A successful academic bowl requires trained officials. Each competition room should have a moderator, a chief judge, a timer and a scorekeeper. For 4th grade 5th grade, elementary and middle level bowls, trained high school students can serve as officials. Trained junior high students may serve as timer or scorekeeper. The following guidelines will be helpful in training academic bowl officials:

1. Officials should have a copy of the bowl rules.
2. Your team practice session is a good method of practice for officials.
3. All officials should take the open book exam to become familiar with the rules and format of academic bowl.
4. Ask only dependable individuals to be officials. Always have a few extra on standby.
5. Hold a mock bowl for officials training. Use training officials for both team members and officials.
6. Officials can be, parents, teachers, older students (student council, high school bowl teams,etc.), administrators, community leaders (check with civic groups, Rotary, Lions, Chamber of Commerce, Kiwanis, church groups, extension homemakers, retired teachers), run a story in your local paper, sometimes help comes from unexpected places.

Timers - one for each competition room. The timer will sit next to either the chief judge or moderator and starts the clock when the moderator finishes reading the question. The clock begins when the moderator says the last word in the question. The clock is set for ten (10) seconds The timer may be a trained adult or a trained student.
FOR MATH QUESTIONS ONLY- 15 SECONDS ARE GIVEN FOR MATH AND SCIENCE COMPUTATION QUESTIONS. THE MODERATOR WILL SAY, "THIS IS A MATH (or computation) QUESTION."
If neither team attempts to answer the question, the timer will say "Time" at the end of the allotted time.
If the moderator is interrupted while reading a question the time does NOT start. The timer begins timing ONLY when the moderator has finished a question. If a team member buzzes and the allotted time has expired at the same moment, a tie, the advantage goes to the student.
If the timer is from a participating school, the timer will not give answers or act as a team member in any manner. Such action by a timer could cause the disqualification of the timer's team.

Scorekeeper - one for each competition room. The scorekeeper will sit at the officials table.
The scorekeeper may be a trained adult or a trained student.
The scorekeeper will keep an accurate accounting of the score.
The scorekeeper will be familiar with the score record before the tournament begins.
A scorekeeper from a participating school will not give answers or act as a team member in any manner. Such action by a scorekeeper could cause the disqualification of the scorekeeper's team.

Moderator - one for each competition room. The moderator will read the question and tell the student if the response is correct or incorrect. The moderator may be a trained student if the Chief Judge is an adult.
The moderator will work with the chief judge if the correctness of a question is challenged.
The moderator will treat all teams with courtesy and fairness.
The moderator will be familiar with the questions and the rules of the game.
The moderator will maintain the security of the questions at all times.

Chief Judge - one for each competition room. The chief judge will recognize the students during the toss-up rounds. The chief judge may be a trained student if the moderator is an adult.
The chief judge is the head official of the game.
The chief judge will recognize the student by calling the students name. If students from opposing teams have the same name, the chief judge will say the team name first followed by the students name.
The chief judge will, with the assistance of the moderator, rule on all protests.
The chief judge will treat all teams with courtesy and fairness.
The chief judge will be familiar with the questions and the rules of the game.
The decision of the chief judge is final.
The chief judge will maintain the security of the questions at all times

All officials sitting at the head table. 
DO NOT MAKE EYE CONTACT WITH THE STUDENT BEFORE CALLING THE STUDENTS SCHOOL AND NAME. EYE CONTACT COULD BE SEEN AS RECOGNITION AND CAUSE THE STUDENT TO ANSWER BEFORE HE/SHE HAS BEEN RECOGNIZED.


There should be at least one knowledgeable adult in each competition room. When choosing officials, emphasis should be placed on fairness and dependability. If at all possible, allow groups of officials time to practice as a team.

An officials most important job is preparation. The official should be familiar with the rules of the game before a round begins. Practice whenever given the opportunity. The process of academic bowl should be challenging and fun for students, coaches, parents and officials. The officials job is to be the facilitator for academic competition. Courteous and professional behavior is expected at all times. The students are guests. However, that does not mean unsportsmanlike conduct should be taken in stride. Students, coaches and parents must know that proper behavior is expected of them during academic competition. A stern warning will normally cause the behavior to stop. If the behavior continues, the offender must leave the room. If the person refuses to leave ask the tournament manager for help. All participants are expected to operate under the OAAC Code of Conduct. A written report concerning the violation of the conduct code must be submitted to the tournament director.
Suggestions and problems should be sent to, OAAC, Inc. Attn: Gail Bliss, Drawer B, Carnegie, OK. 73015. Immediate questions? contact Gail Bliss (580) 654-1852. e-mail gnbliss@carnegienet.net


Official Certification

Academic Coach, initial each stage of certification.

1. The official will read the competition rules and bowl officials guidelines. 5 points _____
2. The official will complete, with 80% accuracy, the officials test located on page 37 of The Book. 5 points _____
3. The official will participate in a practice session with an academic team. 10 points _____
4. The academic coach will submit the official's name for certification.

Upon completion of the first four steps, the official will receive a certificate of training and an official's card.


Additional points may be earned for additional recognition.
1. Participating in practice sessions with the academic team 5 points per session _____
(may accumulate up to 20 points through practice sessions)
2. Participating in proofreading sessions prior to actual competition. 10 points _____
3. Officiating a district academic bowl. 20 points _____
4. Officiating a regional academic bowl. 20 points _____
5. Officiating an area academic bowl. 20 points _____

Upon accumulating 100 points. The official will receive an achievement pin.
Additional recognition for each 100 points.
20 points per 100 may be accumulated through practice sessions.