2026-2027 Competition Deadline Announced!
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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
Eligibility
Students in grades 12 and below
Entry Fee
$5 per team
Registration Timeline
Early August 2026 – October 5, 2026
Regular Season
October – February
Competition Details
1. Levels and Divisions
Latin League has two levels: middle school and high school; and each level has two divisions: varsity and junior varsity (JV):
- 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: Any team size, with up to 5 competing per round. New team members can be added to a team at any time during the year.
- Roster Rules: Students cannot switch between teams within the same subdivision (e.g., from JV Purple to JV Gold) but may move up to a higher level, such as from JV to varsity.
- Playoff Team: Varsity teams that win their region or rank in the top 15% nationwide based on total points from all five regular-season rounds will qualify for the super-regionals. Teams with a regional bye should still play the round to earn points toward their total.
3. Competition Format
Each team competes in five regular-season rounds from October through February. Each round consists of 100 multiple-choice questions:
- 50 Latin language questions: Reading comprehension, vocabulary, Latin derivatives, mottos, phrases, abbreviations, and Latin quotations used in modern contexts.
- 50 ancient culture questions: 40 questions on standard JCL topics, such as mythology, history, and daily life, plus 10 questions on a designated monthly special topic.
Each round has a 2-week 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)
- Five matches from October to February; teams encouraged to play even if they have a bye.
- Regional Play: Teams play all others in their region; regions are geographically assigned.
- Regional champion: most wins (ties count as half); tie-breakers: head-to-head, then total points.
2. Playoffs (March-April)
- Eligibility: Only Varsity teams advance to super regionals and national playoffs. If a school has multiple Varsity teams, only the highest-ranked team proceeds.
- Super-Regionals: Regional champions/co-champions and top 15% nationally by points. Two super-regions; the top four teams advance to nationals.
- National Championship: The top 8 teams from super-regionals compete, with the highest-scoring team crowned National Champions.
Class Recommendation
Prepare to compete at the highest level