BuzzerQuiz Official Rules (copyright © 2003-2006 BuzzerQuiz)
Based on NAQT Official Rules (copyright © 1997-2005 NAQT)

Contents

1. General Information
2. Tournament Director and Appeals
3. Game Officials
4. Equipment
5. Participants
6. Questions
7. Starter Questions
8. Bonus Questions
9. 30-point Bonus Questions
10. Correct Answers
11. Length of Game (including tie-breaks)
12. Time
13. Interruptions
14. Protests
15. Ethics and Conduct
16. League Placings

A. General Information

1. These rules are maintained at www.buzzerquiz.com/buzzerquiz_rules . This version was last updated on 1 April, 2006. They are based on the NAQT rules available at http://www.naqt.com/rules.html.
2. These rules are written for official BuzzerQuiz events, but they may be used free-of-charge for other events, provided that:
   1. they are publicly identified as BuzzerQuiz rules;
   2. the event is not advertised as an official BuzzerQuiz event, though it may bill itself as "BuzzerQuiz-style";
   3. any variations from the official rules are announced before the event;
   4. all queries about the interpretation of the rules are referred to BuzzerQuiz as soon as possible; and
   5. BuzzerQuiz is notified within ten days after the tournament of the tournament name and date, and any rule variations used.
3. BuzzerQuiz may be contacted at:
   1. www.buzzerquiz.com
   2. hello@buzzerquiz.com
   3. 07855 079433 (+44 7855 079433 from outside the United Kingdom)
   4. 32 Kenley House, Ashburton Road, Croydon, CR0 6AQ
4. Variations within these rules may be used to make the rules more appropriate for various events. These permitted variations are noted in the rules, and their use must be indicated before any event using these rules. If no variations are indicated before an event, the unvaried rules are taken to be in use.
5. Using these rules with any variation other than those noted is not permitted without prior permission from BuzzerQuiz. If permission is given, the variation(s) must be clearly indicated before the event.

B. Tournament Director and Appeals

1. The tournament director is the most senior official in charge of a tournament or event. The name of the tournament director shall be clearly indicated for each event.
2. Unless otherwise indicated, all decisions of the tournament director are final.
3. For some events, it may be possible to appeal a decision of the tournament director to a third party (which may be a representative of BuzzerQuiz). As indicated by the rules of the event, the appeal may be on all matters pertaining to the decision, or exclusively on the interpretation of these rules. In any case, the decision of the tournament director shall stand unless clearly changed or suspended by the third-party adjudicator. The tournament director may also at their discretion refer particular decisions to that nominated third party. If this variation is in use, the rules of the event must state the extent of the right of the appeal, and how and to whom that right may be exercised.
4. Any person may seek the opinion of BuzzerQuiz on the interpretation of these rules in relation to particular circumstances that have arisen. If BuzzerQuiz chooses to give such clarification, it shall have only advisory status unless incorporated into a new version of these rules. In any case, such clarification shall not overrule or nullify any incompatible decisions that have been taken previously.
5. Notwithstanding the previous rule, a tournament director whose decisions are final may change their own decision following a clarification of the rules from BuzzerQuiz (whether sought by themselves or another), so long as to do so shall not cause serious disruption or unfairness in the conduct of the event. In particular, they may not change their own decision following the conclusion of an event if it would change the overall result of the event.

C. Game Officials

1. Each game will have one or two moderators. If two moderators are present, they will be designated as reader and scorer. If only one moderator is present, they will perform both functions.
2. The reader will read the questions, enforce time limits, supervise the clock, determine the correctness of answers, award and deduct points, and otherwise enforce the rules of competition.
3. The scorer will keep an official running score. The reader may also delegate recognition (if appropriate) and/or timekeeping duties to the scorer.

