SMSU

SMSU HIGH SCHOOL SPEECH TOURNAMENT

Asynchronous, 9-12 March 2021

DEADLINE

6 Mar 2021

ELIGIBILITY

Open to middle and high school students

PLATFORM

Online, TBD platform possibly through Speechwire

Information

The SMSU Forensics Team invites you and your students to attend the SMSU Speech Invitational Tournament the week of March 8th, 2021. We are excited to host online and we are confident you and your students will have a fun and educational experience.

Due to concerns about COVID-19, our tournament will be entirely asynchronous! This year, the contest will offer four rounds of competition in each event, with the final results being determined by the results of the preliminary rounds. The finalists in each category will receive awards and the top three teams in three divisions (if number of entries warrant) will be given sweepstakes awards. In addition, the top three Junior High competitors will be recognized in each category so be sure to bring your younger competitors along.

Details

Tournament will be fully asynchronous with 4 prelim rounds and no finals
Entries and video links are due on Sunday, March 7th @noon. Send to Nadia or list it down on this form
Content warnings are encouraged to give adequate warning to judges/competitors
No late adds are allowed
Rounds will be judged from Tuesday through Friday @ 4 p.m. CST

Sincerely,
Ben Walker Julie Walker
Southwest Minnesota State University                Southwest Minnesota State University
Director of Forensics Assistant Director of Forensics
Tournament Director

Important Tournament Information
Registration: Students WILL be allowed to double enter at the tournament.
Late Adds: No adds will be allowed after the event registration closes. Considering the asynchronous format, we don’t anticipate any drops or changes for Individual events.
Rules: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1fQUwl7fq3kyEZ8Uj1F8Fl6QhnBDdFz_s/view?usp=sharing

Video Submission: All video submission links must be put forward through some sort of streaming platform like YouTube. Set the video to “unlisted” for the duration of the tournament. Following judging, we want students to have control over the visibility of the performances, so students may turn the videos to “private” after the awards ceremony on Friday.

We ask that each submitted performance video recording has not been entered into a previous asynchronous tournament. We believe teams will act honorably and submit a fresh, unique performance video made exclusively for that tournament.

Content Warnings: To continue work done across the speech community, we will continue providing a space to input content warnings for pieces. If a student’s performance includes sensitive topic areas they anticipate may be triggering for audience members or judges, we ask you to enter those topics into the content warning space.

Judging
Judges will complete preliminary round evaluations from Tuesday morning through 4 p.m. CST Friday. All ballots and scores must be completed by the deadline, or schools will be charged a dropped/no show judge fee ($50).

Judge Integrity Pledge
Coaches and students value high-quality feedback. Therefore, we request all judges complete the Judge Integrity Pledge prior to completing judging responsibilities for the tournament. This will be emailed out.

Awards:  Awards will be given to the finalists in each event. Additionally, the top 3 Junior High competitors in each event will be recognized. Team Sweepstakes awards will be awarded to the top 3 schools in three divisions; open, limited entry and small entry (only two divisions will be used if there are fewer teams attending). The break between divisions will be at the largest natural break between numbers of total entries.

Limited Preparation Events
Limited Preparation Events are tough to handle in an asynchronous tournament, but Draw Events (Extemporaneous Speaking, Impromptu Speaking) will still be offered. Students will submit two videos: one for round 1&2 judging and one for round 3&4 judging. Prompts for Draw Events will be shared by Saturday, 6 March 2021 @noon and videos will be due on Sunday, 7 March 2021 @noon as well.

Impromptu Rules: Speakers will choose a prompt from the three quotations given. Speakers then have a total of 5 minutes to prepare and give a speech based on the prompt selected; they may use the time at their own discretion. A 15 second grace period is allowed to start to read the prompts. Notes are permitted. Each speaker will be given the same set of prompts.

We trust all students and coaches to adhere to Limited Prep guidelines and ethical competition choices for preparation. Prep time does not need to be included in the performance video for Extemporaneous Speaking. However, please include prep time in Impromptu videos (this can make starting the video camera easier for students, and assessing time allocation possible for judging). All Impromptu judges will be reminded to allow an initial 15 seconds for competitors to read the quotations, before beginning time.

Accessibility and Inclusion
Nationally, the speech community (students, coaches, and judges) have called for tournaments where student and judge wellness is built into the tournament structures.

Name Pronunciation
Being called by your correctly pronounced name creates an inclusive, welcoming, respectful space. To aid judges and awards readers, please provide student name pronunciation upon registration.

Open Door Policy
SMSU Forensics acknowledges the art of performance may be a healing process and/or an opportunity to speak on important, personal topics. As a performer, it is impossible to know all the ways in which content or a performance may unintentionally harm or trigger members of your audience. To better serve the wellness of the speech community, we will be using an open door practice for this tournament.

Judges will be evaluating potentially triggering performances within their home spaces. This means we need to take even more steps to protect their well-being. We strongly urge teams to include content warnings, and if a judge feels concerned about the triggering nature of performances in the assigned round, tournament staff will adjust the judging requirements.

