that withdraw from a Tournament between eight (8) and one (1) day prior to the day of the Tournament must pay a $50 penalty.
-
Registered Teams that withdraw from a Tournament less than twenty-four (24) hours prior to the start of the On-Site Registration period shall incur a $100 penalty. Registered Teams tha
3) Penalties for withdrawal from a Tournament may be waived at the discretion of NCASA.
C. Volunteer
1) Each team must provide one trained volunteer to help administer the tournament. 2) The volunteers must arrive on site for the volunteer meeting one hour prior to the scheduled kick-off. The volunteer should bring the team’s buzzer system if one is available for use. 3) Teams failing to furnish a volunteer will have the Coach serve in that role. 4) If the coach is unwilling or unable to serve as Volunteer, the team will forfeit matches until a volunteer is found.
D. Check-in
NCASA will publish a “check-in” period for the tournament at least a week prior to the day of the Tournament. 1) A representative from each Team must check-in during this time period and confirm the roster of Players that will compete. 2) Late check-ins will be accepted if the tournament director is notified before the kick-off meeting. However, teams must forfeit matches if they are not onsite for their scheduled matches.
E. Rules
NCASA will follow NAQT Rules with the exceptions noted below. 1) Current NAQT Rules can be found in Appendix A and at the following link: https://www.naqt.com/rules/. 2) If there is a discrepancy, the rules found within this document (NCASA Quiz Bowl Rules) will take precedence.
F. Exceptions to NAQT Rules:
1) Section D #2 replaced with [2. A team consists of a maximum of eight Players who meet all eligibility rules. However, no more than four of a team's Players may be actively competing at any one time. Teams may play short, with a minimum of one Player.] 2) Section F #2 – 9 will be removed and replaced with [2. All matches will be untimed and will continue until all 20 questions are read.]
G. Kick-off meeting
A meeting will be held at the beginning of each tournament to review brackets, special rules, schedule, and other necessary information. Teams will begin play following the kick-off meeting.
G. Bracket Format will be set up according to the number of teams at each tournament.
H. Advancement Procedure:
The following rules are used, in order, to determine standings or advancement from round-robin or pool play. 1) Win-loss record, 2) Points per game, 3) Point differential (average points scored minus average points allowed), 4) Points per bonus (number of bonus points earned divided by number of bonus questions attempted), 5) Head-to-head
I. Advancement to State Tournament
1) Advancement to the State Tournament will be determined and published by the Quiz Bowl committee after registration is closed but before the Regional Tournaments. 2) Advancement requirements will be published to all participating schools.