D. Equipment

1. Matches should be played with a "buzzer", electronic equipment which determines which player signals first. Should no working buzzers be available, tournament officials may require players to signal by physical means.
2. Teams may agree to use a partially working buzzer system. If either team objects, the game will be played or resumed without a buzzer.
3. In the absence of a completely functioning buzzer system, a designated official will be the final judge of which played signalled first. These determinations are not protestable.
4. If a player objects to using a working buzzer because of religious or other reasons, the player may signal in a suitable manner, and a designated official will be the final judge of which played signalled first. These determinations are not protestable.
5. Each player is responsible for monitoring whether his or her own buzzer is operating properly throughout a match. If a buzzer malfunctions, only the current starter or the just completed starter can be replayed, subject to the reader's ruling that the malfunction affected play of that question.
6. If a visible scoreboard is used, this is indicative only, and the official scoresheet maintained by the scorer shall prevail in the case of a dispute.

E. Participants

1. All participants are responsible individuals and will be treated as such. Players are responsible for any liability arising from the conduct while at any event, or while travelling to or from events.
2. A team may consist of any number of players who meet all eligibility rules for the event. No more than four players from any team may play at any one time.
3. No player may play for two different teams in the course of any tournament or competition, unless specifically mandated or required by the format of the competition.
4. Teams may play with fewer than four players, to a minimum of one player. Unless substitutions are permitted by the tournament rules (see below), teams with fewer than four players may not add players to the team once the reader has started reading the questions for the game.
5. Unless expressly permitted by the tournament rules, teams may not substitute players during the course of a single game. If substitutions are permitted, the tournament rules must specify when and how substitutions may be made. Substitutions must not disrupt the fair conduct of the game.
6. If a team starts with fewer than four players and substitutions are permitted, the addition of players to the team shall only be permitted at such time and in such way as the substitution of one player on the team for a new player.
7. Notwithstanding the previous rules, exceptional substitutions during a game may be allowed at the discretion of the reader in extenuating circumstances, such as illness or injury. The departure of a player to another appointment or the arrival of a preferred player are not extenuating circumstances.

F. Questions

1. Each game uses starter questions and bonus questions.
2. A team receives a bonus question for each starter question correctly answered by one of its players (except in extra time or sudden-death extra time).
3. The questions used for a game shall not previously have been seen or heard in whole or part by any player in the game. If any player becomes aware that they have previously seen or heard all or part of the questions, they should immediately draw this to the attention of the reader. If they fail to do so, this shall be treated as misconduct.
4. The questions used for a game should be balanced in difficulty and distribution across the field of potential subject areas, and in particular:
   1. should never be written or chosen with reference to the background, interests, occupation or knowledge of any participant or potential participant in the game;
   2. should not intentionally favour one person or team playing the game; and
   3. should be as fair, reasonable, unambiguous and accurate as can be achieved with reasonable diligence.

