SpeechWire Tournament Services - Forensics Tournament Software

Sponsored by the Apple Valley High School Forensics Team, Parent Boosters, American Legion Post 1776

REGISTRATION DEADLINE: Tuesday February 3rd, 2015. After this date, if the website accepts your registration, that means space is still available and you are confirmed.

LOCATIONS: All NOVICE events will be held at Falcon Ridge Middle School with the exception of novice extemporaneous speaking, which will be held at Apple Valley High School. All VARSITY events will be held at Apple Valley High School with the exception of varsity discussion, which will be held at Falcon Ridge Middle School. This allows the tournament to accommodate only double entries in events held at the same site. Since extemporaneous speakers often share files, both divisions are in one building. Discussion will be at Falcon because it is not eligible for double entering.

JUDGES: You must provide one judge per six entries in the BUILDING your competitors are entered. For example, if you have 6 entries at Falcon Ridge and 4 entries at AVHS, you will need one judge dedicated to each building. WHEN REGISTERING, CAREFULLY REGISTER YOUR JUDGES FOR THE BUILDING'S ENTRIES. THE WEBSITE IS SET-UP TO FACILITATE THIS. IN ADVANCE OF THE TOURNAMENT, PLEASE BE SURE TO TELL YOUR JUDGES TO REPORT TO THE BUILDING YOU SELECTED ACCORDING TO YOUR ENTRY. We have a limited number of judges available for hire for a fee of $90.00. Please email colingoodson@gmail.com if you are in need of a hired judge, and we will try to accommodate your request.

VARSITY means experienced competitors. NOVICE means first year competitors. Because we are in two locations, students can not double enter in one Varsity event and one Novice event.

FEES: All entries except Duo are $7. Duo entries will cost $14. There is a flat school registration fee of $20.00 used to facilitate being in two buildings and the shuttle buses provided. Please make checks payable to Apple Valley Speech Booster Club. Fees are final as of 5 pm Tuesday, February 3rd. After that time, drops will not lower your total registration fee.

If you have any questions regarding payment, please contact our team treasurer Franz Hofmeister at FJHofmeister@quakerbakery.com.

A fee of $90.00 per uncovered judge on the day of the tournament will be assessed and must be paid the day of the tournament.

CHANGES: If you need to make changes to your registration, please make them directly at Speech Wire until the website is closed down during the week. Please update your changes before making your way to school on the morning of the tournament. While we are doing on-site schedule, it would help to know of changes sooner versus later.

Best Western Premier-- Nicollet Inn: Rooms are available for February 6th and 7th. A room with a single king bed goes from $79.00 a night and a room with two queens is going for $84.00. When you book the room, tell them you are with the Minneapple Speech Tournament. The address is 14201 Nicollet Avenue South, Burnsville, MN 55337. (952)435-2100.

Grand Stay Apple Valley: Room rates will vary, but a standard room is $89.90 a night. When you book the room, tell them you are with the Minneapple Speech Tournament. 7083 153rd Street West, Apple Valley, MN 55124. (952)953-6111.

CATEGORY RULES AND TIME LIMITS: We will honor both MSHSL and NSDA rules. All thirteen MSHSL speech events will be offered. However, to accommodate out state teams, all non-draw events will be allowed a time limit of TEN MINUTES. For a copy of MSHSL rules, go to the MSHSL website at www.mshsl.org. As an FYI to out-state schools, at MN invitationals competitors do not need to provide copies of material for verification--this is only done at the section and state tournament level.

All NFL events will follow NSDA rules. Please visit the NSDA website at www.speechanddebate.org for rules. Because we are an NIETOC bid tournament, we will allow students doing Prose to enter in Drama. This will also mean that Varsity Extemporaneous Speaking, finals will include cross-examination. If you have questions about events, please contact us.

NIETOC: As mentioned above, we are a NIETOC bid tournament site. Students competing in Drama, Duo, Humorous, or Original Oratory have the ability to earn a bid that will get them one step closer to competing at the NIETOC Tournament in Lincoln, Nebraska from May 8-10, 2015. For more information visit their official website. (NOTE: Because we are an NIETOC qualification tournament, students are allowed to enter Prose or Poetry pieces in Drama.)

ENTRIES: We have no limits on entries. Students may double enter, except in discussion. DRAW EVENTS AND DISCUSSION: All draw events will have thirty-minute preparation times. Extemporaneous Reading will draw from the MSHSL Prose list 1-10, Poems 1-20. Storytelling will draw from the MSHSL list of stories 1-10. Students in varsity and novice will draw for all three preliminary rounds and finals. The Discussion tasks will be taken from Section I of the MSHSL outline of this year's topic (Political / Military Concerns). Tasks will not be posted in advance of the tournament. The discussion outline is available at www.mshsl.org.

TOURNAMENT FORMAT: There will be three preliminary rounds and a final round of approximately seven competitors.

FINALS: Students in the Varsity division will have the opportunity to advance to regular and honors finals. The Novice division will not have honors finals. The honors final generally consists of the next seven entries that did not advance to the final round.

AWARDS: Our signature marble apples and ribbons will be awarded to selected finalists in all events. Team sweepstakes will be based on combined final round rankings in novice and varsity divisions. Five large-entry and one small-entry team sweepstakes will be awarded.

CONCESSIONS: Our concession stands will be available throughout the tournament at both tournament locations. Breakfast items, lunch, and other snacks will be available. Coaches and judges should plan to visit the coaches' lounge for great hospitality.

SATURDAY CHECK-IN: Saturday check-in will occur at the respective schools. Check-in for Varsity (along with Novice Extemp. Speaking) will be at Apple Valley High School from 7:00-8:00 am on Saturday morning, while check-in for Novice (along with Varsity discussion) will be from 7:00-8:00 am on Saturday morning at Falcon Ridge Middle School. Please check the schedule page for more information on each location.

SHUTTLE BUSES: We will only provide shuttle buses from Falcon Ridge Middle School to AVHS for awards at the end of the day. SINCE WE WILL BE HAVING TWO DIFFERENT CHECK-IN SITES, YOU SHOULD HAVE YOUR TRANSPORTATION DROP STUDENTS OFF AT THEIR RESPECTIVE BUILDINGS.

Please note which events are at Apple Valley High School and which events are at Falcon Ridge Middle School. All awards will be held at Apple Valley High School.

Scott Voss
Email address: scott.voss@district196.org
Phone number: 952 290 0790

Home - Order SpeechWire - Tournament results - Your account - Tournament manager

(vr)