National Academic League

Welcome to the National Academic League

Mid-October
NAL Materials Available for Distribution
Oct. 17 - Feb. 28 NAL Season
February 28
League Champions Determined
April 1
Rule Change Suggestions Due

What is NAL®

The National Academic League® motivates and recognizes academic athletes much like their athletic peers. By successfully combining the important aspects of team sports such as competitiveness, strategy, teamwork, and cooperation in a group effort with important aspects of learning such as problem-solving, critical thinking, and scholarship the NAL® generates the same popular enthusiasm and pride as do sports teams. It's cool to be smart!

How NAL® Competitions Work:
The Four Quarters of Academic Play

First Quarter: Roundabout

Players use strategy to keep possession of a sequence of short-answer questions.

Second Quarter: Teamwork

Players learn teamwork as they huddle to answer a complex question in one minute.

Third Quarter: Problem Solving

Players tackle complex, real-world problems, and then present their solutions. They score points for organization, content, critical thinking, and presentation.

Fourth Quarter: One-on-One

Players join in a fast-paced one-on-one speed contest that can result in a free-for-all.

Learn more about the Games here

NAL®
History

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.

Our Story

School Testimonials

"The NAL® is the best academic program I have seen for two reasons: The NAL® thoroughly covers 22 subject areas, and all levels of students can compete in the program."
Frank Zerfas, Retired Principal, Pueblo, Colorado
"I will never forget the first time I was exposed to the NAL® program. I was a middle school principal and it was 1992. During the training session, when I saw how the NAL® program simulated athletic competitions, complete with officials, timeouts, shot clocks, and scoreboards, I knew that the program would fill a great motivational void for my middle school students. Now, with the NAL®, "egghead" students have a welcome place in which they can find appropriate recognition for being a super student. Best of all, the notoriety is contagious. Students in my schools and my districts have been irreversibly motivated to achieve academically. The parents have supported the NAL program with the same competitive zeal as they exhibit when following the school football or basketball teams in state competition. In some districts, "March Madness" is equated with the excitement of the NAL® playoffs instead of the NCAA Basketball tournament."
Michael Hall, Assistant Principal
I am so proud to have spent the last 19 years of my life in the classroom. The greatest day of my teaching life came when my principal showed me an outline of "the new game in town" -- the NAL®. For the last 11 years, the NAL® has given a sense of worth to guide intelligent children through a program that allowed them to let their intelligence shine instead of being ashamed that they were "nerds." The NAL has always been more than just learning facts, it has been a relationship that has taught them and me that you never settle for just "pretty good," it must be the best that you can give. I pushed them and they pushed back. . . I pushed harder and they followed suit. Never underestimate the power of a questioning mind. The students were there for the challenge. They grew and so did I. We grew because we realized that no matter what we learn, there is always more to add to it. The well was never empty. Talk about a challenge!!!!! How do you keep ahead of a group of 30 of the smartest kids in the school? They may be only age 12 to 15, but they have much more flexible brain cells than older people do. They never want to stop -- they just keep coming back for more. What a wonderful situation for a teacher to be in."
Carolyn Carmichael, Retired teacher, Houston, Texas

We Love to Hear From You!

We invite you to send us your pictures, items of interest, media publicity, testimonials, and anything else you would like to share.

We also invite you to share strategies and tactics you use with your teams. Let us know how you use the NAL® Study Book©, or which web sites you find most useful. Now we’re not asking you to give away all your secrets, but won’t you share your ideas, tips and suggestions for coaches and players?

Donate to support NAL®

Support today at any level, we have tiered programs
from $50 to $250+ and personal donations starting at $5. Just add to any purchase from the shopping cart check out or reach out to sponsor a team for the next NAL Game.