G. Starter Questions

1. A player may signal to answer a starter question at any point after the reader has begun reading the question. Only one player per team may signal to answer each starter question.
2. When a player has signalled, a game official should acknowledge the player in some way, by calling their name, or pointing or looking at them ("recognition"). There is no penalty if a player who has signalled answers before being recognised. Tournament rules may make particular provision for a particular manner of recognition to be used (e.g. team name and surname).
3. If a player signals before the reader has finished reading, the reader will stop at that point. If the answer given is incorrect, the reader will finish the question for the other team only (if they are still eligible to answer the question). The reader need not reread the whole question, but should resume at a natural point in the question.
4. An answer to a starter question must begin within two seconds of when the buzzer finishes sounding. An answer begun after the reader has called time (by saying "time", "no" or other equivalent) will be treated as no answer. Ties between the players and the reader are decided in favour of the player.
5. Players have two seconds to signal after the reader has finished reading the starter question. If the player answers incorrectly, the other team (if it is eligible to answer) will then have two more seconds in which to signal. On calculation questions and others requiring a measure of thought, the reader may at their discretion allow up to ten seconds in which teams may signal at the end of the question. The reader should however endeavour to be as consistent as possible, and in particular should not require answers any more quickly towards the conclusion of a game.
6. Decisions as to whether players have exceeded the allotted time to signal or to answer may be rendered only by the game officials of a given match and are not protestable.
7. Each starter question is worth 10 points if answered correctly.
8. A tournament may additionally specify "power marks" (noted by (*) ) in starter questions; the presence of power marks in starter questions should be indicated in the tournament rules. A player earns 15 points for a correct answer to a starter question if the player signals before the reader has completed the first syllable after the power mark (a "power starter"). The moment of judgement is when the player signals, not when the reader stops reading, so it is critical that readers stop instantly once they hear a signal. Ties between the player and the reader are decided in favour of the player. Players may earn 15 points on power starters at any point in the game, including extra time.
9. There is a 5-point penalty if the first team interrupts a starter question with an incorrect answer. The second team may still earn 15 points with a sufficiently early signal. Players may be penalised 5 points in such a way at any point in the game, including extra time.
10. If a player who was not the first to signal gives an answer:
    1. If the player who answers is not a team-mate of the first player to signal, the reader will ignore the answer, and will recognise the player on the other team who has actually signalled. Only that player will have a chance to answer, as the non-signaller has disqualified his or her team on that starter question by illegal conferring.
    2. If the player who answers is a team-mate of the first player to signal, the moderator will treat the response as an incorrect answer from that team, assess a 5-point penalty to the player who answered, if appropriate, and turn the question over to the other team regardless of whether the answer given was right or wrong.
    3. If a player answers because an official incorrectly identified who signalled first, the question must be replaced.
11. If the reader inadvertently reveals the answer to a starter question after one team has given an incorrect answer, but before the other team has had a chance to answer, the reader will read a starter question for the second team only (with the clock paused in a timed game). If neither team has had a chance to answer, the starter question is thrown out and replaced (with the clock paused in a timed game). In either situation in a timed game, the clock is turned back on for a bonus.
12. Players may engage in non-verbal, non-written conferring with team-mates (not reserves or spectators) on starter questions, provided that the conferring does not convey any substantive information about the answer. In other words, players may hold their buzzers forward, gesticulate, or otherwise indicate that they know the answer, but cannot indicate in any manner what they believe the answer to be, nor can they communicate with team-mates verbally or in writing. Illegal conferring on a starter question will be treated as an incorrect answer.

