Revised 10/05/2009

1.   The National Bible Bee is made up of two separate contests. The Shelby Kennedy Foundation, also referred to as Bible Bee Headquarters (BBH), is the sponsor of the National Contest held in Washington, D.C., on November 4–6, 2009. The Shelby Kennedy Foundation sanctions Local Contests to be sponsored by Local Planning Committees throughout the United States, but is not responsible for the organization, operation, or administration of those Local Contests.

 

2.   The National Bible Bee competition is open to legal residents of the fifty United States and the District of Columbia.

3.   Contestants who are immediate family members, or who live in the same household as members of the Shelby Kennedy Foundation professional staff, its Board of Directors, or independent contractors who have worked on the development of contest content for the Shelby Kennedy Foundation, are ineligible to win prize money at the National Contest. The term immediate family members includes children and grandchildren. The families of Local Planning Committee members are welcome to participate as contestants in their Local Contests and, if they qualify, are eligible to compete for prize money as part of the National Contest in Washington, D.C.

4.   Contestants must compete with other students within the same age group.

            Age Group     Age Range

            Primary           Ages 7–10

            Junior              Ages 11–14

            Senior              Ages 15–18

5.   Contestants must compete in the age groups to which they will belong on the final day of the National Bible Bee (November 6, 2009). Six-year-olds, for example, are permitted to participate in the Primary age group of the competition, provided that they turn seven on or before the last day of the National Contest. On the other end of the spectrum, eighteen-year-olds who will turn nineteen on or before the last day of the National Contest are not eligible to participate.

6.   Contestants who are minors may only participate with the documented consent of a parent/legal guardian. Contestants who are eighteen prior to enrollment may enroll themselves.

7.   While contestants and family members participating in the competition are not required to agree with every doctrinal point contained in the Bible Bee Statement of Faith, they must agree not to dispute, challenge, or debate the Bible Bee Statement of Faith throughout the various stages of competition. They must also agree to comply with the Bible Bee Philosophy of Ministry and all National Bible Bee Contestant Rules.

 

8.   Enrollment in the National Bible Bee begins on February 15, 2009, and closes May 15, 2009.

 

9.   A place for potential contestants in a Local Contest must be reserved by contacting a Local Planning Committee before online enrollment may be completed. (Contact information for Local Planning Committees is posted on the Bible Bee website.) Beginning February 15, 2009, parents/legal guardians may then finalize a contestant's enrollment by completing enrollment online and paying a nonrefundable, nontransferable $20 enrollment fee. Reduced enrollment fees are available for families with multiple contestants, as explained as part of the online process.

10. As part of the enrollment process, contestants must specify one of five versions of the Bible from which to quote Bible passages in response to Bible Memory Questions: King James Version (KJV), New King James Version (NKJV), New American Standard Bible (NASB), New International Version (NIV), and English Standard Version (ESV). Because of the variations found within different copyrights of these Bible versions, Bible Bee Headquarters will use the Bible text provided on its free, downloadable quiz cards for judging memorization accuracy in all of its contests, both Local and National. While preparing for the competition, contestants should always check their memorization using these quiz cards. Bible Knowledge Questions will be phrased in such a way that the version studied by the contestants will not affect their ability to select the correct answers.

1.   Parents/legal guardians may only accompany contestants in locations and rooms approved by the Local Planning Committee.

2.   No parents/legal guardians may be present in the room where any of their children or youth is competing.

3.   No parents/legal guardians may be responsible for proctoring, judging, collecting, or grading tests completed by contestants in an age group that contains any of their children or youth.

4.   Contestants must be present and ready to compete when Written Test proctors and Oral Rounds judges first begin to give testing instructions. Contestants who are tardy will forfeit all possible points for the test or round for which they have arrived late.

5.   Electronic devices such as cell phones, iPods, and cameras (whether traditional or video) may not be in the possession of any contestant during any portion of a Local or National Contest. Unauthorized use of electronic devices by contestants during any part of a Local or National Contest may be grounds for disqualification from further participation in the National Bible Bee Competition.

6.   Testing materials for Local Contests are developed and distributed by Bible Bee Headquarters. Contest content is found in the Bee-liever’s Handbook and is the source for both Written Tests and Oral Rounds.

 

7.   There are two versions of the Written Test for each age group. These versions will be handed to contestants in such a manner that no two adjacent contestants will receive the same test version.

8.   Contestants should look only at their own tests and not at the tests of others. After one warning, a contestant who is looking at other tests should be moved to a more isolated area; after a second warning, he/she will be disqualified from further competition.

