Interviewed by Kent d Curry
June 18, 2006

Alicia Becton and I first butted heads over Bible Quizzing chartwork in 1986. I was the first year coach and she was the star quizzer. Since then we’ve butted heads over many issues, situations, and decisions. We’ve also laughed outrageously, prayed victoriously, and had some serious conversations in between.

So I know I’m hopelessly biased as I write this. I know her too well. There’s no distance between us as interviewer and subject. Often that’s unwise.

Yet one evening as we sat amidst a group chatting about everything I was suddenly struck by her passion for Scripture, compassion for Quizzers, and wisdom when they merged. It wasn’t long before I thought, “Someone needs to interview her about coaching Bible quizzing. She knows her stuff.”

Now I know a bit about Bible quizzing. I’ve quizzed and coached with some success. I can discern the real from the lucky and the trying. Alicia and I agree on many aspects of Bible Quizzing, we’ve both bemoaned the reduction in total verses, and the easing of the competition, so I’ve admired how well she’s adapted to Quizzing as it is today, not how it was when Real Men quizzed.

Back then she was a champion Junior Quizzer (first in the nation), top-notch Senior Quizzer (on teams that placed second, third, and fourth in the nation), assistant coach for a team that placed eighth in the nation) and head coach of the runner-up, second place team in the nation last year. She was also decreed Coach of the Year in 2005.

Yet when I ran into mutual friends and old Bible quiz buddies immediately afterwards at Youth Congress and asked, “Did you hear Alicia was Coach of the Year?” Without exception, they said, ‘She didn’t tell me that! She just talked about her team.”

Because it’s not just in competition where she succeeds, she coaches the quizzers in life. She adjusts quiz practices to their needs and backgrounds, and then tries to forge them into successful Christians forever. That’s a potent combination for the kingdom.

Yes, I’m proud to call her my friend. Yet that doesn’t change the fact she still has a lot to teach anyone who Bible quizzes or mentors in ministry.

This interview took place in early June 2006.

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90&9: Bible Quizzing was different when you quizzed. Outline some of the differences between now and then.

AB: Without getting on a soap box, when I quizzed there were more verses to memorize and less chart work required, no intermediate division, and not as many other options for teens to be involved in both in church and school groups

90&9: How have you, as a coach, adjusted to these changes, not all of which you agree with.

AB: I do some chart work, but not much before the quizzers have learned all the material; I’m okay with the kids being involved in whatever they can fit in as long as they make most practices/tournaments. I learned years ago that the Lord works out all the activities, and, if a kid wants to be in other ministries, the adults over said ministries should be able to work that out.

90&9: Is it difficult to stay current with the times?

AB: I don’t stress about staying current with the times (never have). I am aware of current songs/singers, movies, books—most of what my kids will be exposed to, and I feel a need to intelligently state my opinions if they ask (and they always do). I enjoy being filled in on the current jargon and being told when a saying is ‘out’ as I try to use it.

90&9: Do you have any embarrassing stories about (National Quizmasters) Russ Faubert or Nathan Reever?

AB: I don’t have any embarrassing stories, but I do have some funny events. Russ was such a great quizzer and always so calm and Canadian. My team joked about their uniforms (the burgundy or navy matching blazers), so when the Stittsville team came to St. Louis to practice with our team (I was assisting Kent at the time), our team pulled out the burgundy usher blazers from our church and greeted their team wearing them. It took the Stittsville bunch a minute to figure out we were making fun of them.

As for Nathan Reever, he was quizmaster last year for my intermediate team at the Indianapolis BQE and some baby in the audience passed gas during our quiz. The audience started laughing and Reever stopped the quiz to ask what happened. One of my kids from Haiti just blurted out what happened. He asked Dianne how she would say that in French Creole, so she answered. Another Haitian on the team, Odigene, started arguing with Dianne that she was saying it wrong in French Creole, and they had a mini-debate about the whole thing. Reever was probably not expecting all that.

90&9: Why do you enjoy coaching teenagers?

AB: Teenagers are challenging and moody and difficult and everything can potentially be the end of the world, but they are sincere and open to the Lord. They keep my cynicism at bay, and I know I need their outlook. I heard a message at a UPCI General Conference Sunday School service in 2000 about how a child can sometimes save your life, and I went away realizing that’s a big part of why I coach. They help me as much or more than I help them.