H. Bonus Questions

1. Bonus questions are worth 15 points. They may take two forms:
   1. A standard bonus question consist of three answers or sets of answers, each worth 5 points. A question may require more than one of the three answers or sets of answers to be given in response to a single prompt from the reader, in which situation the question should specify the number of answers required and the number of points available. No more than 5 points may be awarded for a single answer. If no points value is indicated for an answer, it should be assumed that all answers following a single prompt from the reader are required for 5 points.
   2. A list bonus involves the reader requesting a list of more than three answers in response to a single prompt. For those answers, 5, 10 or 15 points are awarded depending on how many correct answers are given. The question should clearly specify how many correct answers are available, and how many correct answers are required for each of 5, 10 and 15 points to be awarded. The team may give only as many attempted answers as are necessary to score 15 points. So, for example, a question may have nine possible correct answers, of which a team requires seven for 15 points; the team may therefore offer only seven attempts at the answers.
2. A tournament may provide instead that bonus questions are worth 30 points; this usually happens in conjunction with the availability of power starters under G8. If so, this should be indicated clearly in the rules of the tournament. In such circumstances, rule H1 does not have effect and is superseded by section I.
3. No bonus question may potentially require points to be awarded other than in multiples of 5 points.
4. No bonus question may allow points to be deducted from a team's score.
5. Teams may confer on bonus questions. It is recommended that the captain give the answer for the team or clearly indicate who will give the answer. The reader, however, will take the first answer unambiguously directed at him or her. If conflicting answers are directed at the moderator, the captain will be asked to choose the team's answer.
6. A team has between five and ten seconds to answer each part of a bonus question. The actual time allowed is at the discretion of the reader, but should not be less than five seconds, even towards the close of a game. The reader should however endeavour to be as consistent as possible in the time that they allow. The reader will prompt for an answer after five or more seconds, when the team captain should begin answering, or designate the person who will answer.
7. A team may begin its answer before the end of a bonus question. In such cases, the moderator stops reading when the team begins its answer. If the bonus contains another part, the reader then asks the next part.
8. If the bonus question contains multiple parts, a team may answer only the part that is being read.
9. If a bonus question calls for multiple answers, a team may give these answers as they work them out. There is no requirement to give a continuous list of answers without pausing. However, the answers should nevertheless be given in a timely manner.
10. In any question that calls for multiple answers, they may be given in any order unless otherwise specified. Where a list bonus calls for a specific order, the reader matches the first given answer to the first correct answer, the second to the second, etc., to determine correctness.
11. Bonus questions are never offered to the other team if they answered incorrectly.
12. If a reader inadvertently reveals the answer to a bonus or to part of a bonus before the team has answered, the next bonus will be read instead. However, the team may not earn more or fewer points on the replacement bonus than would have been possible with completion of the original bonus. For example: a team earns 10 points on a three-part bonus before the reader botches the third part; they will get a replacement bonus, but will receive a minimum of 10 points, even if they actually score only 5 on the replacement bonus, and a maximum of 20, even if they actually score 30.
13. If it transpires that a bonus does not offer a full 30 points, the next bonus will be read instead. However, the team may not earn more or fewer points on the replacement bonus than would have been possible with completion of the original bonus. For example: a team earns 10 points out of 20 on a bonus before it transpires that the bonus offers only 20 points; they will get a replacement bonus, but will receive a minimum of 10 points, even if they actually score only 5 on the replacement bonus, and a maximum of 20, even if they actually score 30. A request for a replacement must be made as soon as it becomes apparent that the bonus is not 30 points.

I. 30-point Bonus Questions

1. If a tournament is using bonus questions worth 30 points in accordance with rule H2, this section shall have effect and supersede rule H1. All other rules in section H shall continue to have effect.
2. A standard bonus question consists of between two and six answers or sets of answers:
   1. Each answer or set of answers is worth a multiple of 5 points.
   2. A question may contain at most five short prompts for the team to answer; it should ordinarily contain between two and four such prompts.
   3. A question may require more than one of the answers or sets of answers to be given in response to a single prompt from the reader.
   4. Each prompt from the reader should specify the number of points available and (if more than one) the number of answers required.
   5. A single answer may be worth no more than 15 points.
   6. A question may provide that a "bonus" is awarded if all parts of the question are answered correctly; this "bonus" may only be worth 5 points.
3. A list bonus question involves the reader requesting a list of answers in response to a single prompt:
   1. For those answers, between 5 and 30 points in multiples of 5 or 10 points are awarded depending on how many correct answers are given.
   2. The question should clearly specify how many correct answers are available, and how many correct answers are required for any given number of points.
   3. The team may give only as many attempted answers as are necessary to score the maximum number of points. So, for example, a question may have nine possible correct answers, of which a team requires seven for maximum points; the team may therefore offer only seven attempts at the answers.
   4. A list bonus may be combined with parts of a standard bonus question, but the question should not be allowed to become too long.
4. In a progressive bonus question, three or four clues are given to a single answer to the whole question:
   1. A team may answer after each clue; a correct answer ends the question.
   2. Where three clues are given, a correct answer scores 30 points after the first clue, 20 points after the second clue and 10 points after the third clue ("30-20-10 question").
   3. Where four clues are given, points are awarded as above, and a correct answer scores 5 points after the fourth clue ("30-20-10-5 question").
5. A question may give two clues to each of two answers:
   1. Each of the two answers must be treated symmetrically.
   2. A team may answer after each clue. If a correct answer is given to the first clue, the second clue is not read.
   3. A correct answer scores 15 points after the first clue. A correct answer may, as specified, score 10 or 5 points after the second clue ("15-10 question" or "15-5 question").
   4. A question may not give more than two clues to multiple answers (e.g. 15-10-5) or give multiple clues to more than two answers (e.g. 10-5).

