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2014-15

SpeechRule Book

Revision History

Jan. 26 Debate Terms & Conditions VIII-A-2, Debate Subject revised

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Important Changes in Terms and ConditionsThe IHSA Speech Advisory Committee met on April 16, 2014 at the IHSA Office, Bloomington. The report of the Committee was later submitted to theBoard of Directors for its consideration.

Changes in the Terms and Conditions which were adopted by theBoard are printed with screened background. Note them carefully!

Table of Contents

General InformationSpeech Advisory Committee..............................................Page 2

Administration of State Series ...........................................Page 2

List of Participant Instructions...........................................Page 3

Terms & Conditions Changes for 2014-15 ........................Pages 4-5

Future Dates ......................................................................Page 39

Request for Duplicate Awards ...........................................Page 40-41

Individual EventsTerms and Conditions .......................................................Pages 6-19

Laptop Use in Extemporaneous Speaking .........................Pages 20-21

Performance In The Round Special Event..........................Pages 22-23

Judge Evaluation Form ......................................................Page 24

Drama/Group InterpretationTerms and Conditions .......................................................Pages 25-31

DebateTerms and Conditions .......................................................Pages 32-38

Individual Events:Judges are recommended by the State

Tournament Committee and appointed by theIHSA. Input as to potential hired judges canbe made to the IHSA office.

Once a list of prospective judges iscompiled, the committee meets anddetermines those individuals who are to becontacted as hired judges for the State Final.In addition, the committee prepares a list often to fifteen coaches for consideration ineach of the events to provide guidance to thesub-committee which will contact coachjudges upon completion of the Sectionalcontests.

Contact is made by the IHSA and IHSArepresentatives to persons selected as hiredjudges. On Sunday and Monday, following thecompletion of the Sectional, the judgeassignment sub-committee contacts coaches

by telephone to complete the roster of judgesfor the State Final. Coach judges serve toprovide multiple judges in each round ofcompetition. The Committee makes everyeffort to select representative coaches fromthe various parts of the state. Effort is alsomade to avoid using an individual to judge thesame event(s) in the State Finals as he/shemay have judged in a Regional or Sectional.

Drama/Group Interpretation:Judges are recommended by the State

Tournament Committee and appointed by theIHSA Office. The Committee meets andprovides the IHSA with a prioritized list ofprospective judges. IHSA then contacts therecommended judges and confirms judgepanels for the State Finals. The committeeseeks to maintain a geographic distribution ofjudges and strives to secure judges who

represent various philosophies and who didnot judge at the State Finals during thepreceding year. Judges for the State Finalscannot judge at the Sectionals in the sameevent.

Debate:Judges for the State Final Debate

Tournament are reviewed by the StateTournament Committee. One member of theCommittee is delegated the responsibility ofassigning and contacting all judges. Theprocess includes input from coaches andindividual members of the Committee.Minimum standards for judge qualification areincluded in the Rules Book. At the State Final,a strike system is implemented to insure thatjudges are not assigned to objecting coaches’teams.

Judge Selection Process

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Meet the Speech Advisory Committee

JOHN GONCZYCoach

Chicago (Marist)Term Expires 2015

Division 1

MARK MARANTOCoach

Glenview (Glenbrook South)Term Expires 2015

Division 2

TOM WITTINGActivities DirectorBurbank (Reavis)Term Expires 2015

Division 3

BETH SUMMERSPrincipal

Freeport (H.S.)Term Expires 2016

Division 4

MARK ADAMSCoach

Normal (University)Term Expires 2016

Division 5

Background Information Regarding IHSA Administration of the State Speech Contest Series

IHSA State Speech Advisory Committee

In Speech, as in all other activities forwhich the Association conducts a statecontest, IHSA appoints a committee ofindividuals to serve as advisors to the staffand Board of Directors. This Committee iscomprised of six (6) persons, each appointedfor a three-year term. Three members areactive coaches/directors—one eachrepresenting the special areas of IndividualEvents, Debate and Drama/GroupInterpretation. The fourth is a principal of amember school. The fifth is an activitiesdirector of a member school. Representativesare selected by the Association in consultationwith the leadership of the Illinois Speech andTheatre Association. In addition to requiringcommittee members to be active coaches withthe recommendation of ISTA, geographicrepresentation and school size are alsoconsidered so a balanced view of the overallstate speech program can be maintained. Ageneral effort is made to appoint no more thanone individual from any given member schoolto any of the IHSA advisory committees in thesame school year.

The IHSA Speech Advisory Committeemeets annually to review the Association’sstate contest programs in speech andrecommend changes to the Board ofDirectors. Input to the committee is obtained

through letters from participating schools,occasional surveys, meetings with coachesand/or directors at state final contests andsuggestions offered by contest managers orcoaches through meetings held at the variousRegional and/or Sectional contest sites. Anyindividual who submits a suggestion to theIHSA Office in writing and requests it beconsidered by the contest advisory committeemay be assured the matter will be broughtbefore the committee at its annual meeting. Ifyou call the IHSA Office with a complaint orsuggestion relative to speech contest rules,you will be invited to submit your thought tothe Advisory Committee in writing.

Tournament Committees

Regional and SectionalUnder the provisions of the Speech

Contest Terms and Conditions, a SpeechTournament Committee is to be appointed ateach Regional and Sectional contest.

Regional Tournament Committees forIndividual Events and Sectional TournamentCommittees for Drama/Group Interpretation,consisting of three (3) coaches from three (3)different schools assigned to the contestcenter, will be appointed by each contestmanager. Individuals who would like tovolunteer for committee appointment shouldcall the manager and indicate willingness toserve.

The contest committees for Sectionalcontests in Individual Events are comprised ofthe managers of the subordinate Regionalcontests and the Sectional manager. Duties ofthese committees are generally described inthe Terms and Conditions for each speechactivity. However, the primary purpose of eachcommittee is to provide guidance for the localcontest manager in selection of judges andcontest organization and to provide advice tothe managers in resolving questions, conflictsand rules interpretation issues on contest day.It is essential that the committee be formedand meet prior to the selection/hiring of anyjudges. All committee members must haveinput into the judge selection process.

State FinalThe IHSA Office appoints a State Final

Contest Committee and Chairperson for eacharea of speech competition.

Selection as Contest Host

Persons interested in having a Regional orSectional contest assigned to their schoolneed to complete the Facilities Survey and theHost Availability Survey in the Schools Centeron the IHSA web site at www.ihsa.org.

KEN CARTERCoach

Chatham (Glenwood)Term Expires 2016

Division 6

AMY McQUIGGANCoach

Granite CityTerm Expires 2015

Division 7

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Instructions for Submitting List of Participants

Schools should complete their online List of Participants to enter their team or individual(s) and coaches. IHSA will provide this datato your regional/sectional manager. Any changes to the original entry must be made online prior to the List of Participants deadline.

INSTRUCTIONS TO COMPLETE THE ONLINE LIST OF PARTICIPANTS

Go to www.ihsa.org1) Click on “School & Officials Center Login” 2) Enter your “User ID” (5 digits, a letter followed by a number) and the password issued to you by your school. All of this

information was emailed to you by your school. Coaches must have a valid email on file in the School’s Center to be issued apassword. PASSWORDS ARE NOW ASSIGNED TO EVERY COACH.

3) Click on Sport & Activity Tracker4) Click on the “Individual Events”, “Drama/Group Interpretation” or “Debate” link5) Type in the requested information and save and print all page(s).6) Certify & Submit your Form7) PRINT EACH PAGE OF REPORT: (ctrl key+P) on your keyboard. After the deadline, you will not be able to do so.

This is how the IHSA knows the names of the participants and coaches. This information will later be used in the State FinalProgram. It will be used as it is presented so please double check spellings for accuracy.

(If you experience any problems, please call the IHSA Office and ask for Carol Carr.)

List of Participant Troubleshootingu Problem pulling in coaches names from the drop-down menu?

If a coach on your coaching staff doesn’t appear in the drop down menu in the List of participants, check the following in theIHSA Schools Center under the Staff Responsibility page:1) Has he/she been designated as the Head coach or an assistant coach? If this has not been checked in the Schools Center

then he/she will not be able to add their name to the online List of Participants.

u Reasons for the “Red Box” to appear in the Sport/Activity Tracker:School hasn’t completed the “Certify & Submit” page.

u Verification of IHSA Receiving List of Participants:Print a copy of your entries as stated in #7 before the deadline. This is verification of your entries. Make sure you click the“CERTIFY & SUBMIT” link, so you will not receive unnecessary reminders from our office about not receiving your List ofParticipants.

Once the process is complete and the deadline date approaches, the Schools Center Activity Tracker will show that the deadline haspassed. This does not mean your school didn’t complete it. It means the IHSA Office has imported all rosters and is in the process ofpreparing the files for the host of your Regional/Sectional Managers.

After Certifying & Submitting the Online List of Participants, print a copy of each page (ctrl key+P) on your keyboard for yourrecords. You will not have access to this page, if you try to print it after the deadline.

List of Participants Deadlines:Individual Events—Monday, February 2, 2015 by noon (Take a copy to the Regional Entry Meeting)

Drama/Group Interpretation—Friday, January 30—Performance title and author onlyMonday, March 9, 2015—Entire final cast list due (Print a copy for your records)

Debate—Wednesday, March 4, 2015 (Print a copy for your records)

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Terms and Conditions Changes for 2014-15

Board Approved Terms and ConditionsChanges for Individual Events for 2014-15

1. Item V-C-4-b - Regional Entry Meeting– proof of publication

Recommendation: Replace this sectionwith the following:

Proof of publication, which will includethe original source books OR the originalprinted web manuscripts for allinterpretive events: Dramatic DuetActing, Dramatic Interpretation,Humorous Duet Acting, HumorousInterpretation, Prose and Poetry Reading,must be provided at the RegionalMeeting. Photocopies are NOTacceptable. Cuttings from publicationsites must be accompanied by theoriginal source material. Coaches will begiven until registration on the day of thetournament to procure any materials thatthey do not have at the meeting.Contestants will NOT be allowed tocompete unless these materials havebeen approved.Rationale: Clarifies that the proof ofpublication procedures.

2. Item VIII-B- Add Material Verificationsection as B.

Recommendation: Add new MaterialVerification section as B. and renumberremaining items:“At each of the IHSA tournaments, theoriginal published source of any selectionused, along with a complete script of thecutting to be performed in all interpretiveevents: Dramatic Duet Acting, DramaticInterpretation, Humorous Duet Acting,Humorous Interpretation, Prose andPoetry Reading, must all be availablewithin a reasonable amount of time asdetermined by the contest manager.Failure to produce such materials shallresult in the disqualification of thecontestant from the contest.”

Rationale: Clarifies that the Associationis not liable for any royalty costs incurredby competing schools. Schools areresponsible for securing all royalty costsfor any Individual Event and Performance in the Round.

3. Item VI-D- add new “Royalties” sectionas D. and renumber remaining items.

Recommendation: D.- Royalties- TheAssociation assumes no responsibility forthe payment of royalties or other fees

connected with the performance of anymaterial in the Individual Events contestseries.

Rationale: Clarifies that the Associationis not liable for any royalty costs incurredby competing schools. Schools areresponsible for securing all royalty costsfor any Individual Event and Performance

in the Round.

4. Item VIII-A-5-b- Tournament Rules

Recommendation: Delete section thatsays that material must NOT be a productof any person(s) associated with thecompeting school, coach(s), or student(s).

Rationale: The publication rulessupersede the rules which, in turn makesthis rule unnecessary.

5. Item VIII- Event Rules DDA/HDA (Pull-out section)

Recommendation: Delete the wording“Other Works” and add a sentence aboutadaptations.

Material: Material must come from asingle printed, published source andmust meet high standards for goodliterature. Cuttings from plays, verseplays, teleplays, screenplays, or otherworks that meet all criteria for the eventmay be presented. Excluding theintroduction, a cutting may include theportrayal of no more than two characters.Material in which an author assignsmultiple characters to one actor isacceptable. Combining the lines of two ormore characters to create one compositecharacter is prohibited. Adaptationscondensing multiple characters andcreating/combining dialogue areprohibited. Assigning a line from the textto a given character for the purpose oftransition or continuity is not to beconsidered the creation of a “composite”character. A transition is considered partof the cutting and may not includeportrayal of additional characters.Material other than the author’s workmust be limited to 15%.

Rationale: To clarify the Material Rulessection.

6. Item VIII-Event Rules OratoricalDeclamation-(Pull -out section)

Recommendation: Definition: rewordsection to:“Oratorical Declamation is the oral

presentation of persuasive orinspirational material of literary merit,such as editorials, essays, speeches,prepared by another person.”

Rationale: The word “etc.” removedbecause it is redundant and coachesinterpreted the word “etc.” to mean anytype of material was allowed in OratoricalDeclamation.

7. Item VIII – Event Rules- Impromptu-(Pull -out section)

Recommendation: Delete the category of“Words” in the Material section

Rationale: To make the speakingprompts more consistent and equitable.

8. Item VIII –A-6 – Impromptu topics

Recommendation: Delete the category of“Words” from this section. Reword tosay “If a school is entering Impromptu, acoach may submit a list of suggestedtopics in each category (Quotations,Proverbs and Phrases). Please send yourtopics to the IHSA no later thanNovember 1, 2014. Earlier topics will beaccepted.

Rationale: To make the speakingprompts more consistent and equitable.

9. Item VIII-Event Rules- Impromptu-(Pull-out section)

Recommendation: Material: Change thesecond to the last sentence to: “Judgeswill be given the three topics that thestudents may select.”

Rationale: To ensure that the judgesknow the exact wording of the topic.

10. Item VIII- Event Rules – Radio- (Pull-out section)

Recommendation: Material: Add asentence that reads: “A copy of the Radioscript will be given to the judges.”

Rationale: So judges can have accessand review material used for the cuttingto ensure accuracy for the performances.

11. Item VIII- Event Rules – Radio- (Pull-out section)

Recommendation: Presentation: Deletethe phrase “behind a screen” from thefollowing sentence:

“A contestant should perform in an

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adjoining room or behind a screen.”Rationale: Current practice has beenthat students are performing in anadjacent room.

12. Item VIII-Event Rules Radio-(Pull -out section)

Recommendation: add section that saysEquipment:1. Minimum Radio Equipment:2. Table – no smaller than 48” x 24”3. Chair4. Adjustable Mic Stand5. Multidirectional Microphone

Rationale: To ensure that all sites havestandardized equipment usage for Radiocompetitors.

13. Item VIII-Event Rules – Radio (Pull-outsection)

Recommendation: Time Limit: Add: Atthe conclusion of a student’sperformance, the times must beannounced out loud to competitors andjudge(s).

Rationale: To clarify that the time is to beannounced to the judge(s). This iscovered in the timing section but needsto be added to the pull-out section sinceRadio is the only event where time isconsidered in the judge’s ranking.

14. Performance in the Round

Recommendation: Make the following 2-g and renumber the remaining items:

“Only IHSA eligible students arepermitted to operate any technicalequipment during the performances.Violation of this rule will result indisqualification.”

Rationale: This wording insures thatonly students run technical elements ofthe production.

15. Performance in the Round – Time Limit

Recommendation: Make the following5a and renumber the remaining items:

“The director/student of each PIR shalldescribe to the timers prior to the start ofthe performance, the precise moments ofthe initial cue and final performanceelement. Timers shall use thesesuggestions as guidelines to

start and stop the watches. However,timing the performance will begin withthe first performance element andconclude with the final performanceelement.”

Rationale: To align the timingprocedures with other IHSA groupperformance activities.

Board Approved Terms and ConditionsChanges for Drama/Group Interpretation

for 2014-15

Item VIII-C-1- Drama

Recommendation: Add this after the lastsentence:“Only IHSA eligible students arepermitted to operate any technicalequipment during the performances.Violation of this rule will result indisqualification.”

Rationale: This wording insures thatonly students run technical elements ofthe production.

Item VI-B – Contest Committee

Recommendation: A sectional committeewill be appointed by the IHSA Director tobe comprised of the Sectional Managerand (3) three directors from (3) differentschools assigned to the contest site whilestriving to have a balanced representationof Drama and Group Interpretationdirectors. The State Committee Memberfrom each of the sectionals shall be oneof the directors on the committee.Participating schools shall be notified ofthe names of the committee membersafter the committee is formed and alldirectors have accepted theresponsibility.The functions of the Contest Committeeshall be:1. To aid the manager in planning,

organizing and administering thecontest.

2. To tabulate the results. (Only thecommittee members)

3. To interpret the rules whennecessary.

4. To serve as a panel to select judges.

Rationale: This insures that thecommittee is chosen with fairness to allparticipators.

Item III-E-1- On-line List of Participants

Recommendation: Each school mustcomplete the On-line List of Participantsby the deadline date of January 30, 2015.The deadline date of January 30, 2015(standardized date of the last Friday ofweek 30) shall only include theperformance title and author, not theentire cast list.

Rationale: This will ensure that thesectional sites can be balanced due towithdraws within a reasonable timeperiod before the sectionals.

Item VI-H-2-b – Set up and Strike time

Recommendation: Added in secondsentence after Set up and strike time shallinclude any adjustment, addition orremoval of lighting instruments andfocusing projections on the cyc wall.When the set up is complete, the directormay call for the cyc wall to be lowered orexposed, and may focus any effect to beused on that wall. The clock will NOT bestopped during this performance.

Rationale: Many schools are now usingprojections and guidelines need to beestablished.

Item VIII-C-5- Standards of Excellence

Recommendation: The standards ofExcellence are indicated on JudgesCritique Sheets and should be used toprovide the basis for both performanceand judging. Judging forms may befound on the IHSA website.

Rationale: Directors should consult thejudging forms to understand the criteriaupon which they will be judged.

Item VIII-D-7- Standards of Excellence

Recommendation: The standards ofExcellence are indicated on JudgesCritique Sheets and should be used toprovide the basis for both performanceand judging. Judging forms may befound on the IHSA website.

Rationale: Directors should consult thejudging forms to understand the criteriaupon which they will be judged.

Board Approved Terms and ConditionsChanges for Debate for 2014-15

No terms and conditions recommendations at

Terms and Conditions Changes for 2014-15

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B. Late EntriesAny attempt to enter a sport or activity

on-line after the established deadlines will bedenied. Schools that wish to enter after thedeadline will be considered late. To beconsidered for late entry, the Principal/OfficialRepresentative must contact the IHSAadministrative officer in charge of thatsport/activity and request late entry. Thepenalty for late entry shall be a payment of$100.00.

C. Breach of Contract By-law 6.041(Withdrawal Procedure)

1. To withdraw without penalty, theschool principal must notify the IHSA office, inwriting, of a school’s team withdrawal fromthe Speech Individual Events State Seriesprior to the Regional Entry Meeting (dateMonday, February 2, 2015).

2. Withdrawal after the Regional EntryMeeting will result in a school being liable forpayment of its Event Fees ($10.00 per IE eventoriginally entered - $20.00 per PIR originallyentered) plus a $100.00 late withdrawalpenalty.

3. If a school withdraws one or moreentries after the Regional Entry Meeting, theschool shall be liable for all event fees (ie-$10/pir-$20) for each category(s) withdrawnand shall be assessed additional penalties inthe amount of $25.00 per event withdrawn.

4. If a school does not officiallywithdraw and/or does not show up forcompetition at any level of the state series, theschool will be assessed the penalties in “2”and “3” above and if applicable, the schoolmay be charged for any additional financialloss sustained by the offended schools or theAssociation as a result of such breach(Judges’ fees if applicable). The school shallalso be considered in Breach of Contractunder the terms of the IHSA By-law 6.040,and the matter shall be reported to the IHSABoard of Directors for disposition.

D. EligibilityAll member schools in good standing

may enter an individual(s) or a team under theprovisions of IHSA By-law 4.071. Theprincipal is the official representative ofhis/her school in all interscholastic activities,and the responsibility for seeing that allstudents from his/her school entered inSpeech contests are eligible under the rulesshall rest with the principal. Allcorrespondence with the IHSA Office must beconducted through the principal.

In each contest in which a school isrepresented, the principal shall have presentan adult, preferably a member of the faculty,who shall supervise and be responsible for theconduct of the participants and other persons

In accordance with Section 1.450 of the IHSAConstitution, the Board of Directors hasapproved the Terms and Conditions governingthe 2014-2015 IHSA Individual EventsTournament Series.

I. SCHOOL CLASSIFICATION

Competition in the IHSA IndividualEvents Tournament Series will be held for allmember schools without classification.

II. DATES AND SITES

A. The state shall be divided intoRegionals and Sectionals. The number ofcompeting schools, travel distance,geographical location and the number ofentries shall be primary factors in thedetermination of number and boundary linesfor these Regionals and Sectionals.

B. Dates for contests are:Regional February 7, 2015Sectional February 14, 2015State Final February 20-21, 2015

C. Sites for Regional and Sectionalcontests shall be posted on the IHSA website.The State Final Contest will be held at thePeoria Civic Center in Peoria, IL.

III. ON-LINE ENTRIES, WITHDRAWALPROCEDURES, ELIGIBILITY, ANDON-LINE LIST OF PARTICIPANTS

The policy for Original Entry Deadlines,Late Entries, and Late Withdrawals shall bethe policies and procedures regarding entryfor all IHSA-sponsored sport/activitiesincluded in the 2014-2015 Entry Policies andProcedures which can be found in the SchoolsCenter on the IHSA website.

