FAQ’s – New Jersey JBQ

Quizzer Eligibility

Can Achiever League teams choose to participate in the Master Division at District Finals? Yes, with restrictions. In order for an Achiever League team to participate in the Master Division at District finals, they must be an “automatic qualifier” for District Finals from their League.
Why can’t all Achiever League teams have the option to participate in the Master Division at District Finals? Due to the level of competition in the Master Division, the decision was made to only provide the top Achiever League teams the opportunity to move up. In addition, since there is no qualification process for the Master Division of District Finals, we do not want Achiever League teams to opt into the Master Division as a means to guarantee a spot at District Finals and/or to avoid qualifying through District Semi-Finals.
When must an Achiever League team decide to participate in the Master Division at District Finals? The deadline for Achiever League “automatic qualifiers” to announce their intent (via e-mail to njjbq@aol.com) is Friday, February 15.
Why would an Achiever League team choose to participate in the Master Division at District Finals? An Achiever League team may have realized during the course of the JBQ Regular Season that their team is stronger than they anticipated when they registered back in September. As a result, they may be looking for stronger competition and/or they are hoping to qualify for the JBQ Northeast Regional. Only teams in the Master Division will qualify for the JBQ Northeast Regional.
If an “automatic qualifier” from my Achiever League opts to participate in the Master Division, does that mean the next highest finishing team in my Achiever League now automatically qualifies for District Finals? No, all non-automatic qualifying Achiever League teams must qualify for District Finals through District Semi-Finals regardless of whether any teams from their league choose to participate in the Master Division.
Can Master League teams choose to participate in the Achiever Division at District Finals? Yes. However, to do so, they must qualify through District Semi-Finals.
Isn’t unfair to allow Master League teams to compete in the Achiever Division at District Finals? District Finals is considered a standalone event. It is not a continuation of the Regular Season. Therefore teams are given the option of which division they would like to compete in at District Finals. To exercise this option, Master League teams must compete at District Semi-Finals along with all other Achiever League teams that did not “automatically qualify” for District Finals. Just because a team competed in the Master League Regular Season does not automatically mean that team will be among the top teams in the Achiever Division of District Finals. The most competitive teams in the Master League will not choose to participate in the Achiever Division as they are attempting to qualify for the JBQ Northeast Regional.
When must a Master League team decide to participate in the Achiever Division at District Finals? In order to compete in the Achiever Division at District Finals, Master League teams must qualify through District Semi-Finals. The deadline for registering for District Semi-Finals (via e-mail to njjbq@aol.com) is Friday, February 15.
Why would a Master League team choose to participate in the Achiever Division at District Finals? Teams had to make a decision way back in September regarding which league they would quiz in this season. It may have become apparent to certain teams, during the course of the JBQ Regular Season, that their team was not competitive enough and/or experienced enough to compete in the Master League. As a result, they may decide that their team is not going to qualify for regionals and they would prefer to compete among teams closer to their level of quizzing at District Finals.
Can a Master League team that competes at District Semi-Finals and fails to qualify for the Achiever Division of District Finals, then choose to register for the Master Division of District Finals? No, once a Master League team registers for District Semi-Finals, they are no longer eligible to compete in the Master Division of District Finals. Registration for the Master Division of District Finals will be closed following the Friday, February 15 deadline.
If I register a team for District Semi-Finals, am I permitted to make roster changes or my team must remain intact from the Regular Season? Yes, roster changes are permitted, however not all quizzers are eligible to participate at District Semi-Finals.
Are all Achiever League quizzers eligible to participate at District Semi-Finals? No. Achiever League quizzers that were on a Regular Season team that “automatically qualified” for District Finals are not eligible for District Semi-Finals. This rule holds regardless of the amount of points a particular quizzer scored during the Regular Season.
Are Master League quizzers eligible to participate at District Semi-Finals? Yes, however if a Master League quizzer participates at District Semi-Finals, they are no longer eligible to participate in the Master Division of District Finals. Meaning, they are only eligible to participate in the Achiever Division of District Finals. This rule holds even if that church then fails to qualify a team for the Achiever Division of District Finals.