J. Correct Answers

1. The reader will accept only the first answer given by a player, except for multiple answer questions, and in these situations:
   1. Anything a player says will be ignored unless it modifies the first answer given. For example, if a player says Nixon, Watergate, the reader will consider only Nixon. If a player says Nixon, Fred Nixon, then the moderator will consider Fred Nixon. Similarly, matter, cold dark, is treated the same as cold dark matter.
   2. Modifying words before the first noun of a response are, of course, considered as one answer with the noun.
   3. Extraneous information preceding a response is disregarded (e.g., They're all Irish or Is it just a wombat?) unless the reader determines that the extraneous information was given in an unsporting attempt to delay the game, in which case the response is treated as incorrect (in addition to any other penalty for misconduct). Harmless or inadvertent embellishment of responses will not be penalised, so long as the embellishment does not make the response wrong.
2. If a question has multiple answers, a player may give multiple responses in any order. Since the multiple responses are still considered one answer, the moderator will rule the answer as wrong if any part is wrong.
3. Multiple responses are permissible under these situations:
   1. The created works rule (defined below).
   2. Director-movie.
   3. City or specific location - state, county or equivalent - country or equivalent, in any combination.
   4. When called for by the question.
4. The created works rule:
   1. The created works rule applies to works that are created by individual humans, corporations, groups or computers, such as books, pamphlets, essays, stories, plays, scientific theorems and theories, inventions, products, compositions, artwork and musical compositions, but not films. This rule also includes to architectural work-architect, choreographer (or composer)-work of dance, and librettist-libretto (or opera). Being able to copyright or patent the product usually establishes this rule (except for films).
   2. The link between creator and created work must be obvious. One may not use this rule for instances in which the creation is a multi-faceted effort (though one such circumstance, director-movie, is separately acceptable).
5. To receive credit, a response must indicate exact and unambiguous knowledge of the correct answer. The reader's question sheet will also list acceptable alternate answers. The minimal information for a correct answer is underlined.
6. If a player gives an answer that demonstrates exact knowledge, but is ambiguous, the reader will prompt by saying "more information, please", "prompt" or similar (e.g. a player says Blair and the answer sought is Cherie Blair). Unless otherwise noted by the question, the reader should not state what type of information is sought by the prompt (e.g. it would be inappropriate for the reader to say "I need a first name"). On a multiple-answer bonus, however, the reader should indicate which part of the answer is ambiguous. A reader may prompt more than once so long as each additional clarification by the player demonstrates exact, but still ambiguous knowledge.
7. A player who has been prompted on a bonus may quickly check with a team-mate for the further information, or simply designate that person to give the additional information, so long as it is not done in an unsporting attempt to delay the game.
8. The following are generally acceptable for persons, unless the question indicates otherwise: last names for real persons, first or last names for fictional characters, nicknames that are nearly universally known (e.g. JFK), pseudonyms, birth names, unmarried or married names, and royal names.
9. Dates must be exact (e.g. the year 71 will not be accepted if the answer is 1971). Years given will be assumed to be A.D./C.E. unless otherwise modified. Readers will not prompt a player to differentiate in cases of ambiguity.
10. Titles of works must be exact, except that leading articles may be omitted. All words other than leading articles must be correct (e.g. Merchant of Venice is acceptable, but Merchant from Venice is not). Rarely will subtitles or working titles be accepted for the published title.
11. If an incorrect leading article is used, the response is incorrect (e.g. A Merchant of Venice is not acceptable).
12. Insertion of a leading article before a title where none exists will not invalidate an answer (e.g. The Lord of the Flies for Lord of the Flies), so long as no other ambiguity is introduced.
13. Commonly used titles may be accepted if the actual title is long and cumbersome (e.g. Wealth of Nations in lieu of Inquiry into the Nature and Causes of the Wealth of Nations).
14. Common acronyms and abbreviations are often acceptable (e.g. chemical symbols, organisational acronyms), unless they appear in the question, in which case the moderator may prompt the player to expand the acronym or abbreviation. If the question does not indicate, the reader will take the response as correct if a starter question, and will prompt if a bonus question.
15. If a player interrupts a question and gives a response that is equivalent to the answer sought, but the response is later used in the question as a clue, the reader will take the answer as correct if a starter question, and will prompt if a bonus question, unless the question directs otherwise.
16. Titles and names in the original language of the answer are almost always acceptable. Actual English translations will also be accepted (e.g. for the Camus work, L'Etranger is acceptable, as is The Stranger or The Outsider - the original British translation - but Der Fremde is not, as the work was not originally written in German). Beware, as many translations are not true to their original language's meaning, such as a the German film Himmel Über Berlin, which is Wings of Desire in English.
17. If a question asks to identify an answer from a list, the player must name the exact answer (e.g. NOT "the second thing you read" or "the one that started with F").
18. Players may spell answers, but it is considered misconduct for a player to spell an answer intending to delay the game.
19. Pronunciations do not have to be exact. A plausible or phonetic pronunciation is usually acceptable unless it demonstrates a fundamental lack of understanding about the correct answer (e.g. Malcolm the Tenth is not acceptable for Malcolm X). As a general rule, while leeway may be given to vowel sounds, consonants should be in the correct order, and syllables should not be added or omitted.
20. A player may be prompted to spell a phonetically close response. In such cases, the exact spelling is not always required (e.g. a player says muh-NAY and is prompted. A response of M-A-N-A-Y would be sufficient to remove ambiguity with Monet).
21. At the end of the question (or each part of a non-progressive bonus), the moderator will read the correct answer if no-one correctly answered. The moderator may wait until the end of the match if the answer is long or complicated.
22. While BuzzerQuiz strives to include all acceptable alternate answers, players should resist giving esoteric equivalents when they know the more common response. The verification of such responses may slow down a tournament needlessly. Also, many supposed equivalents vary in subtle ways from the answer sought, and may therefore be wrong.