9.   Questions in the Written Test are divided into Bible Knowledge Questions, Bible Memory Questions, and Bonus Questions.

10. Bible Knowledge Questions are drawn from the Bible Bee Quiz Cards, the Bee-liever’s Handbook, and six specified books of the Bible.

11. Bible Memory Questions are drawn from the Bible passages identified for contestants to memorize as part of the Bible Bee and are designed to test the contestant’s knowledge of the content of these Bible passages.

12. All questions contained in the Written Test are phrased as multiple-choice questions. Contestants should follow test instructions as found on the test document and mark answers clearly on the testing materials.

13. The 200 Regular Questions on the Written Test are worth one point each. The 20 Bonus Questions are worth 5 points each.

14. Contestants will have one hour in which to complete the Written Test. They may complete the questions on the Written Test in any order they desire.

 

15. In each Oral Round, contestants will be given twelve minutes to answer multiple questions, some of which will be Bible Memory Questions (recitation format) and some of which will be Bible Knowledge Questions (multiple-choice format).

16. After the judges state each question, contestants will have fifteen seconds to begin answering.

17. When answering Bible Memory Questions, contestants will state the reference to a passage before and after reciting the passage. Contestants should speak as distinctly as possible and loudly enough for the judges to hear the response.

18. Contestants may ask judges to repeat questions, but the time spent in repetition is included in the total test response time, which may not exceed twelve minutes.

19. Answers to Bible Knowledge Questions in the Oral Round are worth ten points and are either right or wrong; no partial credit may be given. Answers to Bible Memory Questions receive a potential of ten points each. Points are deducted for words that are omitted, inserted, or erroneous, and for words/phrases that contain the correct words but in the wrong order.

20. In the event that contestants complete all Oral Round Questions with complete accuracy within their allotted twelve minutes, they will have the opportunity to answer a Bonus Question, which follows the same evaluation process as regular Bible Memory and Bible Knowledge Questions, but because of its difficulty rating has a potential value of twenty points.

21. The judges uphold the rules and determine whether or not questions are answered correctly. They are in complete control of the Oral Rounds of the competition, and their decisions are final on all questions.

 

22. Contestants must participate in Local Contests which have been sanctioned by Bible Bee Headquarters and which are held on September 12, 2009.

23. Contestants must score in the top 100 contestants within their age groups nationwide to qualify as participants in the National Contest. In the event that one or more of these finalists are unable to participate in the National Contest, BBH will notify runners-up, in order of their scores, that they have the opportunity to compete in the National Contest in Washington, D.C.

24. Contestants must receive official notice from Bible Bee Headquarters that they have qualified as National Contest Qualifying Contestants in order to compete in the National Contest.

25. Contestants, upon notification of potential qualification for the National Contest, must have their test materials submitted by the Local Planning Committee to BBH for verification. The test materials should be expedited by overnight mail to BBH no later than Tuesday, September 15, 2009, so that it is received by BBH no later than Thursday, September 17, 2009. If a qualifying contestant’s testing materials are not received by September 17, 2009, he/she will not be able to compete in the National Contest.

26. Bible Bee Headquarters may disqualify, prior to or during the competition, any contestants not in compliance with any of its eligibility requirements. It may—at any time between the conclusion of the 2009 National Bible Bee and November 1, 2010—require any contestants found to have been out of compliance with any of the eligibility requirements to forfeit the prizes, rank, and other benefits accorded to them as a result of participation in the 2009 National Bible Bee.

27. Contestants who arrive more than fifteen minutes after the close of registration on Local Contest day are disqualified from participation in the Local Contest.

28. Contestants and parents/legal guardians must treat the Local and National Contest hosts and volunteers with respect and courtesy. Rudeness on the part of any contestant or parent/legal guardian will be grounds for contestant disqualification from participation in any part of the 2009 National Bible Bee Competition.

29. Parents/legal guardians must treat their own children and youth and other contestants in a positive and encouraging manner. No demeaning/negative language, shouting, or ridicule will be tolerated. Such behavior on the part of parents/legal guardians will be grounds for disqualification of their contestants from participation in any part of the 2009 National Bible Bee.

30. The members of the Local Planning Committee and the National Bible Bee staff reserve the right, at their own discretion, to remove parents/legal guardians from the contest premises, or to disqualify their children or youth from participation in any part of the 2009 National Bible Bee, if the parents/legal guardians exhibit rude, disruptive, or violent behavior.

