Casse-tête
Note: We are accepting only 16 casse-tête teams this year! The first 16 teams to register will compete at the March conference. Please check your school registration number on your receipt to assure that your school is eligible to participate in casse-tête.
Description: A fast-paced question and answer elimination game played in 5 rounds between two high school teams. A team consists of three players. Speed and accuracy are essential. Since this competition is conducted entirely in French, it is advised that advanced students be on the Casse-tête team. A maximum of 16 schools may participate, selected by pre-registration. Students participating in this event may also compete in other individual events at their level. Spectators are encouraged to attend.
Rules and Conditions:
Casse-tête Clarification:
Only students who are classified in the “A” category can compete in Casse-tête.
No student who is classified as an “F” student can be a member of a Casse-Tête team.
This rule is to maintain fairness among all competing teams.
Students who meet the following criteria will be placed in the F category: (See Classifications below***)
***CLASSIFICATIONS
Description: A fast-paced question and answer elimination game played in 5 rounds between two high school teams. A team consists of three players. Speed and accuracy are essential. Since this competition is conducted entirely in French, it is advised that advanced students be on the Casse-tête team. A maximum of 16 schools may participate, selected by pre-registration. Students participating in this event may also compete in other individual events at their level. Spectators are encouraged to attend.
Rules and Conditions:
- Competition will consist of 13-question matches per round.
- Points are scored by correct answers to questions asked by the moderator(s).
- Two types of questions will be asked: toss-ups worth twenty points and bonuses worth ten points each.
- Any player from any team may answer the toss-up question.
- The player who signals first must wait to be recognized. Once recognized, a prompt answer is expected. No conferring will be allowed.
- If a player answers the toss-up correctly, his/her team earns twenty points and is given a chance to answer a bonus question.
- Team members may confer up to five seconds on a bonus. A predesignated team captain will give the team's answer. A correct response is worth ten points. An incorrect response to the bonus question results in the moderator's reading the next toss-up question.
- On toss-ups and bonuses, the first response given is the one that counts. In the event that a player gives more information than is needed, the judges will decide whether the player's response can or cannot be accepted. THE DECISIONS OF THE JUDGES ARE FINAL.
- lf the moderator believes an answer is correct but incomplete, he/she may ask the answering player to provide more information.
- If a player answers a toss-up incorrectly, the question is turned over to the other team. The question will be repeated in its entirety and the answering player must signal to be recognized.
- Players will be given 5 seconds from the time the reader has completed the question until someone must signal. If there is a no response, the moderator will move on to the next toss-up.
- If a player responds without being recognized, his/her team will be penalized 5 points. The moderator will then proceed with the next question.
- A player may signal before the moderator has finished reading the question. However, an incorrect response will result in a 5-point penalty and the question will determine the final result.
- If a match ends in a tie, a sudden-death toss-up question will determine the final result.
Casse-tête Clarification:
Only students who are classified in the “A” category can compete in Casse-tête.
No student who is classified as an “F” student can be a member of a Casse-Tête team.
This rule is to maintain fairness among all competing teams.
Students who meet the following criteria will be placed in the F category: (See Classifications below***)
***CLASSIFICATIONS
- COF (CLASSE OUVERTE FRANÇAISE), 4F, 3F, 2F, 1F: There are seven criteria to determine if a student belongs in this classification:
- A native speaker of French
- Attended or attends a school where the primary language of instruction was/is French after age of 12
- The student spent one to four semesters in a school where the language of instruction was French between the ages of eight and twelve.
- The student has completed a FLES program in French prior to high school or middle school
- Between his/her eighth and twelfth birthday, the student lived in a French speaking country for one year or more.
- A student who has not attended a French speaking school, but whose parents or guardian speaks French all or most of the time.
- A student who has had consistent and repeated exposure to the French language outside the academic setting (ie summer vacation; church, etc.)
- COA (CLASSE OUVERTE AMÉRICAINE-level 5 or above) 4A, 3A, 2A, 1A: for students who are enrolled in French classes, but who have no significant French training outside the classroom.