K. Length of Game

1. The length of a game may be limited by reference to time (a "timed game") or by reference to the number of questions asked (an "untimed game").
2. A timed game is played for 20 minutes. If either the starter or bonus questions allocated for the game run out before the time expires, the game ends. The further provisions relating to the clock in section L shall apply in a timed game.
3. A timed game may be played for a length of time other than 20 minutes. If so, the length of the game shall be clearly specified before the start of the game.
4. An untimed game is played until the starter or bonus questions allocated for the game run out.
5. For both timed and untimed games, 26 starter questions and 24 bonus questions shall be allocated for the game. If a different number of questions is allocated for the game, this shall be clearly specified before the start of the game.
6. If a tournament proposes to use both timed and untimed games, or to vary the length of games during the tournament, this shall be clearly specified before the start of the tournament. If the tournament format requires that two games be directly comparable, they must both be limited in duration by reference to the same standard.
7. The team with more points at the end of the game wins. If the score is tied:
   1. Extra time consisting of three starter questions shall be played. No bonus questions are used in extra time.
   2. If the game is still tied after extra time, sudden-death extra time follows, in which the reader reads starter questions until the score changes.
8. Extra time and sudden-death extra time shall be played at a pace similar to that of the rest of the game.
9. The clock is not used in extra time following a timed game.
10. The questions used for extra time and sudden-death extra time shall not count towards the number of questions allocated for a game.
11. The questions used for extra time and sudden-death extra time may however be questions allocated for the game that have not been used, or other questions.
12. The final score (and any statistics) of a game decided in extra time or sudden-death extra time shall be given as at the conclusion of extra time or sudden-death extra time, but shall be marked "(ET)".