 

1.   Upon verification of test results, parents/legal guardians of finalists must notify BBH of the contestant’s intent to participate in the National Contest in the manner stipulated by BBH no later than September 30, 2009. Intent is indicated by completing online registration. If a qualifying contestant elects not to go to the National Contest, BBH requests early notice so that another potential contestant may be notified and given the opportunity to compete.

2.   National Contest participants who are under eighteen must have the permission of their parents/legal guardians to compete and are required to be accompanied by at least one parent/legal guardian when in Washington, D.C.

3.   All contestants may be accompanied by a second guest (family member, sibling etc.) whose name will need to be provided as part of online registration.

4.   All contestants must provide proof of their birth dates (i.e. copies of birth certificates or passports) as part of their onsite registration for the National Contest.

5.   All expenses incurred through participation in the National Contest are the responsibility of the contestant and his/her family. These costs (e.g. travel, food, and housing) for one contestant accompanied by one parent/legal guardian will be approximately $3,500, but could be more or less depending on location.

6.   Contestants are required to stay at the hotel where the contest is held for the duration of the event. As part of online contestant registration, hotel costs must be pre-paid according to the prearranged contract with the J.W. Marriott. 

7.   Parents/legal guardians of contestants must download and complete the Participation and Prize Money Election Agreement and return it to Bible Bee Headquarters prior to the contest. This form, which must be signed, completed and faxed to the Shelby Kennedy Foundation by October 23, 2009, provides SKF with instructions regarding how and when award funds will be released, should a contestant win a prize during the contest. Prize winners and their parents/legal guardians are responsible for complying with all of the applicable tax laws and filing requirements.

8.   Relatives of contestants may not proctor, judge, collect, or grade tests completed by other contestants in an age group that contains any of their children or youth. For the purposes of the National Bible Bee, relatives is understood to mean parents/legal guardians, grandparents, siblings, aunts or uncles, or other individuals who live in the same residence as the contestant.

9.   Electronic devices such as cell phones, iPods, and cameras (whether traditional or video) may not be in the possession of any contestant during any portion of a Local or National Contest. Unauthorized use of electronic devices by contestants during any part of a Local or National Contest may be grounds for disqualification from further participation in the National Bible Bee.

10. No flash photography will be allowed during any competition event of the National Bible Bee.

 

11. Contestants must be present and ready to compete when Written Test proctors and Oral Rounds judges first begin to give testing instructions. Contestants who are tardy will forfeit all possible points for the test or round for which they have arrived late.

12. All contestants must complete both the Written Test and two Oral Rounds.

13. Contestants’ scores from the Written Test and the two Oral Rounds will be tabulated. Contestants with the top twenty scores in each age group will qualify to participate in the Semi-Final Challenge (Day Two).

 

14. There are two versions of the Written Test for each age group. These versions will be handed to contestants in such a manner that no two adjacent contestants will receive the same test version.

15. Contestants should look only at their own tests and not at the tests of others. After one warning, a contestant who is looking at other tests should be moved to a more isolated area; after a second warning, he/she will be disqualified from further competition.

16. Bible Knowledge Questions are drawn from the Bible Bee Quiz Cards, the Bee-liever’s Handbook, and six specified books of the Bible.

17. Bible Memory Questions are drawn from the Bible passages identified for contestants to memorize as part of the National Bible Bee and are designed to test the contestant’s knowledge of the content of these Bible passages.

18. All questions contained in the Written Test are formatted as multiple-choice questions. Contestants should follow test instructions as provided on test documents and should mark answers clearly on the testing materials.

19. The 200 Regular Questions on the Written Test are worth one point each. The 20 Bonus Questions are worth five points each.

20. Contestants have one hour in which to complete the Written Test. They may complete the questions on the Written Test in any order.

21. In each Oral Round, contestants will be given seven minutes to answer multiple questions, some of which will be Bible Memory Questions (recitation format) and some of which will be Bible Knowledge Questions (multiple-choice format).

22. After the judges state each question, contestants will have fifteen seconds to begin answering.

23. When answering Bible Memory Questions, contestants will state the reference to a passage before and after reciting the passage. Contestants should speak as distinctly as possible and loudly enough for the judges to hear the response.

24. Contestants may ask judges to repeat questions, but the time spent in repetition is included in the total test response time, which may not exceed seven minutes.

25. Answers to Bible Knowledge Questions in the Oral Round are worth five points and are either right or wrong; no partial credit may be given. Answers to Bible Memory Questions (recitation format) receive a potential of ten points each. Points are deducted for words that are omitted, inserted, or erroneous, and for words/phrases that contain the correct words but in the wrong order. Contestants may request prompts, but each prompt will count as an error.

