Valparaiso Speech Invitational

Dear Coach:

You are invited to the Valparaiso Novice/Varsity Speech Tournament on Saturday, December 3, 2011. Registration will be made on Speechwire. (www.speechwire.com). Please have all entries in by 5:00 pm (CDT) on Wednesday, November 30, 2011. Final Registration will begin on the day of the tournament at 7:00 a.m. and end at 7:30 a.m.(CDT). Extemp Draw begins at 8:00 a.m. First rounds begin at 8:00 a.m. (CDT). No drops may be picked up.

ENTERING RESTRICTIONS & JUDGING: All IHSFA Speech Events except Congress. Teams may enter a maximum of 40 entries with a limit of 4 students (3 in radio) in each division per each event. A novice is a first year competitor. Each team will provide one judge for every five entries or fraction thereof.
That means 6 entries = 2 judges.

DOUBLING: Contestants may double at their own risk with the following exceptions:

• Discussion and Broadcasting (Radio) may not double.
• Duo partners may not double in another duo event.
• Extemp may not double in the other Extemp event. Extemp may only double in Impromptu and Original Oratory.
• Impromptu may only double in Extemp.
• No triple entries.

Rounds: All events will go 3 preliminary rounds and a final. Impromptu Rounds 1 & 3 will start 30 minutes later to accommodate Extempers who are doubling.

Broadcasting (Radio):

• Breaking News/On the Spot (information provided)~ (following sectional/state rules)

• News broadcast (information provided)~ (three minutes) to be written at the tournament
• Commercial for product or service (information provided) ~ (one minute) to be written at the tournament
• Editorial (information provided)~ (2 minutes) to be written at the tournament

Discussion Topic: TECHNOLOGY ~ subtopics will be provided at the beginning of each round.

Extemp: Novice extempers may use one note card with 50 or fewer words. Extempers will draw for 1st and 3rd round. Speakers will use 3rd round topic for 4th round.

COMBINING SECTIONS: We will combine novice and varsity if numbers are too low in an event. However, we will re-rank novice scores when competing against varsity. Their original ranks will only be considered for tie-breaking purposes. (We have high hopes that Speechwire will let us do this!)

MEALS: There will be no scheduled break in competition for lunch; however, food (including breakfast items) will be available throughout the tournament with lunch being served from 11:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m.

AWARDS: The top eight places in each division shall receive ribbons and earn sweepstakes points. Varsity sweepstakes point values shall be 8 down. Novice point values shall be 8 down. We will offer 5 sweepstakes trophies.

ESTIMATED TIME OF AWARDS: 3:30 p.m. (CDT) With your help, we will run a rapid awards session.

ARRIVAL AND FOUL WEATHER DELAYS: Should inclement weather cause us to delay the start of the tournament or cancel it entirely, we will contact you via the contact number you provide in the registration by 5:30 a.m. CDT.  

Please direct all inquiries to: Mary Fridh @ mafridh@gmail.com or 219-324-6603 or 219-363-6618

We hope to see you here! The Valparaiso Forensics Coaching Staff:

   Mary Fridh               Kaye Frataccia            JoBeth Cruz         Colleen Archer      Chris Waters       Sharon Shepard      
Tournament Director          Head Speech Coach              Speech Coach Speech Coach Team Head Coach          Debate Coach

(vr24)