A. On-line EntriesAll member schools must enter their

school into the state series competitionthrough the IHSA School Center on the IHSAWebsite at www.ihsa.org. The deadline forentry is November 1, 2014. The 2014-15 EntryPolicies and Procedures outlining the onlineentry procedures for all IHSA-sponsoredtournaments can be found in the SchoolsCenter on the IHSA website.

Competing schools are responsible forEvent Fees as described in Section IV.

Event Fees- Regional: $10 per eventEvent Fees- Sectional: $10 per eventEvent Fees- State Final: $10 per event(Event Fees-Performance in the Round:

$20 per performance group per level)

from the school. A school’s failure to complywith this provision shall result indisqualification of its contestants.

E. On-Line List of ParticipantsEach school must complete the On-Line

List of Participants by the deadline of noonon February 2, 2015. This entry form mustalso be printed and taken to the RegionalEntry Meeting on February 2, 2015. If aschool does not submit the On-line List ofParticipants by the deadline, coaches and/orparticipants from the school are subject topenalties which could include, but not belimited to being ruled ineligible to compete inthe State Series and/or charged $100.00.Confirmation of receipt of Online List ofParticipants: Schools should login to theirSchool Center site on the IHSA website and goto the Activity Tracker. The Activity Trackerwill show “Completed”, if you have checkedthe button indicating you have finished withyour report. If it doesn’t indicate “Completed”,then you must go back into your schools Listof Participants and check the button on theOnline List of Participants indicating you arefinished with your report.

IV. HOST FINANCIAL ARRANGEMENTS

A. Event Fees-Regional: For eachindividual event in which a school hasparticipants in the Regional Contest, anEVENT FEE of ten ($10) dollars per event shallbe paid to the Regional host school at theRegional Entry Meeting. No contestant from aschool will be permitted to participate in theRegional contest if EVENT FEES ($10 perevent entered to regional managers) are notpaid.

B. Event Fees- Sectional: For eachindividual event in which a school advancesan entry from Regional to Sectionalcompetition, an EVENT FEE of ten ($10)dollars shall be paid to the Sectional hostschool.

C. Event Fees- State Final: For eachindividual event in which a school advancesan entry from Sectional to State Finalcompetition, an EVENT FEE of ten ($10)dollars shall be paid to the Peoria Civic Center.

D. Event Fees- Performance in theRound: At all levels of competition, eachschool entered in Performance in the Roundshall pay an EVENT FEE of twenty ($20) to thehost school for Regional and Sectionalcompetition and to the Peoria Civic Center forthe State Final competition .

2014-2015 Individual Events Terms and Conditions

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E. Judges Compensation:Judges fees shall be paid as follows:Regional $20.00 per roundSectional $20.00 per roundState Final $25.00 per roundEach group of performances for which a

judge completes a ballot is considered a”round”.

Any judge who drives more than 70miles round trip to the site of a Regional,Sectional, or State Final Contest shall bereimbursed a travel allowance of $.30 permile in excess of 70 miles round trip.Reimbursement shall be directly from theIHSA office, upon the judges’ submission of atravel report form to be provided by the IHSAthrough the contest managers.

V. TOURNAMENT ASSIGNMENTSAND REGIONAL ENTRY MEETING

A. Regional and SectionalAssignments

Regional and Sectional Assignments canbe found on-line at www.ihsa.org. after Nov.1.

B. Material VerificationAt each of the IHSA tournaments, the

original published source of any selectionused, along with a complete script of thecutting to be performed in all interpretiveevents: Dramatic Duet Acting, DramaticInterpretation, Humorous Duet Acting,Humorous Interpretation, Prose and PoetryReading, must all be available within areasonable amount of time as determined bythe contest manager. Failure to produce suchmaterials shall result in the disqualification ofthe contestant from the contest.

C. Regional Entry Meeting1. An entry meeting shall be held

at each Regional site on Monday, February 2,2015.

2. The online List of Participants(Regional Entry Form), together with eventfees of $10.00 for each Regional evententered, must be delivered to the Regionalmanager at the Regional Meeting to be heldon Monday, February 2, 2015. Checks forevent fees should be made payable to thehost school.

3. Guidelines for ConductingRegional Entry Meeting:

a. The Regional Entry Meetingshall not be held during the regular schoolday.

b. It is required for the coachor another official school representative toattend the Regional Entry Meeting, exceptunder the following conditions:

1) Host schools can makearrangements to receive telephone calls fromparticipating schools on the day of the EntryMeeting.

Individual Events Terms and Conditions—Page 2

in any Individual Event, in more than one yearduring his/her high school career. In addition,no student may perform any part of any givenpiece of literature in more than one IndividualEvent during any given year.

f. Substitutions and changesin Regional entries may be made until thecompletion of the Regional Entry Meeting.Following the Regional meeting, substitutionsfor personnel and changes in tit les ofselections for the Regional Contest may bemade provided (1) the manager is notifiedprior to the start of the contest, and (2) theprincipal attests in writing that the substituteand/or material are approved and eligible.(3)Proof of publication must be verified by thecontest committee.

g. Substitution for qualifiersfor Sectional and/or State Final contests shallnot be permitted. If a qualifier cannot or doesnot advance, the alternate qualifieradvancement provisions of Article VIII-E-9shall be followed.

VI. TOURNAMENT STRUCTURES ANDTIME SCHEDULES

A. Events Dependent upon Entries1. Individual Events competition

shall be held at the Regional contests in allevents in which there are at least two entries.

2. At Sectional and State Finalcontests there shall be competition in allevents for which entries have been made.

B. Contest Management1. Designation of manager: In all

cases in which a member school is selectedas a contest site, the principal of the highschool shall automatically assume entireresponsibility for the contest. The principalmay delegate the authority to manage thecontest to another staff member. If the site isnot located in a member school, then theIHSA Board of Directors shall appoint a localmanager with like responsibilities.

2. Contest Managers Meeting: Ameeting in December shall be held at the IHSAoffice for all contest managers. The subject ofthe meeting will consist of contestmanagement. Managers will receiveinformation from the IHSA confirming the dateand time of the meeting.

3. Contest Committee: Regionalcontest committees, consisting of three (3)coaches from three (3) different schoolsassigned to the contest site, will be appointedby each contest manager. Sectional contestcommittees will be comprised of themanagers of the three (3) subsidiary Regionalcontests and the Sectional manager.

Participating schools shall benotified of the names of Committee membersby the host site at least five (5) days prior tothe date of the contest.

2) In the event that illness,severe weather conditions or other emergencywill prevent a school’s representative fromattending the Entry Meeting, notice MUST BEGIVEN to the contest manager by telephoneon the day of the meeting.

3) If a school notifies thehost school it will not be represented at theentry meeting, it must also verbally report allits entries to the manager and must acceptwhatever judging assignments the managerdetermines at the entry meeting. It will beresponsible for payment of fees for allcontestants entered by the telephone call tothe manager on the date of the entry meeting.Proof of Publication should be faxed to themanager.

c. If the coach or other schoolrepresentative fails to comply with theseprovisions, the individuals entered from thatschool may not be permitted to participate inthe Regional contest.

4. The Regional Entry Meeting willprovide opportunity to all schools to finalizetheir Regional entries. Please note thefollowing limitations:

a. Each school shall completethe List of Participants by noon on theMonday of the Regional Entry Meeting,containing the names of students who willparticipate along with other pertinentinformation. In addition, each school shallsubmit a copy of the form at the regionalmeeting.

b. Proof of publication, whichwill include the original source books OR theoriginal printed web manuscripts for allinterpretive events: Dramatic Duet Acting,Dramatic Interpretation, Humorous DuetActing, Humorous Interpretation, Prose andPoetry Reading, must be provided at theRegional Meeting. Photocopies are NOTacceptable. Cuttings from publication sitesmust be accompanied by the original sourcematerial. Coaches will be given untilregistration on the day of the tournament toprocure any materials that they do not have atthe meeting. Contestants will NOT be allowedto compete unless these materials have beenapproved.

c. Schools are permitted oneentry in each Individual Event.

d. Individual students may notparticipate in more than two (2) IndividualEvents. Individuals entered in Performance inthe Round may not be entered in any otherevent. Violation shall result in the school’sdisqualification in all the events in which thestudent participated. If the student or schoolwins any awards in, or as a result of, theevents in which the violating studentparticipates, such awards must besurrendered to the IHSA Office.

e. No individual student mayperform any part of a given piece of literature

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and will do so only through the end of the firstMonday following the completion of thecontest involved. In compliance with IHSA By-law 6.033, protests or challenges relative tothe decision of any judge will not beconsidered.

b. State Final Contest.The State Final Committee shall

be authorized to conduct the contest underthe provisions of these Terms and Conditions.If a situation develops in which there is anapparent unfairness to a contestant, andwhich is determined to be the result of anadministrative or judge’s error, the Committeeshall determine the manner in which thesituation shall be resolved.

In addition, the Committee shallbe responsible to resolve questions of rulesinterpretation, to arbitrate disputes and torecommend applied penalties for violations ofcontest rules. Decisions of the ContestCommittee Chairperson in all cases hereindescribed shall be final.

C. Approval of Material1. Material which is inappropriate

for public performance by high schoolstudents will not be tolerated. The principal isrequired to see and approve both the selectionand performance of all material, includingsubstitute material, to be used by contestantsfrom the member school in the contest series.

2. IHSA By-law 6.010 will beapplied in the event contestants util izematerial which, upon investigation by theIHSA Executive Director, is determined to beinappropriate. By-law 6.010 states:

Any violation of the Constitutionand/or By-laws, Terms and Conditions, IHSAPolicies and Guidelines, and/or other rules ofthe Association, shall be reported to theExecutive Director, who shall have authority toinvestigate all alleged violations. The findingsof the investigation shall be made known tothe school (or schools), person (or persons),alleged to have committed the violation. TheExecutive Director shall then have fullauthority to invoke penalties against suchschool or persons found to have committedviolations. Penalties shall include, but not belimited to, written warning or reprimand,requisite affirmation corrective action... up toand including suspension and/or expulsion.Failure to take the corrective action requiredby any penalty shall be the basis for furtheraction up to and including suspension and/orexpulsion.

Note that these provisions includepossible penalties against the school orindividual persons found to have committedviolations. This means that competitors,coaches, directors, and/or principals may bepenalized directly for the use of inappropriatematerial in the IHSA Speech Contests.

A performance (language or action)which is a literal, symbolic or colloquial

expression describing or naming anythingwhich is profane and/or vulgar, whether or notsuited to a specific character being portrayed,IS ALWAYS CONSIDERED INAPPROPRIATE!

D. RoyaltiesThe Association assumes no

responsibility for the payment of royalties orother fees connected with the performance ofany material in the Individual Events contestseries.

E. Sectional and State Final:The Report of Winners will be completed

by the Regional and Sectional Managers andshall be the official entry form for thesecontests. Entry fees for qualifiers shall be paidupon arrival at the Sectional and State Finalsites. Qualifiers for whom fees are not paid asprescribed shall not be permitted toparticipate.

F. Regional/Sectional Time ScheduleFollowing is a suggested time schedule

for Regional and Sectional contests. Localmanagers, with the majority approval of theircontest committees, may alter this schedule inthe event the number of contestants entereddoes not require both Preliminary and FinalRounds in all events, or if necessary to meetjudging needs during the contest day.7:30-8:00 Registration7:45 Radio and Extemp Prep. for

Round I, Sec. A8:00 Judges Meeting

Coaches Meeting8:30 Round I, Section A (All Events)9:00 Radio and Extemp Prep. for

Round I, Sec. B9:45 Round I, Section B (All Events)10:30 Radio and Extemp Prep. for

Round II, Sec. A11:15 Round II, Section A (All Events)11:45 Radio and Extemp Prep. for

Round II, Sec. B12:30 Round II, Section B (All Events)

LUNCH2:00 Posting of Finals2:30 FINALS: Dramatic Duet Acting,

Humorous Interpretation,Impromptu Speaking, OratoricalDeclamation, Oratory, OriginalComedy, Prose Reading.

3:15 Radio and Extemp Prep. forFinals

4:00 FINALS: Dramatic Interpretation,Extemporaneous Speaking,Humorous Duet Acting,Informative Speaking, PoetryReading, Radio Speaking,Special Occasion Speaking.

5:30 Awards


4. The functions of the ContestCommittee shall be:

a. to aid the manager inplanning, organizing and administering thecontest;

b. to interpret the rules whennecessary; and

c. to serve as a panel to selectcontest judges.

All Committee members must beconsulted about potential judges prior to theselection/hiring of any person(s). Writtenconsensus of the Committee shall be requiredfor each judge employed and shall be obtainedby the contest manger prior to contracting thejudge.

Contest Committees shall nothave authority to screen or edit radio scripts,extemp topics or impromptu topics. Thesematerials must be used as provided by theIHSA Office. Any direction to update extemptopics must come solely from the IHSA office.

A Contest Committee composedof six sectional managers, six at-largerepresentatives (one from each sectional), anda representative of the Speech AdvisoryCommittee will be appointed by the IHSAOffice to assist the State Final manager.

5. Authority of Contest Managersand Contest Committee:

a. Regional and SectionalContests

The Contest manager shall beauthorized to conduct the contest under theprovisions of these Terms and Conditions. If asituation develops in which there is anapparent unfairness to a contestant, andwhich is determined to be the result of anadministrative or judge’s error, the managershall consult with his Contest Committee anddetermine the manner in which the situationshall be resolved. However, managers shallnot have the authority to advance studentsaffected by any unfairness to the succeedingcontest. Resolution of such matters must bewithin the framework of each individualcontest. In addition, the manager shall beresponsible to resolve questions of rulesinterpretation, to arbitrate disputes and toapply penalties for violations of contest rules.In all cases, the manager shall consult withthe Contest Committee prior to making adecision in any such matter. Decisions of theContest Manager in all cases herein describedshall be final.

The authority and responsibilityof the contest manager and his/her contestcommittee shall end when results areannounced at the contest awards assembly.Any question relative to contest rules or anyaspect of the contest which arises followingthe announcement of results shall be referreddirectly by the principal of the school involvedto the IHSA Office. The IHSA Office will giveconsideration to questions relative toadministrative and/or clerical matters only,

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G. State Final Time ScheduleThe State Final time schedule shall be asfollows:

Friday12:00-1:00 p.m. Registration12:45 Radio and Extemp Prep. for

Round I, Sec. A1:30 Round I, Sec. A2:15 Radio and Extemp Prep. for

Round I, Sec. B3:00 Round I. Sec. B3:45 Radio and Extemp Prep. for

Round I, Sec. C4:30 Round I, Sec. C

Saturday7:45 Radio and Extemp Prep. for

Round II, Sec. A8:30 Round II, Section A9:00 Radio and Extemp Prep. for

Round II, Sec. B9:45 Round II, Section B10:15 Radio and Extemp Prep. for

Round II, Sec. C11:00 Round II, Sec. C1:30 FINALS: Dramatic Duet Acting,

Humorous Interpretation,Impromptu Speaking, OratoricalDeclamation, Oratory, OriginalComedy, Prose Reading.

2:15 Radio and Extemp Prep. forFinals

3:00 FINALS: Dramatic Interpretation,Extemporaneous Speaking,Humorous Duet Acting,Informative Speaking, PoetryReading, Radio Speaking,Special Occasion Speaking.

5:30 AWARDS ASSEMBLY

H. Performance Order1. Regional: The order of

appearance of competitors shall beestablished by the IHSA in conjunction withthe local contest manager in consultation withthe contest committee, and under thefollowing stipulations:

a. The assignment ofcompetitors to Preliminary Round I and theirorder of performance shall be establishedrandomly except when adjustments arenecessary to permit students to participate intwo events and to separate identicalselections. Assignment of contestants andspeaking order for Preliminary Round II shallalso be random with the further limitation thatno more than one-half the contestants may bedrawn to compete against the samecontestants they competed against inPreliminary Round I.

b. Order of performance for allFinal Rounds shall be established by thecontest manager randomly. With the advice ofthe contest committee, the contest managermay alter the drawn schedule for thosestudents who have conflicting double entriesor if necessary to separate identicalselections.


shall be advanced from Regional to Sectional.Winners of first, second and third places ineach Individual Event shall be advanced fromSectional to the State Final.

B. In the event there is a tie for a placewhich qualifies for advancement, all tiedcontestants shall be advanced. (For example:if in the Regional Contest, two contestants aretied for 2nd place, the tie involves the 2nd and3rd places. The next place awarded shall be4th place and four (4) contestants wouldadvance. However, if there is a two-way tie forfourth place, then five (5) contestants 1st,2nd, 3rd, and the two tied for 4th wouldadvance.)

C. Substitution of selections by anadvancing Individual Event contestant may bemade prior to any contest, provided thematerial is approved by the school’s principaland the manager of the contest is notified atleast three (3) days prior to the contest.

D. Determination of Winners:1. Tabulation procedure: Following

the completion of each preliminary and finalround, ballots and critique forms from eachjudge shall be returned to contestheadquarters. Contest managers shall crosscheck ballot cards with critique forms toinsure the accuracy of rankings and identify towhom rankings are assigned. In the event anyerror or other question is identified, thejudge(s) involved shall be contactedimmediately to resolve the matter.

To insure equality in rankingbetween different sections of an event, in nocase, except for overtime penalties, shall acontestant rank lower than the smallestnumber in any section of the event for theround. In other words, if Section A has 5contestants and Section B has 6 contestants,personnel in the Tab Room should record anyrank of 6 given by any judge as a rank of 5,since that is the smallest number ofcontestants in any section of the event for theround. This is to be done exclusively in theTab Room. Judges are to traditionally rank allcontestants and any adjustment of ranksunder this provision are to be made by theTab Room personnel.

2. Advancement from Preliminariesto Finals: Following completion of bothpreliminary rounds of competition at theRegional and Sectional contests, the ranksreceived from both (at the Regionals), or allfour (at the Sectionals) preliminary roundjudges by each contestant shall be tallied. Thesix (6) contestants with the lowest cumulativetotals of preliminary round rankings shall beadvanced to the finals. In the event of a tie forthe last qualifying position, all tied contestantsshall also advance to the finals.

At the State Final, followingcompletion of the preliminary rounds, the six

c. Students shall participate intwo preliminary rounds of competition if thereare eight (8) or more contestants entered inan event. In such cases, the competitors shallbe divided into two groups randomly by thecontest manager. Groups may be revisedrandomly by the contest manager for eachpreliminary round. The top six (6) contestants,plus ties, after two Preliminary Rounds, willbe advanced to the finals.

d. In the event there are seven(7) or fewer contestants competing in anevent, only a final round will be conducted. Insuch cases, team points will be awarded onlyto the top six (6) ranked performers.

e. Contest managers shall postALL PRELIMINARY ROUND RESULTS in adesignated area so that COACHES ONLY maycheck cumulative judging tallies prior to thepublic posting of the contestants advancing tothe final round. Managers shall also post allperformers’ times in the coaches’ loungeimmediately following each round ofcompetition.

2. Sectional: Performance order ineach event shall be made by the IHSA Office.

ALL EVENTS: Speaking order for thefinal round of competition shall be establishedrandomly conducted following the completionof the second preliminary round by thecontest manager and the contest committee.With review of the contest committee, thecontest manager may adjust the schedule forthose students who have conflicting doubleentries or if necessary to separate identicalselections.

3. State Final: Performance order ineach event shall be made by the IHSA Office.

I. Programs:Identification of Competing Schools: Everyschool will be identified in the Regional,Sectional and State Final program under theCompetitor Roster. Each performer will beidentified in the program under their event bytheir first and last name and material title ifapplicable.

J. Timekeeping1. Time will be kept at all contests

for all events. Contest managers will arrangeto have two (2) timers in every round for allevents in all contests. To accommodate thisrequirement, managers are authorized to givetimekeeping assignments as needed toparticipating schools. Timers will be seatedout of the judges/spectators’ sight but in fullview of the performers. Timing devices otherthan those used by the appointed timekeepersare unofficial. Further timing instructions canbe found in Article VIII-D.

VII. ADVANCEMENT OF WINNERS

A. The winners of first, second, thirdand fourth places in each Individual Event

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(6) rankings received by each contestant shallbe reviewed. The highest and lowest rankingsfor each contestant shall be discarded and theintermediate four rankings tallied. The six (6)contestants with the lowest cumulative totalsof the intermediate rankings shall be advancedto the finals in each event. In the event of a tiefor the last qualifying position, all t iedcontestants shall also advance to the finals.

3. Individual winners:a. Regional and Sectional:

After the final round for each event, the threeJudges’ rankings shall be tabulated and asummation made of the rankings received byeach finalist. The entry whose total of rankingsis lowest is the winner; the entry with thesecond lowest total is second, etc.

b. State Final: With five judgesbeing used, the highest and lowest rankingsfor each contestant shall not be considered indetermining final standing. The contestantwith the lowest total of intermediate rankingsis the winner; the contestant with the secondlowest total is second, etc.