26. In the event that contestants complete all Oral Round Questions, and complete all Bible Memory Questions (recitation format) with complete accuracy during the allotted seven minutes, they will be asked a Bonus Question (difficult, multiple-choice format). The Bonus Question may be derived from anywhere in the Bible. Because these questions are more difficult, correct answers to Bonus Questions are worth twenty points.

27. The judges uphold the rules and determine whether or not questions are answered correctly. They are in complete control of the Oral Rounds of the competition, and their decisions are final on all questions.

 

28. The twenty contestants from each age group who received the top scores during the Preliminary Challenge will compete in the Semi-Final Challenge.

29. For this phase of the competition, contestants, their parents/legal guardians and one other designated guest, the media, and others will be in attendance.

30. Bible Knowledge Questions will be formatted as multiple-choice questions; Bible Memorization Questions will require recitation of requested Bible passages. Question difficulty will increase with each round.

31. Bible Knowledge Questions answered correctly will earn the contestant five points; Bible Memory Questions will be scored in a manner similar to that used at the Local Contest level and will allow for errors (error-free responses are worth ten points; responses with up to three errors are worth five points; responses with four or more errors are worth no points. Prompts are allowed but are counted as errors.)

32. Contestants will accumulate scores every round. At scheduled intervals, scores will be reviewed, and contestants with the lowest scores will be eliminated from the challenge. The remaining contestants will continue into following rounds.

33. The challenge will last approximately three hours and will continue with scheduled breaks during which scores are tabulated and contestants with the lowest scores are eliminated. This process will continue until only seven contestants in each age group remain.

 

34. For this phase of the competition, all contestants, their parents/legal guardians and one other designated guest each, the media, and others will be in attendance.

35. During each round, contestants in all three age groups will be asked questions in sequence, beginning with Primary Age contestants, then Junior Age contestants, and finishing with Senior Age contestants.

36. Bible Memory Questions will all be in recitation format. Unlike in the Semi-Final Round, the Final Round recitations must be error-free for the contestant to remain in the competition.

37. Teams of judges will evaluate contestant responses. Judges must be in agreement on their assessment of contestant recitations. If there is a difference of opinion on the accuracy of a recitation, judges will use an audio playback system to review the recitation more carefully and come to an agreement on their assessment of the contestant’s performance.

38. As contestants are eliminated, they will take a seat in the reserved seating area of the auditorium.

39. Rounds will alternate between Bible Knowledge Questions (multiple-choice format) and Bible Memory Questions (recitation format) through Round Four. Round Five, if used, will also be comprised of Bible Memory Questions (recitation format).

40. After Round Four or Five (whichever is closest to 4 p.m.), a Sudden Elimination Round will be held. In this round, remaining contestants will be asked Bonus Questions (from any of the sixty-six books of the Bible) in a single-elimination format until winners (First, Second, and Third) in an age group have been identified. These Bonus Questions may or may not be multiple-choice format and may be asked with no suggested answers, depending on the strength of the competition.

41. Winners of the Final Challenge will be recognized during the Award Ceremony held Friday night.

TERM: This Agreement commences on the date the parent/legal guardian signs the Contestant Rules (which along with these Terms and Conditions constitutes the Agreement), and expires on November 30, 2009. A new agreement must be signed for future contests.

LIABILITY AND INDEMNITY: It is understood that the Local Planning Committee is solely responsible for organizing and operating the Local Bible Bee Contest. By participating in the Bible Bee Competition, contestants and their parents/guardians assume any and all risks associated with the activities involved including, but not limited to, risks of personal injury, property damage or loss, and death. The contestants and their parents/guardians indemnify and hold harmless Shelby-Kennedy Foundation (SKF), its officers, agents, employees, and attorneys, against any and all liability, claims, suits, losses, damages costs, and legal fees caused by, arising out of, or resulting from the National Bible Bee and any associated events.
 
WINNERS: Prize winners and their parents/guardians are responsible for complying with all of the applicable tax laws and filing requirements. All Federal, State, and/or local taxes, registration, license, title and other fees, costs, and expenses related to the prize awarded and the National Contest are the sole responsibility of the winners and their parents/guardians. By claiming the prize, the winner authorizes the use, without additional compensation, of his or her name and/or likeness and/or voice/photograph and mention of municipality and state of residence for SKF’s promotion and/or advertising purposes in any manner and in any medium (including without limitation, radio broadcasts, newspapers and other publications and in television or film releases, slides, videotape, distribution over the internet and picture date storage) which SKF may deem appropriate.

