Each team may have up to 10 people participating in each round. No team may have more than 10 people, children or adults.

The competition will have 20 questions from each of the following categories:

1. current events/history/geography/literature/science
2. arts/entertainment/popular culture
3. sports/Washington

The emcee will read aloud the questions for teams to answer. Sitting at the team's designated table, the members of each team work together in filling out the team's answer sheet. The emcee will read each question only twice. Thus, it is recommended that members of each team write down the questions for their reference.

The team's name and the name of its captain must be written on the answer sheet for each round. All answers must be legible and in English unless another language is specified. Answers must be written on the appropriate line corresponding to the number of the question.

Only one answer per question will be accepted unless more than one answer is clearly requested. When multiple answers for one question are requested, all answers must be correct to obtain the point. When a person's name is requested, last names are acceptable, unless first and last are specifically requested. Phonetic spelling is acceptable; however, only correct spelling will count when specifically requested. There are no partial points for an answer.

Answer sheets are due at the judges' table two minutes after the round ends. Room monitors will collect the sheets from team captains and bring them to the judging table. A round ends after the emcee has read the last question of the round. Once an answer sheet is submitted, no changes are allowed.

The emcee will read aloud the questions and correct answers for the round after officials have collected all answer sheets for that round. The judges will review and score the answer sheets during this time. Scores and team standings for each round will be posted on a scoreboard.

Any challenges to questions should be brought to the attention of the Game Manager by the team captain, or one designated representative before the end of the evening competition. The Game Manager's decision is final. Please do not disturb or harass the judges and scorekeepers.

The team with the highest score at the end of the last round wins year-long prestigious bragging rights.

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No one who leaves a team table while a round is in progress, will be allowed to return to the team table until the team turns in its answer sheet for that round. Please make all trips to the hospitality table, refreshment area, or restroom before and after rounds.

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The use of all telephones, personal digital assistants (Palm Pilot, BlackBerry, Treo or similar devices), pagers, digital cameras, video devices, portable music, and any electronic tool that can access the Internet, intranets or extranets via Wi-Fi, or wireless, is absolutely prohibited on team tables once a round is in progress and until the team turns in its answer sheet for that round. If visible, game officials will request that they are put away.

Any person who uses such devices during a round must leave the team table and may not return until the team turns in its answer sheet for that round. Officials and judges have the discretion to deduct up to 10 points from a team's score if any team member violates this rule.

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No printed materials other than those provided and sanctioned by Trivia Bowl organizers and sponsors are allowed on the team table. Purses, bags, briefcases and items containing printed materials must be placed on the floor.

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Team member substitution is prohibited at any time during the competition. Once the competition begins, a team may not replace an original competitor with another individual. If for any reason a team member leaves the event, the team will proceed without that member. Competition officials will strictly enforce this policy. Officials and judges have the discretion to deduct up to 10 points from a team's score if any such violations occur.

Non-competing spectators may not sit at, stand near, or approach the team table once a round is in progress and until the team turns in its answer sheet for that round. Any communication, oral or otherwise, is prohibited between a team and spectators once a round is in progress and until the team turns in its answer sheet for the round. Officials and judges have the discretion to deduct up to 10 points from a team's score if any such communications occur.

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If any teams are tied for any of the top three places in the overall standings after the end of the last round, the following tie-breaker guidelines will be applied in the following order:

1. Number of first-place finishes in a round.

2. Number of highest finishes in a round in head-to-head competition.

3. Number of questions answered correctly in the first round before answering a question incorrectly.

4. Number of questions answered correctly in the second round before answering a question incorrectly.

5. Number of questions answered correctly in the third round before answering a question incorrectly.

6. Number of questions answered correctly in the fourth round before answering a question incorrectly.

7. Number of questions answered correctly in the fifth round before answering a question incorrectly.

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