4. Resolution of Ties:a. Ties affecting Advancement

from Preliminaries to Finals: At all contests(Regional, Sectional and State Final)contestants tied for the last position whichqualifies for advancement from preliminariesto finals shall be advanced without the tiebeing broken.

b. Ties Affecting Awardsand/or Team Scoring: At Regional andSectional contests, ties for places for whichawards are presented shall be broken byseparating the tied competitors from all othercontestants and assigning them relativerankings on the basis of judges’ decisions, asthough they were the only competitors. Thecontestant whose total of relative rankings islowest is the winner. If there is still a tie,duplicate awards will be provided and theteam points for the tied places will be addedand equally divided among the teams of thetied contestants. At the State Final Contest,the tied competitors shall be separated fromall other competitors and assigned relativerankings. If there is still a tie, then the ranksassigned by all f ive (5) judges will beconsidered, and the contestant with the lowesttotal of five rankings will be declared thewinner.

Example: Three (3) contestantstied for fourth place at the Regional. The tie isunbreakable, so the points for fourth, fifth andsixth places (3, 2 and 1 respectively,) areadded and divided by three. Each school isthen awarded two (2) points for itscontestant’s finish.

5. School winners: Points shall beawarded on the basis of the following scale foreach Individual Event: 1st 6 points; 2nd 5points, 3rd 4 points; 4th 3 points; 5th 2points; 6th and all other finalists 1 point. Thispoint scale shall be followed at all contests,except as specified in Art. VI-G-1-d.

c. It may NOT be transcribedfrom an audio or video source; it must beavailable in its original written form.

d. In addition, it isrecommended that all internet sites beevaluated for authenticity.

6. If a school is enteringImpromptu, a coach may submit a list ofsuggested topics in each category(Quotations, Proverbs, and Phrases). Pleasesend your topics to the IHSA office no laterthan November 1, 2014. Earlier topics will beaccepted.

B. Material Verification:At each of the IHSA tournaments, the

original published source of any selectionused, along with a complete script of thecutting to be performed in all interpretiveevents: Dramatic Duet Acting, DramaticInterpretation, Humorous Duet Acting,Humorous Interpretation, Prose and PoetryReading, must all be available within areasonable amount of time as determined bythe contest manager. Failure to produce suchmaterials shall result in the disqualification ofthe contestant from the contest.

C. Properties:A property shall be defined as any item,

except a manuscript, including thecontestant’s apparel and accessories, which isused for effect during the presentation.

D. Royalties:The Association assumes no

responsibilities for the payment of royalties orother fees connected with the performance ofany material in the Speech Contest Series.

E. Timekeeping1. Time will be kept at all contests

for all events. Contest managers will arrangeto have two (2) timers in every round for allevents in all contests. To accommodate thisrequirement, managers are authorized to givetimekeeping assignments as needed toparticipating schools. Timers will be seatedout of the judges/spectators’ sight but in fullview of the performers. Timing devices otherthan those used by the appointed timekeepersare unofficial.

2. In all events except Impromptu,Extemporaneous Speaking, and RadioSpeaking, when a timer’s watch is read todetermine time, a reading of 8:30.00 or less,will not be considered a time violation. If awatch reads 8:30.01 or greater on a digitalwatch or is a tic past 8:30 on a sweep-handwatch, the time will be considered to be 8:31.If both timers confirm the overtime, penaltieswill be assessed. In Impromptu,Extemporaneous Speaking, and RadioSpeaking the same time concept applies pertheir specific time limitations.


VIII. TOURNAMENT RULES

A. Material:1. Material which is inappropriate

for public performance by high schoolstudents will not be tolerated. The principal isrequired to see and approve both the selectionand performance of all material includingsubstitute material, to be used by contestantsfrom the member school in the contest series.

2. IHSA By-law 6.010 will beapplied in the event contestants util izematerial which, upon investigation by theExecutive Director, is determined to beinappropriate. By-law 6.010 states:

Any violation of the Constitutionand/or By-laws, Terms and Conditions, IHSAPolicies and Guidelines, and/or other rules ofthe Association, shall be reported to theExecutive Director, who shall have authority toinvestigate all alleged violations. The findingsof the investigation shall be made known tothe school (or schools), person (or persons),alleged to have committed the violation. TheExecutive Director shall then have fullauthority to invoke penalties against suchschool or persons found to have committedviolations. Penalties shall include, but not belimited to, written warning or reprimand,requisite affirmation, and corrective action upto and including suspension and/or expulsion.Failure to take the corrective action requiredby any penalty shall be the basis for furtheraction up to and including suspension and/orexpulsion.

Note that these provisions includepossible penalties against the school orindividual persons found to have committedviolations. This means that competitors,coaches, directors, and/or principals may bepenalized directly for the use of inappropriatematerial in the IHSA Speech Contests.

A performance (language or action)which is a literal, symbolic or colloquialexpression describing or naming anythingwhich is profane and/or vulgar, whether or notsuited to a specific character being portrayed,IS ALWAYS CONSIDERED INAPPROPRIATE!

3. Not more than 150 words of anyOration, Informative Speaking, OriginalComedy or Special Occasion Speech may bedirect quotation.

4. In Oratory, InformativeSpeaking, Original Comedy and SpecialOccasion Speaking, the content, style andthought of the selection must be solely theproduct of the contestant.

5. The Internet may be used as asource for printed published material as longas the following provisions are met:

a. It must be copyrighted andavailable to all (equal access).

b. It must NOT have beenposted solely for a student’s use incompetitive speech activities.

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6. In Radio Speaking, the timersshall be seated in such a way that they arevisible to the speaker. Timers shall usestopwatches which will be the only officialtiming devices. If possible, the localmanagement should provide a wall clock with asweep second hand placed within view of thecontestants. Contestants may also use theirown timing devices. One of the timekeepersshall use time cards to notify the speaker whenthe following time remains: two (2) minutes,one (1) minute, thirty (30) seconds and fifteen(15) seconds. Thereafter, he will notify thespeaker by means of upraised fingers, whenten (10) seconds are left, and finally, when onlyfive (5) seconds remain in the five (5) minutestime limit. After each presentation, the timersshall inform the judges of the exact time of theperformance; and after the final presentation,the timers shall each deliver cards to thecontest management showing the exact timeconsumed by each speaker. For RadioSpeaking, if both timers show a violation of thetime limit, the contestant shall be ranked last inthat round by the contest management.

NOTE: The term “ranked last” shallmean given a rank on each individual judge’sballot equal to the number representing thenumber of contestants in the round. In otherwords, if there are six (6) contestants in theround, ‘ranked last’ means being given the rankof six (6) on each judge’s ballot. Othercontestants in the round who do not violate thetime limits will have their ranks from eachjudge adjusted upward as appropriate.

F. Special Rules and Limitations:1. These Terms and Conditions have

been established under the authority of Article1.450 of the IHSA Constitution. Violation issubject to penalty by the IHSA Board ofDirectors under the provisions of IHSA By-lawsand any special provisions contained herein.

2. Protests and challenges of aperformance’s compliance with the rules maybe filed in writing with the contest manager byany coach or judge. Other persons wishing tofile such a protest or challenge, shall do sothrough a coach or judge at the contest.

3. General Penalty for Violations byContestants: Unless otherwise specified in therules, the penalty for rules violations in anyround of competition throughout the entirecontest series shall be that the contestant’sranking in the round where the violation occursbe changed to last (see VII-D) and the ranks ofother contestants will be adjusted asnecessary.

For example: In Preliminary Round IIof Humorous Duet Acting, a student from DuetA stands on the table during the duet’sperformance. The penalty is that the duet is tobe ranked last in the round. Thus, the finalresults for Preliminary Round II will beadjusted as follows:

Duet A was 2nd becomes 6thDuet B was 1st remains 1st Duet C was 3rd becomes 2nd Duet D was 5th becomes 4th Duet E was 6th becomes 5th Duet F was 4th becomes 3rd 4. The penalty for accessing the

internet or using a contraband device forExtemporaneous Speaking will bedisqualification from the tournament.

5. Tardiness, Absence, Perform -ance Out of Order: Contestants must bepresent when called upon in accordance withthe schedule prepared by the contest managerand printed in the program. In the event acontestant cannot, for any reason, complywith the printed schedule, he must personallyconsult the contest manager to be excused.Only if the manager or a member of thecontest committee gives the student writtenpermission may any contestant perform out ofthe order printed in the program. Contestantsfailing to comply with the printed schedulewithout written excuse shall be disqualified.

6. Manuscripts: For all IndividualEvents except Radio Speaking,Extemporaneous and Impromptu Speaking,coaches must be able to produce in areasonable amount of time, as determined bythe contest management, a typed manuscriptor copy of selections to be performed by theirstudents for presentation to the contestmanager if requested. Manuscripts mustcontain identification of sources of quotes.The actual source of non-original cuttingsshould also be identified on the manuscript.Failure to produce such copy shall result indisqualification of the contestant from thecontest.

7. Failure to Present OriginalSelections:

a. Quoted Material: If it isdiscovered that a contestant has includedmore than 150 words of direct quotation in hisselection, he/she shall be disqualified. In theevent of late discovery of a violation of thisrule, procedure as outlined in Art. VIII-E-8below shall be followed.

b. Originality of Material: In allcases where originality of material isquestioned, the local contest committee shallbe responsible for examining the material andruling on its eligibility. If a judge suspects thata speech is not original, he should so informthe contest committee and the committee willinvestigate.

8. Use of Inappropriate Material: If,in the opinion of any contest judge, materialwhich is performed for his/her adjudication isinappropriate for public performance by a highschool student, he/she may rank theperformance down. If, in the opinion of amajority of the judges, a performance ispersistently inappropriate or is flagrantlyprofane or vulgar, the judges may stop theperformance and disqualify the contestant or


3. In all events except RadioSpeaking, both timers designated by themanager shall raise their hands above theirheads upon expiration of the allotted time, tolet the performer know the time limit has beenreached. Both timers shall keep the handsraised above their heads until the performerconcludes. When the speaker concludeshis/her presentation, both timers shall recordthe total elapsed time shown on theirindividual watches on an official time sheet.Times shall not be announced to competitors,judges or audiences, except in RadioSpeaking. Judges shall be instructed not totake time into consideration in their rankings.The timers must deliver their time sheets tothe contest headquarters at the conclusion ofeach Section. All penalties for time violationsshall be assessed by the contest management.Timers must use stopwatches.

4. Penalties for Violationa. Regional, Sectional and

State Final Prelims: For each full thirty (30)seconds of overtime, as defined in 2. above,the contestant’s ranking from each judge shallbe lowered by one (1) place. This reduction inranking shall be mandatory and shall beadministered by the contest management.This rule supercedes Article VII-D-1. Thus acontestants ranking may exceed the leastnumber of contestants in a round of thatevent. For example: Contestant A is ranked 2,3, 1 by three judges, but is overtime by forty-five (45) seconds. Contestant B is ranked 3,1,2 and Contestant C is ranked 1, 4, 3. Themanager shall then adjust the rankings forcontestant A to 3, 4, 2 before the tabulation ofrankings is made. No change is made in therankings of Contestant B or Contestant C.

Thus final results become:A-3, 4, 2 = 9B-3, 1, 2 = 6C-1, 4, 3 = 8

b. State Final Rounds: In thefinal rounds of the State Final Contest only, nopenalty for time violations will be assessed inany event except Radio Speaking, until one (1)minute beyond the specified time limit. Forexample, if the time limit is eight (8) minutes,no penalty will be assessed until the speakerhas exceeded nine (9) minutes as verified bytwo (2) stopwatches.

5. In Extemporaneous Speakingand Impromptu Speaking, time cards shall beused to inform the speakers of the amount oftime remaining. These cards should be visibleto the speaker at all times.

a. In Radio and ExtemporaneousSpeaking, the prep room monitor will informspeakers of the allowable prep time anddismiss the speakers accordingly. InImpromptu Speaking, the timer will give thespeaker oral prep time signals in thirty (30)second intervals in the competition room. Attwo (2) minutes the prep time ends and theImpromptu timer will direct the competingstudent to begin their speech.

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group from the contest. In either case, judgesshall explain their opinions and actions inwritten critiques, and the judge/contestmanager shall forward a copy of the critiquesto the IHSA Office. Contest officials shallsubmit a Special Report to the IHSA. Inaddition, any report of the use of inappropriatematerial shall be investigated by the IHSAExecutive Director, who shall investigate theallegation and take action if warranted underthe provision of IHSA By-law 6.010 and theprocedures stated in Art. VI-C and VIII-A ofthese Terms and Conditions.

9. Late Discovery of Violations: If aviolation is not discovered until after the closeof the contest in which the violation occurred,the following procedure shall be followed:

a. The contestant, group orschool shall be disqualified and advancementto the next succeeding contest shall be deniedif the violation is reported to the IHSA Officeprior to the next contest. If the violation is notreported until after the next contest, no actionshall be taken and the matter shall beconsidered closed.

b. The rankings of the othercontestants in the event shall be revisedupward.

c. If the violation is reported tothe IHSA Office prior to the next succeedingcontest, the winners shall be advanced on thebasis of the revised rankings.

d. If the disqualified individual,group or school has won any awards, suchawards shall be returned to the IHSA Office.An attempt will then be made to redistributethese awards on the basis of the revisedrankings mentioned above.

10. Alternate Qualifier Advancementa. In the event a qualified

student is, for any reason, unable to advanceto the succeeding contest, and provided theIHSA Office is notified by the principal of thequalifier’s school at least one day prior to thesucceeding contest, the highest-placingcontestant from the qualifier’s last qualifyingcontest in the same event that has not yetbeen offered the opportunity to advance shallbe designated as the alternate(s), their coachshall be notified, and they shall be permitted toadvance.

b. Any alternate qualifier(s)shall be treated from that point forward asqualified contestants, and if they are, for anyreason, unable to advance to the succeedingcontest, the process shall be repeated with thenext highest-placing contestant until analternate qualifier who is able to advance isfound, all contestants at the qualifier’s lastqualifying contest have been offered thechance to advance, or it is now less than oneday before the succeeding contest.

c. If a contestant is involved ina tie in a final round that was broken byjudges’ preference for the purposes ofsweepstakes tabulation would become analternate qualifier, all other contestants

involved in the tie that was broken by judges’preference must also be treated a alternatequalifiers.

d. The IHSA Office may, at itsdiscretion, permit alternate qualifieradvancement less than one day prior to thesucceeding contest, but there is norequirement to do so.

e. In any situation where thestudent that is unable to advance would haveadvanced in a position other than the lastqualifying place, the places of qualifyingstudent who placed below them but who willadvance to the succeeding contest will beadjusted up one place for the purposes ofscheduling the succeeding contest so that noplaces are skipped.

IX. TOURNAMENT POLICIES

A. Damage to Property or EquipmentIf contestants or people from any schoolentered in a state series are found guilty ofcarelessness or maliciously breaking,damaging or destroying property or equipmentbelonging to the host school, such schoolshall be held responsible for costs incurred inreplacing or repairing such property orequipment.

B. Media Policies1. Media Personnel

a. Any media person wishing totake photographs will contact the Regional,Sectional, or State Final manager to verifyarrangements to take photos at thetournaments. Photographers are welcome totake photos in the commons area. IHSARegional/Sectional Site Managers names andinformation can be found on the IHSA websiteor by contacting the IHSA Office.

b. Photography is NOT allowedin rooms while rounds are taking place,however, reporters are invited and encouragedto sit in on rounds as spectators.

c. At all levels of IHSAcompetition, a media area may be set aside forphotographs. All participating students will beinvited and encouraged to make themselvesavailable during the tournament for the OfficialIHSA Photographer as well as other localmedia outlets.

d. Results from each level ofthe tournament can be obtained by logginginto the IHSA website and choosing theappropriate activity. Results will be posted forRegionals and Sectionals as soon as thetournament concludes. State Final results willbe posted as soon as possible following thetournaments.

2. Managersa. May arrange a room for

photographers and students to gather forphoto opportunities.

b. Will post any information forall participating students to have theopportunity to meet with area media.

c. Will cooperate fully withmedia personnel to arrange photoopportunities and ensure coverage of all levelsof the tournament.

C. Tobacco/Liquid Nicotine Products:The use of tobacco or liquid nicotine productsin any competition area, either during apractice or while a contest is in progress, oraffiliated property of any IHSA state seriescontest by any coach, player, any other personconnected with a team, or fan shall beprohibited. State series hosts are required tomake all state series contest sites and anyaffiliated property, including parking lots, fanaccommodation areas, and other school orevent venue property, tobacco/liquid nicotinefree zones on the date or dates of any IHSAevent being held at the site.

D. Use of Inhalers:A student with asthma may possess and usehis/her medication during an IHSAcompetition, while under the supervision ofschool personnel, provided the school meetsthe outlined procedures of self administrationin the Illinois school code.

E. Alcoholic Beverages and IHSA StateSeries Events:

The possession, distribution, sale and/orconsumption of alcoholic beverages areprohibited at the site and on any affiliatedproperty of any IHSA state series contest.State series hosts are required to make allstate series contest sites and any affiliatedproperty, including parking lots, fanaccommodation areas, and other school orevent venue property, alcohol free zones onthe date or dates of any IHSA event being heldat the site. Violation of this policy by an eventhost will subject the host to a penalty forviolation of IHSA By-law 2.020. Such penaltymay include but not necessarily be limited toprohibition against subsequent event hostingassignments. Violation of this policy by a non-hosting member school will subject the schoolto penalty for violation of IHSA By-law 2.020.Patrons of any IHSA state series contestdetermined to be in violation of this policy willbe removed from the premise, and lawenforcement officials will be called aswarranted.

F. Special Report Forms and SAWAReports

Special report forms have beendeveloped to facilitate schools reporting anymatter concerning high school programs thatmerit the attention of the high school principal.These forms can be used for reporting anyincidents or problems with a competitor,coach, director or spectator. The forms mayalso be used to report errors in applying rulesor any phase of judging in which a judgeshould immediately attempt to improve. TheSAWA Report form should be used for

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reporting any instances where a coach,director, participant, judge or spectator hasdone an exemplary job of Sporting A WinningAttitude. These forms can be found on theIHSA website at www.ihsa.org.

G. Responsibility for Theft or OtherLosses

The IHSA will not be responsible for lossor theft of any personal or school propertyduring the course of a contest.

H. Prayer at IHSA State Series Contest:Prayer at an IHSA state series contest

that takes place over the public addresssystem is prohibited.

X. AWARDS

A. Regional and Sectional: Medalsshall be given to first, second, third and fourthplace winners at Regionals, and to first,second and third place winners at Sectionals.A plaque shall be given to the school winningfirst place.

B. State Final: The finalists in each ofthe Individual Events shall receive medallions.Trophies and team medallions shall be givento the schools winning first, second and thirdplaces.

C. In case of a tie between two or moreschools, an award for the highest place tiedshall be given to each of those schools ifawards are provided for that place.

XI. JUDGING

A. In accordance with Art. VI-B-4-c,Regional and Sectional managers shall appointjudges after consultation with the entireContest Committee.

B. Selection: Local managers, inconjunction with their contest committees, areurged to select judges from the list ofpreferred judges supplied by the IHSA Officeand to employ those who are located as nearthe contest center as possible. Also, coachesfrom participating schools must be availablethroughout each contest for judgingassignments. Judges for the State Final will beselected by the State Contest Committee.Tournament workers and Contest Committeepersonnel, assigned to work with thetabulation of results, should not be used asjudges, except in emergency situations andwith the approval of the Contest Committee.

C. Duties:1. It shall be the duty of each judge

to rank all contestants in each round in theorder of the excellence of their performances.Judges may not award the same ranking tomore than one (1) individual or group in agiven section.

2. A judge shall confer with no oneprior to the submission of his ballot to thecontest manager. A judge shall not change orrevise his ballot after it has been signed andplaced in the hands of the contest manager.Judges shall not reveal their decisions toanyone prior to the announcement of resultsby the contest manager. No one may questiona judge’s ballot or confer with a judgeconcerning his decisions unless it is necessaryto do so because the ballot is not intelligible orthe decisions or rankings were not made inconformity with the rules.

3. In all events, at all contests, eachjudge shall prepare brief written critiques ofthe work of each contestant. All critiques shallspecify major reasons for ranking. Thesecritiques shall then be made available at theend of the contest to the coach of eachcompeting school.

4. The same judge shall rank allcontestants within an event during a givenround.

D. Number:1. In the Regional contests, one (1)

judge shall be used in each preliminary group.In the Sectional contests, two (2) judges shallbe used in each preliminary group. Three (3)judges shall be used in the final round of eachevent at both contests.

2. In the State Final, three (3)judges shall be used in the preliminary roundsof each event. Five (5) judges, preferably two(2) hired and three (3) coaches selected by theState Tournament Contest Committee shall beused in the final round of each event.

3. The number of hired judges shallbe determined by the contest manager withinthe framework of the budget for the contestapproved by the IHSA Office. All others are tobe coaches supplied by the participatingschools and assigned by the contest manager.Each school with an entry at the StateTournament must provide at least one coachto serve as a judge at the tournament.

E. Judges Compensation:Judges fees shall be paid as follows:Regional $20.00 per roundSectional $20.00 per roundState Final $25.00 per roundEach group of performances for which a

judge completes a ballot is considered a“round.”

Any judge who drives more than 70 milesround trip to the site of a Regional, Sectional,or State Final Contest shall be reimbursed atravel allowance of $.30 per mile in excess of70 miles round trip. Reimbursement shall bedirectly from the IHSA office, upon the judges’submission of a travel report form to beprovided by the IHSA through the contestmanagers.