If I had a quizzer join my program after December 31, is my quizzer eligible to participate at District Semi-Finals? Yes. Since the Regular Season has ended and District Semi-Finals and Finals are considered stand-alone events, new quizzers that have recently joined your program are eligible and encouraged to participate. The only exception to this rule are quizzers that were on the roster of another NJ JBQ church during the Regular Season. Just remember that any quizzer that competes at District Semi-Finals forfeits their eligibility for the Master Division of District Finals.
I thought I read that new churches can participate at District Semi-Finals…is that actually true? Yes, as previously stated District Semi-Finals is a stand-alone event. Further, we believe that this event actually provides an opportunity for new churches and teams that joined NJ JBQ after the start of the Regular Season to quiz this season, rather than making them wait until September to get started. New teams would then have the opportunity to qualify for District Finals along with all other teams competing at District Semi-Finals.
If my team had a large roster during the Regular Season, can I divide that team into two teams for District Semi-Finals and/or Finals? No, a church may not have more teams at District Semi-Finals and/or Finals than they registered for the Regular Season. For example, if a church had two teams during the Regular Season (one in the Master League, one in Achiever League), they cannot register three teams for District Semi-Finals and/or Finals.
If my church had multiple teams during the Regular Season, can I consolidate those teams into one team for District Semi-Finals and/or Finals? Yes, churches with multiple teams during the Regular Season may reduce the number of teams they register for District Semi-Finals and/or Finals by consolidating their teams. However, the rule limiting the number of quizzers to a maximum of 8 per team still applies.
If my team qualifies for the Achiever Division of District Finals by participating at District Semi-Finals, does my team’s roster need to remain intact for District Finals? No. After District Semi-Finals is completed, churches that have qualified multiple Achiever Division teams ((either as an “automatic qualifier or by qualifying through District Semi-Finals) may then create the rosters for their District Finals teams. All JBQ quizzers within their program would be eligible for these rosters.
Isn’t it unfair that churches with multiple teams are able to change their rosters for District Semi-Finals and/or Finals? Though this question has long been debated, NJ JBQ Leadership still firmly believes it is fair to allow roster changes to occur. The JBQ Regular Season and District Finals are separate events. Most churches with multiple teams would logically want the strongest possible team competing at District Finals. However, we do not feel that it’s in the best interest of an individual church JBQ program or NJ JBQ as a whole to require churches to “stack” their teams during the Regular Season. By not requiring this, we believe it allows for more competitive balance during the Regular Season and allows for more quizzers to enjoy successful seasons both individually and as a team.
Are Achiever League quizzers that participate at District Semi-Finals eligible to be moved onto a Master Division team for District Finals? Yes. As long as the quizzer participated in the Achiever League during the Regular Season, a church may decide to move the quizzer onto their Master Division team for District Finals. Only Master League (Regular Season) quizzers are restricted from participating at District Semi-Finals and then subsequently being placed onto a Master Division team for District Finals. This is to prevent a church from moving a Master League quizzer onto their Achiever Division team at Semi-Finals for the sole purpose of qualifying that Achiever Division team and then moving the quizzer back onto their Master Division team for District Finals.
My quizzer participated in the Master League for Regular Season Meet 1 and then we switched him/her to an Achiever League team for Meets 2 and 3. Are they still considered an Achiever League quizzer? Yes. For purposes of District Semi-Final & Finals, a quizzer’s eligibility is determined based upon which league they competed in during Meets 2 & 3 of the Regular Season.

If I had a quizzer join my program after December 31, is my quizzer eligible to participate at District Semi-Finals? Yes. Since the Regular Season has ended and District Semi-Finals and Finals are considered stand-alone events, new quizzers that have recently joined your program are eligible and encouraged to participate. The only exception to this rule are quizzers that were on the roster of another NJ JBQ church during the Regular Season. Just remember that any quizzer that competes at District Semi-Finals forfeits their eligibility for the Master Division of District Finals.
I thought I read that new churches can participate at District Semi-Finals…is that actually true? Yes, as previously stated District Semi-Finals is a stand-alone event. Further, we believe that this event actually provides an opportunity for new churches and teams that joined NJ JBQ after the start of the Regular Season to quiz this season, rather than making them wait until September to get started. New teams would then have the opportunity to qualify for District Finals along with all other teams competing at District Semi-Finals.
If my team had a large roster during the Regular Season, can I divide that team into two teams for District Semi-Finals and/or Finals? No, a church may not have more teams at District Semi-Finals and/or Finals than they registered for the Regular Season. For example, if a church had two teams during the Regular Season (one in the Master League, one in Achiever League), they cannot register three teams for District Semi-Finals and/or Finals.
If my church had multiple teams during the Regular Season, can I consolidate those teams into one team for District Semi-Finals and/or Finals? Yes, churches with multiple teams during the Regular Season may reduce the number of teams they register for District Semi-Finals and/or Finals by consolidating their teams. However, the rule limiting the number of quizzers to a maximum of 8 per team still applies.
If my team qualifies for the Achiever Division of District Finals by participating at District Semi-Finals, does my team’s roster need to remain intact for District Finals? No. After District Semi-Finals is completed, churches that have qualified multiple Achiever Division teams ((either as an “automatic qualifier or by qualifying through District Semi-Finals) may then create the rosters for their District Finals teams. All JBQ quizzers within their program would be eligible for these rosters.
Isn’t it unfair that churches with multiple teams are able to change their rosters for District Semi-Finals and/or Finals? Though this question has long been debated, NJ JBQ Leadership still firmly believes it is fair to allow roster changes to occur. The JBQ Regular Season and District Finals are separate events. Most churches with multiple teams would logically want the strongest possible team competing at District Finals. However, we do not feel that it’s in the best interest of an individual church JBQ program or NJ JBQ as a whole to require churches to “stack” their teams during the Regular Season. By not requiring this, we believe it allows for more competitive balance during the Regular Season and allows for more quizzers to enjoy successful seasons both individually and as a team.
Are Achiever League quizzers that participate at District Semi-Finals eligible to be moved onto a Master Division team for District Finals? Yes. As long as the quizzer participated in the Achiever League during the Regular Season, a church may decide to move the quizzer onto their Master Division team for District Finals. Only Master League (Regular Season) quizzers are restricted from participating at District Semi-Finals and then subsequently being placed onto a Master Division team for District Finals. This is to prevent a church from moving a Master League quizzer onto their Achiever Division team at Semi-Finals for the sole purpose of qualifying that Achiever Division team and then moving the quizzer back onto their Master Division team for District Finals.
My quizzer participated in the Master League for Regular Season Meet 1 and then we switched him/her to an Achiever League team for Meets 2 and 3. Are they still considered an Achiever League quizzer? Yes. For purposes of District Semi-Final & Finals, a quizzer’s eligibility is determined based upon which league they competed in during Meets 2 & 3 of the Regular Season.