90&9: What’s the best part about coaching Bible Quizzing?

AB: The challenge to grow closer to God through His Word and positively affect my kids as they learn more about God, His Word, and life in general.

90&9: What’s the worst part about coaching Bible Quizzing?

AB: Dealing with the kid that I know is a ‘fringe kid.’ I want to be wrong, but my instincts and experience tell me I’m probably not. I have no choice with those kids as they drift but to maintain a connection and friendship no matter what. It’s a helpless feeling that fortunately doesn’t happen very often.

90&9: What is essential for any coach to know today?

AB: Know how to connect with each kid in some way because they are so different. A coach should try to be well-rounded and fun and find that common ground whether it is books, poetry, sports, etc. If you don’t connect other than just Bible quizzing, your influence will be okay during the time they quiz for you, but non-existent after quizzing because that was the only common ground. They may still need you, but don’t know how to approach you without something else to talk about.

90&9: What advice would you give a new coach starting out?

AB: Emphasize good grades (my quizzers know I wouldn’t let them quiz if their grades suffer, no matter how good they are at quizzing), find assistants that offer different qualities than you, and don’t take for granted that these kids understand what they are memorizing. They didn’t grow up in Sunday school (or didn’t pay attention), or maybe their Sunday school class didn’t effectively teach basic Bible stories.

One example: I ended up teaching the story of Esther in a quiz practice because only one kid out of nine knew it. It had nothing to do with the material, but came up in practice and I was appalled they didn’t know it.

Another example: we are studying Matthew this year and some of the crucifixion and resurrection verses are covered in Passion plays, but, when I asked my kids, only one had ever seen a Passion play, so the visual images weren’t there. (I don’t know why it didn’t occur to me before Easter to ask that and take them to one.)

90&9: What are some common mistakes many coaches make?

AB: Some make practice too rigid and requirements too hard, especially at the beginning of the year. Kids will rise to the challenge, but not if you push and structure it too much. This generation doesn’t respond to that—they have their own terms and you can’t make them match what you would have done at their age.

90&9: You’ve quizzed, been an assistant coach, and are now head coach. What has been your favorite book of study? Why?

AB: Romans. Always. I love Paul and his writing, but Romans will always be special. I memorized it my last year of quizzing in 1989 when my team placed third in North America. I rememorized it in 2002 when I coached on it and fell in love with it all over again.

I just find so many powerful verses in Romans to hang on to—whether it is the human side of Paul in chapter 7 or the encouraging verses in chapter 8 (verses 18, 28, 37) or the doctrinal explanations of the Gentiles in chapter 11. It offers so much depth and truth. I could go on and on about Romans. I still quote a verse when I see a reference on a digital clock from Romans, and, oddly enough, I often see 11:33 on a clock.

90&9: What do you like about this year’s book of study, the Gospel of Matthew?

AB: Matthew is back to one book of study (in my opinion two years in a row of doctrine was too hard). It is about Jesus, it contains stories that have deeper meanings to help us all follow Jesus better, and it covers aspects of the resurrection we have no other record of—good stuff.

90&9: Your teams had a bit of success last year. Tell us about that.

AB: I had two teams last year at the NABQT—one in intermediates coached by my brother (Arlen) and Kimberly Collins that placed 1^st in the state finals and had four kids (three Haitians and one Asian). They won four quizzes at the NABQT and each kid answered at least one question correctly.

The experienced team I coached and they also placed first at state. There were five kids (one Haitian, two Mexicans, one Asian, and one white kid - Blake). We placed second at the NABQT, Blake was high scorer in North America, and each kid answered at least one question correctly.

90&9: Why did it click for everyone?

AB: I know it was special—easily one of the best weeks of my life but not sure I can identify something vastly different from other years. It was Blake’s last year and he had quizzed for 12 years at our church, so it was the end of an era. I know he did things with the other quizzers behind the scenes to keep everyone motivated that he hadn’t done in the past. It was one of those times that everything I did or said was right on track and it is great to be in those moments and realize it.

