TROJAN

CANCELED
TROJAN WAY MAY MS TOURNAMENT

5 May 2025 for speech link submission deadline
9-11 May 2025 for asynchronous speech judging

DEADLINE

5 May 2025 @11.59 pm PST
INCLUDING SPEECH LINKS

NO REFUNDS AFTER THIS DATE

ELIGIBILITY

Open to middle school students ONLY

PLATFORM

Asynchronous, online through NSDA Campus

Information

Welcome to our Trojan Way May MS Asynchronous Tournament!

This asynchronous tournament is organized by the middle school team of West Marshall Middle School but is open to all middle school students from across the country. There are few opportunities for middle schools that can't travel to a local tournament, so we strive to provide a place for all Middle Schools to have a competition outlet that will provide good feedback for our competitors and strengthen the competition.

So, please note that we will Follow NSDA Middle School Rules & Prioritize Judge Feedback for Students. Students need constructive feedback to improve their pieces and a ballot with only compliments can only help so much. Be sure to be specific about what they can improve to tell their speech/story.

If you need additional guidance on how to be an effective speech judge, please refer to this training through the NSDA: Intro To Judging Speech Events

Awards will be mailed to schools following the tournament.

EVENT RULES
We will be following National Speech & Debate Association (NSDA) Middle School rules for all events.

Declamation (DEC) requires students to select a speech that was delivered in public and perform an excerpt of that speech to an audience. Speeches are up to 10 minutes in length. As a result, students typically shorten the text of the speech to meet time requirements. The event is not designed for students to mimic the original author of the speech. Instead, speakers are to develop an oration that delivers the message of the author originally and engagingly.
Impromptu (IMP) is a public speaking event where students have seven minutes to select a topic, brainstorm their ideas, outline, and deliver a speech. The speech is given without notes and uses an introduction, body, and conclusion. The speech can be lighthearted or serious.
Humorous Interpretation (HI): Using a play, short story, or other published work, students perform a selection of one or more portions of a piece up to 10 minutes in length. HI is designed to test a student’s comedic skills through script analysis, delivery, timing, and character development. Competitors may portray one or multiple characters. No props or costumes may be used. Performances can also include an introduction written by the student to contextualize the performance and state the title and author.
Dramatic Interpretation (DI): Using a play, short story, or other published work, students perform a selection of one or more portions of a piece up to 10 minutes in length. With a spotlight on character development and depth, DI focuses on a student’s ability to convey emotion through the use of a dramatic text. Competitors may portray one or multiple characters. No props or costumes may be used. Performances may also include an introduction written by the student to contextualize the performance and state the title and author.
Original Oratory is a 10-minute event with a 30-second “grace period.” Should a student go beyond the grace period, the student may not be ranked 1st. There is no other prescribed penalty for going over the grace period. No minimum time is mandated.
Students deliver a self-written, ten-minute speech on a topic of their choosing. Limited in their ability to quote words directly, Original Oratory (OO) competitors craft an argument using evidence, logic, and emotional appeals. Topics range widely and may be informative or persuasive. The speech is delivered from memory.No props or costumes may be used.

GENERAL ASYNC VIDEOTAPING GUIDELINES
docs.google.com/document/d/1k2pf1gHwF2rI5O9JuAhdZ8RF-NMYCCKp4wlKlz2QDu4/edit?usp=sharing

LIMITED PREP PROMPTS & INSTRUCTIONS
You can access it in the google docs below once you are ready to record your video
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1tihpZSn1AJ9rhO1BbbfOk_OtwKAq7bD8MvdS9X9pcSE/edit?usp=sharing

Entry Price

One event and parent is judging $40
Two events and parent is judging $45
Three events and parent is judging $50

One event and parent is opting out of judging $100
Two events and parent is opting out of judging $110
Three events and parent is opting out of judging $120

Each person in a Duo team would be responsible of providing their own judge, so one Duo team would need to either provide two judges, both pay the judge fee, or one of each option.

