Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

1. 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 Gallaudet University 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; Potpourri; and Pop Culture, Leisure, and Sports.

2. When and why was it 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.

3. What is the format of the Academic Bowl competition?

The National Academic Bowl opens with Preliminary competition on Friday and Saturday Eighty teams will be divided into 8 pools of 10 teams each. The 10 teams in each pool will face each other in round robin matches.

The top 16 teams from the previous year's National competition will be seeded 1 through 16 and placed into pools. The top 3 teams from each pool will advance to the National competition held on Monday. The remaining 24 teams will be divided into 4 pools of 6 teams each.

The top 3 teams from each pool will advance to the Playoffs held on Monday to determine the National champion. The remaining 8 teams will be placed in a Playoff bracket.

The winner of the quarterfinal matches will move on to the semifinals and the winners of the semifinal matches will play in the National championship match. The remaining teams will participate in matches to determine 3rd through 8th place standings.

4. What does an Academic Bowl match look like?

The Preliminary matches will have 3 rounds. Round 1 will consist of 12 toss-up questions and 12 bonus questions. The first player on either team to buzz in gets to answer. If that player is wrong, the first player from the opposing team gets a chance to answer as well. If a player gets a toss-up question right, a bonus question is awarded and the entire team can discuss the answer.

Round 2 will also consist of 12 questions. Players will take turns answering the questions with no communication amongst teams allowed.

Round 3 consists of 10 questions relating to one category and usually one topic. Teams are given 3 minutes to discuss and record their answers.

During the Nationals and Playoff matches, the number of questions in the 1st and 2nd rounds goes up from 12 to 16. During the championship match, the number of questions in the 1st and 2nd round goes up to 20. The number of questions in the 3rd round also goes up to 15.

More details shared in the Rules and Guidelines manual. An updated version of the Rules and Guidelines manual reflecting the changes for 2012 will be posted on the website soon.

5. Who can participate?

The Academic Bowl is open to teams of high school students currently enrolled in recognized schools or programs for deaf and hard of hearing students. Schools or programs may be residential schools, day schools, mainstream programs, or any other type of educational program. The number of players allowed on a team is (4) four. 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 National Academic Bowl office. When 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 National Academic Bowl office.

6. How many teams are allowed to participate in the National competition?

A maximum of eighty (80 ) teams may participate in the National Academic Bowl competition. Registrations are accepted on a first-come, first-serve basis. A waiting list will be established for teams that do not make the cut. 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.

7. Is there any expense for participating in the National Academic Bowl competition?

Schools and programs that participate in the National Academic Bowl are expected to make their own travel arrangements and cover their own travel expenses. A non-refundable $250 fee, to help offset Academic Bowl operation costs, will be charged to all participating teams. Accommodations and meals will be covered by Gallaudet University during the competition. Schools and programs inform travel arrangements, including time of arrival at and departure from Washington, D.C. with the National Academic Bowl office so we can be prepared.

8. When will the competition be held?

In 2012, the National Academic Bowl will be held at Gallaudet University from Thursday, April 12th to Monday, April 16th. Team arrival and orientation begins on Thursday and the competition will be held on Friday, Saturday, Sunday, and Monday. Teams travel back home on Tuesday, April 17th.

9. What happened to the regional Academic Bowl competitions?

The popularity of the Academic Bowl competition has steadily risen since the first competition in 1997. This has resulted in an increasing number of teams wishing to participate but due to the limit of teams per region, some teams were denied an opportunity to compete. Expansion of the regional competitions was considered, but once we examined the logistics and the human and fiscal resources of such an expansion, we realized that hosting a single National competition at Gallaudet would be a more viable option. This may be reconsidered in the future.

10. What if my school needs to withdraw from the competition after I have submitted an application and fee?

If your team needs to withdraw from the competition, please inform the National Academic Bowl office immediately so that a team on the waiting list can be invited to participate. The $250 entry fee is non-refundable.

11. Can families and visitors watch the competition?

Families and visitors are more than welcome. The competition schedule will be posted on the website. There is no charge to attend.

12. 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. Some schools even schedule matches via video conferencing with other schools. More information can be found in the Rules and Guidelines manual.

13. Who do I contact for more information about the Academic Bowl?

You can contact Mrs. Sherry Duhon, Academic Bowl Coordinator, at the National Academic Bowl office at Gallaudet via email (sherry.duhon@gallaudet.edu), VP (202-250-2169).

Travel FAQs

1. Where will teams be lodged while in Washington, D.C.?

Players and coaches will be staying at the Gallaudet University Kellogg Conference Center, Holiday Inn Express and Fairfield Suites in Washington, D.C. Parents, school administrators, and other fans are welcome to make their own arrangements at the same hotels or at another hotel.

2. Which airport should teams fly to in Washington, D.C.?

The closest airport to the hotels is the Washington Reagan National airport (DCA). Sheraton will provide a shuttle to/from this airport. There are also two other airports in the area, Washington Dulles (IAD), and Baltimore Washington International (BWI). Teams would have to arrange their own shuttles to/from the hotel.

3. When should teams arrive in Washington, D.C.?

On Thursday, April 12th, registration at Gallaudet University Kellogg Conference Center will be held from 12 noon - 3:30pm. If teams want to arrive a day or two earlier to do some sightseeing in Washington, D.C., they are more than welcome to do so with the understanding that accommodations and meals prior to registration will be at their own expense. Teams can also depart later than Tuesday, April 17th if they want to stay for a day or two at their own expense after the competition ends.

4. What meals will be provided by Gallaudet during the competition?

Meals for team members and coaches will be covered by Gallaudet from dinner on Thursday, April 12th through dinner on Monday, April 16th. Teams will need to cover any meals before or after this time range, including meals during transit. For those teams who stay at the Gallaudet University Kellogg Conference Center will eat breakfast at Gallaudet University cafeteria. And for those who stay at either Holiday Inn Express or Fairfield Suites will eat at their hotel at no charge.

5. Will we have time to tour Washington, D.C. during the competition period?

On Friday and Saturday, there will be no time for teams to go off on their own.

On Sunday morning, top 32 teams will be competing all day. Teams that are not still in the competition may go off on their own until dinner or they can come back and watch the other matches.

On Monday, the teams will be free to tour D.C. and will be given free vouchers for lunch at Union Station. Teams that are still in the competition will need to return to Gallaudet by 10:30 a.m. for the Playoff matches. Teams that are out of the competition are free to tour until dinner or they can come back and watch the Playoff matches. All teams must be present for dinner and for the evening activities.

Contact Information

Coordinator: Sherry Duhon

Hall Memorial Building (HMB) S-141

VP : 202-250-2169

Fax: 202-651-5987