This competition is for teams of grades 6 and below.
The venue will be Google Meet which is free and easy-to-use. During the prelims, your team will be connecting for two 90-minute blocs of your choice, 3 games per bloc on any of the preliminary weekends. Clarification: Both blocs must be on the same weekend. Team members may join from school if schools are back in session or join from their own homes in order to stay safe.
As you can see from the above, we offer four competitive levels each weekend: High School Varsity ... High School JV ... Middle School/Junior High … Elementary School
Each team will compete in at least six official tournament matches. Advancement to the playoff weekend (Single Elimination round) will be determined by performance in the six preliminary games. All 6-0, 5-1, and 4-2 teams will make the playoffs.
Some schools choose to bring two or more teams. If you're considering this, be aware that players may not shift between teams. Also, for scheduling purposes, it will be useful for us to know whether you like to have the two (or more) teams scheduled at the same time – which would maximize sightseeing opportunities – or at different times – so the coach(es) can see everybody’s game.
Several years ago we predicted that the contending high school teams of the future will be those that
have developed solid farm systems on the lower grade levels. The best example.
is Daviess County (KY), which won the JV title in 2015 and returned with the same players in 2016 and
won the Varsity title.
We crown a champion from among the “small schools” that come to Nationals (defined as any school with 500 or fewer students in grades 10-12 and a nonselective admissions policy). We do so after all four phases are finished, selecting the highest-ranking team.
Your team contingent should include three or four starters and one or more coaches. Alternate(s) are allowed, but must remain on mute until they are in play.
The competition focuses on academic information - “significa” rather than “trivia” - and the questions are supplied by Questions Unlimited. Our emphasis is light on popular culture and heavy on the academic. We hold ourselves to the highest standards of question quality and academic relevance. Contests follow the superb four-quarter format created by Questions Unlimited, and adapted for the buzzerless “virtual” environment.
We call the National Academic Championship “the finest in academic competition” because we boast the best questions and a highly professional officiating staff.
The entry fee is $400 per team, due by May 15
You may pay online or you can make your check payable to NATIONAL ACADEMIC ASSOCIATION. The address: NAA, 10688 S. Dimple Dell Dr. Sandy, UT 84092. Do not send your entry fee to the Questions Unlimited address in Tennessee!
A tutorial on using the videoconferencing program relative to the tournament will be sent to all coaches in time for them to practice with their teams. We recommend a trial Meeting of at least a few minutes before each of your time blocs. Our tech coordinator will be available to answer all questions ahead of time and will be available by phone for all matches.
Contact the National Academic Association Phone:801-699-3424, Chip Beall, Director