Registration will not be complete until payment is received.
NOTE: We will charge set up fees if we have to create tabroom.com accounts for judges. It is recommended you do so on your own.

Schedule

Please note that all times are in CENTRAL STANDARD TIME (CST).

LIMITED PREP PROMPTS & INSTRUCTIONS
You can access it in the google docs below once you are ready to record your video
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1tihpZSn1AJ9rhO1BbbfOk_OtwKAq7bD8MvdS9X9pcSE/edit?usp=sharing

SCHEDULE (Central Standard Time):
5/5: Async speech recordings are due, please send to Nadia.
5/9 (8:00 am): Preliminary round ballots released. --- 6:00 AM PST
5/10 (8:00 pm): Preliminary round ballots are due. --- 6:00 PM PST
5/11 (8:00 am): Final round ballots released. --- 6:00 AM PST
5/11 (8:00 pm): Final round ballots due. --- 6:00 PM PST
5/12 (6:00 pm): Awards Slideshow Posted to Tournament

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: [email protected]
Nadia Budiman
Contact email: [email protected]
Or [email protected]

Registration Form

LIMITED PREP PROMPTS & INSTRUCTIONS
You can access it in the google docs below once you are ready to record your video
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1tihpZSn1AJ9rhO1BbbfOk_OtwKAq7bD8MvdS9X9pcSE/edit?usp=sharing

STUDENT INFORMATION
Suggested attire for the tournament can be found here.
More tournament resources can be found here.

* Indicates required field

Student Name (ONLY MIDDLE SCHOOL STUDENTS ALLOWED) *

First

Last

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

Student Phone Number *

Does the student have a Tabroom account? *

Yes and it is linked with GSA's account(s) Yes but it is not linked and we need you to add to your roster No but I will create one before submitting registration

If this is your first time competing, make sure to first create a Tabroom account here: https://www.tabroom.com/user/login/new_user.mhtml
It's super simple and quick (<1 minute), but follow the guidelines here in case anything is confusing: https://docs.tabroom.com/Sign_Up

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

Make sure to list the unlisted Youtube links here or send to Nadia by 5 May 2025 and please label the title to include the event that you are doing.
!!! Please make sure you are submitting a video that is unique to this tournament. Do not use videos that have been used for other tournaments !!!
Lastly, keep in mind that you can only enter in an event once. For example, you can only choose DI once. You can select other events along such as HI, but you cannot choose DI twice.

JUDGE PROVISION
Please make sure you are available for the asynchronous speech judging schedule and that you won't submit your judging duties late. Details above.
Descriptions of each event can be found here.

Will you (parent) be judging at this tournament? *

Judge Name *

Judge email (Must be linked to a tabroom account. Register first at tabroom.com before completing this sign up) *

Judge phone *

Does your judge have a Tabroom account? *

Yes No but I will create one before submitting registration Not judging

Does your judge understand that he/she is responsible for the entire tournament schedule and that missing a round incurs fines from the tournament? *

Yes, understood Not judging but understood as well

Click here to complete the mandatory Cultural Competency judge training course

Signing up a judge without having a Tabroom account will result in us charging you for the set up fee.
You can do this easily on your own by going to tabroom.com. It literally takes less than a minute.

First time judging? Click here to learn how to do it! Or watch our Youtube playlist here.
There are also these training cards available that include a summary of each event's rules and comments.

Tournaments encourage judges to have a paradigm on their Tabroom account, which can be a few sentences on your preferences of debating styles, etc. See here for example. It doesn't need to be this long, but make sure to add something before you sign up. For example: "I am a parent, please speak clearly and slowly and avoid technical jargon".

More tournament resources can be found 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: [email protected]

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

Dublin: Loving Tree Academy, 6693 Owens Dr, Pleasanton, CA 94588

CANCELEDTROJAN WAY MAY MS TOURNAMENT

5 May 2025 for speech link submission deadline9-11 May 2025 for asynchronous speech judging