Starting a new team
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- Lulu
- Posts: 21
- Joined: Thu Apr 26, 2007 5:54 pm
- Location: Jacksonville, FL
Starting a new team
I am a teacher who is going to a new school in NE Florida next year, with a very new quiz bowl team. They only currently compete in the local competition, a College Bowl-style setup with 4 on 4 in 2-10 minute rounds and a 2 minute lightning round. They don't have buzzers, so I want to get a good set that will last us a while. I've seen that there are sets that plug into a computer, making it easier to keep statistics, but haven't found any of them in my research. Are they out there? Are they worth it? I'm at a private school, so I'm not concerned that the funding won't be there.
Are there any suggestions for starting a new program? I'm leaving a school where my varsity and JV teams won our district's championship, but that was mainly on the backs of bright kids who know a lot. I've got NAQT's literature, art, and music lists, but I don't know what kind of practice questions we have at the new school. I've never competed in anything but our district's competitions and CAC (Florida's tournament that leads to Panasonic), so I also could use suggestions on how to get started in the tournament world.
Thanks for your help!
Are there any suggestions for starting a new program? I'm leaving a school where my varsity and JV teams won our district's championship, but that was mainly on the backs of bright kids who know a lot. I've got NAQT's literature, art, and music lists, but I don't know what kind of practice questions we have at the new school. I've never competed in anything but our district's competitions and CAC (Florida's tournament that leads to Panasonic), so I also could use suggestions on how to get started in the tournament world.
Thanks for your help!
- Sir Thopas
- Auron
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As to buzzers, The Judge and Zeecraft buzzers are probably the most common ones in use. The Judge tends to be extremely rugged, with the most common problem being someone pulling the electrical cord out of the socket. It packets relatively easily, and supports 10 players. They don't have a website, so you'd have to contact other coaches about how to order them. The Zeecraft buzzer systems are also fairly long-lasting, though not as long as the Judge. As opposed to the Judge, which has 2 strings of 5 buzzers daisy-chained, Zeecraft systems have a central console with up to 16 slots to plug in hand-held buzzers, each with their individual light. Each buzzer plugs in through a (I think 14-foot) telephone cord; the most common problem is that over time the little plastic thingies on the end of the cord break, but you can get replacement parts at Radio Shack for like $5 and repair them yourself with a good crimper. The obvious advantages of the Zeecraft over the Judge are that you can play in a more spread-out area and (if you get one of the 12 or 16 player sets) with more players.
If you're concerned about buzzer cost, I'd recommend looking into the systems from buzzers.com, as these appear to be some of the cheapest on the market. I've only played on them once, but they appear to be sturdy, with individual hand-held buzzers each attached to the console similarly to Zeecraft (although with shorter cords) and lights on the console (similar to the Judge).
If you're concerned about buzzer cost, I'd recommend looking into the systems from buzzers.com, as these appear to be some of the cheapest on the market. I've only played on them once, but they appear to be sturdy, with individual hand-held buzzers each attached to the console similarly to Zeecraft (although with shorter cords) and lights on the console (similar to the Judge).
http://www.case.edu/orgs/trivia/internet/equip.html
^Good link for buzzer set info.
I personally like the buzzer.com buzzersets better than the Judge, but then again I've never been a fan of the Judge.
My absolute favorite buzzer system, which I've only ever seen in Illinois, is this system: http://www.buzzersystems.com/#SYSTEMS
I really like their "delux" system; it has served my former high school's program really well.
^Good link for buzzer set info.
I personally like the buzzer.com buzzersets better than the Judge, but then again I've never been a fan of the Judge.
My absolute favorite buzzer system, which I've only ever seen in Illinois, is this system: http://www.buzzersystems.com/#SYSTEMS
I really like their "delux" system; it has served my former high school's program really well.
Christopher Stone
Truman State University '09
Truman State University '09
- Sir Thopas
- Auron
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After about a year, we're down to 5 or 6 working ones. Our next system will not be from them.cvdwightw wrote:If you're concerned about buzzer cost, I'd recommend looking into the systems from buzzers.com, as these appear to be some of the cheapest on the market. I've only played on them once, but they appear to be sturdy, with individual hand-held buzzers each attached to the console similarly to Zeecraft (although with shorter cords) and lights on the console (similar to the Judge).
- DumbJaques
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Please ignore him, he is ham-wielding terrorist.You want the Judge. It is probably the most reliable and easiest to set up of all the buzzers out there.
Seriously, I just hate playing on the judge. And if you want reliability, find the buzzers with the actual ringing bells. Northwestern has had the same one for like twenty years.
