Timekeeper

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Your duties as an NOSB TIMEKEEPER include:

Operating the official competition time clock. You will be provided with a clock that shows both minutes and seconds.

1.      An official game clock MUST be visible to all competitors during the buzzer rounds of the competition.  It is optional to have the game clock visible to the competitors during the Team Challenge Question portion.

2.      At the beginning of each of the competition’s halves, set the clock at six [6] minutes. The clock should be started after the Moderator has identified the subject area of the first toss-up question. The clock should be allowed to run uninterrupted until time expires UNLESS there is a question or a rules challenge. If there is an interruption, stop the clock until the issue is resolved. Restart the timer when the Moderator begins reading the next question. Add time back onto the clock if the Moderator, Science Judge, or Rules Judge feel that an interruption has unduly used competition time. Again, be certain to explain to the participants that a time correction is being made.

3.      At half-time, call “HALF” and at the end of the game call “GAME.”

4.      For the Team Challenge Question portion, use a stop watch to time the Team Challenge Questions.  Remember that the Team Challenge Questions are followed by a break of at least 2 minutes.  The break ends when the Science Judge returns from the Judges’ Appeals Rooms, announces the results and explains the correct answers to the teams and audience.

5.      Toss-Up Questions: After reading a toss-up question, five (5) seconds will be allowed for the teams to buzz in before the moderator proceeds to the next toss-up question. Once a team member has buzzed in and been recognized by the Moderator, that team ember will have (3) seconds (a natural pause) to answer.  Keep track of the 5 seconds allowed to buzz in, and the 3 seconds allowed to answer, calling “TIME” so that the Moderator will know to proceed to the next toss-up question.

6.      Bonus Questions: Each time a team correctly answers a toss-up question, the team will be awarded a bonus question. The students have 20 seconds to answer the bonus question AFTER the Moderator has finished reading the bonus question. After 15 seconds in the bonus period have elapsed, please say “5 SECONDS.” This is to alert the students that only 5 seconds remain in their bonus period. At the end of the 20 second time period you will simply say “TIME.” Please say this loudly enough for all participants to hear. Generally, it will be sufficient for you to time the 20-second interval by reading the clock provided for the match. However, a stopwatch may also be used for this purpose.

7.      Team Challenge Questions: Teams have from two (2) to five (5) minutes to answer the Team Challenge Questions after the paper is handed out to them. When 45 seconds in the team challenge period remain, please say “45 SECONDS.” This is to alert the students that only 45 seconds remain in their team challenge period.  When 15 seconds remain, please say “15 SECONDS”.  At the end of the time period you will simply say “TIME.” Please say this loudly enough for all participants to hear.