F.A.Q.
(The Rules)

Duties of the Question Master

Rule no.1 - The Question Master is Da Boss!

But don't get too carried away. This means s/he has to keep everybody sweet -
the staff at the venue, paying customers, and the rest of the rabble (the teams.)
The AK-47 is behind the bar if things get really out of hand. 8-)

Room Layout

It's up to the Question Master to shift the furniture around so that the
two teams have somewhere to sit, have something to rest their notebooks on, and
are eyeballing each other across the (now smoke-free) playing area, or room.

Equipment

The Question Master is in charge of setting out the scoreboard, stop watch
(which might actually work this season but I'm not holding my breath),
name cards of the teams taking part, and the Quiz League score book. These are
usually somewhere visible, like on the bar or one of the tables. If not, panic!

When the match is over, put the names back in the box in alphabetical order. For the
benefit of those of you who are unfamiliar with this concept - about 95% - this is
A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z.
Yes, I know, it really is. rocket science!

Okay, who nicked some of the name boards from the R.A.F.A. Club?
Like IMPS and WOODENTOPS and several others...

On the plus side, we discovered a nice shiny new stopwatch, and it actually works!!!
Well, it did last night anyway. (1st. October.)

Prompt Start

The Question Master should call both teams to order for a prompt start at 7.30 p.m. or
9.00 p.m. as appropriate, assuming both team are all there (in the physical sense at least.)
They have fifteen minutes grace in which to put in an appearance, but don't push it!

Still no show? See Rule C.3. under Disciplinary Procedure.

Procedure During Play

Adjudication

If there's a dispute over a question and/or answer, and
there's a Committee Member (see below) present, he or she
will sort it out, otherwise, it's up to the Question Master
to smooth ruffled feathers and make sure everyone's happy.

The ability to walk on water is also useful.
In default of this, use the AK-47. ;-)

Recording Scores

It's the Question Master's duty to record the final score in the Quiz League
score book, and get the team captains to add their signatures beside their team's
score to verify that the scores are correct - or at least that everyone thinks they are.

The Question Master at the last game of the evening should transfer
the scores of both matches on to the pre-paid postcard provided
(thanks to Wilkin and Chapman, our sponsors!) and post it "without delay"
- on the way home is good - to our scores co-ordinator.

Tidying Up

And if you're the Question Master of the last match of the evening,
you're not done yet! It's your responsibility to ensure that the playing room
is at least as clean and tidy as you found it. In particular, dragoon anyone
who didn't escape fast enough into returning all glasses to the bar.

The AK-47 may come in handy here. Failing that, it's down to D.I.Y. ::sigh::

Emergency Procedure

No, not in the event of fire, flood or an in-coming tactical nuclear missile,
but the non-appearance of questions, and/or Question Master.
In the event of such a catastrophic occurrence, 'phone the Chairman whose number
is on Page 2 of the fixtures booklet. He will be delighted .to hear from you. 8-)

New stuff - added 2 OCT 2007

Guidelines for Question Setting

The following are intended as a guide (hence the section heading maybe?) They aren't hard and fast rules, just aimed at maximizing the happiness of all concerned, winners and losers alike. They refer only to team games. ::blinks:: So individualists must be made to suffer then? ;-)

1. ......A set of questions should cover a wide range of topics, and should not include too many questions on any one topic, i.e. don't hammer your favourite subject to death. You may find early Byzantine architecture absolutely fascinating, and one question on the subject may not go amiss, but eight questions on the topic are likely have steam coming out of the ears of both team's members.

As there are ten rounds per game, it is likely that ten broad categories will be used as a basis for a set, but it is preferable to subdivide these into smaller topics to provide variety. [Much preferable - Ed.]

For example, 'History' might be split into ancient history, Roman history, the Dark Ages, mediaeval history, British history, European history, social history, history of warfare etc.
N.B. Date questions are well past their sell-by... date, so one per set of questions is enough.

2. ......It is left to the question masters setters to choose their own categories and topics, and how many questions they each merit, but it is generally felt that eight questions (the equivalent of a full round) should be the maximum for a broad category, and correspondingly less for subdivisions/narrower topics.

It should be borne in mind that players have a wide range of interests which should be catered for, even if they are not shared by the question setter. So a group of questions on, say, music, should not be confined to pop or classical or jazz, but should include a mixture of two or more types depending on the size of that section.

3. ......Questions should be based on General Knowledge, derived from widely available sources. Specialized questions, particularly on local matters, should be avoided, since they would be unfair to teams which are based outside Grimsby and Cleethorpes.

4. ......Questions should be well researched, so that the answers are accurate. Bear in mind that even the best reference books can contain errors, so try to confirm each answer from more than one source. [ e.g. your aged encyclopaedia of circa 1957 may say that Saturn has ten moons but, trust me on this, it's wrong. There are at least .46 - Ed. ]

5. ......Any one source should not be used to provide too many questions, especially if that source is itself a source of quiz questions, whether a published one or a previously asked set of Quiz League questions. A substantially new set should be prepared for each game. [ Especially if you've used that set of questions for one of the teams already during the current season... ]

6. ......Questions should not be ambiguous, nor should hints be given, either in the questions themselves or a reply given to a wrong answer (see below).

7. ......Where a numerical or date question is set, it should be decided in advance whether any leeway is to be allowed and, if so,what it will be. This should be worked out and written into the answer in full, giving not only the actual answer but the two limits which include the leeway.

This should be done in order that an immediate "correct" or "incorrect" can be given. If the question master has to pause to work out if an answer is acceptable, a hint could well be given will .be given, as to the required answer. It is not necessary to disclose whether there is a leeway when asking the question - though you can be damn' sure someone .will ask! ::mutter:: better yet avoid 'em altogether 'cos they're boring... ::/mutter::

8. ...... Questions should always be in good taste.
.................................................................................but it's a lot more fun if they aren't... [ g, d & r.]

~ to be continued ~

Quiz League Officers
(The Committee)

Chairman
M.R.Towle