Contest Guidelines

Contest Chair(International Speech)
Just Before the Contest...

  • # Call out among the audience that you would like to have all International Speech Contestants report to the front of the room for briefing.
  • # Congratulate contestants for their decision to compete in the contest.
  • # Assure that the judges have been briefed and that it has been made clear to each judge that this is an important contest and that they need to be unbiased in their selection.
  • # Explain that the Speech contest will occur second, after Evaluations.
  • # Explain that they will be introduced only by Name, Speech Title, Speech Title, Name.
  • # Show where the lights are and turn them on so the contestants can see what
  • they look like.
  • # Cover the timing rules for the Speech contest:
  • * Green light comes on at 5 minutes
  • * Yellow light comes on at 6 minutes
  • * Red light comes on at 7 minutes
  • * The red light STAYS ON until the participant has finished
  • * You MUST speak no less than 4 minutes, 30 seconds but no more
  • than 7 minutes, 30 seconds or you will be disqualified
  • # Ask if there are any questions.
  • # Draw for speaking order by placing numbers in a hat or in a pint glass and having the contestants blindly draw for speaking position.
  • # Write the names and speaking position on a piece of paper for annoucing to the judges and the audience during the contest.
  • N.B.Correct Speaking Order is really critical
  • During the contest...and be brief
  • # Announce: "And now for the International Speech Contest!".
  • # Say: "Our first contestant is: Name, Speech Title, Speech
  • Title again, Name".
  • # Receive the contestant by offering a handshake. Try to avoid saying anything to the contestant because if the person responds with any words, the timer will start.
  • # When the speaker has finished, ask for one minute of silence while the judges mark their ballots.
  • # At 45 seconds, say: "Judges, please complete your balloting in preparation for the next speaker."
  • # When the timer signals, say: "Our next contestant is Name, Speech Title, Speech Title again, Name."
  • # After the last contestant, ask for 2 minute of silence(n.b. Note the difference) for all the judges to complete their ballots (It can be longer than 2 mins if necessary for judges to complete tallying ballots).
  • # After ballots have all been collected, say: "Let's give all of the speech contestants another round of applause for their well done speeches!"


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