All Week Competition
To enhance the fun, we will be releasing special competitions the entire week of March 8th! Competing students are encouraged to participate! Fun awards and recognition will be presented to the winners of games! More information will be posted on Speechwire and on SMSU team Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/smsuforensics

Entry Price

One speech event $60
Two speech events $70

If you don't provide a judge, you will pay an additional $70
Registration will not be complete until payment is received.

Schedule

Please note that all times are in Minnesota time zone (CST).

Fully Asynchronous Tournament Week Schedule

Saturday, 6 March 2021 @noon
LP Prompts released

Sunday, 7 March 2021 @noon
Entries and videos due

Monday, 8 March 2021 @ 10 p.m. CST:
Rounds go live on Speechwire

Friday, 12 March 2021 @ 4 p.m. CST:
Judging feedback/scores due

Friday, 12 March 2021 @ 6 p.m. CST:
Live awards ceremony stream on SMSU team Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/smsuforensics

Friday, 12 March 2021 @ Evening:
Feedback released to coaches via Speechwire

Drop Fee

Drop fees will be the same amounts as the entry fee PLUS any fees the tournament charges us for late drops. Drop requests should be made to Victor and Nadia.

Please do not drop out last minute to avoid being charged these fees.

Contact Info

Victor Rivas Umana
Contact email: vrivasumana@tgsastaff.com
Nadia Budiman
Contact email: nbudiman@tgsastaff.com
Or info@tgsastaff.com

Registration Form

STUDENT INFORMATION

* Indicates required field

Student Name *

First

Last

Student Phone Number *

Student Email (DO NOT USE PARENT'S EMAIL) *

PARENT CONTACT INFORMATION
Your email address will be the one included when we send the logistics email.

Parent Name *

First

Last

Parent Email *

Parent Phone Number *

EVENT SELECTION

Speech #1 Piece info (title, author, publisher, etc) *

Speech #1 Youtube Link (list here or send to Nadia by March 7th noon) *

Speech #2 Piece info (title, author, publisher, etc) *

Speech #2 Youtube Link (list here or send to Nadia by March 7th noon) *

If you are participating in Extemp or Impromptu, please list your second video here *

Any additional info for the second Extemp/Impromptu video? *

Video Submission: All video submission links must be put forward through some sort of streaming platform like YouTube. Set the video to “unlisted” for the duration of the tournament. Following judging, we want students to have control over the visibility of the performances, so students may turn the videos to “private” after the awards ceremony on Friday.

We ask that each submitted performance video recording has not been entered into a previous asynchronous tournament. We believe teams will act honorably and submit a fresh, unique performance video made exclusively for that tournament.

Limited Preparation Events are tough to handle in an asynchronous tournament, but Draw Events (Extemporaneous Speaking, Impromptu Speaking) will still be offered. Students will submit two videos: one for round 1&2 judging and one for round 3&4 judging. Prompts for Draw Events will be shared by Saturday, 6 March 2021 @noon and videos will be due on Sunday, 7 March 2021 @noon as well.

We trust all students and coaches to adhere to Limited Prep guidelines and ethical competition choices for preparation. Prep time does not need to be included in the performance video for Extemporaneous Speaking. However, please include prep time in Impromptu videos (this can make starting the video camera easier for students, and assessing time allocation possible for judging). All Impromptu judges will be reminded to allow an initial 15 seconds for competitors to read the quotations, before beginning time.

Rules: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1fQUwl7fq3kyEZ8Uj1F8Fl6QhnBDdFz_s/view?usp=sharing

JUDGE PROVISION

Are you supplying a judge? *

Judge Name *

Judge email *

Judge phone *

First time judging? Click here to learn how to do it! Or watch our Youtube playlist here.

TERMS AND CONDITIONS

I will keep a copy of this form for reference. *

YES

We are signing up with the understanding that my child will work to be ready by the tournament date. If we choose to drop out because my child is not ready that will be considered when making assessments for future classes. *

YES

I understand that if I fail to drop the tournament before the deadline that I will still be responsible for the fees of both my son or daughter, along with that of his or her partner and the fines. *

YES

I understand that if payment is not received we won't be registered and our spot will be given up to someone else. *

YES

I confirm that I have completed all necessary paperwork for this tournament. *

YES

I understand that The Golden State Academy has no control over tournament entries other than the initial sign up. I understand that my child's priority will be based on either the last time I signed up OR the date paid, whichever is latest. *

YES

I understand that my child must check in and check out periodically at the tournament with the coach and that if I do not my child will be barred from participating in following tournaments. This is to ensure coaches can see where students are at competitively and to give any initial feedback for improvement. *

YES

I understand that I can check my entry status through tabroom.com. *

YES

I am a consenting adult. I understand that by submitting this form I agree to all that has been covered. *

YES

Submit/take to payment

We would love to have you visit soon at one of our open houses.
Check our home page for the schedule!

School year Hours

M-F: 3:45 pm - 8:30 pm
Sun: 10:00 am - 4:00 pm

Telephone

510-270-8480
510-470-0531

Email (preferred)

For more info email us at: info@tgsastaff.com

Locations

Fremont: 200 Brown Rd #201, Fremont, CA 94539

Cupertino: 20432 Silverado Avenue Suite 211, Cupertino, CA 95014

Aborn Institute: 2804 Riedel Road, San Jose, CA 95135