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Find quick answers to your questions below...

Question: What grade levels can participate in NAL?
Answer: Currently grades 5 through 9 in middle, intermediate, and junior-high schools participate in the NAL. At least two teams of 15 - 30 students are required to participate.

Question: Are private schools, charter schools, and home-schooled students eligible to participate in the NAL??
Answer: Yes. However, since the NAL competition is structured much like other sports, at least 2 schools (teams) are necessary for participating in the NAL. A team consists of 15 to 40 students.

Question: Can students with learning disabilities participate in the NAL?
Answer: Yes, we are eager to accommodate the participation of all students interested in the NAL. The NAL game is structured so that all students, including those with disabilities, can be included in at least one quarter. Every quarter emphasizes different skills so different students can participate in different quarters for a total of 40 students on a team.

NAL General

Question: What is the NAL's background?
Answer: The NAL? was founded by Drs. Terrel H. Bell and Donna L. Elmquist. Donna Elmquist, Ph.D. is President of Terrel H. Bell and Associates, and is an educational author and researcher and public school and university educator. Dr. Bell served as the U.S. education leader under three presidents. When serving as U.S. Secretary of Education in the Reagan Administration, Dr. Bell commissioned the report A Nation At Risk: The Imperative for Educational Reform that launched the school reform movement. In their book How to Shape Up Our Nation's Schools, Drs. Bell and Elmquist first described the concept of building a network of academically competitive leagues to rival interscholastic athletic competitions. In 1991 they launched the pilot program in Granite School District, Salt Lake City, Utah to bring substance to their vision.

Question: What happens at NAL competitions?
Answer: A team of 15 to 40 students under the direction of a coach play a four-quarter game focusing on questions that span 22 subjects grouped under the basic curriculum areas of math, English/language arts, science and social studies. Each question has been correlated to National Curriculum Standards. Players use strategies to keep possession of a question sequence, learn teamwork as they huddle to answer a complex question, learn to problem-solve by preparing and presenting a solution to real-world problems, and engage in a fast-paced, quick-answer contest. In this academic sport, each NAL league participates in a regular season of play to determine a champion. Each league's champion plays in the National Tournament using video conferenc technologies. Participants from across the nation compete with one another and build networks. The National Conference follows the National Tournament.

Question: What equipment do we need?
Answer: At least three working microphones should be available on the active players' table. A microphone must also be available to the judges. A quick response button or buzzer board, connected to a buzzer and a light, should be within reach of each player at the active table. We also recommend an electric scoreboard (with a 12-minute clock) and a large shot clock (which clocks the seconds allowed for players to answer) be used in the games. The audience should be able to see both. Below are some sources that other leagues have used to order equipment. (These are suggestions, not an endorsement or recommendation. These are independent companies with whom we have no business dealings.)

Scoreboards -http://www.allamericanscoreboards.com/index.html
Shot clocks -
http://www.nevco.com
Buzzers -
http://www.zeecraft.com/index.html

NAL Question Bank

Question: What is the NAL Question Bank (NALQB)?
Answer: The NAL Question Bank (NALQB) consists of a large database of questions used to generate NAL games. These questions span 22 subjects grouped under the basic curriculum areas of math, English/language arts, science and social studies. These questions are generated from participants across the country, as well as from materials used in schools and from criterion-referenced tests that meet the standards of No Child Left Behind. These questions are also aligned to National Curriculum Standards. The National Office continuously updates, reviews, and edits the questions before entering them into the NALQB. At the start of each season of play, the National Office generates new games using questions from the NALQB. The questions in the NALQB are secure and only sent to NAL League Commissioners.

Question: Can students submit NAL questions?
Answer: Any NAL participant, including students, can submit questions to the NAL Question Bank. All questions submitted are reviewed by the National Office before they are entered into the NAL Question Bank. The National Office requests that anyone writing questions follows the Question Writing Guidelines in the Appendices of the NAL Rules and Guidelines Book. Also, please remember to reference the source of the question and answer. If you would like to submit a question, email it to [email protected]

Question: Where can I get practice questions?
Answer: You can purchase a Practice Game on this website. A new Practice Game is offered at the start of each NAL season. Also, the NAL Study Book is created at the start of each season. It includes topics that align with the season's questions, third quarter study tips, and a summary of each quarter. A real game of Practice Questions is also offered at the start of each season. You can place an order on this website or by email at [email protected]. The NAL game questions span 22 subjects grouped under the basic curriculum areas of math, English/language arts, science and social studies. We recommend that students study their textbooks, relevant websites, and other materials used to prepare for criteria-referenced testing that meet school standards. Trivia-type questions, especially those about television shows, sports stars, movies, etc. are not included in the NALQB.

