Guidelines

  1. All semi battles will be played at the Central Library.
  2. All junior level teams will meet over two days for a round robin of battles. Similarly, the senior level teams will meet on another 2 days for their battles.
  3. All battles will be between two teams.
  4. Teams will be randomly divided into odd and even numbers.
  5. All the odds will play against the evens in the round robin battles. Winners will be announced at the end of each game.
  6. A cumulative score will be kept for each team. The final winners will be announced at the end of all round robins.
  7. The two highest scoring junior teams and the two highest scoring senior teams will proceed to the Grand Battle.
  8. The winning Grand Battle junior team, and similarly, the winning senior team will represent Oakville in regional battles between Oakville, Milton, Burlington and Halton Hills.
  9. All teams will consist of a maximum of 9 members: 6 players & 3 substitutes.
    • Junior Level Teams - 2 students from each grades 3, 4 & 5, as well as one student substitute per grade.
    • Senior Level Teams - 2 students from each of grades 6, 7 & 8, as well as one student substitute per grade.
  10. Where a school does not fit easily into the above grade breakdowns, there may only be 2 representatives and one substitute from the oldest grade represented. Example:
    • In a school which has team members from grade 4 & 5 only, their junior team will consist of 2 grade 4's, plus 2 substitutes and 2 grade 5's plus 2 substitutes.
    • In a K-6 school, there could be a senior team made up of all grade 6's.
    11. A Team Enjoys The Battle
  11. In the event of illness or inability of original team members to attend Grand or Regional Battle, no additional substitutes are permissible and the team shall play with less than 9 members.
  12. One timeout per battle, in between questions, a team may be called to substitute team members.
  13. Each team will have a spokesperson designated by either the team or teacher. While the team is encouraged to quietly discuss the possible answers, it is this person who will put forward the team answer. Please practice this procedure with your team prior to the semi-battles in order to eliminate possible confusion.
  14. Each team will be asked 7 questions per battle from the following categories:
    • Canadian
    • Award Winners
    • Classics
    • New Titles (2009-2011)
    • Popular Fiction
    • Character
    • Folk/Fairytale (Junior Only)
    • Science Fiction/Fantasy (Senior Only)
  15. The questions will be addressed to the teams alternately regardless of which team gave the last correct answer.
  16. The team to which the question is addressed has 30 seconds in which to give the title and/or author of the book.
  17. During this time, the team may have the question repeated, as well as giving as many answers as it wishes through their spokesperson. However, all attempts (especially with author names) must be made slowly and clearly to be understood.
  18. Five (5) points will be given to the team correctly identifying the title, and three (3) points will be given for identifying the author's surname. Author's first name is not necessary.
  19. If at the end of the 30 seconds, the team is unable to answer the question correctly, the opposing team will be allowed the opportunity to give title and/or author and will receive bonus points if correctly answered. Answer must be immediate. Bonus points are awarded as follows: Two (2) points for title and (1) point for author's surname.
  20. A warmup practice question will be given to each team at the beginning of the first game.
  21. The adjudicator's decision will be final in the case of any team answers which may be questionable.

For an example of the battle format, be sure to watch the video and practice our Sample Questions.