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Trivia Bowl Official Rules

AAJA-LA abides by and enforces the following International Trivia Bowl Federation competition rules.

Competition Format

Team Size: Each team may have up to 10 members. No substitutions are allowed once the competition begins. Only the 10 original players may sit at the table.

Rounds: The competition includes five rounds, with 12 questions per round.

Categories:

  1. 2025 Current Events
  2. Politics, History, Literature
  3. 2025 Pop Culture
  4. Science, Tech, Geography
  5. Sports and California Living

Gameplay:

  • David Ono will serve as the emcee and read each question aloud twice.
  • Teams sit at designated tables and collaborate to complete their answer sheets.
  • Competitors are advised to write down the questions for reference.
  • Teams have two minutes after the final question to complete their sheets.
  • Room monitors will collect the answer sheets from captains and deliver them to the judges.
  • Once submitted, no changes are allowed.

Answer Sheet Rules:

  • The team name and captain’s name must be written on each answer sheet. Failure to do so may result in forfeiture of that round.
  • All answers must be legible and written in English unless another language is specified.
  • Answers must be spelled correctly and written on the exact line corresponding to the question number.
  • Only one answer per question is allowed unless multiple are clearly requested.
  • For multi-part answers, all parts must be correct to earn the point.
  • When a person’s name is requested, last names are acceptable unless full names are specified.
  • Phonetic spelling is acceptable unless exact spelling is required.
  • No partial credit is awarded.

Scoring:

  • After each round, the emcee will read the correct answers aloud.
  • Game officials will score the sheets while answers are read.
  • Team scores and rankings will be posted after each round.
  • The team with the highest score after five rounds wins the perpetual Rice Cup trophy.

Challenges:

  • Any question challenges must be submitted before the end of the evening.
  • Only the team captain or a designated representative may raise a challenge.
  • The game manager’s decision is final.
  • Competitors may not speak directly to judges or scorekeepers.

Leaving the Team Table:

  • Once a round begins, team members may not leave the table.
  • All trips to the restroom, hospitality table, or refreshment area must be made between rounds.
  • Players who leave during a round may not return until their team has submitted its answer sheet.

Electronic Devices:

  • All electronic devices (phones, tablets, laptops, smartwatches, cameras, etc.) are strictly prohibited during competition rounds.
  • If a device is visible, officials will ask for it to be put away.
  • If a device is used, that person must leave the table and may not return during that round.
  • Game officials may deduct up to 10 points or an entire round from a team’s score for violations.
  • Texting, tweeting, or livestreaming is allowed only between rounds.

Printed Materials:

  • Only materials provided by AAJA-LA may be on the team table.
  • Cheat sheets, notes, or outside printed materials are not allowed.
  • All personal items including bags must be placed on the floor.
  • Violations are subject to the same penalties as electronic device misuse.

Substitutions and Spectators:

  • No team member substitutions are allowed after the competition begins.
  • If a player must leave, the team continues with fewer players.
  • Game officials may deduct up to 10 points for violations.
  • Spectators are allowed only in designated areas.
  • Non-competing guests may not approach or communicate with teams while a round is in progress.
  • Game officials may deduct up to 10 points for any violations involving spectators.

Tie-Breakers:

  • If teams are tied for any of the top three places after the final round, a sudden death tiebreaker will be used.
  • Tiebreaker rules will be explained at the beginning of the competition.