- Ditzy Blonde
- Lulu
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Although, I have not been in the circuit nearly as long as any of you, The Judge can defiantley hold up to a bunch of Jr. High and High School Kid abuse...these kids trip over it, slam it terribly and it still keeps on buzzing. Kind of like the energizer bunny...it seems to do quite well for our purposes.
- Ditzy Blonde
- Lulu
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- Mike Bentley
- Sin
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I would like to reiterate the fact that The Judge is terrible for playing quizbowl on. It works, yes. But you will hate it every time that you use it. The cords are so unbelievably short that they're constantly falling off the desks, and your students will have to be pretty much on top of each other to play.
Mike Bentley
Treasurer, Partnership for Academic Competition Excellence
Adviser, Quizbowl Team at University of Washington
University of Maryland, Class of 2008
Treasurer, Partnership for Academic Competition Excellence
Adviser, Quizbowl Team at University of Washington
University of Maryland, Class of 2008
I swear that buzzer systems are like car brands, with some it is just love at first drive and for others it is torture just looking at them...
The only system I really can't stand is the dang quick pro system, I spent more time fixing broken light connectors that I did anything else. Due to that fact, I will not buy another one.
The only system I really can't stand is the dang quick pro system, I spent more time fixing broken light connectors that I did anything else. Due to that fact, I will not buy another one.
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- Lulu
- Posts: 21
- Joined: Thu Apr 26, 2007 5:54 pm
- Location: Jacksonville, FL
Thanks!
Thanks for all of your suggestions. I remember using the QuikPro when I was in HS, and I remember how easily we often broke them and had to fix it. I'm going to have the person who is already there see if we can afford to get the Zeecraft buzzers. I've worked with those a lot with my CAC team, and I recognize them as the ones the local district uses for competitions. I realized that I couldn't even tell you what my current school uses. It's a tan box that reads the top 3 numbers of the buzzers. No lights, and my system has 16 handheld buttons (and a colleague's has 12).
MrsD, thanks for the invite, but Pensacola is a LONG way from NE Florida, about 6 hours, and North Alabama is probably an 8-10 hour drive from here. Maybe after a few seasons we might start traveling that far, but not until we get an established team.
I know that Panasonic/CAC with their strange format has only one button per team (except the finals), but do most of the other national competitions stick to a buzzer per player? Is there any sort of primer on how all of the major tournaments differ in format?
MrsD, thanks for the invite, but Pensacola is a LONG way from NE Florida, about 6 hours, and North Alabama is probably an 8-10 hour drive from here. Maybe after a few seasons we might start traveling that far, but not until we get an established team.
I know that Panasonic/CAC with their strange format has only one button per team (except the finals), but do most of the other national competitions stick to a buzzer per player? Is there any sort of primer on how all of the major tournaments differ in format?
- Ditzy Blonde
- Lulu
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- The Goffman Prophecies
- Quizbowl Detective Extraordinaire
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Seconded.ikillkenny wrote:I would like to reiterate the fact that The Judge is terrible for playing quizbowl on. It works, yes. But you will hate it every time that you use it. The cords are so unbelievably short that they're constantly falling off the desks, and your students will have to be pretty much on top of each other to play.
I played on several of the svbz.com sets while at TRASHionals this past weekend and enjoyed them, even more than the Zeecraft. They're lightweight and seem to be easy to transport. I can't speak for durability or ease of replacement, but they were a blast to use.
- Mike Bentley
- Sin
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We got three of these recently and they work pretty well, but I've heard they might have some durability problems. They do come with a 3 year warranty though.Bill Buckner wrote:Seconded.ikillkenny wrote:I would like to reiterate the fact that The Judge is terrible for playing quizbowl on. It works, yes. But you will hate it every time that you use it. The cords are so unbelievably short that they're constantly falling off the desks, and your students will have to be pretty much on top of each other to play.
I played on several of the svbz.com sets while at TRASHionals this past weekend and enjoyed them, even more than the Zeecraft. They're lightweight and seem to be easy to transport. I can't speak for durability or ease of replacement, but they were a blast to use.
Mike Bentley
Treasurer, Partnership for Academic Competition Excellence
Adviser, Quizbowl Team at University of Washington
University of Maryland, Class of 2008
Treasurer, Partnership for Academic Competition Excellence
Adviser, Quizbowl Team at University of Washington
University of Maryland, Class of 2008
Re: Thanks!
