Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

What is the Academic Bowl?
Quiz tournaments, in which teams of high school students compete against each other in local, regional, and national events, have gained wide popularity among high schools and colleges throughout the country. The Academic Bowl competition consists of a question and answer game of general knowledge and quick recall. Questions are drawn from the following categories: History and Government; Language and Literature; Science and Technology; Geography, Mathematics; The Arts; Deaf Studies; Current Events; and Popular Culture, Leisure, and Sports.

When and why it was established?
Gallaudet University established its first National Academic Bowl in 1997 with the goal of promoting academic competition among school teams, and to foster academic excellence and achievement among deaf and hard of hearing students across the country.

Who can participate?
The minimum number of players for a team is (3) three and the maximum is (5) five. All players must be in grades 9 - 12. If a school or program does not have enough students to field a team, one may be formed by combining students from another school or program and submitting a request to the Regional Academic Bowl coordinator. Where a single school or program does not have enough students to field its own Academic Bowl team, teams may be assembled by combining students from two or more schools or programs within a 25-mile radius of each other. In some cases, as in a school in a rural area, the school may petition in writing for special consideration, which may include a larger radius. Other options are for a mainstreamed or home-schooled student to join the team of a local school or program for the deaf. All written petitions for special consideration will be considered by the Gallaudet University Regional Center serving that region, in consultation with National Academic Bowl staff.

How many teams are allowed to participate in a regional competition?
A maximum of sixteen (16) teams may participate in each Regional Academic Bowl. Registrations are accepted on a first-come, first-served basis. Each region will establish a waiting list. In the event a team is forced to withdraw from the competition, the first team on the waiting list will be offered the opportunity to participate in the competition.

My region already has a maximum of 16 registered teams, and my team is on the waiting list. Is there any chance for us to enter the Regional competition?
Any of the five regions that do not have 16 teams participating will become an "At-Large" region and add teams from other regions to their competition. After the initial registration deadline has passed, if one region has less than 16 teams, schools from other regions' waiting lists will be asked by the National Academic Bowl office staff if they are interested in participating in another region's competition. If so, they will email and fax an authorization form to the National Academic Bowl office. Teams will be added to the At-Large region on a first-come, first-served basis. Once your team is registered, the coaches will be given access to the Coaches' Corner for more information on "At-Large" region procedures.

Which states comprise each regional competition?
Mid-Atlantic Region: Delaware, District of Columbia, Maryland, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Virginia, and West Virginia.

Midwest Region: Arkansas, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, South Dakota, Texas, and Wisconsin.

Northeast Region: Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New York, Rhode Island, and Vermont.

Southeast Region: Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Tennessee.

West Region: Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Hawaii, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, Oregon, Utah, Washington, and Wyoming.

Four of the five regional competitions are coordinated by the Gallaudet University Regional Centers (GURC), with support from the Gallaudet University College of Professional Studies and Outreach, Program Services Unit . The GURC in Hawai'i assists the West Region. The Mid-Atlantic regional competition and the national competition are coordinated by the Gallaudet University College of Professional Studies and Outreach, Program Services Unit.

When are the regional competitions held, and how long does each one last?
The regional competitions are held in February, March, and April each year. Team arrivals and orientations begin on Thursday and the competitions are held on Friday and Saturday. Teams travel back home on Sunday.

Who competes in the National Academic Bowl?
The first, second, and third place teams in each region, as well as one to-be-determined fourth place team from all of the regions, are invited to compete at the all-expenses paid National Academic Bowl, held at Gallaudet University in Washington, DC, usually in late April.

Is there any expense for participating in the Academic Bowl?
Schools and programs that participate in Regional Academic Bowl competitions are expected to make their own travel arrangements and cover their own travel expenses.  A $250 fee, to help offset Academic Bowl operating costs, will be charged to all participating teams who attend the regional competitions. This $250 fee will be waived for each host team.  Accommodations and meals will be covered by Gallaudet University during the competition. Schools and programs must discuss travel arrangements, including time of arrival at and departure from the competition site, with the Gallaudet University Regional Center coordinator prior to booking arrangements.

What if my school needs to withdraw from the competition after I've submitted an application?
If your team needs to withdraw from the competition, please inform your Regional Academic Bowl coordinator immediately so that a team on the waiting list can be invited to participate.

Can families and visitors attend?
Families and visitors are welcome to attend the competition. The general schedule of events is on the website under the Regional competition. There is no charge to attend.

What is the best way to prepare my team for the competition?
Each coach varies with the type of preparation they use with their team. Some teams practice after school, weekends, or in the evenings. Some teams hold practice competitions with neighboring public schools, or with parents and their school community. For current events questions, we encourage reading a national print or on-line newspaper, i.e., USA Today or CNN.com. For deaf studies questions, several reference sites are listed in the Rules and Guidelines booklet. Once your team is registered, the coaches will be given access to the coaches' corner for more information on team preparation.

Who do I contact for more information about the Academic Bowl?
If you have any questions about the Academic Bowl, contact the appropriate Gallaudet University Regional Center contact person.  Click on the "Regional 2010" button on the left side.