Question: Can I Use Old Game Questions?
Answer: The questions in all quarters are sent to NAL League Commissioners and are for official game use only. All questions are to be kept in strict security and are not to be recycled as practice questions. The NALQB is a large database, and at the start of each NAL season each of the questions are randomly chosen to be used. Since some questions from previous seasons may be picked, none of the questions can be released to anyone except NAL League Commissioners.

NAL Leagues

Question: How can I find out who the NAL League Commissioner is in my area and how do I contact him or her?
Answer: Contact the NAL National Office at [email protected].

Question: How do I find out when leagues start their season?
Answer: You can email the NAL League Commissioners, try the leagues' website, or contact the National Office. View a list of
NAL League Commissioners. View a list of NAL League and School websites. To contact the National Office email [email protected] or call 801-487-8088 or 770-998-7833..

Question: How do you determine a league champion?
Answer: Please refer to the NAL? Rules & Guidelines book. It states: "The champion team of each league can be determined in one of two ways, and individual leagues can determine which process they prefer to use: (1) the champion team can be defined as the one that has the most wins in the league. If two teams tie for the most wins, the team that has earned the most cumulative points during the season will be the champion; (2) the champion team can be determined through league playoffs at the end of the season. It is recommended that each league decides at the beginning of the season which method they will use and not change that method during the season. Doing this will eliminate confusion about which team will play in the National Tournament".

NAL Logo and Materials

NATIONAL ACADEMIC LEAGUE, and NAL, as well as related program materials, logos, and memorabilia are registered with the U. S. Patent and Trademark Office and/or the Library of Congress and may not be used in any way without the express written permission by an authorized representative of Terrel H. Bell & Associates. NAL participants agree not to sell, license, rent, lease, modify, copy, produce or reproduce NATIONAL ACADEMIC LEAGUE and NAL, materials, memorabilia, and assets (tangible or intangible). All rights reserved. No part of NAL trademarked materials may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical - including photocopying and recording - or by any information storage or retrieval system without permission in writing from Terrel H. Bell & Associates.

Question: Can NAL teams use the NAL logo and name on their website?
Answer: Yes, but NAL Leagues need to get written permission from Terrel H. Bell & Associates to use the logo on their websites or letterheads. NAL materials and logos are Copyright, Trademark, and/or Service Mark protected. Terrel H. Bell & Associates, a Utah 501(c)(3) non-profit corporation, developed, owns and operates the National Academic League (NAL) and its marks. All rights reserved. Except as expressly authorized by Terrel H. Bell & Associates, through one of its authorized representatives at the National Office, National Academic League and NAL materials and logos cannot be used, sold, licensed, rented, leased, modified, copied, or reproduced.

Question: Can NAL Leagues produce products such as t-shirts, trophies and medals using the NAL name or logo?
Answer: No they may not. Contact the National Office to order t-shirts, trophies, medals and other memorabilia. Terrel H. Bell & Associates?, a Utah 501(c)(3) non-profit corporation, developed, owns and operates the National Academic League (NAL) and its marks. All rights reserved. No part of NAL trademarked materials may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means.

Question: Can NAL Leagues reproduce materials?
Answer: No they may not. Terrel H. Bell & Associates, a Utah 501(c)(3) non-profit corporation, developed, owns and operates the National Academic League (NAL) and its marks. NAL participants are encouraged to share information about the NAL program. Informational items such as program dates, names of local NAL League Commissioners, contact information for NAL National Headquarters, program eligibility requirements, lists of available NAL materials and memorabilia, and other non-trademarked material may be reproduced and shared with others.
Question: Do you take credit/debit cards for purchases and donations?
Yes, our payment processor is PayPal but you do not need an account with PayPal to purchase from us. The NAL has no access to your card information.
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