First off, welcome to the board, and welcome back to the quiz bowl world! Which school in Florida are you with? I ask just because several of us will certainly be interested to follow along next year and thereafter.MrSchnippert wrote:Thanks for all of your suggestions. I remember using the QuikPro when I was in HS, and I remember how easily we often broke them and had to fix it. I'm going to have the person who is already there see if we can afford to get the Zeecraft buzzers. I've worked with those a lot with my CAC team, and I recognize them as the ones the local district uses for competitions. I realized that I couldn't even tell you what my current school uses. It's a tan box that reads the top 3 numbers of the buzzers. No lights, and my system has 16 handheld buttons (and a colleague's has 12).
MrsD, thanks for the invite, but Pensacola is a LONG way from NE Florida, about 6 hours, and North Alabama is probably an 8-10 hour drive from here. Maybe after a few seasons we might start traveling that far, but not until we get an established team.
I know that Panasonic/CAC with their strange format has only one button per team (except the finals), but do most of the other national competitions stick to a buzzer per player? Is there any sort of primer on how all of the major tournaments differ in format?
I think Matthew D is exactly right about buzzers being like car brands--what one person loves, someone else hates. As long as you have some sort of buzzer system, that's what's really important, I think.
As far as I know, Panasonic/CAC is the only format that plays with the unusual one buzzer per team (or two per team in the finals, I think) among local and national competitions. For comparing the various nationals, Matt Weiner (the creator of this board) used to have a comparison among the national championships linked off of the front page of the website. If you look this site up on http://www.archive.org, you'd be able to find it.
What competitions are local to your area? Florida seems to be one of those states that we don't have a real sense of what's happening quiz bowl-wise outside of Panasonic/CAC. I'm very interested to find out more.
Dave Bykowski
Furman '00
Michigan '02
PACE 1998-2009
Director, JROTC National Academic Bowl Championship
Furman '00
Michigan '02
PACE 1998-2009
Director, JROTC National Academic Bowl Championship
Preach it, brother.DumbJaques wrote:Please ignore him, he is ham-wielding terrorist.You want the Judge. It is probably the most reliable and easiest to set up of all the buzzers out there.
Seriously, I just hate playing on the judge. And if you want reliability, find the buzzers with the actual ringing bells. Northwestern has had the same one for like twenty years.
The Judge is great if you want everyone within 4 feet of the moderator and you have feet for hands.
We use the NED jobs, and though they are expensive, they rock. The buzzers tend to go out after a couple of years if you're not gentle with them, but they can be refurbished by the factory. Don't try to fix them yourself; it's easier to build a new one from scratch.
Eric
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- Lulu
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Re: Thanks!
I will be teaching at Episcopal High School in Jacksonville next year.Byko wrote: First off, welcome to the board, and welcome back to the quiz bowl world! Which school in Florida are you with? I ask just because several of us will certainly be interested to follow along next year and thereafter.
It's at http://web.archive.org/web/200302070421 ... rmats.htmlByko wrote: As far as I know, Panasonic/CAC is the only format that plays with the unusual one buzzer per team (or two per team in the finals, I think) among local and national competitions. For comparing the various nationals, Matt Weiner (the creator of this board) used to have a comparison among the national championships linked off of the front page of the website. If you look this site up on http://www.archive.org, you'd be able to find it.
In Jacksonville, the district sponsors "Brain Brawl," a televised format (using questions they've been reusing-- no new questions since at least 1990) similar to College Bowl. Two 10 minute rounds of 4pt tossups with 10pt bonuses (no penalty for incorrect, except -2 if an interrupt), and a 2 minute lightning round with a max of 25 4pt questions (-4 if incorrect). My kids at Stanton this year won the district competition, then 3 of them were on Duval's team that competed at CAC and came in 5th in division 1.Byko wrote: What competitions are local to your area? Florida seems to be one of those states that we don't have a real sense of what's happening quiz bowl-wise outside of Panasonic/CAC. I'm very interested to find out more.
As for other FL districts, I know that the I-4 corridor (central FL) primarily competes in CAC style amongst the schools in each district. In Northeast FL, the other districts here do HiQ. I don't know what HiQ is, but the districts around Jacksonville all compete in it.
- Captain Sinico
- Auron
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Re: Thanks!
Sounds like you've got a Novel Electronic Devices QuizWizard, colloquially known as "the Gordian knot" for reasons that will probably become obvious. We've got one of those, but it hasn't held up as well as our The Judge. Your mileage may vary.MrSchnippert wrote:...It's a tan box that reads the top 3 numbers of the buzzers. No lights, and my system has 16 handheld buttons (and a colleague's has 12).