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Dramatic/Humorous Duet Acting (DDA/HDA)

Definition: Dramatic and Humorous Duet Acting are the presentations of dramatic orhumorous selections by two individuals.

Purpose: The purpose of these events is to give students the opportunity ofdeveloping their characterization and acting skills in a confined setting.

Material: Material must come from a single printed, published source and must meethigh standards for good literature. Cuttings from plays, verse plays, teleplays,screenplays, or other works that meet all criteria for the event may be presented.Excluding the introduction, a cutting may include the portrayal of no more than twocharacters. Material in which an author assigns multiple characters to one actor isacceptable. Combining the lines of two or more characters to create one compositecharacter is prohibited. Adaptations condensing multiple characters andcreating/combining dialogue are prohibited. Assigning a line from the text to a givencharacter for the purpose of transition or continuity is not to be considered thecreation of a “composite” character. A transition is considered part of the cutting andmay not include portrayal of additional characters. Material other than the author’swork must be limited to 15%.

Appropriateness of Material: See Art, VIII-A-1-2 of the Individual Events Terms andConditions.

Time Limit: 8 minutes

Timekeeping Procedures: See ART VIII-D of the Individual Events Terms andConditions.

Time Limit Penalty: For each full thirty (30) seconds of overtime (8:30.01, 9:00.01,etc or 1 tic past 8:30, 9:00, etc on a sweep hand) the contestant’s ranking from eachjudge will be lowered by one (1) place. This reduction is mandatory and will beadministered by the contest management. The other contestants’ ranks will not beaffected. There is no penalty for speaking less than eight (8) minutes.

Use of Script, Props, and Visual Aids During Performance: A table and/or twostools or two chairs will be the only properties permitted. Performers are not allowedto stand on the tables and chairs at any time for liability reasons. A script may not beheld. No lights, staging, costumes, makeup, sound effects, etc., will be permitted.

Presentation: Characters may direct dialogue to off stage characters or to silentcharacters and /or audience. All performances must include an introduction which willname: the author(s) and the title of the material.

Standards for Excellence: The material should provide opportunity for the actors todevelop an understandable scene with clear character relationships. Thecharacterization should be believable and consistent with the author’s intent. Themovement should flow naturally from the characters, giving proper focus on actionand reaction. The scene should grow with character insight, plot or moodintensification and thematic statement.

Dramatic/Humorous Interpretation (DI/HI)

Definition: Dramatic and Humorous Interpretation are the oral presentation ofliterature.

Purpose: The purpose of these events is to increase the student’s understanding ofcommunication of ideas through performance and to encourage the application oftheories of oral interpretation.

Material: Material must be from a printed published source and may be from plays,verse plays, teleplays, screenplays or other works. One character plays, monologuesand soliloquies will be allowed. Though the performer may select to do multiplemonologues, the presentation will be limited to a single work. Material other than theauthor’s work must be limited to 15%.





Use of Script, Props, and Visual Aids During Performance: No properties of anykind may be used in presenting the readings and the script must not be held.

Presentation: Although body language is not prohibited, it should be used withrestraint. All performances must include an introduction which will name: theauthor(s) and the title of the material.

Standards for Excellence: An understanding of the literature being presented shall bedemonstrated by the contestant’s communication of the intent of the author, therelationship of the cutting to the work as a whole, and the specific meanings of thepassages presented. The selection should be such that the performer can respondemotionally to the thought and mood; the literature should be more than superficial incharacterization or development of theme. The delivery should be such thattechniques of presentation are not obvious. The performer’s voice should reveal themeaning of the selection, as should any bodily movement; the total effect should bereal and genuine, rather than artificial and mechanical. Attention should be paid togood pronunciation and articulation, adequate volume, and acceptable vocal quality.

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Prose Reading (PR)

Definition: Prose Reading is the oral interpretation of prose literature.

Purpose: The purpose of Prose Reading is to acquaint students with the genre andthe application of the principles of oral interpretation.

Material: Material must be prose literature. Sources of material include cuttings fromnovels, short stories, biographies, nonfiction, letters and diaries. The cuttings mustcontain less than 50% dialogue. Each contestant will prepare one (1) selection.Selections for this event may be chosen from any source deemed appropriate butmust come from printed, published sources. Compilations are permissible. Thematerial should be in keeping with acceptable standards for good literature.





Use of Script, Props, and Visual Aids During Performance: The script will be held.No properties or visual aids will be allowed.

Presentation: Although body language is not prohibited, it should be used withrestraint. All performances must include an introduction which will name: theauthor(s) and the title of the material.

Standards for Excellence: The material should be a logical cutting to give theinterpretation intended by the author and should give the listener the impression thatthe presentation is total and complete. The delivery should indicate the reader’sfamiliarity with the material. The contestant should gain eye contact with theaudience; his/her voice should be clear and direct and the volume adequate; the totalpresentation should be natural and interesting.

Poetry Reading (PT)

Definition: Poetry Reading is the oral interpretation of poetry.

Purpose: The purpose of Poetry Reading shall be to acquaint students with the genreand the application of the principles of oral interpretation.

Material: Each contestant will prepare one (1) program of one (1) or more poem(s).Selections for this event may be chosen from any source deemed appropriate butmust come from printed, published sources. Compilations of poems are permissible.The material should be in keeping with acceptable standards for good literature.





Use of Script, Props, and Visual Aids During Performance: The script will be held.No properties or visual aids will be allowed.

Presentation: Although body language is not prohibited, it should be used withrestraint. All performances must include a required introduction which will name: theauthor(s) and the title of the program and/or the poem(s).

Standards for Excellence: The material performed should convey the theme selected.The delivery should be such that the reader conveys the thought of the verse throughvocal expression; rhythm should be apparent but not obvious and distracting; tonequality should enhance meaning. The reader should be natural and interesting.

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Oratorical Declamation (OD)

Definition: Oratorical Declamation is the oral presentation of persuasive orinspirational material of literary merit, such as editorials, essays, speeches, preparedby another person.

Purpose: The purpose of Oratorical Declamation is to acquaint students with notableexamples of persuasive or inspirational literature and give them opportunity to developskills of interpretation and delivery through the preparation and oral presentation ofsuch examples.

Material: Material must come from printed published sources. It is recommendedthat the material be pertinent to current problems.





Use of Script, Props, and Visual Aids During Performance: None.

Presentation: The speech shall be presented from memory.

Standards for Excellence: The material should be a logical cutting to give theinterpretation intended by the author. The delivery should indicate the speaker’sfamiliarity with the material and should gain direct eye contact with the audience; thespeaker’s voice should be clear and direct and the volume adequate. If cut, theorganization should be clear and focused upon the purpose of the author’s originalmaterial.

Oratory (O)

Definition: Oratory is the oral presentation of the work of the student and is designedto persuade.

Purpose: The purpose of Oratory is to guide students in research, organization, anddevelopment of a sense of a literary style in a speech designed to express theirpersonal convictions.

Material: The content, format, style and thought of the material must be the productof the contestant. No more than 150 words in the speech may be direct quotation.




Time Limit Penalty: For each full thirty (30) seconds of overtime (8:30.01, 9:00.01,etc or 1 tic past 8:30, 9:00, etc on a sweep hand) the contestant’s ranking from eachjudge will be lowered by one (1) place. This reduction is mandatory and will beadministered by the contest management. The other contestants’ ranks will not beaffected. there is no penalty for speaking less than eight (8) minutes.

Use of Script and Props During Performance: Notes or manuscripts may be used.

Presentation: Students may use notes or manuscripts or speak from memory. Anintroduction, if used, will be included in presentation time.

Standards for Excellence: The subject of the speech should be of current interest andhave a purpose. The material should show preparation, knowledge and clear thinking.The organization should demonstrate a clear, logical development of ideas. The styleshould demonstrate an effective choice of words and phrases. The delivery should beclear, sincere and interesting and the speaker’s appearance effective without beingdistracting.

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Original Comedy (OC)

Definition: Original Comedy is the oral presentation of the work of the student anddesigned to entertain.

Purpose: The purpose of Original Comedy is to enable students to employ theircreative skills in the writing and presentation of humorous material.

Material: The content, format, style and thought of the material must be the productof the contestant. There shall be no restriction on form. It may be dialogue,monologue or a combination of both. Not more than 150 words of the speech may bedirect quotation.





Use of Script, Props, and Visual Aids During Performance: Notes or manuscriptmay be used. No properties, visual aids or costumes shall be used.

Presentation: Students may use notes or manuscripts or speak from memory. Anintroduction, if used, will be included in presentation time.

Standards for Excellence: The material should be one of general interest and notoffensive to any audience; should be organized around some unifying idea and shouldbe entertaining. The delivery should be lively and clear; the voice should be pleasingand the volume adequate; the speaker’s appearance should provide no distraction.

Special Occasion Speaking (SOS)

Definition: Special Occasion Speaking is a speech which is the original work of thestudent and, in which, the student is himself or herself at his or her current agespeaking in a realistic situation for the purpose of entertaining an audience. It is apublic speaking event.

Purpose: The purpose of Special Occasion Speaking is to provide an opportunity forcontestants to present a practical message in an entertaining manner under simulated“real life” conditions.

Material: The content, format, style, and thought of the material must be solely theproduct of the contestant. Not more than 150 words of the speech may be directquotation.





Use of Script and Props During Performance: Notes or manuscripts may be used.

Presentation: Students may either use notes or manuscripts or speak from memory.An introduction, if used, will be included in presentation time.

Standards for Excellence: The material for the speech should be organized to suit thesubject, purpose, and occasion and to entertain. Though Special Occasion Speakingis a speech to entertain, the entertaining elements should supplement, not replace, thespeech structure. Thus, if the entertaining elements were removed from the speech,there would still be a clear speech structure. In a public speaking event,characterization is used as an example, when done by the speaker. It should not be aprimary element in the speech. The delivery of the speech should demonstrate thepoise and audience contact of the speaker. Pronunciation, articulation, and volumeshould be adequate; the speaker’s voice should be pleasant; the speaker’s appearanceshould provide no distractions.

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Extemporaneous Speaking (ES)

Definition: Extemporaneous Speaking is an event in which a student is given forty-five minutes to prepare an original speech indicating his/her knowledge of currentevents concerning an assigned topic.

Purpose: The purpose of Extemporaneous Speaking is to encourage a student to gaina broad knowledge of current events and to develop the ability to analyze thesignificance of such events and prepare, in a short period of time, a meaningfulspeech which can be delivered in a skillful manner.

Material: Topics shall concern events which have been of state, national orinternational importance at any time between the beginning of the current school yearand the date of the contest. They shall be worded in the form of question, which doesnot elicit blanket yes or no responses.




Time Limit Penalty: For each full thirty (30) seconds of overtime (6:30.01, 7:00.01,etc or 1 tic past 6:30, 7:00, etc on a sweep hand) the contestant’s ranking from eachjudge will be lowered by one (1) place. This reduction is mandatory and will beadministered by the contest management. The other contestants’ ranks will not beaffected. There is no penalty for speaking less than six (6) minutes.

Use of Script, Props, and Visual Aids During Performance: Only notes made duringthe preparation period are allowed.

Presentation: Drawing of topics: contestants shall draw topics according to theirorder of speaking at intervals to provide each contestant 45 minutes of preparationtime., Contest managers shall publish and /or post specific preparation andperformance times for each contestant in each round. The contestant shall draw threetopics and, within one minute, choose the one on which to speak. The choice shall berecorded by the monitor of the drawing. There will be a separate set of questions foreach round. The topic chosen and spoken on will be presented to the judge.Contestants will speak on a different topic in each round. A monitor shall be presentduring the presentation time to assure that there is no consultation and that only theallowable materials are used. After drawing his or her topic, a contestant may notconfer with anyone nor may he or she leave the preparation room without theauthorization of the room monitor. The speaker may use an annotated bibliography inaddition, consult books, magazines, newspapers and summary notes (not to beconstrued as a prepared speech outline). Past speeches and/or prepared speechoutlines may not be used. Students must provide their own preparatory materials.Computers or other electronic devices may not be used to receive information fromany source inside or outside of the room in which the competition occurs. Internetaccess, use of e-mail, instant messaging, or other methods of receiving informationfrom sources inside or outside of the competition room are prohibited. Electronicretrieval devices are defined as laptop computers, netbooks, iPads, or other portableelectronic retrieval equipment. Cell phones or smart phones are prohibited from beingused while preparing or before speaking at IHSA tournaments. (See Laptop Use inExtemporaneous speaking document in Rules Book/online) In all contests, thecompetitor shall begin forty-five minutes after the first contestant has drawn his or hertopic. NOTE: Extemporaneous Speaking competition is open to spectators, includingall participants.

Standards for Excellence: The organization of the speech should be such that theintroduction gains attention and previews the main points which are clear and inlogical order. The conclusion should be satisfactory. The development of the speechshould be such that the speaker does not deviate from his topic, progresses with histopic, and demonstrates a reasonable analysis. The information used by the speakershould be accurate, pertinent and demonstrate a thorough knowledge of the topic. Indelivery, the speaker should be poised, hold attention, use language effectively, have apleasing voice, and demonstrate true extemporaneous style.

Impromptu Speaking (IS)

Definition: Impromptu Speaking is an event in which a student is given two (2)minutes to prepare and six (6) minutes to deliver an original limited preparationspeech.

Purpose: The purpose of Impromptu Speaking is to utilize creativity and logic toorganize and deliver a meaningful speech in a skillful manner.

Material: Topics shall be chosen from the following categories: Quotations, Phrasesand Proverbs. Categories will vary from round to round. Topics will vary from sectionto section. In a given round, all students within the same section will speak on a topicof their choice from a selection of three topics. Judges will be given the three topicsthat the students may select. Topics for each round shall be from the same genre:Quotations, Phrases and Proverbs.


Time Limit: Two (2) minutes of mandatory prep time will be given in the performanceroom and six (6) minutes of speaking time will be allowed.


Time Limit Penalty: For each full thirty (30) seconds of overtime (6:30.01, 7:00.01,etc or 1 tic past 6:30, 7:00, etc on a sweep hand) the speaker’s ranking from eachjudge will be lowered by one (1) place. This reduction is mandatory and will beadministered by the contest management. The other speakers’ ranks will not beaffected. There is no penalty for speaking less than six (6) minutes.

Use of Script, Props, Visual aids During Performance: Only one (1) note card ofany size/type made during the prep time may be used.

Presentation: All scheduled Impromptu Speakers will begin in the performing room.The room chair will welcome the speakers and take roll. The speakers will then bedismissed to the hallway. The first scheduled speaker will remain in the competitionroom. At an appropriate time before each student speaks, the room chair shall givethe three impromptu topics to the speaker. The speaker shall select a topic in whichto speak and then return the topics to the room chair. After receiving the topics, thestudent may not leave the room (unless there is an emergency) or consult withanyone during his/her allotted prep time. Preparation materials are limited to a stopwatch, writing implement and one (1) note card of any size/type that may be usedduring delivery. No other material shall be allowed in the Impromptu prep room otherthan stated above; this includes cell phone devices which could be used as timepieces. Students may not consult published books, magazines, newspapers, journals,articles, speeches, handbooks, briefs, or outlines. No electronic retrieval device maybe used. During the preparation period, the contestant shall not receive advice,information or suggestions from anyone. The speaker may not enter the room untiltheir scheduled speaking time and must remain after they have finished speakingunless they are double entered and ask permission to leave to perform in anotherround. Students who leave the room due to double entries must not share the topic orgenre with other students. Compromising the confidentiality of the topic(s) may resultin disqualification. The other speakers shall proceed in like manner, in the order ofspeaking. Spectators must remain in the room until all contestants have finishedspeaking. The same three topics shall be used by each section. A different categorywill be used for each round. Immediately upon opening the envelope and reading thetopics, prep time has begun and the student shall have two minutes to prepare aspeech without consultation and without references to prepared notes in theImpromptu competition room. Students may not enter the competition room until theroom chair directs them to enter. Cell phones or smart phones are prohibited frombeing used for all limited prep events at IHSA tournaments.

Standards for Excellence: The organization of the speech should be such that theintroduction gains attention and previews the main points which are clear and inlogical order. The conclusion should be satisfactory. Speakers should demonstratereasonable creativity in analysis, logic, and exposition of the topic and literary devices.In delivery, the speaker should be poised, hold attention, use language effectively, anddemonstrate variety in mechanics.

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Radio Speaking (RS)

Definition: Radio Speaking is the presentation of a newscast, including a commercial.

Purpose: The purpose of Radio Speaking is to encourage concentration on deliveryand style.

Material: A script approximately fifteen (15) minutes in length will be supplied by theIHSA office. From this, the contestant will prepare a newscast by deleting any parts oritems. No new content may be added except transition sentences, introductions andconclusions. Contestants may enter the preparation room with pre-prepared outsidecontent as long as it is limited exclusively to transition sentences, introductions, orconclusions. Contestants may prepare content for their newscast in the preparationroom before their preparation begins as long as the content that they prepare islimited exclusively to transition sentences, introductions, or conclusions. However,the use of creative transitions, commentary and colorful verbs in sports, weather andthe commercial is allowed to enhance the performance. The newscast will include acommercial advertising some well-known product or service. A prepared commercialsupplied by the IHSA office will be given to each contestant and must be used. Adifferent script and commercial will be supplied for each round. A copy of the Radioscript will be given to the judges.


Time Limit: 4:50 to 5:05 with the contestant expected to finish at 5:00. At theconclusion of a student’s performance, the times must be announced out loud tocompetitors and judge(s).


Time Limit Penalty: If the contestant does not finish within the time allowed, 4:50 to5:05, he/she will be ranked last in the round and the other contestants’ ranks will beadjusted.

Use of Script, Props, Visual Aids During Performance: The contestant will read fromthe script developed during the preparation period. The student may not utilize anyelectronic or mechanical device in his or her performance other than the microphoneprovided by the management and a timing device.

Equipment: Minimum Radio Equipment:

Table—no smaller that 48” x 24”ChairAdjustable Mic StandMultidirectional Microphone

Presentation: Different Scripts and additional preparations periods will be providedprior to each preliminary round and the final rounds at all levels of competition.Contest managers shall publish and/or post specific preparation and performancetimes for each contestant in each round. During the preparation period, the contestantshall not receive advice, information or suggestions from anyone. The local managershall provide one fairly large room for the preparation period and all contestants at agiven contest shall use this same room. A supervisor shall be in charge of the room,and it shall be his or her duty to see that all the rules regarding the preparation periodare observed. The preparation period shall begin approximately forty-five (45)minutes before the contest is scheduled to begin. The contestants will speak into astandard public address microphone, preferably while seated at a table. The speakerunits must be arranged so that the speaker’s voice will be clearly audible to the judgeor the audience. A contestant should perform in an adjoining room. Each competitorshall have the option of requesting a microphone check prior to beginning his or herperformance. If requested, such an opportunity shall be granted. Timing shall beginwith the first word spoken by a competitor (not including the microphone check priorto the performance). A ‘countdown’ does not count as part of a microphone check andshould not be used. All words spoken after timing begins will be considered to havegone out ‘on the air’ as part of the newscast. Cell phones or smart phones areprohibited from being used for all limited prep events at IHSA tournaments.

Standards for Excellence: The organization of material should be logical; transitionsshould be smooth. The delivery should include a clear, pleasant and confident voice;the rate should be understandable and varied; news items should be separated bypauses and changes in pitch; correct emphasis and phrasing of thought should beapparent. The time limit is 4:50 to 5:05 with the student expected to finish at 5:00minutes.

Informative Speaking (INFO)

Definition: Informative Speaking is the original expository oral presentation of thestudent.

Purpose: The purpose of Informative Speaking is to guide students in research,organization and the development of a sense of literary style in speech designed toexpress their own interests.

Material: The content, format, style and thoughts of the material must be the originalproduct of the student. No more than 150 words in the speech may be directquotation. A fabricated topic/subject may not be used. A student may not use anyportion of his/her original oratory if double entered at the tournament.




Time Limit Penalty: For each full thirty (30) seconds of overtime (8:30.01, 9:00.01,etc or 1 tic past 8:30, 9:00, etc. on a sweep hand) the speakers’ ranking from eachjudge will be lowered by one (1) rank. This reduction is mandatory and will beadministered by tournament management. The other speakers’ ranks will not beaffected. There is no penalty for speaking less than eight (8) minutes.

Use of Script, Props, and Visual Aids during Performance: Notes or manuscriptmay be used. Visual aids may not be included in the presentation.

Presentation: Students may use notes, manuscripts or speak from memory. Anintroduction, if used, will be included in presentation time.

Standard for Excellence: The student should describe, clarify, illustrate or define anobject, idea, concept or process. The topic of the speech should be of current interestand have a purpose. The material should show preparation, knowledge and clearthought. The organization should demonstrate clear, logical development of idea. Thestyle should demonstrate an effective choice of words and phrases. The deliveryshould be clear, sincere and interesting and the speaker’s appearance should beeffective without being distracting.