L. Time

1. A game shall be started at the specified time. If one team is late, this may result in a forfeit, unless this lateness is the fault of the tournament, or the tournament director is satisfied with other good cause. A team shall be considered late if:
   1. where the game forms part of a tournament in which the team has already played a game in that same tournament in the same general location on the same day, it is not present and ready to play 5 minutes after the specified time; or
   2. in any circumstances, it is not present and ready to play 15 minutes after the specified time.
2. The remaining rules in this section shall apply only to timed games.
3. The length of a timed match should be determined by reference to one reliable stopwatch or countdown timer ("the clock"). This need not be visible to the teams; if it is not, the reader should use the clock to give regular updates on the amount of time remaining.
4. The clock starts when the reader begins reading the first starter question.
5. When the time runs out, the game shall end, except:
   1. A player who has signalled on a starter question is allowed to answer that starter and, if correct, earns a bonus question. If incorrect, the game ends without the other team having a chance to answer the starter.
   2. A team will be read its entire bonus question, even if time expires during the bonus or before the bonus is read.
6. The timepiece used by the game officials is the official time and is not protestable.

M. Interruptions

1. A game shall not be interrupted, nor shall the clock be stopped in a timed game, unless:
   1. a game official needs to resolve a serious problem or to replace a question;
   2. the score needs to be checked;
   3. the game is interrupted by matters outside the control of the teams and the game officials; or
   4. interruptions to a timed game have been specified in advance according to rule M4.
2. A team, and those connected with a team, should not interrupt a game in play except where:
   1. they are calling a time-out in accordance with this section of these rules;
   2. they are lodging a protest in accordance with section N of these rules; or
   3. they are drawing the reader's attention to a serious problem that requires immediate resolution.
3. Any unnecessary interruption to a game in play by a team or those connected with a team may be penalised as misconduct. In particular, players should not interrupt a game with commentary or conversation, including when a bonus question is being read to the other team.
4. A tournament may specify that timed games may be interrupted; if so, the time, duration and nature of each permitted interruption shall be clearly specified before the start of the tournament. A tournament may allow either or both of two forms of interruption:
   1. one scheduled interruption of no more than 3 minutes dividing the game into two equal parts (a "half-time break"); or
   2. an unscheduled interruption of no more than 60 seconds that may be requested once by each team in each game at any permitted point in the game (a "time-out").
5. When the time specified for a half-time break is reached, play shall cease in the same manner as specified by rule H5 for the end of the game. However, the time taken to conclude play beyond the time specified shall not be subtracted from the time remaining for the game following the half-time break.
6. A time-out may only be taken immediately before a starter question is due to be read.
7. The tournament rules shall specify whether any person connected to a team other than a member of the team currently playing may call a time-out.
8. Any person permitted to call a time-out may do so by clearly calling "time out" immediately before a starter question; no hand signal is required. However, it is strongly recommended that, if possible, a person indicates in advance discreetly to the reader their intention to call a time-out before the next starter question, either verbally or by a suitable signal.
9. A team may call a time-out only once during a game. If anyone connected with a team attempts to call a time-out a second time, it shall be treated as an unnecessary interruption by that team, and penalised accordingly.

