SpeechWire Tournament Services - Forensics Tournament Software

set the fee to be $50 per school - pay for speechwire? Do we want awards of any kind? candy? How do we want to run awards?

Also some events will probably go straight to finals because of low numbers but I am ok with that - good practice for kids who will be doing a lot of in person rounds.

As for timing here is what I was thinking:

General Format - Current Plan: (I really hope to stick to it)

Prelim Rounds 1 and 2 will run asynchronously using video links (I know...links...)

**The pre-recorded videos for prelims will be due Thursday 11/4 at 5 PM. Once I have the videos, I will release them for the judges. Prelim rounds 1 and 2 will need to be judged and submitted by 7:30 AM on Saturday. *NOTE: I am going to send information out to judges that students might be wearing masks and to disregard that. I am personally going to encourage my students to make videos at school with an audience so that they don't stop and start 10 times and so that they can get experience in front of an audience.* (Will judges still tell them to show better facial expressions....yes. BUT we have to figure out how to smile with our eyes so this is good practice for that too!)

Prelim Round 3 - IN PERSON!!! Saturday 8:30 AM

Final Rounds - IN PERSON!!! Saturday ~10:15 AM

Awards will be given. I am not sure of the format (I forgot to figure out the max capacity in our auditorium but students who break into finals will get an award!)

General Rules

We will attempt to adhere to as many of the IHSA rules as possible.

JUDGES : Each team should provide one judge for every six entries in the competition. A full team (2 entries per event) is expected to have five judges, and teams with additional entries should bring an additional judge following the 1 judge per each 1 to 6 entries ratio. This is absolutely necessary for the success of the tournament. If you need to split a judging position and have someone do just the asynch rounds and a different person do the in person rounds, email me and we will get that configured in speechwire.

VIDEOS: Videos must be submitted via an accessible link. The videos should be unedited and filmed using basic equipment (i.e. iPad, phone). Students should think about using a basic background and test sound quality. Judges will be instructed to focus on the speaker and ignore the set up.

***NOTES - Again - I will instruct judges to disregard masks. Have your kids do what is best for them in terms of making the video. I don't want that to be a point of stress.***

Event Specific Rules

DUETS: Students need to adhere to the health safety guidelines. If they are in the same space, even in the video, then they must be masked. If for the video they need to be in separate locations and do it like last year that is fine for rounds 1 and 2. Again we are going to encourage the judges to provide helpful feedback and disregard things that might be out of the control of the students.

RADIO : A radio prep packet will be released at 3 PM on Tuesday November 2nd. This should be used for prelim rounds 1 and 2. (Videos are due at 5 PM on Thursday 11/11). For round 3, I am hoping we will have the space for students to be prepping starting at 7:45 AM. For the final round there will be a 45 minute prep.

EXTEMP: Extemp topics will be released at 3 PM on Tuesday November 2nd. Students should select one question and record their speech using this. (Videos are due at 5 PM on Thursday 11/11.) For round 3 and the final round students should be prepared to do a 30 minute prep at our school.

IMPROMPTU : 3 Impromptu topics will be released at 3 PM on Tuesday November 2nd. Students should select one question and record their speech using this prompt. Students should adhere to the 2 minute prep. To honor the judge’s time, the 2 minute prep period should not be recorded. Instead students should start the video when they begin speaking. (Videos are due at 5 PM on Thursday 11/11.) Round 3 students will get a new prompt in their room. Additionally students should be prepared to get a new prompt in their room for finals. They will be given the 2 minute prep period.

TIMING : There will be no official penalty for time. The only exception will be in radio finals where students outside the 4:50-5:05 time window will rank last in the round. Judges may consider it as part of the criteria for ranking if the penalties are extreme.

Sincerely,

Katie Giegler and the Fremd Coaching Staff

William Fremd High School

1000 South Quentin Road

Palatine, Illinois 60067

PS: Look forward to a theme TBA :)

PPS: If I missed anything I will send more information soon!

PPPS: Email me any and all questions.