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Laptop Use in Extemporaneous Speaking

a. Extemporaneous Speaking contestants may make use of electronic storage/retrieval devices to store and to retrieve

their subject files in the IHSA Individual Events Series. Students can retrieve extemporaneous files to read, but

cannot write speeches or organize their thoughts on the computers. This rule in no way prevents students from

still utilizing traditional paper copy files to enable the competitor to successfully compete in Extemporaneous

Speaking. The IHSA takes no position on which form of file storage is preferable for use by any given student.

i. Electronic retrieval devices are defined as laptop computers, netbooks, iPads, or other portable electronic

retrieval equipment. Secondary devices such as flash drives or external hard drives are allowed as well. Cell

phones or smart phones are prohibited from being used while preparing or before speaking.

ii. Source Materials: Students may consult published books, periodical articles, newspaper articles, think tank

articles, government reports or journal articles saved on their electronic retrieval device or present in hard

copy form provided:

1. There are no notations made within or on the saved article other than citation information.

2. Any highlighting or underlining of the articles is done in only one color within each article. Bolding,

italicizing, or any other manipulation of the original text of sources (other than highlighting or underlining

as previously stipulated) is prohibited.

iii. No other source materials will be allowed in the Extemporaneous prep room other than stated above. Pre-

written Extemporaneous speeches, past speeches, handbooks, briefs, notes or outlines are prohibited from the

prep room, whether stored electronically or present in hard copy form.

iv. Power Source: Power plugs or outlets may not be used in the prep room at any time. All computers used in

the prep room must be battery operated at all times.

v. Competitors are responsible for making certain their electronic retrieval devices are fully charged at the start of

each competition day and for proper power management ensuring that their device remains functional

throughout the competition day. Contestants may not use external power sources in the prep room, such as

wall outlets and/or extension cords.

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vi. Internet: Extemporaneous Speaking contestants shall not access the Internet or communicate electronically

with any other individual while in the prep room. All computers must comply with the following provisions:

1. Computers equipped with removable wireless cards must have the cards removed before the beginning

of any round of competition. It is the responsibility of the contestant to disengage the equipment.

2. Computers with built-in wireless capability may be used only if the wireless capability is disabled. It is the

responsibility of the contestant to disable the equipment.

3. Wired connections (Ethernet or phone) during rounds of competition are not permitted.

4. Computers or other electronic devices may not be used to receive information from any source (coaches

or assistants included) inside or outside of the room in which the competition occurs. Internet access,

use of e-mail, instant messaging, or other means of receiving information from sources inside or outside

of the competition room are prohibited.

5. Penalty: Contestants found to have violated provisions 1 through 3 above will be ranked last in the

round. Contestants found to have violated provision 4 (above) will be disqualified from the tournament.

vii. Liability: Extemporaneous Speaking competitors accept full responsibility for the safety and security of their

electronic retrieval devices throughout the entire course of all IHSA Tournaments. The IHSA and host schools

do not assume any liability for the computers. Students are welcome to use Kensington locks or other such

devices to secure their computers in the prep room. Students, parents, and coaches should be aware that the

students are bringing and using the computers at their own risk. The IHSA or host schools are not responsible

for lost, stolen, or broken computers.

viii. File Monitoring: The IHSA retains the right to view and search any electronic retrieval devices to ensure

compliance with any and all rules at any IHSA tournament. Once competition begins, the history on the

computer should not be deleted.

ix. Devices should be muted in the prep room. Contestants should not play games or engage in other distracting

activities on their electronic devices in the prep room. Tournament officials may ask a student to power-off the

device if it becomes distracting.

x. For invitational level competition, students from the same school may share computers during preparation.

However, communication among contestants during preparation time is strictly prohibited.

b. Penalty: If a speaker uses a contraband device, s/he will receive last in the round and may be disqualified from the

tournament.

(Rules adapted for use by the IHSA from the National Forensic League rulebook.)

Laptop Use in Extemporaneous Speaking, Continued

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The purpose of Performance in the Round isto provide students with opportunities forexpanded performance at the Individual EventsState Series.

THE RULES FOR PERFORMANCE IN THEROUND:

1. DEFINITION OF THE EVENT:Performance in the Round will involve three ormore students performing original or scriptedliterature. Performance may be humorous ordramatic in nature and will be staged in theround with the audience in an arenaarrangement and the performance space in thecenter of the area. (The audience will beplaced around the performance space at anappropriate distance as allowed by theperformance area from the circle allowing foradequate movement.)

2. SPECIFIC RULES & GUIDELINES:a. The actual performance space

shall be in a 16 foot diameter taped circulararea. This may be in a classroom, study hall,cafeteria, gymnasium, or on a stage, etc.Except for music, all performance elements,including off stage dialogue, must be withinthe 16-foot circle.

b. No auxiliary/supplementallighting cues shall be used. Facility lighting willremain on at all times.

c. No scenery may be used.d. Performance groups may only

use 10 standard chairs (not folding ones) and2 tables which will be provided by the hostschool. The tables should be standard; it issuggested that the table be approximately 30”x 40”. Schools will not be allowed to bringadditional tables, chairs, stools, set pieces,etc.

e. Only personal hand props andcostumes may be used. Footwear must beworn.

f. Live or electronic music/soundmay be used. If used, music should enhancethe performance, not dominate theperformance. Character or charactersperforming solo or ensemble singing initiatedwithin the performance circle must resolve

itself upon leaving thecircle. Solo orensemble singinginitiated whileoutside of thecircle shoulds u p p o r tc o n t e x t u a lmood and notrepresent a

specific characteror characters

intensions and must resolveitself upon entering the performance circle.

g. Only IHSA eligible students arepermitted to operate any technical equipmentduring the performances. Violation of this rulewill result in disqualification.

h. After the physical set-up, thecircle is cleared. The actual performancebegins as soon as the title of the performance,author, and name of the school performing isannounced. Timers shall start the clock withthe first identified audio and or visual elementinside or outside of the performance circle.

i. Performers may enter and leavethe performance space aisles as dictated bythe director and/or script.

j. Entrance and exit for Regional,Sectional, and State Final: See Illustration.

Judges seating positions must beapproved by the committee the day of theperformance.

Judges need to be positioned anequal distance apart from one another aroundthe circle, as reasonably possible. Avoidsitting judges directly beside aisle.

k. Performers are not allowed tostand on tables and chairs at any time forliability reasons.

l. General Penalty for Violations byContestants: Unless otherwise specified in therules, the penalty for rules violations in anyround of competition throughout the entirecontest series shall be that the contestant’sranking in the round where the violationoccurs be changed to last and the ranks ofother contestants will be adjusted asnecessary.

3. STANDARDS FOR EXCELLENCE:a. The material should provide an

opportunity for the performers to develop anunderstandable sequence, with coherence andclarity.

b. The movement should flownaturally from the performers, giving properfocus to action and reaction. The performanceshould use space effectively to provide foroptimum visual effects.

4. MATERIAL: Material performed inPerformance in the Round may includeoriginal or published materials. Excerpts, fulllength works, adaptations, and compilationsare permissible. Material must conform to theIHSA rules for appropriateness (See ArticleVIII-A of the IHSA Speech Rules Book).

5. TIME LIMIT: Performances shall notexceed 15 minutes in length from the initialperformance element to the final performanceelement.

a. The director/student of each PIRshall describe to the timers prior to the start ofthe performance, the precise moments of theinitial cue and final performance element.Timers shall use these suggestions asguidelines to start and stop the watches.

However, timing the performance will beginwith the first performance element andconclude with the final performance element.

b. Two timers shall keep time andfollow the same procedures as are used in theregular Individual Events. (See Article VIII-Dof the IHSA Speech Rules Book.)

c. In addition to the actualperformance time, each group performing willhave an additional 30 seconds to “set up” andan additional 30 seconds to “take down” theirmaterials.

d. The time limit for a PIRperformance is fifteen (15) minutes. When atimer’s watch is read to determine time, areading of 15:30.00 or less will not beconsidered a time violation. If a watch reads15:30.01 or greater on a digital watch, or is atic past 15:30 on a sweep-hand watch, thetime will be considered to be 15:30.01. If bothtimers watches confirm that a performanceran more than 15:30.01 minutes from theinitial cue to the final performance element,the performance shall be penalized one (1)rank per judge for each full thirty (30) secondsof overtime.

6. ENTRY LIMIT: A school may onlyhave one entry for Performance in the Roundat the Regional Contest. Individuals entered inPerformance in the Round may NOT beentered in any other event at the sametournament. Substitutions and changes inentries are permitted with the followinglimitations:

a. After the Regional Entry meeting,changes with any original entries may be madeby notifying the IHSA office and the contestmanager in writing.

b. Substitutions and/or additionsfor personnel may be made provided the IHSAoffice and the local contest manager arenotified in writing at least one (1) day prior tothe contest. Exceptions may be permitted onlyin cases of i l lness or other extenuatingcircumstances and provided the principalattests in writing that the substitute is eligible.Note: A student who competed in theRegional/Sectional Individual Events contestand does not advance in an individual event atany level cannot be substituted/added to a PIRcast. The penalty will be disqualification of aschool if they violate this rule.

7. JUDGING: Each Performance in theRound will perform only once, and a panel ofthree judges shall be used to determine thewinners.

a. At the Regional & SectionalTournaments, the three judges’ rankings shallbe tabulated and a summation made of therankings. The entry whose total of rankings islowest is the winner; the entry with the secondlowest total is second, etc.

2014-2015 PERFORMANCE IN THE ROUND IHSA Speech Contest “Special Event”

Entrances at 12, 3, 6, 9 on the circle

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b. The top four finishers in eachRegional shall advance to the Sectional. Thetop three in each Sectional shall advance tothe State Tournament.

c. At the State Tournament, the 18qualifiers from the six Sectionals will bedivided into two sections of nine performanceseach. Entries in each section will performonce and be ranked by a panel of three judges.The three performances in each section withthe lowest cumulative rankings will advance tothe finals along with any performance whosetotal of rankings is lower than the total ofrankings for the third place performance in theopposite preliminary group. The final roundwill be conducted during the Saturdaymorning of the State Tournament. The finalswill be judged by a panel of five judges; eachjudge will rank the performances first through6th (no ties). The high and low rankings willbe discarded, and the remaining ranks will beadded. The performance group with thelowest cumulative rankings is first; secondlowest is second, and so on. At the StateFinals if a tie occurs, the tied competitors shall

be separated from all other competitors andassigned relative rankings. If there is still a tie,then the ranks assigned by all five (5) judgeswill be considered, and the contestant with thelowest total of five rankings will be declaredthe winner.

8. TIES: In the event of a tie foradvancement to the next contest or to theFinals of the State Finals, all tied entries shalladvance.

9. TEAM POINTS: Team points will notbe tabulated for this event.

10. AWARDS: At Regionals andSectionals the first place teams will receive aplaque.

State Final: Medallions will be awardedto the team members of the first place team.Plaques will be awarded for first, second andthird place performances.

11. EVENT FEES: There will be an eventfee of $20.00 per performance group enteredat the Regional, Sectional, and State Contests.

12. JUDGES FEES: Judges fees shall bepaid at $10.00 per performance judged forRegional, Sectional and State Finalcompetition.

Any judge who drives more than 70 milesround trip to the site of a Regional, Sectional,or State Final Contest shall be reimbursed atravel allowance of $.30 per mile in excess of70 miles round trip. Reimbursement shall bedirectly from the IHSA office, upon the judges’submission of a travel report form to beprovided by the IHSA through the contestmanagers.

Performance In The Round—Page 2

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Illinois High School AssociationJudges Top 15 List

____Regional____Sectional Site:____StateRank order your selection of the top 15 I.E. judges - these names will be confidentially secured and used whenselecting our top state series judges. Copies of critique sheets may be included. Please report any concernswith judges to the IHSA.

JUDGE RANK Judge Name Contact Info. 1 through 15)

_________________________________________________ ________________

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_________________________________________________ ________________

_________________________________________________ ________________

_________________________________________________ ________________

_________________________________________________ ________________

_________________________________________________ ________________

_________________________________________________ ________________

_________________________________________________ ________________

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_________________________________________________ ________________

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Tournament Management Rating ________________(Regional/Sectional Committee)

Please return this form to:Susie Knoblauch. IHSA. 2715 McGraw Drive, Bloomington, IL 61704

Fax: 309-663-7479Judges Evaluation

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2014-2015 Drama/Group Interpretation Terms and ConditionsIn accordance with Section 1.450 of the

IHSA Constitution, the Board of Directors hasapproved the Terms and Conditions governingthe 2014-2015 IHSA Drama/GroupInterpretation Tournament Series.


Competition in the IHSA 2014-2015Drama/Group Interpretation TournamentSeries will be held for all member schoolswithout classification.

II. DATES AND SITES

A. The state shall be divided into six (6)Sectionals. The number of competingschools, travel distance, geographical locationand the number of entries shall be primaryfactors in the determination of number andboundary lines for these Sectionals.

B. Dates for the contests are:Sectional March 20-21, 2015State Final March 27-28, 2015

C. Sites for Sectional contests shall beposted on the IHSA website at www.ihsa.org.

D. The State Final Drama/GroupInterpretation Contest site is SangamonAuditorium at the University of Illinois inSpringfield.

III. ON-LINE ENTRIES, WITHDRAWALPROCEDURES, ELIGIBLITY, ANDON-LINE LIST OF PARTICIPANTS

The policies for Original Entry Deadlines,Late Entries and Late Withdrawals shall be thepolicies and procedures regarding entries forall IHSA-sponsored activities, included in the2014-2015 Entry Policies and Procedureswhich can be found in the Schools Center onthe IHSA website.

A. On-line EntriesAll member schools must enter their

school into the state series competitionthough the IHSA Schools Center on the IHSAWebsite at www.ihsa.org. The deadline forentry is November 1, 2014. The 2014-15Entry Policies and Procedures outlining theonline entry procedures for all IHSA-sponsored tournaments can be found in theSchools Center on the IHSA website.

Competing schools are responsible forEvent Fees as described in Section IV. Checksfor Event Fees should be made payable tothe host school for Sectionals and to theUniversity of Illinois at Springfield for theState Final.

E. On-line List of Participants1. List of Participants DeadlineEach school must complete the On-

line List of Participants by the deadline dateof January 30, 2015. The deadline date ofJanuary 30, 2015 (standardized date of thelast Friday of week 30) shall only include theperformance title and author, not the entirecast list. The entire final cast list shall bedue online March 9, 2015 (standardized dateof the first Monday of week 36) prior tosectional competition. It is no longernecessary for the Principal to sign the form. Ifa school does not submit the On-line List ofParticipants by the deadline, coaches and/orparticipants from the school are subject topenalties which could include, but not belimited to being ruled ineligible to compete inthe State Series and/or charged $100.00.Confirmation of receipt of On-line List ofParticipants: Schools should login to theirSchool Center site on the IHSA website and goto the Activity Tracker. The Activity Trackerwill show “Completed”, if you have checkedthe button indicating you have finished withyour report. If it doesn’t indicate “Completed”,then you must go back into your schools Listof Participants and check the button on theOnline List of Participants indicating you arefinished with your report.

Note: All participants must beeligible students under the provisions of IHSABy-law 4.071. (This includes all cast and crewmembers.)

Note: It is recommended that eachsectional site conduct a sectional meetingprior to the contest to allow competingschools an opportunity to view theperformance spaces and address anyquestions or issues prior to the contest. Thismeeting shall not be held during the regularschool day.

2. Entry Limitationsa. Schools are permitted one

entry in Dramatics and one in GroupInterpretation at the Sectional Contests.

b. Individual students mayparticipate in both Drama and GroupInterpretation.

c. No individual or school mayperform any of the same lines from a givenpiece of literature in the Drama and/or GroupInterpretation competition more than once inany five (5) year period.

d. No school may perform anypart of the same piece of l iterature inDramatics and/or Group Interpretation in thecurrent year.

e. Substitutions and changesin entries are permitted with the followinglimitations:

1) Changes in OriginalEntries may be made prior to the final date foracceptance of Original Entries, by notifying theIHSA Office in writing.


on-line after the established deadlines will bedenied. Schools that wish to enter after thedeadline will be considered late. To beconsidered for late entry, the Principal/OfficialRepresentative must contact the IHSAadministrative officer in charge of thatsport/activity. The penalty for late entry shallbe a payment of $100.00.


1. To withdraw without penalty, theschool principal must notify the IHSA office, inwriting, of the school’s team withdrawal fromDrama Group Interpretation State Series priorto December 1.

2. Withdrawal after December 1but before January 30, 2015 will result in aschool being liable for payment of a $100.00late withdrawal penalty.

3. If a school withdraws one orboth entries after January 30, 2015, theschool shall be liable for all event fees ($75for Drama and/or $75 for GroupInterpretation) for each events withdrawn andshall be assessed an additional penalty in theamount of $100.

4. If a school does not officiallywithdraw and/or does not show up forcompetition at any level of the state series, theschool will be assessed the penalties in “2”and “3” above and if applicable, the schoolmay be charged for any additional financialloss sustained by the offended schools or theAssociation as a result of such breach(Judges’ fees if applicable). The school shallalso be considered in Breach of Contractunder the terms of the IHSA By-law 6.040,and the matter shall be reported to the IHSABoard of Directors for disposition.

D. EligiblityAll member schools in good standing

may enter 1 (one) team in Drama and 1 (one)team in Group Interpretation under theprovisions of IHSA By-law 4.071. Theprincipal is the official representative ofhis/her school in all interscholastic activities,and the responsibility for seeing that allstudents from his/her school entered inDrama/Group Interpretation contests areeligible under the rules shall rest with theprincipal. All correspondence with the IHSAOffice must be conducted through theprincipal.

In each contest in which a school isrepresented, the principal shall have present,an adult, preferably a member of the faculty,who shall supervise and be responsible for theconduct of the participants and other personsfrom the school. A school’s failure to complywith this provision shall result indisqualification of its contestants.

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However, managers shall not have theauthority to advance the Drama/GroupInterpretation entry affected by an unfairnessto the state contest. In addition, the managershall be responsible to resolve questions ofrules interpretation, to arbitrate disputes andto apply penalties for violations of contestrules. In all cases, he/she shall consult withthe contest advisory committee prior tomaking a decision in any such matter.Decisions of the contest manager in all casesherein described shall be final.

The authority and responsibility ofthe contest manager and his/her contestcommittee shall end when results areannounced at the contest awards assembly.Any question relative to contest rules or anyaspect of the contest which arises followingthe announcement of results shall be referreddirectly by the principal of the school involvedto the IHSA Office. The IHSA Office will giveconsideration to questions relative toadministrative and/or clerical matters only,and will do so only, through the end of thefirst Monday following the completion of thecontest involved. In compliance with IHSABy-law 6.033, protests or challenges relativeto the decision of any judge will not beconsidered.

2. State Final Contest.The State Final Contest Committee

shall be authorized to conduct the contestunder the provisions of these Terms andConditions. If a situation develops in whichthere is an apparent unfairness to aDrama/Group Interpretation Entry, and whichis determined to be the result of anadministrative or judge’s error, the Committeeshall determine the manner in which thesituation shall be resolved.

In addition, the Contest Committeeshall be responsible to resolve questions ofrules interpretation, to arbitrate disputes andto apply penalties for violations of contestrules. Decisions of the Contest Committee inall cases herein described shall be final.

D. Programs1. Sectional: The order of

performance for Dramatics and GroupInterpretation shall be established by the localcontest manager in consultation with thecontest committee using a blind draw, exceptwhere adjustments are necessary toaccommodate Friday night performances, topermit students to participate in two eventsand/or to separate identical selections.Competition shall begin on Friday evening,with schools being given opportunity tovolunteer for a Friday evening performancetime. If volunteers are not secured, the localmanager and Contest Committee shallrandomly assign schools for Friday eveningperformances.

2) Substitutions and/oradditions for personnel in Dramatics andGroup Interpretation at any contest may bemade provided the local contest manager andthe IHSA office are notified at least one (1)day prior to the contest. Exceptions may bepermitted only in cases of illness or otherextenuating circumstances and provided theprincipal attests in writing that the substituteis eligible.

3. Approval of MaterialThe principal is required to see and

approve both the selection and performanceof all material including substitute material, tobe used by contestants from the memberschool in the contest series.


A. Schools will be required to pay eventfees for all entries listed on the Assignmentpage which can be found on the IHSA websiteat www.ihsa.org after December 1. Nocontestant from a school will be permitted tocompete if such fees are not paid. Checks forevent fees should be made payable to thehost school for Sectionals and to theUniversity of Illinois at Springfield for theState Final. Event fees shall be:

Sectional StateDramatics $75.00 $75.00Group Interpretation $75.00 $75.00

B. Special Costs: If the properties andequipment for any Dramatics entry are notreadily available at the host school, then theschool desiring such items must assumeresponsibil it ies both for securing andtransporting them.

C. Judges Fees: Judges Fees shall be:SectionalDramatics $20.00 per play

judgedGroup Interpretation $15.00 per

performance judgedState FinalDramatics $20.00 per play

judgedGroup Interpretation $15.00 per

performance judgedAny judge who drives more than 70

miles round trip to the site of any contest inthe IHSA State series shall be reimbursed atravel allowance of $.30 per mile in excess of70 miles round trip. Reimbursement shall bedirectly from the IHSA office upon the judges’submission of a travel report form to beprovided by the IHSA through the contestmanagers.

V. TOURNAMENT ASSIGNMENTS

Sectional Assignments can be found on-line at www.ihsa.org after Dec. 1.

Drama/Group Interpretation Terms and Conditions—Page 2

VI. TOURNAMENT STRUCTURE ANDTIME SCHEDULES

A. Contest ManagementIn all cases in which a member school is

selected as a contest site, the principal of thehigh school shall assume responsibility for thecontest. The principal may, however, delegatethe authority to manage the contest to anotherstaff member. In case the site is not located ina member school, then the IHSA Board ofDirectors shall appoint a local manager.Contest managers shall be responsible for allaspects of contest administration.