N. Protests

1. Mistakes happen (well, we hope not, but...). Take a deep breath and treat the tournament staff and the opposing team calmly. We all want a perfect game, and will do our best to correct errors with your co-operation.
2. Protests may be lodged only by an active player during or immediately at the end of the game. The only protest that will normally be adjudicated during the game is that the moderator has just accepted a starter answer from a player other than the one who has signalled. Otherwise, all protests will be adjudicated, subject to rule N6, at the end of the game.
3. The person making the protest should briefly explain the nature of the protest. Protestable matters include the acceptability of an answer, the execution of game procedures, scoring errors, insufficient prompt or excessive underlining, and like factors that have a concrete and quantifiable effect on the game.
4. If a question contains a verifiable factual error which misled a player into giving a reasonable response, the response given will be accepted as correct only if the information available when the player signalled uniquely identifies the given response. Otherwise, the question will be replaced as if the moderator had prematurely revealed the answer.
5. Technical protests, such as an incorrect score, as well as protests that can be quickly resolved, may be handled by the staff in the affected game. Insofar as possible, the game must not be delayed because of protests.
6. No protests will be adjudicated unless they could change the outcome of the match. For example, if one team loses by 50 points and protests a 5-point bonus answer, the protest will not be considered. If the game officials are unable to resolve a protest quickly to both teams' satisfaction, the protest may be appealed to the tournament director.
7. The tournament director may resolve a protest with or without the assistance of other tournament staff. If the tournament director gives a decision, it is final unless a variation under rule B3 has been notified.
8. If a protest is upheld, the remedy is to restore the game to its condition as if the error had not been made. Thus, all points erroneously awarded or not awarded shall be removed or added. If a team was incorrectly credited with a starter, both the starter points and any bonus points will be removed. If the other team was not given a chance to answer the starter, it shall hear a replacement starter and, if answered correctly, a bonus. Once a decade or so, a protest remedy may call for the replaying of a significant portion of a game.
9. If a protest is not upheld, life goes on.

O. Ethics and Conduct

1. All players and other persons associated with a team are bound by an honour code to behave responsibly and ethically. This includes, but is not limited to:
   1. treating all other participants and staff with courtesy and dignity;
   2. helping to ensure that an event runs smoothly and fairly;
   3. not receiving or giving impermissible assistance;
   4. not creating the temptation for another to cheat;
   5. abiding by all decisions of the tournament staff;
   6. not colluding with another person to 'fix' a match result;
   7. not intentionally 'throwing' a match;
   8. honestly reporting details of game situations to tournament officials; and
   9. promptly reporting violations of this honour code to a tournament staff member.
2. Any tournament official may find that a player or other person associated with a team during the tournament has committed misconduct. Misconduct includes disruptive behaviour, unethical behaviour, any violation of the honour code, or other unsporting conduct. Officials may interpret these categories broadly.
3. All instances of misconduct must be reported to the tournament director at the conclusion of the game, or as soon as practical.
4. Instances of misconduct may result in sanctions to be determined by the tournament director. These sanctions include, but are not limited to, suspension of a participant from one or more matches, loss of game(s) for a team, score adjustment, or expulsion from the tournament for an entire team.
5. Unless the tournament director decides otherwise, other staff may not impose sanctions, except that a reader must eject from a game any person found to have committed misconduct a second time during that game (i.e. a tournament director may give the staff greater powers to sanction than this minimum). A player ejected from a game may not be replaced during that game.
6. Any decision or sanction relating to misconduct made the tournament director is final, unless a variation under rule B3 has been notified. Any sanction for misconduct should be notified to BuzzerQuiz directly after the tournament or event.
7. Misconduct at one tournament or event (including events that are not official BuzzerQuiz events) may result in exclusion from future tournaments, at the absolute discretion of BuzzerQuiz.
8. BuzzerQuiz may also in its absolute discretion exclude any player or team from any official BuzzerQuiz event.

P. League Placings

1. In any competition organised by means of a league table where all teams have played the same number of matches, the placings shall be determined by the number of games won. If tied matches are permitted, they shall count as half of one win to each team involved. If teams have played differing numbers of games, the proportion of wins to the total number of matches played shall be used instead.
2. If two or more teams have the same number or proportion of wins, the following in order shall be used to break the tie. If at any stage the number of teams involved in the tie is reduced, the list should be started again from the beginning.
   1. Results of matches between the teams (i.e. as if a round-robin had been conducted solely between those teams)
   2. Points difference in the games between the teams
   3. Points scored in the games between the teams
   4. Points difference in all games
   5. Points scored in all games
   6. Coin flip
3. As an exception to this, a tournament director may specify before the tournament that a tie whose resolution will eliminate a team from the tournament may not be determined by anything other than the result between the teams. If the result between the teams is insufficient, some form of play-off may be used to break the tie. This may take the form of another complete game, a partial game, or a shoot-out using only starter questions.