The purpose of this statement is to explain what a Quiz League is and how it operates. It was written primarily for the benefit of landlords and venue managers so that they know what is entailed in hosting a Quiz League match on their premises.
(A pdf version of this statement can be downloaded here)
A Quiz League
· organises teams into Leagues and Divisions and also arranges knock-out competitions
· devises a schedule of fixtures for teams to play each other in a series of one versus one matches over the course of a season
· collects and collates results and awards trophies at the end of the season
From the point of view of a venue
· A team will approach the management of a venue to ask if they may play a quiz match in the venue on a certain evening each week from September to April
· Some venues allow teams the use of a separate room if available, otherwise a quiet corner will suffice
· Each week on the designated evening, the players will arrive at about 8.30pm to play a match against one other team. This will usually mean a group of about 10 to 12 persons
· We do not use any amplification or PA systems
Quiz Matches
· Matches consist of a person asking General Knowledge questions to each of the four members of the two teams
· Matches usually last about 40 minutes after which the teams will break to replenish drinks.
· A second match then follows. This is called a ‘friendly’, it uses the same format, but the atmosphere is more relaxed.
The Questions
Questions are prepared and checked for content by experienced members and elected officers of the constituent leagues, using well-established written procedures. They are then published centrally before being distributed to the teams. They cover a wide range of subject areas from academic topics to modern trivia.
What are the Merseyside Quiz Leagues?
· It was founded in 1959
· It is a not-for-profit leisure organisation
· It creates leagues and organises fixtures to allow teams of four persons to play matches against each other
· There are 5 Leagues within the MQL based in Liverpool, Ormskirk, Southport & Formby, Warrington and Wirral.
What the MQL does NOT do
· Organise what has become known as a ‘Pub Quiz’, where a person reads questions over a PA system and teams of people confer around a table before writing their answers on a sheet for marking.
· Offer cash or equivalent prizes
The Clientele
The MQL is the oldest continuously running quiz league in the UK. Members of the league have achieved quiz success on TV and Radio on a wide variety of programmes. The MQL also performs a social function. The majority of teams are made up of friends and former work colleagues and they find, in the setting of a quiz match, an opportunity to catch up with each other in a convivial atmosphere.