B. Contest CommitteeA sectional committee will be appointed

by the IHSA Director to be comprised of theSectional Manager and (3) three directorsfrom (3) three different schools assigned tothe contest site while striving to have abalanced representation of Drama and GroupInterpretation directors. The State CommitteeMember from each of the sectionals shall beone of the directors on the committee.Participating schools shall be notified of thenames of the committee members after thecommittee is formed and all directors haveaccepted the responsibility.

The functions of the Contest Committeeshall be:

1. to aid the manager in planning,organizing and administering the contest;

2. to tabulate the results. (Onlycommittee members)

3. to interpret the rules whennecessary; and

4. to serve as a panel to selectcontest judges.

All Sectional and State FinalCommittee members must be consulted aboutpotential judges prior to the selection/hiring ofany person. Written consensus of thecommittee shall be required for each judgeemployed.

For the State Final a ContestCommittee composed of selected Dramaand/or Group Interpretation coaches and arepresentative from the IHSA Speech AdvisoryCommittee will be appointed by the IHSAOffice to assist the Host manager for the StateFinal.

C. Authority of Contest Manager andContest Committee

1. Sectional Contests.The contest manager shall be

authorized to conduct the contest under theprovisions of these Terms and Conditions.However, if a situation develops in which thereis an apparent unfairness to a Drama/GroupInterpretation Entry, and which is determinedto be the result of an administrative or judge’serror, the manager shall consult with his/herContest Committee and determine the mannerin which the situation shall be resolved.

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2. State Finala. Dramatics: Performance

order in Dramatics shall be made randomly bythe IHSA office. An attempt will be made toseparate duplicate entries. Adjustments fordouble entries will be made as necessary.

Groups will then perform under thefollowing time schedule in accordance with aperformance order established by the IHSAOffice:

Friday: 8:30 a.m. 1:30 p.m. 6:30 p.m.9:45 a.m. 2:45 p.m. 7:45 p.m.11:00 a.m. 4:00 p.m. 9:00 p.m.

Saturday: 8:30 a.m. 9:45 a.m. 11:00 a.m.

b. Group Interpretation:Performance order in Group Interpretationshall be made by the IHSA office. An attemptwill be made to separate duplicate entries.Adjustments for double entries will be madeas necessary. Groups will then perform underthe following time schedule.Friday: PRELIM A PRELIM B

8:00 a.m. 2:45 p.m.8:40 a.m. 3:25 p.m.9:20 a.m.. 4:05 p.m.10:00 a.m. 4:45 p.m.10:40 a.m. 5:25 p.m.LUNCH DINNER11:50 p.m 6:40 p.m.12:30 p.m. 7:20 p.m.1:10 p.m. 8:00 p.m.1:50 p.m. 8:40 p.m.

Post Finalists – Directly after the lastperformanceSaturday: 8:30 a.m. 11:50 a.m.

9:20 a.m. 11:00 a.m10:10 a.m. 12:40 p.m.

(1:30 p.m. if needed)

E. The Report of Sectional Winnerswill be completed online by the SectionalManager. This shall be the official entry formfor the State Final. Event fees for qualifyingDramatics and/or Group Interpretation groupsshall be paid upon arrival at the Sectional andState Final sites. Qualifying groups for whomfees are not paid as prescribed shall not bepermitted to participate.

F. RoyaltiesThe Association assumes no

responsibilities for the payment of royalties orother fees connected with the performance ofany material in the Dramatic/GroupInterpretation contest series.

G. Timekeeping1. Two (2) timers, using

stopwatches, shall be required. No time signalshall be given by either timekeeper.

2. The director of each GroupInterpretation shall describe to the timers anda representative of the Contest Manager, prior


to move props or readjust lighting or soundlevels or anything that has to do with set-up ofthe play. If a host site has difficulties or adangerous situation arises, the committeemembers and host(s) of the contest willdecide the necessary course of action.

The clock timing set-up for eachperformance shall be started when the firstmovement of any set pieces is made from thedesignated storage area to which the set wasunloaded from the vehicle(s), and stopped atthe cue of the director when the crew is offstage (wings or house). If a participant isinjured during the set up and/or striking phaseof the performance, the clock may be stoppedby the manager until the emergency isaddressed. After the performance, the clockwill start at the cue of the director when thecrew is off stage (wings or house) and bestopped when the last set piece is placed intothe designated strike area.

Following this non-timed check, the set-up timing watches may be started again topermit the stage crew to make furtheradjustments within the time limit. No otherstart or stop of the watch shall be allowed.


A. Advancement of Winners1. Dramatics: The winners of first

and second places in each Sectional shalladvance to the State Final. Ties foradvancement will be broken according toArticle VII-B-3.

2. Group Interpretation: Thewinners of first, second and third places ineach Sectional shall be advanced to the StateFinal. Ties for advancement will be brokenaccording to Article VII-B-3.

B. Determination of Winners1. Sectional (Dramatics and Group

Interpretation): The five (5) judges’ rankingsfor each entry shall be listed by the contestmanager. The highest ranking and the lowestranking shall be discarded for each group, andonly the three (3) intermediate rankings foreach entry shall be considered in determiningits final standing. The entry with the lowesttotal of intermediate rankings is the winner ofthe event; the next lowest is second, etc.,through the list.

2. State Finala. Dramatics: The five (5)

judges’ rankings for each entry shall be listedby the contest manager. The highest rankingand the lowest ranking for each play shall bediscarded and only the three (3) intermediaterankings for each entry shall be considered indetermining its final standing. The entry withthe lowest total of intermediate rankings is thewinner of the event; the next to lowest issecond, etc., through the list.

to the start of the performance, the precisemoments of the initial cue and the finalperformance element. Timers shall use thesesuggestions as guidelines to start and stopwatches. However, timing of the productionwill begin with the first performance elementand conclude with the final performanceelement.

3. In Drama prior to the start of theperformance the director shall describe to thetimers and a representative of the ContestCommittee a precise moment of the initial cueand the final performance element. However,timing of the Drama production will begin withthe first performance element and concludewith the final performance element. Noelement of production or performance,including any stage lighting, house lighting, orsound, may begin prior to the announcementof the play. Following the last element ofproduction or performance, the stage shall godark and actors shall exit.

H. Special Rules and Limitations1. Tardiness or Absence: If any

group is not ready to perform at its scheduledtime, the management shall be under noobligation to assign it a later hour and shallnot so assign it if it would delay the program.

2. In Dramatics:a. Performing groups shall

have a total maximum of fifteen (15) minuteselapsed time in which to unload theirvehicle(s) and store their entire set in adesignated storage area. Any group exceedingthis time limit shall automatically be droppedone (1) rank per judge per 30 secondsovertime. If needed, groups will be allowedfive (5) minutes after the set strike to movetheir set from the strike area to the designatedloading area. Any group exceeding this timelimit shall automatically be dropped one (1)rank per judge per 30 seconds overtime.

b. Performing groups shallhave a total maximum of twenty (20) minuteselapsed time in which they must both set upand strike the staging and set for performance(e.g. If sixteen (16) minutes are used to setup, then four (4) minutes are available forstriking). Set up and strike time shall includeany adjustment, addition or removal oflighting instruments and focusing projectionson the cyc wall. When the set up is complete,the director may call for the cyc wall to belowered, exposed, and may focus any effect tobe used on that wall. The clock will NOT bestopped during this performance. Any groupexceeding this time limit shall automatically bedropped one (1) rank per each 30 seconds.Each school may call for a non-timed safetycheck after its set is up. However, this checkshould be made only if there is a possibility ofa failure in the power source from the hostschool or if there is the possibility of dangerto the general welfare of the cast, crew andaudience. The safety check may not be used

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c. If the violation is reported tothe IHSA Office at least three (3) days prior tothe next succeeding contest, the winners shallbe advanced on the basis of the revisedrankings.

d. If the disqualified individual,group or school has won any awards, suchawards shall be returned to the IHSA Office.An attempt will then be made to redistributethese awards on the basis of the revisedrankings mentioned above.

C. Dramatics1. Definition: Dramatics is an event

in which students perform in and run (withadult supervision as necessary) an actualdramatic production, cut to fit within the timelimits if necessary. Only IHSA eligible studentsare permitted to operate any technicalequipment during the performances. Violationof this rule will result in disqualification.

2. Purpose: The purpose ofDramatics is to give students on-stageexperience in acting and other theatre-relatedskills.

3. Selection: The choice of apresented play shall be from either publishedone-act plays or cuttings from longerpublished plays. Published adaptations writtenfor the stage are permitted. Unpublishedadaptations and plays that are publishedsolely online are prohibited. Selections may beeither serious or comedic in nature. The playshall not be an operetta or other musicalpresentation; however, background andincidental music will be permitted. Coachesmust be able to produce, if requested by thecontest committee, the original publishedscript performed. Failure to produce such acopy shall result in disqualification from thecontest.

4. Time Limit: The time limit forDrama is 40 minutes. In Drama, if a timer’swatch reads 40:30.00 or less, it is notconsidered a time violation. For each full 30seconds of overtime, the contestants’ranking from each judge will be lowered byone ranking. If both timers’ watches confirmthat a performance ran more than 40:30.01minutes from the initial cue to the finalperformance element, the play shall bepenalized one (1) rank per judge for eachthirty (30) seconds of overtime. For exampleat 40:30.01, a performance is lowered oneranking from each judge. At 41:00.01, theperformance would be lowered two rankingsfrom each judge. This reduction ismandatory and will be administered by thecontest management. The otherperformances’ rankings will not be affected.At the State Final Contest only, no penaltywill be assessed until one (1) minute beyondthe specified time limit. For example, InDrama, if a timer’s watch reads 41:00.00 orless, it is not considered a time violation.For each full 30 seconds of overtime, the

b. Group Interpretation: Therankings assigned by all five (5) judges ineach preliminary group shall be listed andtotaled by the contest manager. The highestranking and the lowest rankings for each entryshall not be considered in determining its finalstanding in its preliminary group. The three(3) performances from each preliminarygroup with the lowest totals of judges’rankings (after high and low are discarded)shall be advanced to the finals, along with anyperformance whose total of rankings is lowerthan the total of rankings for the third placeperformance in the opposite preliminarygroup.

Following completion of the finals, thefive (5) final round judges’ rankings for eachentry shall be listed by the contest manager.The highest ranking and the lowest rankingshall be discarded for each performance andonly the three (3) intermediate rankings foreach shall be considered in determining itsfinal standing. The entry with the lowest totalof intermediate rankings is the winner of theevent; the next to lowest is second, etc.,through the list.

3. Ties: If a tie occurs inpreliminary and/or final rounds, the tiedentries shall be separated from all otherentries and assigned relative rankings. Ifthere is still a tie, then the ranks assigned byall five (5) judges will be considered, and theentry with the lowest total of five rankings willbe declared the winner.


A. Material: Material presented by allcontesting groups shall be appropriate forpublic performance by high school students.

1. Material which is inappropriatefor public performance by high schoolstudents will not be tolerated. The principal isrequired to see and approve both the selectionand performance of all material includingsubstitute material, to be used by contestantsfrom the member school in the contest series.

2. IHSA By-law 6.010 will beapplied in the event contestants util izematerial which, upon investigation by theExecutive Director, is determined to beinappropriate. By-law 6.010 states:

Any violation of the Constitutionand/or By-laws, Terms and Conditions, IHSAPolicies and Guidelines, and/or other rules ofthe Association, shall be reported to theExecutive Director, who shall have authority toinvestigate all alleged violations. The findingsof the investigation shall be made known tothe school (or schools), person (or persons),alleged to have committed violation. TheExecutive Director shall then have fullauthority to invoke penalties against suchschool or persons found to have committedviolations. Penalties shall include, but not belimited to, written warning or reprimand or

requisite affirmation corrective action. Failureto take the corrective action required by anypenalty shall be the basis for further action upto and including suspension and/or expulsion.

Note that these provisions includepossible penalties against the school orindividual persons found to have committedviolations. This means that competitors,coaches, directors, and/or principals may bepenalized directly for the use of inappropriatematerial in the IHSA Contests. A performance(language or action) which is a l iteral,symbolic or colloquial expression describingor naming anything which is profane and/orvulgar, whether or not suited to a specificcharacter being portrayed, IS ALWAYSCONSIDERED INAPPROPRIATE!

3. Use of Inappropriate Material. If,in the opinion of any contest judge, materialwhich is performed for his/her adjudication isinappropriate for public performance by a highschool student, he/she may rank theperformance down. Judges shall explain theiropinions and actions in written critiques, andthe contest manager shall forward a copy ofthe critiques to the IHSA office.

B. Special Rules and Limitations1. The following items are

prohibited for use in a Drama and GroupInterpretation production:

• fire• firearms and explosives• animals• non-member school students2. General Penalty for Violations by

Contestants: Unless otherwise specified inthe rules, the penalty for rules violations inany round of competition throughout theentire contest series shall be that thecontestant’s ranking in the round where theviolation occurs be changed to last and theranks of other contestants will be adjusted asnecessary.

3. All competing schools must bein compliance with all provisions outlined bythe host site in the qualifiers manual. Behaviordeemed unsafe by a state official will first begiven a warning and then penalties mayinclude but not be limited to: warnings,lowering one rank per judge and/ordisqualification.

4. Late Discovery of Violations: If aviolation, the penalty for which isdisqualification, is not discovered until afterthe close of the contest in which the violationoccurred, the following procedure shall befollowed:

a. The contestant, group orschool shall nevertheless be disqualified andadvancement to the next succeeding contestshall be denied if the violation is reported tothe IHSA Office prior to the next contest.

b. The rankings of the othercontestants in the event shall be revisedupward.

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contestants’ ranking from each judge will belowered by one ranking. For example if bothtimers’ watches read at 41:00.01, aperformance is lowered one ranking fromeach judge. At 41:30.01, the performancewould be lowered two rankings from eachjudge. This reduction is mandatory and willbe administered by the contest management.The other performances’ rankings will not beaffected.

5. Standards for Excellence: TheStandards of Excellence are indicated on theJudges Critique Sheets and should be used toprovide the basis for both performance andjudging. Judging forms may be found on theIHSA website.

a. The judge’s written evaluationshould clearly identify the major strengths andweaknesses of the performance and specifythe reasons for the ranking assigned.

b. Undue emphasis should not beplaced on technical elements or judge’spreferences, like or dislikes of literature.Acting should be of primary importance andwithin a supportive or unified concept.

D. Group Interpretation:1. Definition: Group Interpretation

is an event in which groups of three (3) ormore students interpretively present literature.

2. Purpose: The purpose of GroupInterpretation is to give students experience inthe group performance of literature. Theinterrelatedness of the narrator(s), themovement of the literature, and charactervoices control the performance. GroupInterpretation encourages students to createan ensemble performance which showcasestheir interpretive skills and group work withoutthe aid of costumes, make-up, set or props.Successful Group Interp. performances shouldbe based primarily on interpretation. Focusshould be primarily off-stage, although mixedfocus (a combination of off-stage and on-stage focus) is allowed.

3. Selection: The choice of a groupinterpretation to be presented for competitorsshall be, but is not limited to prose, verse,drama, speeches, diaries, letters, essays, orcompilations and original material.

4. Time Limit: The time limit forgroup Interpretation is 30 minutes. In GroupInterpretation, if a timer’s watch reads30:30.00 or less, it is not considered a timeviolation. For each full 30 seconds ofovertime, the contestants’ ranking from eachjudge will be lowered by one ranking. If bothtimers’ watches confirm that a performanceran more than 30:30.01 minutes from theinitial cue to the final performance element,the performance shall be penalized. Forexample at 30:30.01, a performance islowered one ranking from each judge. At31:00.01, the performance would be loweredtwo rankings from each judge. This reductionis mandatory and will be administered by the

contest management. The otherperformances’ rankings will not be affected.

5. Groups will be allowed five (5)minutes to move their set from the backstageentrance to the strike line. Set pieces are onlyallowed behind the designated strike line asdetermined by the contest management. Anygroup exceeding this time limit shallautomatically be dropped one (1) rank perjudge per 30 seconds overtime. The time limitfor Group Interpretation Set & Strike is a totalcombined 5 minutes. Group Interpretationsetup and takedown must be done in 5minutes total. For setup, once the directorrequests the clock to be stopped, it cannot berestarted. The cast must enter the designatedperformance space after the production isannounced and exit at the conclusion of thepresentation.

6. In the Sectional contests, GroupInterpretation selections may be presented in aclassroom or other appropriate performancespaces.

7. Standards for Excellence: TheStandards of Excellence are indicated on theJudges Critique Sheets and should be used toprovide the basis for both performance andjudging. Judging forms may be found on theIHSA website.

a. Gesture and pantomimeshould be used as justified by interpretation ofthe text.

b. At the discretion of theperforming group, the script may be used.

c. Focus should be primarilyoff-stage. On-stage focus should be usedsparingly and with purpose although mixedfocus (a combination of off-stage and on-stage focus) is allowed.

d. Uniformed dress ispermitted. Costuming is not allowed. Clothingthat delineates specific character(s) worn byan individual or the entire cast shall beconsidered costuming. All GroupInterpretation performers must wear shoes.

e. Character makeup isprohibited.

f. Sound effects may be used,but music may be used only as background orto establish mood.

g. Participating schools willprovide their own stools, chairs, boxes,platforms, ramps, risers and stairs only. Theseitems may be placed on appropriate flooring.Ladders, posts, pil lars, and walls areprohibited in Group Interpretation.Performers are not allowed to stand onchairs or stools. Performers may stand onsafe boxes, platforms, ramps, risers andstairs. Group Interpretation sets should beuniversal, able to be used for any show.Explicit sets are prohibited; painting withspecific designs is included in this definition.(For example, if the show being performed isabout a man-eating plant, the set could not bepainted with vines.)

h. Props shall be prohibited;creative use of scripts shall not be interpretedas use of props.

i. Undue emphasis should notbe placed on technical elements or judges’preferences, likes or dislikes of literature.


A. Damage to Property or EquipmentIf contestants or people from any school

entered in a state series are found guilty ofcarelessness or maliciously breaking,damaging or destroying property or equipmentbelonging to the host school, such schoolshall be held responsible for costs incurred inreplacing or repairing such property orequipment.


a. Any media person wishing totake photographs will contact the Sectional orState Final manager to verify arrangements toset photos at the tournaments. Photographersare welcome to take photos in the commonsarea. Managers names and information canbe found on the IHSA website or by contactingthe IHSA Office.

b. Photography is NOT allowedin rooms during performances, however,media is invited and encouraged to sit in onperformances.

c. At all levels an area may beset aside for photographs. All participatingstudents will be invited and encouraged tomake themselves available during thetournament for the Official IHSA Photographeras well as local outlets.

d. Results from each level ofthe tournament can be obtained by logginginto the IHSA website. Results will be postedfor Sectionals as soon as the competitionconcludes. State Final results will be postedas soon as possible following the tournament.

2. Managersa. May arrange a media area

for photographers and students to gather forphoto opportunities.

b. Will post any information forall participating students to have theopportunity to meet with area media.

c. Will cooperate fully withmedia personnel to arrange photoopportunities and ensure coverage of all levelsof the tournament.

C. Tobacco/Liquid Nicotine Products:The use of tobacco or liquid nicotine productsin any competition area, either during apractice or while a contest is in progress, oraffiliated property of any IHSA state seriescontest by any coach, player, any other personconnected with a team, or fan shall beprohibited. State series hosts are required tomake all state series contest sites and any

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affiliated property, including parking lots, fanaccommodation areas, and other school orevent venue property, tobacco/liquid nicotinefree zones on the date or dates of any IHSAevent being held at the site.

D. Use of Inhalers:A student with asthma may possess and

use his/her medication during an IHSAcompetition under the supervision of schoolpersonnel, provided the school meets theoutlined procedures of self administration inthe Illinois School Code.


1. The possession, distribution,sale and or consumption of alcoholicbeverages are prohibited at the site and on anyaffiliated property of any IHSA state seriescontest. State series hosts are required tomake all state series contest sites and anyaffiliated property, including parking lots, fanaccommodation areas, and other school orevent venue property, alcohol free zones onthe date or dates of any IHSA event being heldat the site. Violation of this policy by an eventhost will subject the host to a penalty forviolation of IHSA By-law 2.020. Such penaltymay include but not necessarily be limited toprohibition against subsequent event hostingassignments. Violation of this policy by a non-hosting member school will subject the schoolto penalty for violation of IHSA By-law 2.020.Patrons of any IHSA state series contestdetermined to be in violation of this policy willbe removed from the premise, and lawenforcement officials will be called aswarranted.

F. Special Report Forms and SAWASpecial report forms have been

developed to facilitate schools reporting anymatter concerning High School programs thatmerit the attention of the high school principal.These forms can be used for reporting anyincidents or problems with a competitor,coach, director or spectator. The forms mayalso be used to report errors in applying rulesor any phase of judging in which a judgeshould immediately attempt to improve. TheSAWA Report form should be used forreporting any instances where a coach,director, participant, judge or spectator hasdone an exemplary job of Sporting A WinningAttitude. These forms can be found on theIHSA website at www.ihsa.org.

