21st Annual Physician Assistant Student Challenge Bowl

Sponsored by the PSPA
Chairman: Natalie Schwer, PA-C  nschwerpac@gmail.com

Student Medical Challenge Bowl Delayed to 2021

The annual tradition of the Student Medical Challenge Bowl will be delayed to 2021 as many PA programs have tightened up their university calendar and student travel for the upcoming fall semester and attendee limits with social distancing due to COVID-19. These changes reduce the number of teams available to host an engaging and successful challenge bowl.

2021 Student Challenge Bowl Rules

Eligibility and Registration Requirements:

• Any physician assistant program in Pennsylvania, recognized by the ARC-PA, is eligible to register only one (1) team to compete in the PSPA Challenge Bowl.
• All student team members must be active PSPA Student Members at the time registration is due; likewise, their faculty advisor must also be an active PSPA member.
• There is no entry fee for the competition. However, all teams must provide a donation to the Annual Host City Charity. Teams must have their items or financial contributions turned into the Public Relations and Education Committee by 4:00 pm on the day of the event.  If contribution is not turned in by this deadline, the team will be ineligible for competition.
• Each team, with all competing members and team advisor, must be on-site at 5:00 pm in order to participate in orientation and reading of regulations. Teams not present in their entirety at this time will be disqualified from competition.
• Each team consists of three (3) players and one (1) alternate. Teams may participate without the presence of an alternate, knowingly accepting the chance they may be participating without a full team at the time of the competition.

Rules of Play and Scoring:

• A round-robin format will be utilized with preliminary rounds, semi-final rounds, and a final round, with the number of matches per round determined by the number of entered teams.
• A time limit will apply to each match, with the timing judge announcing when five (5) minutes and one (1) minute remain in the match. Length of each round is determined by number of participating teams. As an estimation, rounds are traditionally fifteen (15) minutes in length – this is, however, subject to change at the discretion of the Challenge Bowl Chair.
• The moderator will read the question; the first team to signal in will be acknowledged by the moderator and permitted ten (10) seconds to start their answer. Fifteen (15) seconds will be allowed for a team to buzz in. If no team buzzes in within the allotted time, then the moderator will move on to the next question.
• The moderator will NOT complete the question if a team signals in before the full question is read.
• If the team that signals in first answers the question incorrectly, the moderator will re-read the entire question without interruption and the remaining teams will be given an opportunity to respond. Ten (10) seconds will be allowed for them to start their response.
• Ten (10) points are awarded for each correct answer. Ten (10) points will be deducted for each incorrect answer. If a team signals in and fails to start their answer to the question within the allotted ten (10) seconds, it is counted as an incorrect response.
• Team members must speak loudly and clearly when answering questions. If the moderator questions the pronunciation of an answer, he/she may request the team member to spell the word in question. If the spelling is ruled correct, ten (10) points will be awarded. If the pronunciation and spelling are ruled incorrect, ten (10) points will be deducted.
• Only one (1) response will be accepted after a team has signaled in.
• The play clock is stopped if the moderator appeals to the judges for a ruling. ALL judges’ decisions are final. Any protests by a challenge bowl team member or team’s faculty advisor will result in an automatic disqualification of that team from the current challenge bowl.
• The team with the most points at the end of their match will advance to the next round of play. The team with the most points at the end of the final round of play will be declared the winner. In the event of a tie between the highest scoring teams in a match/round, a “sudden death” playoff will be held. In the event of a “sudden death” playoff, the competing teams’ scores will revert to zero and the first team to correctly answer a question wins the match.

Team and Audience Participation Expectations:

• Again, ALL judges’ decisions are final. Any protests by a challenge bowl team member or team’s faculty advisor will result in an automatic disqualification of that team from the current challenge bowl.
• Any team found to be cheating by the moderator or judges will automatically be disqualified from the current challenge bowl AND suspended for three (3) years from future PSPA sponsored physician assistant student challenge bowls.
• Absolutely no alcohol permitted at the Challenge Bowl event.
• No recording of any questions or content of the Challenge Bowl – all paper, writing utensils, electronic recording devices, laptops, tablets and cellular devices must be put away during the entire competition and may only be utilized during the mid-competition break time.  All cellular devices must be silenced and place out of view.  Room monitors will be observing for the duration of the competition and are permitted to reprimand those in violation of competition rules.
• No talking is permitted by the audience during the question rounds. Need for an individual or group to be repeatedly reprimanded may result in dismissal for the remainder of the competition.
• We strongly encourage supporting the student participants, but ask that all applause be held until completion of a full round.
• Attendees and participants not complying with any of the above regulations may be asked to leave for the duration of the event.  By attending and participating in this event, you are agreeing to comply with the rules stated above.  Room monitors will be present for the duration of the competition.  Any and all unprofessional behavior (by participants, faculty, or attendees) or failure to comply with rules stated above is subject to disciplinary actions at the room monitors’ or coordinator’s discretion, which may include expulsion from the competition/audience.