MaS
- Sen. Estes Kefauver (D-TN)
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Something you might want to consider sooner or later (to get more funds, but also for the experience) would be to run a tournament. An idea for that might be to make your new students try to write parts of it, because then they can learn more and reinforce it. If you don't house write it, go NAQT or something pyramidal because there are so many shady question writers out there.
Charlie Dees, North Kansas City HS '08
"I won't say more because I know some of you parse everything I say." - Jeremy Gibbs
"At one TJ tournament the neg prize was the Hampshire College ultimate frisbee team (nude) calender featuring one Evan Silberman. In retrospect that could have been a disaster." - Harry White
"I won't say more because I know some of you parse everything I say." - Jeremy Gibbs
"At one TJ tournament the neg prize was the Hampshire College ultimate frisbee team (nude) calender featuring one Evan Silberman. In retrospect that could have been a disaster." - Harry White
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- Lulu
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Re: Thanks!
I don't know how old it is, but it's no more than 7 years old (we didn't have it when I was a student on the team in 2000), and gets yanked off of the table at least once a week. I can definitely agree about the knot, but I've thankfully been able to get them to put it back neatly every time. I'm not sure I need a system that big at my new school.ImmaculateDeception wrote:known as "the Gordian knot" for reasons that will probably become obvious.
- First Chairman
- Auron
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Sorry I'm late to this.
Welcome to the bulletin board. You will also notice the PACE Special Discussions section. We haven't had a lot of input since we did some focus discussions last summer, but you may find some of the information there of interest to help you with building your program.
We are also definitely interested in a primer for coaches and academic teams, though obviously our sample here does not suggest there is a "need" for such a document (but we may be wrong about that). Does anyone think such a document would be useful?
Welcome to the bulletin board. You will also notice the PACE Special Discussions section. We haven't had a lot of input since we did some focus discussions last summer, but you may find some of the information there of interest to help you with building your program.
We are also definitely interested in a primer for coaches and academic teams, though obviously our sample here does not suggest there is a "need" for such a document (but we may be wrong about that). Does anyone think such a document would be useful?
Emil Thomas Chuck, Ph.D.
Founder, PACE
Facebook junkie and unofficial advisor to aspiring health professionals in quiz bowl
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Pimping Green Tea Ginger Ale (Canada Dry)
Founder, PACE
Facebook junkie and unofficial advisor to aspiring health professionals in quiz bowl
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Pimping Green Tea Ginger Ale (Canada Dry)
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- Lulu
- Posts: 21
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New School Package
I've found NAQT's site, PACE's, and Questions Unlimited, but there doesn't seem to be a way to order PACE questions. Is there some central site (or even a big package like the other 2 have) where I can order questions from PACE?
Thanks!
Thanks!
- First Chairman
- Auron
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You "order" questions by requesting the FREE set from me. You'll only get the sets from 1998 to 2005. I'm doing a final call for registrations so that teams currently listed as "registered" get the 2006 set in May.
Last edited by First Chairman on Mon Apr 30, 2007 12:06 pm, edited 1 time in total.
Emil Thomas Chuck, Ph.D.
Founder, PACE
Facebook junkie and unofficial advisor to aspiring health professionals in quiz bowl
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Pimping Green Tea Ginger Ale (Canada Dry)
Founder, PACE
Facebook junkie and unofficial advisor to aspiring health professionals in quiz bowl
---
Pimping Green Tea Ginger Ale (Canada Dry)
- Sen. Estes Kefauver (D-TN)
- Chairman of Anti-Music Mafia Committee
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No please. Don't waste your money on that.
Charlie Dees, North Kansas City HS '08
"I won't say more because I know some of you parse everything I say." - Jeremy Gibbs
"At one TJ tournament the neg prize was the Hampshire College ultimate frisbee team (nude) calender featuring one Evan Silberman. In retrospect that could have been a disaster." - Harry White
"I won't say more because I know some of you parse everything I say." - Jeremy Gibbs
"At one TJ tournament the neg prize was the Hampshire College ultimate frisbee team (nude) calender featuring one Evan Silberman. In retrospect that could have been a disaster." - Harry White
There are also a couple of older PACE-formatted sets (along with some in other formats) available for purchase from Academic Initiative. You can find information at our website: http://www.aiquizbowl.com.Full Devil Jacket wrote:You "order" questions by requesting the FREE set from me. You'll only get the sets from 1998 to 2005. I'm doing a final call for registrations so that teams currently listed as "registered" get the 2006 set in May.
Dave Bykowski
Furman '00
Michigan '02
PACE 1998-2009
Director, JROTC National Academic Bowl Championship
Furman '00
Michigan '02
PACE 1998-2009
Director, JROTC National Academic Bowl Championship