G. Responsibility for Theft or otherLosses

The IHSA will not be responsible for lossor theft of any personal or school propertyduring the course of a contest.

H. Prayer at IHSA State Series Contest:Prayer at an IHSA state series contest

that takes place over the public addresssystem is prohibited.

X. AWARDS

A. SectionalA plaque shall be awarded to the first

place winner in both Drama and GroupInterpretation.

B. State FinalTrophies shall be awarded to the schools

ranking first, second, and third in both Dramaand Group Interpretation. Individualmedallions shall be given to the members ofthe first, second, and third place Play Casts,Group Interpretation Casts, the All State PlayCast and the All State Group InterpretationCast.

C. All-Contest Casts/Tech CrewsAwards

1. Judges at Sectional contestsshall each nominate individual students for All-Contest Cast consideration in both the dramaand group interpretation events. There shall beno maximum on any judge nominations. At thesectional contest, any student whose name iscontained on at least three (3) ballots shall benamed to the All-Contest Cast for his or herparticular event.

2. At the State Final, judges in eachevent shall nominate a minimum of ten (10)students for All-State Cast consideration.There is no maximum on any judges’nominations. Any student whose nameappears on a minimum of four (4) nominationballots shall be named to the All-State Cast.

3. Judges at the Sectional contestsshall nominate individual students forexcellence in running lights or sound for theAll-Contest Lighting/Sound Award in Drama.There shall be no maximum on any judgenominations. At the Sectional contest, anystudent whose name is contained on at leastthree (3) ballots shall be named to the All-Contest Lighting/Sound Tech Award.

4. Judges at the State contestsshall each nominate individual students forexcellence in running lights or sound for All-Contest Lighting/Sound Tech in Drama. Thereshall be no maximum on any judgenominations. At the state contest, any studentwhose name is contained on at least four (4)ballots shall be named to the All-ContestLighting/Sound Tech Award.

D. Sportsmanship/Teamwork AwardsA sportsmanship/teamwork award will be

presented to the schools whose director, castand crew in Drama and Group Interpretationworked best behind the scenes. Adult staff atUIS will be used to make this determinationand selection.

E. Technical Performance AwardThis award is being piloted this year to

recognize the fine technical crews whoconduct the "pre-show" that make this contestpossible. The criteria for the award is basedon the conditions in which the technical crewand directors unload the set and place instorage, set up the scenery and technicalelements, and strike and reload in the allottedtimes. The processes will be viewed andevaluated by university personnel and theIHSA Theatre Manager. They will be lookingfor the following qualities:

• Teamwork in a timely manner• Efficiency in setting up with accuracy• Congenial relationship with each other

and the theatre personnel• Harmonious in respecting the safety of

each other and the facility

Awards will be given based on the size ofthe set. Categories will be determined andeach category will be given recognition.(When possible the awards will be given toSmall, Medium and Large. When sizedetermination is not possible, it will be givento the three most effective set-ups, keeping inmind that size does not determine excellence.

XI. JUDGING

A. The local manager and the contestcommittee shall appoint five (5) judges eachfor Drama and Group Interpretation at theSectional contests. The State Final ContestCommittee shall appoint five (5) judges forDramatics; two (2) panels of five (5) judgeseach for Group Interpretation preliminariesand one panel of five (5) judges for GroupInterpretation Finals at the State Final contest.

B. Each judge shall rank theperformances in the order of their excellencein his or her judgment. Judges may not awardthe same ranking to more than one group.There shall be no consultation between judgesor with anyone else before the judges rank theperformances and submit their ballots to thecontest manager.

C. Each judge shall prepare a briefwritten critique of each performance. Theseshall be distributed to the participating schoolsfollowing the contest.

D. Undue emphasis should not beplaced on technical elements or judges’preferences, likes or dislikes of literature.

E. Judges shall not reveal theirdecisions to anyone prior to theannouncement of results by the contestmanager.

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F. Judges Fees:1. SectionalDramatics: $20.00 per play judgedGroup Interpretation: $15.00 per

performance judged2. State FinalDramatics: $20.00 per play judgedGroup Interpretation: $15.00 per

performance judgedAny judge who drives more than 70 miles

round trip to the site of any contest in theIHSA State series shall be reimbursed a travelallowance of $.30 per mile in excess of 70miles round trip. Reimbursement shall bedirectly from the IHSA office upon the judges’submission of a travel report form to beprovided by the IHSA through the contestmanagers.

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In accordance with Section 1.450 of theIHSA Constitution, the Board of Directors hasapproved the Terms and Conditions governingthe 2014-2015 IHSA Debate Tournament Series.


Competition in the IHSA 2014-2015 DebateTournament Series will be held for all memberschools without classification.

II. DATES AND SITES

A. The State Final Debate Tournament willbe held at the University of Illinois Springfield.

B. Dates for the tournament shall beMarch 20-21, 2015. Registration will take placeon Thursday, March 19, 2015.

III. ON-LINE ENTRIES, WITHDRAWALPROCEDURES, ELIGIBILITY, AND ON-LINE LIST OF PARTICIPANTS

The policies for Original Entry Deadlines,Late Entries and Late Withdrawals shall be thepolicies and procedures regarding entries for allIHSA-sponsored activities, included in the 2014-2015 Entry Policies and Procedures which can befound in the Schools Center on the IHSA website.

A. On-line EntriesAll member schools must enter their school

into the state series competition through theIHSA Schools Center on the IHSA Website atwww.ihsa.org. The deadline for entry isNovember 1, 2014. The 2014-15 Entry Policiesand Procedures outlining the online entryprocedures for all IHSA-sponsored tournamentscan be found in the Schools Center on the IHSAwebsite.

Competing schools are responsible forEvent Fees as described in Section IV. Checksfor Event Fees should be made payable to theUniversity of Illinois at Springfield and brought toregistration at the tournament.


online after the established deadlines will bedenied. Schools that wish to enter after thedeadline will be considered late. To be consideredfor late entry, the Principal/Official Representativemust contact the IHSA administrator in charge ofthat activity. The penalty for late entry shall be apayment of $100.00.


1. To withdraw without penalty, theschool principal must notify the IHSA office, inwriting, of the school’s team withdrawal fromDebate State Finals prior to March 4, 2015.

2. Withdrawal after March 4, 2015will result in a school being liable for payments of$100.00 late withdrawal penalty.

3. If a school withdraws one or moreentry after March 4, 2015, the school shall beliable for all event fees (see terms and conditions

Article IV-A) for each debate category withdrawnand shall be assessed additional penalties in theamount of $25.00 per event withdrawn.

4. If a school does not officiallywithdraw and/or does not show up forcompetition, the school will be assessed thepenalties in “2” and “3” above and if applicable,the school may be charged for any additionalfinancial loss sustained by the offended schoolsor the Association as a result of such breach(Judges’ fees if applicable). The school shallalso be considered in Breach of Contract underthe terms of the IHSA By-law 6.040, and thematter shall be reported to the IHSA Board ofDirectors for disposition.

D. EligibilityResponsibility of Individual School: The

principal is the official school representative in allinterscholastic activities and is responsible to seethat all students from his/her school entered incompetition are eligible under the rules. Allcorrespondence with the IHSA Office should beconducted through the principal.

In each contest in which his/her school isrepresented, the principal shall have present anadult, preferably a member of the faculty, whoshall supervise and be responsible for theconduct of the participants and other personsfrom the school. Failure to comply with thisprovision shall result in disqualification of theschool’s contestants.

E. On-Line List of ParticipantsEach school must complete the Online List

of Participants by the deadline date of March 4,2015. If a school does not submit the Online Listof Participants by the deadline, coaches and/orparticipants from the school are subject topenalties which could include, but not be limitedto being ruled ineligible to compete in the StateSeries and/or charged $100.00. Confirmation ofreceipt of Online List of Participants: Schoolsshould login to their School Center site on theIHSA website and go to the Activity Tracker. TheActivity Tracker will show “Completed”, if youhave checked the button indicating you havefinished with your report. If it doesn’t indicate“Completed”, then you must go back into yourschools List of Participants and check the buttonon the Online List of Participants indicating youare finished with your report.

1. Entry Limitationsa. Schools are allowed to have

up to four entries in Policy, Lincoln-Douglas, andPublic Forum Debate. All entries will debate bothsides of the question. Schools are allowed tohave up to ten (10) entries in CongressionalDebate.

b. Policy Debaters mayparticipate in only one (1) debate event at theState Finals. Congressional Debaters may doubleenter in either Lincoln-Douglas or Public ForumDebate.

c. Substitutions and changes inentries are permitted with the followinglimitations:

1) Changes in Original onlineentries may be made prior to the deadline for

submitting final entries to the contest managerMarch 4, 2015), by notifying the IHSA Office inwriting.

2) Members of participatingteams shall be determined prior to the start ofcompetition. No substitutions will be permittedonce the Debate contest has begun.


A. Event FeesAn Event Fee of $50.00 per Policy team,

$25.00 per Lincoln-Douglas, $15.00 perCongressional Debate Entry and $25 per PublicForum Debate Entry shall be paid to the StateFinal Contest Manager. No contestant from aschool will be permitted to participate in the StateFinal contest if the Event Fees ($50.00 per Policyteam, $25.00 per Lincoln-Douglas, $15.00 perCongressional Debate Entry and $25 per PublicForum Debate Entry) are not paid. Checks forEvent Fees should be made payable to Universityof Illinois Springfield and brought to registrationat the tournament.

B. Judges Fees: Judges hired by theIHSA shall be paid a flat fee of $200.00 for Policy,Lincoln Douglas, Congressional and PublicForum Debate at the State Final Tournament.However, if a judge is late for a round or missesan assignment, the flat fee will be rescinded andthe judge will be paid $10.00 per round actuallyjudged. Any judge who drives more than 70miles round trip to the site of the State FinalContest shall be reimbursed a travel allowance of$.30 per mile in excess of 70 miles round trip.Reimbursement shall be directly from the IHSAoffice upon the judges’ submission of a travelreport form to be provided by the IHSA to thecontest manager.

V. TOURNAMENT ASSIGNMENTS

All schools will participate in the statecontest at the University of Illinois Springfield inSpringfield, IL.

VI. TOURNAMENT STRUCTURES ANDTIMES SCHEDULES

A. Contest Management:1. Tournament Committee: Tourna -

ment committees composed of debate coachesand a representative from the IHSA SpeechAdvisory Committee will be appointed by theIHSA. One member shall be designated to be incharge of each of the four divisions: Policy,Public Forum, Lincoln-Douglas, andCongressional. The tournament committees willassist the State Final Manager.

Participating schools shall refer online to alisting of the State Debate TournamentCommittee members. The functions of theTournament Committee shall be:

a. to aid the manager inplanning, organizing and administering thecontest;

b. to interpret the rules whennecessary; and

2014-2015 Debate Terms and Conditions

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c. to serve as a panel to selectcontest judges.

The State Final Tournament Committee shallbe authorized to conduct the contest under theprovisions of these Terms and Conditions and tomake final decisions on any issues notspecifically covered by the rules. If a situationdevelops in which there is an apparent unfairnessto a contestant, and which is determined to bethe result of an administrative or judge’s error,the Tournament Committee shall determine themanner in which the situation shall be resolved.

The Tournament Committee shall beresponsible to resolve questions of rulesinterpretation, to arbitrate disputes and to applypenalties for violations of contest rules.Decisions of the Tournament Committee in allcases herein described shall be final.

B. Time ScheduleThe time schedule for the State Final Tournamentwill be established by the state final tournamentcommittee and will be posted online on the IHSAwebsite.


All contestants will debate five rounds onThursday and Friday. The highest rankingcontestants shall be paired for elimination roundson Saturday. The winner of the final debate ineach event shall be awarded first place andsecond place shall be awarded runner-up.


A. Policy Debate Competition Rules1. Definition:Policy Debate is organized oral

argument which, in the setting of interscholasticcompetition, provides participants an opportunityto display their skills of oral persuasion, logicalreasoning, research and application of evidenceand extemporaneous delivery before criticjudges.

2. Debate Subject:The topic for debate will be the national

policy topic developed by the Discussion andDebate Committee of the National Federation ofState High School Associations. By a poll of thecoaches of the nation, the following resolutionhas been selected as the national policy debatetopic for 2014-2015:

Problem area: OceansResolution:Resolved: The United States federal

government should substantially increase itsnon-military exploration and/or development ofthe Earth's oceans.

3. Time Schedule and Procedures:a. Tardiness or Absence: No

debate shall start unless both members of bothteams are present. If any debater is absent, thechairman shall wait five minutes for his/herappearance. If still absent, the team of which thedebater is a member shall forfeit the debate tothe other team. If members of both teams areabsent, the debate shall be annulled and indetermining the final ranking of the teams, bothshall be charged with the loss of the debate.

If a coach is five (5) minutes latefor a round that he/she is to judge, his/herteam(s) will forfeit that round.

Note: If the manager is convincedthat the tardiness of a debater, debate team, orcoach/judge is due to clearly unavoidable causes,the starting time for the debate may be extended,or the debate may be arranged for another hourprovided that it does not in any way interfere withor postpone termination of the contest.

b. Each elimination round muststart no later than fifteen (15) minutes after it isposted. Coaches will be notified whereelimination pairings will be posted and the timeof posting will be recorded. If a team is late it willforfeit that round.

c. Individual Round TimingProcedures:

1) In Policy style debating, thequestioner controls the time and may interruptthe person being questioned to ask that shorteror more direct answers be given or to inform theperson that the answer is insufficient. Thequestioner should ask relevant questions. Thequestioner should neither comment on theanswer, argue with the opponent nor makespeeches. He/she should use the time forquestioning only.

2) Time lost throughunavoidable interruptions shall be made good tothe debater. No debater may be interrupted by anopponent during the course of the debate.

3) A debate twosome shalltake no more than eight (8) minutes total elapsedpreparation time during a round of debate. Thetimekeeper should keep a record of elapsed timebetween speeches and indicate to the debater thetime remaining.

4) Speeches in policy debatewill be limited to: eight (8) minute constructives,three (3) minute cross-examinations, and five (5)minute rebuttals.

4. Rules of Competition:a. Debaters and coaches shall

not exchange evidence or other materials withcontestants from other schools during a contest.

b. Debaters should make allevidence read in their speeches available forperusal by their opponents. Debaters, however,should not be penalized for refusing to letopponents take such evidence back to theirdesks. If any judge wishes to read evidencefollowing the debate, that evidence may berequested by the judge and should be provided.Judges must not provide such materials to theopposition.

c. Each debater is responsiblefor the validity of evidence read in the debate. Allevidence cards or other evidentiary materialsmust contain the name of the author, thequalifications, the source, the date, the pagenumber, even if the full citation is not read in thedebate.

d. Prompting is not allowed.Prompting does not exclude time notations, butdoes prohibit all other forms of assistance to adebater during a speech or when involved in aPolicy period.

e. New issues shall not beintroduced during the rebuttal speeches.

f. The members of either teammay switch the order of rebuttals; however, thejudge must be so informed before the debatebegins.

g. Observers are permitted toattend debates. Flows of the debates may betaken. Electronic (audio/video) recording of thedebates shall be prohibited without prior consentof the IHSA.

h. The use of computers, electronicstorage and retrieval devices, etc. is allowed inrounds of Policy Debate. Connectivity to anyperson, machine, device, or server outside thecompetition room or persons other than thecompetitors in the round is not allowed. Thisincludes the prohibition of the use of wired orwireless local, or wide, area networks; cellphones; personal digital assistants; Palm, Treo,or Blackberry type devices; etc. Theestablishment of such a connection willconstitute a violation of this rule. Competitorsviolating this rule will be disqualified fromcompetition.

5. Matching of Teams and DrawingProcedures:

It will be attempted to allow each teamto debate each side of the question three (3)times in the preliminary rounds.

a. There will be a randomdrawing to determine pairings for Rounds 1 and2. Subsequent preliminary rounds should bepower matched, high-low within brackets.

b. If there are at least forty (40)teams in the tournament, debaters advancing tothe octa-final round will be paired according to abracket prepared by the Tournament Committee.If there are at least eighty-five (85) teams,elimination rounds will begin with double octa-finals (top 32). If there are less than 40 teams,elimination rounds will begin with quarterfinals.

c. If in the elimination rounds,teams from the same school are necessarilypaired against each other, they may either debateto determine a winner or the coach of the schoolinvolved may designate one of the teams as thewinner of the round. Elimination brackets willnot be altered to prevent such pairings.

d. In the elimination rounds,sides will be determined by a flip of a coin,unless they have met previously. In such casesthe debaters will switch sides.

6. Judging:a. Two (2) judges shall be used

for each debate in the preliminaries. Asavailability permits, three (3) judges should beused in all eliminations except for the final round.Five (5) judges shall be used in the final debate.

b. Judges for Policy debate shallbe in the second year removed from an Illinoishigh school. Judges who competed for an out-of-state high school must be high schoolgraduates. All judges should have judged at aminimum of two tournaments on the currentresolution. Each participating school shallprovide a coach-judge for each team entered inthe State Final. Schools which fail to provide therequired number of judges in accordance withtheir entries shall be subject to disqualification ofone Policy team per missing judge. Schoolswhose judges miss individual rounds shall beassessed a $30.00 fee for each round missed.

Debate Terms and Conditions—Page 2

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c. Each judge shall complete theballot indicating the winning team, reason(s) forthe decision, and appropriate speaker points foreach debater, and a written critique of the debate.The decision as to who won the round must beturned in to the tournament headquarters withinfifteen minutes after the end of the secondaffirmative rebuttal. The completed ballot mustbe turned in as soon as possible and prior to thedistribution of ballot packages to schools. Ajudge’s decision should be made withoutconsultation with anyone. Judges are notprohibited from oral critiques and/or disclosureof their decision to the debaters. All judges,including those who are school coaches, shall beavailable for all rounds including all eliminationrounds.

d. Each judge shall keep a flowsheet during the debate to assist him/her incompleting the ballot and reaching a decision. Itis recommended that judges concentrate on theflow sheet during the debate and on the ballotafter the debate has been completed.

e. Judges shall not conversewith anyone, other than the debaters themselves,prior to submitting their decisions for a givenround to the tournament manager.

f. Judges in any round must beat least four years removed from any affiliationwith a team in that round. Judges are expectedto notify the contest manager of any conflicts ofinterest prior to the start of competition. Judgesmay strike themselves from hearing anyindividual team(s) in the tournament.

g. Schools with teams inelimination rounds must maintain arepresentative in the tab room area until therounds have started.

B. Lincoln-Douglas Debate Com petitionRules

1. Definition:Lincoln-Douglas Debate is organized

oral argument which, with only one debaterarguing on each side of a proposition of value,provides participants an opportunity to displaytheir skills of oral persuasion, logical reasoning,research and application of evidence andextemporaneous delivery before a critic judge.

Lincoln-Douglas Debate is audience-oriented, meaning that people should be able tofollow the clash of ideas without taking a flowsheet.

2. Debate Subject:The topic for the IHSA Lincoln-Douglas

debate series will be the March-April topic of theNational Forensic League as published in TheRostrum(http://www.nflonline.org/Rostrum/Rostrum).Wording of this topic will be posted online atwww.ihsa.org. on the debate menu page.

3. Timing Schedule and Procedures:a. The order of speakers and

time limits for each Lincoln-Douglas debate willbe as follows:Affirmative 6 minute constructiveNegative 3 minute cross-examinationNegative 7 minute constructiveAffirmative 3 minute cross-examinationAffirmative 4 minute rebuttal

Negative 6 minute rebuttalAffirmative 3 minute rebuttal

b. State Final Time Schedule:The time schedule for the State Final Tournamentwill be established by the state final tournamentcommittee and will be posted on the IHSAwebsite.

c. Tardiness or absence: Nodebate shall start unless both contestants arepresent. If any debater is absent, the chairmanshall wait five minutes for his/her appearance. Ifstill absent, the absent debater shall forfeit thedebate. If both competitors are absent after thefive-minute grace period, the debate shall beannulled and in determining the final rankings,both shall be charged with the loss of the debate.

Note: If the tournament manageris convinced that the tardiness of a debater orjudge is due to clearly unavoidable causes, thestarting time for the debate may be extended, orthe debate may be arranged for another hourprovided that it does not in any way interfere withor postpone termination of the contest.

d. Elimination Rounds. Eachelimination round must start fifteen (15) minutesafter it is posted. Coaches will be notified whereelimination pairings will be posted and the timeof posting will be recorded. If a debater is latehe/she will forfeit that round.

A debater may take no more thanfour (4) minutes total elapsed preparation timeduring a round of debate. The timekeeper shallkeep a record of elapsed time between speechesand indicate to the debater the time remainingafter each interval.

4. Rules of Competition:a. Debaters and coaches shall

not exchange evidence or other materials withcontestants from other schools during a contest.

b. Each debater is responsiblefor the validity of evidence read in the debate.

c. A debater shall not receivehelp from anyone during the debate.

d. New issues shall not beintroduced during the rebuttal speeches.

e. If charts are used, they shallnot remain on display after the speaker using thecharts has finished his/her speech. However, ifthe opponent wishes the charts displayed, theabove rule shall be disregarded.

f. Observers are permitted toattend debates. Electronic (audio and/or video)recording of the debates shall be prohibitedwithout prior consent of the IHSA.

g. The use of computers,electronic storage and retrieval devices, etc. isallowed in rounds of Lincoln-Douglas Debate.Connectivity to any person, machine, device, orserver outside the competition room or personsother than the competitors in the round is notallowed. This includes the prohibition of the useof wired or wireless local, or wide, area networks;cell phones; personal digital assistants; Palm,Treo, or Blackberry type devices; etc. Theestablishment of such a connection willconstitute a violation of this rule. Competitorsviolating this rule will be disqualified fromcompetition.

