Latin League
The Latin League is a year-long, school-based competition that challenges students’ knowledge of the ancient Mediterranean world across topics like Latin language, mythology, history, and culture. Structured to mirror school athletics, this flexible, asynchronous competition allows teams from middle and high schools to participate regionally and nationally without travel.
Interested in the competition?
Competition Overview
Students in grades 12 and below
Eligibility
$5 per team. Free for Title I school
Entry fee
October - February
Regular Season
March and April
Playoffs
Competition Details
1. Divisions
- High School – Varsity: Grades 9-12
- High School – Junior Varsity (JV): Grades 10 or below
- Middle School – Varsity: Grades 6-8
- Middle School – JV: Grades 7 or below
2. Team Structure
- Team Size: Maximum of 7 players, with up to 5 competing per round.
- Roster Rules: No roster changes are allowed once submitted unless approved by the Latin League committee. A coach must select the 5 competing players before each round; no mid-round substitutions.
- Number of Teams per School: Schools can enter up to two teams per division. Only the highest-scoring team per division may advance to playoffs.
3. Competition Format
- Rounds: There are 5 rounds from October to February.
- Question Breakdown: Each round includes 100 multiple-choice questions:
- 50 questions on Latin language skills (reading comprehension, vocabulary, Latin derivatives, mottoes, phrases, abbreviations, and Latin in modern usage).
- 50 questions on ancient culture, covering mythology, history, daily life, and a monthly special topic.
- Timing: Each round has an 8-day window for teams to complete the test asynchronously.
4. Additional Requirements
- Membership Requirement: All participants must be members in good standing of the National Junior Classical League (NJCL).
- Flexibility: The Latin League offers asynchronous competition to accommodate different schedules and avoid travel requirements.
Seasons
1. Regular Season (October-February)
- Regional Play: Teams are grouped by geographic region. Each month, teams compete head-to-head, with the highest score winning that round.
- Scoring and Ranking: If two teams are tied at the end of the season, head-to-head results determine ranking. Regional co-champions are named if the highest-ranked teams are tied.
- Championship Titles: The top team from each region is named regional champion.
2. Playoffs (March-April)
- Eligibility: Only Varsity teams advance to playoffs. If a school has multiple Varsity teams, only the highest-ranked team proceeds.
- Super-Regionals: Regional winners are divided into two geographically based super-regions. The top 4 teams advance to the National Championship.
- National Championship: The top 8 teams from super-regionals compete, with the highest scoring team crowned as National Champions.
