A Sponsor is NOT a person. A Sponsor is a school or a library.

A Battle participant must have a Sponsor. A Sponsor must be a New Mexico school or library. Each Sponsor may send up to 7 participants to the State Battle of the Books competition.

A school or library adult representative must accompany each team and each team also needs to provide at least two adult volunteers to serve as Readers and Timers.

Registration on the Day of the Battle

Each round will have two officials, the Reader and the Timer. Both the Reader and the Timer should clearly understand the process, procedures, and rules of the rounds of play.  Instructions will be provided on the website prior to the day of the Battle and will be included in the first round packet on the day of the Battle. An official may not officiate in the same room in which his or her own child is participating in a Battle round.

Officials from the state committee will staff the Control Center. Their duties include making last minute team assignment changes in order to balance teams, providing substitute questions as needed, settling any challenges that are raised and tabulating points from all four rounds to declare the winners. After each round the score sheets are tallied again and recorded. A complete set of the Battle Books for both divisions shall be on hand at the Control Center.

Prior to the day of the Battle, officials will have already randomly paired each team with an opposing team for all four Battles.

Unique questions are written for each of the four rounds. Every effort is made to balance the difficulty of these questions so that each team will have an opportunity to succeed. In any given round, the twenty- four questions asked are the same regardless of the team pairings (For example, Team 1 and Team 2 battling in Room #22 are receiving the same questions as Team 3 and Team 4 battling in Room # 23).  Questions are written to minimize the possibility of more than one title being a correct response. That is, questions are designed to minimize the need for challenges. Therefore, challenges should only be made by a Team Captain who has significant cause to do so.

Each team will be given a chance to answer twelve questions (with the possibility of additional "stolen" questions).  A coin toss performed by the Reader or Timer will decide which team will receive the first question. The team numbers are then recorded on the score sheet.  The Reader will direct the question to the first team. The Reader will read the question carefully, slowly and loudly enough for the participants to hear. The Reader will read the question twice. After the question has been read twice, the Timer will begin timing. The Timer will have a stopwatch or access to a clock with a secondhand, a copy of the Battle rules, a score sheet and a pencil. The Team Captain may give the team’s answer as soon as the team has reached consensus and before 30 seconds has elapsed and "TIME" has been called. The Timer will track the time and, after 20 seconds have passed, will announce "10 seconds remain" to serve as a warning to the team that their time is nearing an end. At the 30 second mark, the Timer will say "TIME" loudly and clearly. If the Team Captain has begun his/her answer before or simultaneously with the calling of "TIME", the Team Captain will be allowed to complete his/her answer.  If a Team Captain gives both the correct title and the correct author, The Reader will state, "That is correct." The Timer will then mark the score sheet (5 points for the correct title and 2 points for the correct author) and indicate to the Reader that the next question may be read to the opposing team.  If the Team Captain gives the correct title but the incorrect author, the Reader will state, "The title is correct but the author is incorrect". The Timer will award the team 5 points for the correct title. The opposing team will be given a opportunity to "steal" the author points. The Reader will direct his/her attention to the opposing team and read the question again. After the question has been read, the Timer will track the time. After 10 seconds have passed, the Timer will call "TIME". If the Team Captain has given the correct author before or simultaneously with the calling of "TIME", the opposing team will be awarded 2 "stolen" points.  If the Team Captain gives an incorrect title and either the correct or an incorrect author, the Reader will state, "I’m sorry, that is incorrect. We will wait 5 seconds before asking the other team this question". The Timer will track the time and allow 5 seconds to pass. Then the opposing team will be given a chance to "s teal" both the title and the author points. The Reader directs his/her attention to the opposing team and reads the question again. After the question has been read, the Timer will track the time. After 10 seconds have passed, the Timer will call "TIME". If the Team Captain has given the correct title and author before or simultaneously with the calling of "TIME", the opposing team will be awarded a total of 7 "stolen" points. If the Team Captain gives the correct title and an incorrect author, 5 "stolen" points will be awarded. If the Team Captain gives an incorrect title but the correct author, no "stolen" points will be awarded.  At this point, the Reader may reveal the correct answer. No author points are awarded unless the correct title is given in the answer.  Play shall continue until each team has been asked 12 questions. (This does not include any "stolen" questions) The Timer will tally the points and announce the final score for that round.