CANCELLATION: In the event that the Shelby Kennedy Foundation cannot complete the Bible Bee Competition as planned, the Shelby Kennedy Foundation reserves the right to cancel, terminate, modify, or suspend the Bible Bee Competition at any time without prior notice.

ALTERNATIVE DISPUTE RESOLUTION: If a dispute arises out of or relates to this Agreement, or the breach thereof, or for breach of warranty, express or implied, or tort and if the dispute cannot first be settled through good faith negotiations, the parties agree to attempt in good faith to settle the dispute by mediation in San Diego County California, administered by the American Arbitration Association under its Commercial Mediation Procedures before resorting to arbitration, litigation, or some other dispute resolution procedure. Any controversy or claim arising out of or relating to this Agreement, or the breach thereof, or for breach of warranty, express or implied, or tort not resolved by mediation shall proceed to binding arbitration in San Diego County California, administered by the American Arbitration Association in accordance with its Commercial Arbitration Rules.

CHOICE OF LAW, JURISDICTION AND VENUE: This Agreement shall be governed by the laws of the State of California. Any action brought to enforce any provision of this Agreement or for breach of warranty, express or implied, or tort shall be brought in San Diego County, California, in any Court of competent jurisdiction.

ATTORNEY'S FEES AND COSTS: In the event that a dispute arises related to this Agreement, the prevailing party shall be awarded reasonable attorney fees and costs.

NO WAIVER: Any waiver of any terms or conditions of this Agreement shall not operate as a waiver of any other breach of such terms or conditions or any other term or condition, nor shall any failure to enforce any provision hereof operate as a waiver of such provision or of any other provision hereof.

AMENDMENT: This Agreement may, not be amended, nor shall any waiver, change, modification, consent, or discharge be affected except by an instrument in writing executed by or on behalf of the party against whom enforcement of any amendment, waiver, change, modification, consent, or discharge is sought, except that SKF reserves the right to modify in its sole discretion these Rules for clarification purposes without materially affecting the terms and conditions of the Contest.

SEVERABILITY: If any provision of this Agreement shall be held invalid under the laws of any jurisdiction governing its provisions, such section shall be limited consistent with its intent so that it is valid, or if this is not possible, deleted from this Agreement and shall have no impact upon the other terms of this Agreement, which shall survive with all other provisions intact.

ASSIGNMENT: This Agreement may not be assigned without the written consent of SKF.

 

The Shelby Kennedy Foundation (Bible Bee Headquarters) has discretion to amend oral and/or written contest requirements on a case-by-case basis for contestants with diagnosed medical conditions involving sight, hearing, speech, or movement. When contestant families first enrolled in the Bible Bee, as part of registration, details were provided related to processes to follow if special accommodations (sight, hearing, speech, or movement) were requested. Parents/guardians were directed to request special accommodations from the Local Bible Bee and were required to validate the need with a letter from a medical doctor.

 

National Bible Bee contestants who followed these guidelines and were granted special accommodations for a Local Bible Bee are allowed to request special accommodations (e.g. large print tests) for the National Contest as well. In order to do so, the parent/guardian must alert Bible Bee Headquarters immediately and must then follow up with the provision of the documentation that was used at the Local Contest level to receive special accommodations. This documentation must be received no later than Friday, October 9, 2009.

 

Bible Bee Media Release
There may be several occasions during the Bible Bee Competition when the Shelby Kennedy Foundation, Bible Bee Staff, or news media asks to interview and/or photograph contestants and/or other members of their families, or their guests. This may occur at the Local Bible Bee Contests or the National Bible Bee Contest in Washington, D.C.

Sometimes television stations request a taping or an interview with a winning contestant and/or other members of his/her family or guests; newspaper reporters also may ask to interview a contestant and/or other members of his/her family or guests. There will also be times when pictures and/or contest-related information about contestants, contestants’ testimonies, as well as encouraging information on a contestants’ experience with the Bible Bee will be posted on the Bible Bee web page.

 

In order for a contestant to participate, the contestant's parent/legal guardian must grant permission to the Shelby Kennedy Foundation, the Bible Bee, and various media reporting on the Bible Bee to photograph/interview members of the contestant's family or guests. Permission must also be given so that photographs, interviews, and contest-related personal information may be used for public view.

The Contestant's parent/legal guardian agree to allow members of the contestant's  family or guests to participate in media related events without financial remuneration, and to release the Shelby Kennedy Foundation and the Bible Bee from any future claims, as well as from any liability, arising from the use of photographs,  interviews, and contest-related personal information.