AB: I guess I identify the various nationalities because it is such a surprise to other teams to see this variety coming from a team from Nashville, Tennessee that is best known for country music and not the melting pot it has become.

I also mention it because I have several language barriers to overcome, not just one, because these kids are from totally different sides of the world. This variety is helpful for everyone on the team because each of us can teach the others as well as learn from the others just from basic activities. For example when I take the kids to a new restaurant I have to be sure an American more familiar with the foods is next to the kids to help them order.

Three years ago when I had a little girl from Burundi quizzing for me and we went to a fast food restaurant not in Nashville, I asked Blake to help her understand the menu. I don’t think he was very helpful because she didn’t like any of the food. That night at the gym social at that tournament again I asked him to help her tell the church people what she wanted to eat because they couldn’t understand her accent and she couldn’t understand theirs. Eating is basic but it can be a challenge with the different nationalities.

90&9: What is your regular schedule of practices each week?

AB: Wednesday nights before youth service from about 6-7:20 p.m. unless there is youth choir practice, and then my time is about 6-7 p.m.; one Sunday afternoon all day each month; the occasional extra night—more in the Summer.

90&9: What is your basic practice format?

AB: I open with prayer (every kid usually has at least one prayer request), read 2-3 quizzes and may split in to two groups—one experienced, one intermediate, but may not. On Sundays I end up teaching more on the material, answering questions, etc.

90&9: I hear you invite outside speakers into your practices on a regular basis. Who are these speakers, what do they speak on, and why do you invite them?

AB: On Sunday practices when I had more time, I started out teaching basic lessons unrelated to quizzing (phone etiquette, manners, job interviewing, etc.). I realized that my kids were tuning me out, but that I had some successful friends in a variety of careers and they had lots to offer.

So, I began bringing in my friends to speak on what to do for education, careers, what not to do with money, credit, and relationships, as well as how quizzing can translate to everyday life and be practical both now and in the future to help in accomplishing goals. I invite them because they do have tons to offer and the majority of my quizzers are here on green cards from other countries, and therefore do not have parents that are familiar with our school systems, colleges, or the variety of job opportunities we have here. Their parents also do not speak English and cannot communicate with guidance counselors at school.

So, I have an obligation to see my kids succeed in more than just a quiz tournament. If I don’t step up and provide some direction via my friends and give some options for their future, no one else will.

90&9: How do the kids respond?

AB: The kids try to guess who is coming to talk on Sundays now and they ask all sorts of random questions to the guest speakers. I don’t know what they hear and what helps, but I know they are inundated with information from very impressive people. They surprise me sometimes by quoting things covered last year by one of the speakers. They are also more comfortable approaching these adults at church and talking to them.

AB: I know the kids enjoy it and I do think the emphasis on getting a good education gets conveyed. I know one of my speakers and one of my quizzers meet every few months now to discuss education, goals.

AB: I help Phillip Hampton teach the Young Adult class at our church, and I have been Managing Editor of 90&9 from Day One.

90&9: How do you feed yourself spiritually? What does your personal devotion time consist of?

AB: I try to memorize the material with my quizzers each year; some years I accomplish more than others. So, my personal devotion time is studying, memorizing, quoting, referencing, and researching sources to explain verses or chapters or parables.

AB: I read mostly fiction unless we’re covering a book in Sunday school. Memorizing and quoting helps keep my mind sharp.

I have had two teams for years now and at least five quizzers every year I’ve coached in Nashville. The more kids around, the more fun it is, and the more different personalities to deal with and learn from. It just helps keep things interesting.

Years ago I prayed for an Asian kid to quiz for me, and my prayers were answered when Kap Sum from Burma started quizzing in 2004. Last year I got his little brother Dal Sang. All of us learn so much from the different cultures on our team. Those stories are endless, but it does help from ever getting burned out.

I should add that regardless of the cultural differences I face, no coach can afford to be scared or intimidated by something they aren’t familiar with. I embrace the differences with people and situations and believe that is partly why my team is so diverse—I’m not afraid of it. If a leader sets the tone (and) is rarely thrown off by anything, it will help tremendously when dealing with teenagers.

© 2006, Kent d Curry

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Kent d Curry is an executive editor of ninetyandnine.com.

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