If the Reader has declared a title incorrect but the team feels strongly that their answer is nevertheless correct, the Team Captain may challenge the decision. Only the Team Captain may declare a challenge.  To declare a challenge, the Team Captain states "Challenge". The challenge must be declared in the 5 second pause that is provided between the time the Reader announces that the response was incorrect but before the Reader directs the question to the opposing team for a possible steal. A Team Captain may only issue a challenge with cause. The Team Captain must provide a brief explanation of why his/her team feels their answer is correct. If necessary the Team Captain may consult with team members to clarify the rationale after the challenge has been called, but the Team Captain must be the one to communicate the rationale to the Reader and Timer.  Other team members and audience members may not call for a challenge. If any team member other than the Captain calls "Challenge", the challenge will be ignored unless the Captain calls "Challenge" before "TIME" is called. If any member of the audience calls "Challenge", the challenge will be denied.  A Team Captain can only make a challenge to the question directed to that team.  After the Reader and Timer have deemed a challenge to be with cause, the challenge will be sent on a challenge form or called in to the Control Center.  Play will cease until an answer is received. No discussion is permitted in the room while awaiting the reply. When received, the Reader will communicate the decision from the Control Center. This decision is final. The score will be recorded and play then continues.

Five points are awarded for the correct title.  Two points are awarded for the correct author.  Author points are only awarded if the title has been correctly identified.  Stolen points are recorded in the shaded portion of the score sheet.  Default: Any team that does not appear for a round will automatically default to the opposing team. Points will be awarded to the team that is present as if that team had correctly answered all questions, (i.e. 84 points). No "stolen" points will be awarded.  Each team competes in four Battles. Scores will be recorded at the end of each round.  Scores will be totaled by the Control Center at the end of the fourth round. The team with the highest cumulative score will be the winner. First, Second and Third place teams will be recognized in each division.

Family members and friends are welcome to watch the battles as room space permits.  Young children who cannot remain still and quiet for 45 minutes shall not be permitted in the audience. To insure fairness to all players, silence should be maintained for the duration of the Battle and all applause should be held until the Reader states that the Battle has concluded. No one from the audience may coach any team or team member or provide answers. Challenges are not to be prompted by audience members. Any audience member who violates these rules will be asked to leave the room. No food or drink except water is allowed in the rooms.

• An answer is considered correct even if mispronounced, as long as the Reader can discern it. That may mean that an incorrect article in the title may be used or an answer may be slightly off (such as Zekmet the Stone Cutter instead of Zekmet the Stone Carver).  If the main title is given but the subtitle omitted, the answer will still be deemed correct. For example, if Meet Josephina: An American Girl was the complete title, simply Meet Josephina would still be acceptable.

• The author’s name should be given as it appears on the Battle of the Books List. Giving only the last name of the author is acceptable.  Author names are considered correct even if mispronounced, as long as the Reader can discern it. 

• If there is some inaccuracy or mispronunciation in an answer, the Reader may consult with the Timer before announcing the answer to be correct or incorrect.

• Should any team member other than the Team Captain provide an answer, the officials will ignore the response and continue to wait for the Team Captain’s response. Only Team Captain’s responses will be considered for judgment.

• If the Team Captain begins to give the answer but becomes unsure of part of the response, the Team Captain may readdress his/her team members for clarification as long as "TIME" has not yet been called. For example, if the Team Captain begins his/her answer with "Charlotte’s Web by…" and can’t remember what the author’s name was, he/she may readdress their team to gather the additional information. The Team Captain may then complete the answer as long as this whole process is completed within the 30 second answer period.

• Should the Reader misread or mispronounce a part of a question, the Reader may correct him/herself and continue. If the Reader mistakenly gives the answer to the question, a new question will be substituted.  The substitute questions will be provided by the Control Center.

• Should an audience member disclose an answer, the question will be eliminated and another question substituted. The substitute questions will be provided by the Control Center. The offending audience member will be excused from the room for the duration of the Battle.

• The team that receives the first question will have all odd numbered questions asked of them. The opposing team will have all even numbered questions asked of them. (If a team misses its question and then has the points stolen by the opposing team, the opposing team still receives the next question as originally intended.)

• Decisions made by the Readers, Timers and the Control Center are final.