Archive: 1989–90 Rules

Significant changes from the 1987–8 rules are highlighted.

1.	Start of Season:The league will commence on Tuesday 10^th October 1989.
2.	Team Structure: Each team will consist of four players for any game, however any number of players may be used during a season. Once a player has played for one team in a season he may not play for another. No substitutes may be used except in exceptional circumstances, both Captains and the Question Master agreeing.
3.	Times of Games: The questions and weekly information is available for question masters from 7:15 on the quiz night. At the beginning of the season the collection centre will be the Castle. Once the Millstone is renovated, a decision will be taken about the location of the collection centre. Teams to assemble for 7.45, game to start promptly at 8.00 prompt. Should a team be unable to start by 8.00, ten points will be deducted from the total score at the end of the game. Should a team be unable to start by 8.15, that team forfeits both points to the opposition and a committee meeting will be held to award individual points.
4.	Structure of the game: The game is started by the toss of a coin, the winner having choice of going first or second. The seals on the question envelopes are checked by the Question Master. The Question Master will direct individual questions on specialist subjects to each team member in turn. If the individual answers the question correctly within 15 seconds, the time to be taken from the end of question to the start of answer, he will be awarded three points. However, should he feel unable to answer the question on his own, he can confer with the other members of the team, at any time within the fifteen seconds answering period, by saying "confer", his team will have ten seconds in which to start their answer. One point is awarded for a correct team answer. If an individual or "conferred" answer is incorrect, the question is passed over to the opposing team for a conferred answer, with a time limit of 10 seconds from the Question Master saying "Passed over". One point is awarded for the correct answer. All points awarded count towards the team total, the three points scored by the individual count towards the individual's score. There are eight specialist rounds. These will be on the following subjects: History Geography Arts and Entertainment Sport Science The remaining three subject areas are left to the discretion of the question setter. At the end of the specialist rounds, the order of play is reversed and there are twelve general knowledge rounds.
5.	Protests: In any dispute during play, the Question Master's decision is final. If any team is not satisfied with this, while accepting the decision for the evening, their Captain may protest in writing to the league secretary within seven days, whereon the Committee will decide. It is recommended that disputes are settled, if at all possible, before moving on to the next question. Supplementary questions are provided to allow the Question Master to resolve disputes.
6.	Score Keeper: A score keeper will be provided by the home team. He will keep score and time, under the direction of the Question Master. Time limits will be strictly adhered to, and a five second warning given to players. A timepiece should be provided by the Home team. Score sheets are provided by the League.
7.	Game Points: Two points are awarded for a win and one for a drawn match. If teams are level on game points their positions are determined by the points scored by the teams in the matches.
8.	Structure of the League: There are five divisions, each with nine teams.
9.	League Fees: The fees for the 89-90 season is £20 per team, payable as soon as possible and in any case before 1/1/90. There will be a five pound surcharge due for any subscriptions not paid until ater 1/1/90. Non-League Teams entering the Cup will pay a £5 fee.
10.	League Promotion and Relegation: is based on two up and two down from each division. In the event of teams leaving the league and other league restructuring, the committee's decision is final.
11.	League Prizes. There is a Champion's Shield for each Division, returnable each year and to be displayed in the winner's pub at the pub's own risk.
12.	Cup Competitions: There are two Cup Competitions:
	President's Cup – This is the main Cup competition and will include all League teams and any other teams paying the appropriate fee. It will be run on a knockout basis. There will [be] 120 General Knowledge questions, asked alternatively to each team. If a wrong answer is given the question is passed to the opposition. There is a time limit of 20 seconds for the team asked and 10 seconds for a passed over question. Two points are awarded for a correct answer with be one point for a passed over question. The Question Master's decision is final. There is a cup for the winners of the competition, which is returnable each year. The cup will be kept in the winner's pub at the pub's own risk. Other prizes may be awarded at the discretion of the committee.
	Plate – This competition will be open to all teams who are knocked out in the first two rounds of the President's Cup. The same rules will apply as for the President's Cup. There will be a plate for the winners of the competition which may be kept by the winning team.
13.	There is still no Rule 13!
14.	Return of Score Sheets: It is the responsibility of the winning captain to ensure that the score sheets are returned to the Old Millstone by closing time on the day after the match (i.e. Wednesday evening). He may delegate this task but it is ultimately the responsibility of the winning team Captain. In the event of a drawn game it is the responsibility of the Home Team Captrain. In the event that the score sheets are not returned, the match score will be null and void and no team points or scores awarded to either team. Individual scores will be recorded towards the individual totals for the season.
15.	Standard of Questions: For each game, teams competing will be afforded the opportunity to award points for the standard of questions set. This will be done by giving the questions a mark out of 10 for their suitability. These will be totalled after each match and a returnable trophy to the team scoring the highest total. The score given should reflect the entertainment value of the questions and the way that the questions have contributed, or not, to the overall evening.
16.	Individual Scores: will be recorded and the ten highest scoring individuals in each league will be shown each week as a running total. Only the twelve highest individual scores will count towaards that individual's season total.

17.	Committee:	Chairman:	John Knight
		Secretary:	Peter Cole
		Treasurer:	Graham Bailey
		Fixture Secretary:	Alan Barton

[Telephone numbers were given for all Committee members.]

Committee Meetings will be held as and when required. Meetings are normally held on a Sunday evening in a town centre pub.
All meetings are open and all team captains are voting members of the Committee.

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Archive: 1989–90 Rules