5. Matching of Contestants andDrawing Procedures:

It will be attempted to allow everydebater to debate each side of the question threetimes in the preliminary rounds. In theelimination rounds, sides will be determined by aflip of a coin unless they have met previously. Insuch cases the debaters will switch sides.

a. Preliminary rounds 1 and 2will be randomly paired. Subsequent preliminaryrounds should be power matched, high-lowwithin brackets.

b. If there are at least forty (40)contestants, debaters advancing to the octa-finalround will be paired according to a bracketprepared by the Tournament Committee. If thereare at least eighty-five (85) contestants,elimination rounds will begin with double octa-finals (top 32). If there are less than 40contestants, elimination rounds will begin withquarterfinals.

If in the elimination rounds,debaters from the same school are necessarilypaired against each other, they may either debateto determine a winner or the coach of the schoolinvolved may designate one of the competitors asthe winner of the round. Elimination roundbrackets will not be altered to prevent suchpairings.

6. Judging:a. Two (2) judges shall be used

for each debate in the preliminaries. Asavailability permits, three (3) judges should beused in all eliminations except for the final round.Five (5) judges shall be used in the final debate.

b. Each participating school shallprovide one (1) judge per (2) students entered aslong as the tournament is double flighted. Eachparticipating school shall provide one (1) judgeper student entered if the tournament is notflighted.

Schools which fail to provide therequired number of judges in accordance withtheir entries shall be subject to disqualification ofone (1) Lincoln-Douglas contestant per missingjudge.

Judges for Lincoln-Douglas debateshall be in the second year removed from anIllinois high school. Judges who competed foran out-of-state high school must be high schoolgraduates. All judges should have judged at leasttwo tournaments during the current season.

Schools whose judges missindividual rounds shall be assessed a $30.00 feeper round missed.

c. Each judge shall complete theballot indicating the winning debater, reason(s)for the decision, appropriate speaker points foreach debater, and a written critique of the debate.The decision as to who won the round, and thecompleted ballot, must be turned in to thetournament headquarters within fifteen (15)minutes after the end of the second affirmativerebuttal.

Judges are not prohibited fromoral critiques and/or disclosure of their decisionto the debaters. All judges, including those whoare school coaches, shall be available for allrounds including all elimination rounds.


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d. Judges shall not conversewith anyone, other than the debaters themselves,prior to submitting their decisions for a givenround to the tournament manager.

e. Judges are expected to notifythe contest manager of any conflicts of interestprior to the start of competition.

C. Congressional Debate CompetitionRules

1. Definition:Congressional Debate is a simulated

congressional activity (debate) modeled after theState or National Congress. Participantsresearch and write bills and/or resolutions that will be debated on the floor of the congressionaldebate, utilizing the tools of deliberative decision-making such as Parliamentary Procedure andgroup communication skills.

2. Debate Subject (Legislation):a. After preliminary entries are

received, each school will be assigned to write legislation (bill or resolution) for two of thefollowing areas: foreign affairs, economics, andpublic welfare. A school should submit one pieceof legislation for each area assigned. Schoolsentered in Congressional Debate will be notifiedin December to which legislative committees theyhave been assigned. They may only write forassigned committees. Appropriate legislationmust be submitted by January 30. Legislationmust follow the IHSA Standard LegislationTemplate that will be provided in December. Alllegislation approved for Congressional Debate bythe IHSA will be available to schools online in adownloadable file.

b. Only legislation sent from thehead coach’s e-mail address will be accepted.

c. Only one piece of legislationfrom each school will be considered for thePreliminary Sessions. Only one piece oflegislation from each school will be consideredfor the Elimination Sessions (Semis andFinals).

d. If a school only submits onepiece of legislation, and it is chosen for debate, itwill be placed in the Prelims, the Semis, or theFinals, and it will not be debated in more thanone session.

e. If a school submits two piecesof legislation, one or both may be chosen. Ifboth are chosen, only one will be placed in thePrelims (to be debated for only one session), andthe other will be placed in the Semis or Finals.

f. All identifying school andstudent information will be taken off of the Semisand Finals Legislation.

g. All legislation assigned to thePrelims, Semis, and Finals will be announcedshortly after the January 30 deadline.

h. A Best Legislation award(overall – of all chambers combined) will beissued after votes are tallied in the PreliminarySessions.

3. State Final Time Schedule:a. Sessions will begin at the

posted times. Debate will not wait for any lateparticipants.

b. Preliminary Sessions may notend early.

1) Semi-final Session: Thesession will end immediately (prior to the postedend time) when everyone who wishes to speaktwice has done so.

2) Final Session: The sessionwill end immediately (prior to the posted endtime) when everyone who wishes to speak twicehas done so.

4. Procedures in PreliminaryChambers:

a. Committee Sessions:1) Committee Sessions shall

be comprised of a committee of the entirechamber (a Committee of the Whole – allregistered participants) deciding upon the agenda(the order in which legislation will be debated) forthe Preliminary Session.

2) This Committee of theWhole will meet prior to Session I to set theagenda (selection of bills and the order they willbe debated). The agenda must alternate throughlegislative committees (100s, then 200s, then300s)

3) Discussions within thecommittee will be restricted to the issue ofdebate-ability. (“Is the bill controversial, timely,and well written?” “Are there substantial pro andcon arguments concerning the bill?”) The merits of the idea contained within a bill should not bediscussed within the committee meeting.

4) The bills on the prioritizeddocket will be considered in the orderrecommended by the Committee of the Whole.

b. Apportionment: One (1) entryper school will be assigned to a chamber.

c. Order of Events:1) Two judges will be assigned

to each chamber. The committee will prepare aseating chart for each chamber.

2) At the beginning of eachsession, judges will conduct an election for aPresiding Officer (P.O.) for that session.

3) A preliminary session’stime will begin once the Presiding Officer hasbeen elected and all of the judges assigned to thechamber by the tab room are present.

4) There is no time limit fordebate on each piece of legislation.

5) Debate on each bill willbegin with the Presiding Officer’s request for athree-minute authorship speech to be given bythe actual author. His or her name must be onthe legislation in order to qualify as the author. Ifthe author is not present in the chamber, thePresiding Officer will call for a sponsorshipspeech. A sponsorship speech is a 3 minutespeech supporting the intent of the bill and canbe given by anyone in the chamber regardless oftheir school’s affiliation. Preference will not begiven to a member of the author’s school.Following the delivery of the authorship orsponsorship, the Presiding Officer will ask for aspeech in opposition to the bill. This speech, andall speeches thereafter, will be three minuteslong. This alternating process of three-minutespeeches will continue until the bill is placedupon the table, the bill is passed/failed afterprevious question is called, or time expires within

the session. Should a session terminate while abill is still being debated, previous question willbe called and an immediate vote will take place.

6) Following each speech, atwo-minute question and answer period will beheld. The questioning period will consist of onequestion asked per person to the speaker. Nocross-debate shall be allowed during thequestioning period of the preliminary chambers.The time clock will run continuously for thequestion and answer period.

7) Precedence, in regard tospeaking order, will reset at the end of eachpreliminary session.

8) Legislation that is debatedin one preliminary session may not be debated in

another preliminary session of that samechamber.

d. General Rules1) A participant may not speak

on both sides of the same legislation or thatdebater will earn a zero for the second speechgiven in opposition to the first speech on thesame legislation.

2) Voting on all matters in thepreliminary sessions will be one vote per person.

3) Abstentions shall not becounted in voting totals.

4) The members of a chambermay not suspend any IHSA Congressional Debaterules.

e. Judge Rules:1) Judges will be responsible

for evaluating the participants’ speeches forcontent, logic, evidence, rebuttal, extension,structure, delivery, and their response toquestions. Both judges will judge all speeches.In the event that a judge scores a student fromhis/her own school, that score will not betabulated and the other judge’s score will counttwice.

2) No participation or ethosscore will be adjudicated or awarded in anysession of IHSA Congressional Debate.Participation and ethos ought to be considered,in conjunction with debating and speakingabilities when determining nominations andrankings.

3) The judges, acting inconcert, shall be the ultimate authorities onparliamentary procedure and fairness inrecognizing speakers. They shall have the powerand the responsibility to correct and/or overturna decision of the Presiding Officer if it violatesprocedure or fairness.

4) At the end of every session,each judge will nominate two speakers (not thePresiding Officer), not from his/her own school,to be considered for advancement to semis.Judges must not confer when makingnominations.

5) Judges will score thepresiding officer twice during each session (onceper each ½ of the session). Scores will count astwo speeches.

6) Judges, of the thirdpreliminary session, will conduct an election forbest legislation within that preliminary chamber.Each debater in the chamber will be allowed onevote. The winning legislation must receive asimple majority of the votes cast. If no person

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earns a simple majority, the legislation thatreceived the lowest vote total will be droppedfrom consideration and voting will be repeateduntil there is a clear majority. In the instance thatmore than one piece of legislation is tied for thelowest vote total, eliminate all legislation that hasthe lowest vote total before re-voting. Judgeswill report the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd Place Legislationfrom their chamber. Tab will use these tallies tocalculate which piece of legislation won across allten Preliminary Chambers. That legislation willwin IHSA Best Legislation.

7) Judges, of the thirdpreliminary session, will conduct elections forbest Presiding Officer.

Each debater in the chamber will be allowedone vote. The winning candidate must receive asimple majority of the votes cast. If no personearns a simple majority, the candidate whoreceived the lowest vote total will be droppedfrom consideration and voting will be repeateduntil there is a clear majority.

5. Procedures regarding theElimination Rounds:

a. Semi-final Congress1) Eligibility for the Semifinal

Session will be determined in the following manner at the end of Preliminary Session 3: Thehigh point speaker (ties will not be broken, anydebater with the highest total in their chamberwill advance), any debater with at least onejudge nomination, and the winning presidingofficer from the chamber will advance.

2) Four Semi-final chamberswill be established.

a) Three coaches will beassigned to judge each Semi-final chamber.

b) Coaches will be assignedto preside over the Semi-final chambers.

c) During this session,Direct Questioning will be used. This questioningwill consist of two 30-second time periods thatwill total 1minute. The Presiding Officer will callon both questioners at the same time; then, thefirst questioner will engage in cross-debate withthe speaker. When 30 seconds expire, thePresiding Officer will tap the gavel, and the firstquestioner and the speaker will immediately stopspeaking; the second questioner will rise andimmediately engage in cross-debate with thespeaker for 30 seconds.

d) Four participants fromeach of the Semi-final chambers will advance tothe Final Session (Super Congress).

e) Each judge will completea preferential ballot, which ranks the top eightspeakers. Everyone else not ranked will receive aranking of 9. The lowest ranking (1st) is the bestranking. When ranking, judges ought to considerspeeches for content, logic, evidence, rebuttal,extension, structure, delivery, and their responseto questions, as well as participation, ethos, andquality of questions asked. Both judges will judgeall speeches.

f) The top four studentswho receive the lowest numerical rankings on thepreferential ballot will advance. Ties will bebroken following this specific order:

Judge Preference

Speech PointsStudent Preferential ballot

3) A random numbergenerator will determine precedence in the Semi-final Session.

4) Each participant will havean opportunity to give two speeches. A Debaterin the Semi-Final Session may not give more thantwo speeches. The session will end immediatelywhen everyone who wishes to speak twice hasdone so.

5) No authorships will begiven during Semis.

b. Final Congress (SuperCongress)

1) Sixteen participants willadvance to the Final Congress.

2) Five coaches will beassigned to judge the Final Session. Each judgewill evaluate all speeches.

3) A coach will be assigned topreside over the Final Session.

4) Each judge will complete apreferential ballot, which ranks the top eightspeakers. Everyone else not ranked will receive aranking of 9. The lowest ranking (1st) is the bestranking. When ranking, judges ought to considerspeeches for content, logic, evidence, rebuttal,extension, structure, delivery, and their responseto questions, as well as participation, ethos, andquality of questions asked.

5) To determine final awards,each of the five judges will complete apreferential ballot where they rank half of thechamber. The State Champion and Runner-upwill be decided based upon who has the lowestnumerical rankings on this preferential ballot.Ties will be broken by the following criteria in thisspecific order:

1 Judge Preference2 Redistribution of the preferential

ballots between tied debaters6) A random number

generator will determine precedence in the FinalSession.

7) Each participant will havean opportunity to give two speeches. A Debaterin the Final Session is not permitted to give morethan two speeches. The session will endimmediately when everyone who wishes to speaktwice has done so.

8) No authorships will begiven during Finals.

6. The use of computers, tablets,electronic storage and retrieval devices, etc. areallowed in rounds of Congressional Debate.Connectivity, wireless or otherwise, to anyperson, machine, device, or server outside thecompetition room or persons other than thecompetitors in the round is not allowed. Thisincludes the prohibition of the use of wired orwireless local, or wide, area networks; cellphones; personal digital assistants; Apple,Microsoft, Palm, Treo, or Blackberry typedevices; etc. The establishment of such aconnection will constitute a violation of this rule.Competitors violating this rule will be disqualifiedfrom competition.

D. Public Forum Debate CompetitionRules

1. Definition: Public Forum debateuses current controversial subjects as topics(resolutions) to be debated. Topics are brief,require no plan, and are debatable. Debate teamsdo not know on which side of the argument theywill be speaking. Due to the subject matter ofthese topics, much of the research towardbuilding and understanding the topic of a publicforum debate case will be conducted usingcurrent publications and news sources.

2. Debate Subject: The topic for theIHSA Public Forum debate series will be theMarch topic of the National Forensic League aspublished in The Rostrum(http://www.nflonline.org/Rostrum/Rostrum).Wording of this topic will be posted online atwww.ihsa.org. on the debate menu page.

3. Timing Schedule and Procedures: a. Public Forum Debate Timing

ScheduleFirst Speaker – Team A. 4 MinutesFirst Speaker – Team B 4 MinutesCrossfire (A1&B1) 3 MinutesSecond Speaker – Team A 4 MinutesSecond Speaker – Team B 4 MinutesCrossfire (A2&B2) 3 MinutesSummary – First Speaker – Team A 2MinutesSummary – First Speaker – Team B 2MinutesGrand Crossfire 3 MinutesFinal Focus – Second Speaker – Team A 2 MinutesFinal Focus – Second Speaker – Team B 2 MinutesPREPARATION TIME FOR EACH TEAM 2 Minutes

b. State Final Time Schedule:The time schedule for the State Final Tournamentwill be established by the state final tournamentcommittee and will be posted on the IHSAwebsite.

c. Tardiness or Absence: Nodebate shall start unless both members of bothteams are present. If any debater is absent, thechairman shall wait five minutes for his/herappearance, this allowance being grantedspecifically for variations in timepieces. If stillabsent, the team of which the debater is amember shall forfeit the debate to the other team.If members of both teams are absent, the debateshall be annulled and in determining the finalranking of the teams, both shall be charged withthe loss of the debate.

If a coach is five (5) minutes latefor a round that he/she is to judge, his/herteam(s) will forfeit that round.

Note: If the tournament manageris convinced that the tardiness of a debater ofjudge is due to clearly unavoidable causes, thestarting time for the debate may be extended, orthe debate may be arranged for another hourprovided that it does not in any way interfere withor postpone termination of the contest.

d. Procedure: Prior to the roundin the presence of the judge(s), a coin is tossedby one team and called by the other team. Theteam that wins the flip may choose one of two

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options: Either the side of the topic they wish todefend (pro or con) or the speaking position theywish to have (begin the debate or end thedebate).

1) Once the coin toss winnersselect their favored option, the other team makesa choice within the remaining options. Oncespeaking positions and sides has beendetermined, the debate can begin.

2) Each speaker shall havefour minutes for constructive argument,alternating between pro and con. (Please keep inmind that the debate may begin with a conspeech.)

3) Following the first twoconstructive speeches, the two debaters whohave just given speeches will participate in athree-minute “crossfire”. (In “crossfire” bothdebaters “hold the floor”. However, the speakerwho spoke first must ask the first question. Afterthat question, either debater may question and/oranswer at will.)

4) At the end of the first“crossfire”’ the four-minute constructivearguments are continued by the students yet tospeak.

5) At the conclusion of the lasttwo constructive arguments, another three-minute “crossfire” takes place between the twodebaters who just spoke using the crossfireprocedure discussed above.

6) Following the fourconstructive speeches and two “crossfire”segments, the 1st speaker for each team willeach give a two-minute summary continuingestablished alternation. The summary speechesshould include arguments his or her team iswinning and refuting of arguments it is losing.

7) At the conclusion of thesummary speeches, all four debaters willparticipate in a three-minute “Grand Crossfire” inwhich all four debaters are allowed to cross-examine one another. The speaker who gave thefirst summary speech must ask the first question.

8) At the conclusion of the“Grand Crossfire”, the second speaker will eachgive a 1-minute “Final Focus” speech. The “FinalFocus” is a persuasive final restatement of why ateam has won the debate.

4. Rules of Competition:a. The first speaker for each

position usually has a prewritten case thatprovides reasons for affirming or negating atopic.

1) After both speakers havestated their cases a cross-fire session occurs. Incross-fire both speakers ask and answerquestions in a civil manner.

2) The second speaker foreach position generally attempts to refute thepoints of the opposing side and can also provideadditional reasons to vote for their position.

3) The second speakersconduct a cross-fire session in the same mannerthe first speakers did. The speech that follows isthe summary in which the first speakers of bothpositions summarize their points and the

opposing sides points and try to show the judgeswhy their points still stand or why the opposingteam’s points fall.

4) Following this speech is agrand cross-fire, a cross-fire session that isconducted sitting down and includes all fourspeakers. The final speech for both sides is a lastshot in which the second speaker for each teamprovides one main reason why the judges shouldvote for their position on the resolution.

5) Final Focus Speechesshould present voting issues to the judge.

b. Debaters and coaches shallnot exchange evidence or other materials withcontestants from other schools during a contest.

c. Each debater is responsiblefor the validity of evidence read in the debate.

d. Judges are not prohibitedfrom oral critiques and/or disclosure of theirdecision to the debaters.

e. A debater shall not receivehelp from anyone during the debate.

f. The use of computers,electronic storage and retrieval devices, etc. isallowed in rounds of Public Forum Debate.Connectivity to any person, machine, device, orserver outside the competition room or personsother than the competitors in the round is notallowed. This includes the prohibition of the useof wired or wireless local, or wide, area networks;cell phones; personal digital assistants; Palm,Treo, or Blackberry type devices; etc. Theestablishment of such a connection willconstitute a violation of this rule. Competitorsviolating this rule will be disqualified fromcompetition.

5. Matching of Teams and DrawingProcedures:

a. There will be a randomdrawing to determine pairings for Rounds 1 and2. Subsequent preliminary rounds should bepower matched, high-low within brackets.

b. If there are at least forty (40)teams in the tournament, debaters advancing tothe octa-final round will be paired according to abracket prepared by the Tournament Committee.If there are at least eighty-five (85) teams,elimination rounds will begin with double octa-finals (top 32). If there are less than 40 teams,elimination rounds will begin with quarterfinals.

c. If in the elimination rounds,teams from the same school are necessarilypaired against each other, they may either debateto determine a winner or the coach of the schoolinvolved may designate one of the teams as thewinner of the round. Elimination brackets willnot be altered to prevent such pairings.

d. In the elimination rounds,sides will be determined by a flip of a coin,unless they have met previously. In such casesthe debaters will switch sides.

6. Advancement and Determination ofWinners: The highest-ranking teams will bepaired for elimination rounds on Saturday.

7. Ties: Speaker points will break ties.8. Judging:

a. Two (2) judges shall be usedfor each debate in the preliminaries. As

availability permits, three (3) judges should beused in all eliminations except for the final round.Five (5) judges shall be used in the final debate.

b. Each participating school shallprovide one (1) judge per (2) teams entered aslong as the tournament is fl ighted. Eachparticipating school shall provide one (1) judgeper team entered if the tournament is notflighted.

c. Schools, which fail to providethe required number of judges in accordancewith their entries, shall be subject todisqualification of (1) Public Forum team permissing judge. Judges for Public Forum Debateshall be in the second year removed from anIll inois high school. Judges must not beaffiliated with the teams they are judging. Judgeswho competed for an out-of-state high schoolmust be high school graduates. Schools whosejudges miss individual rounds shall be assesseda $30.00 fee per round missed.

d. Each judge shall complete theballot indicating the winner debater, reason(s) forthe decision, appropriate speaker points for eachdebater, and a written critique of the debate. Thedecision as to who won the round, and thecompleted ballot, must be turned in to thetournament headquarters within fifteen (15)minutes after the end of the last final focus.

e. The judge should rate eachspeaker on a scale of 11-30. The judge needs towrite a brief reason for his/her decision.

f. Judges shall not reveal theirdecisions to anyone prior to the announcementof results by the contest manager. All judges,including those who are school coaches, shall beavailable for all rounds including all eliminationrounds.

g. Judges shall not conversewith anyone, other than the debaters themselves,prior to submitting their decisions for a givenround to the tournament manager.

h. Schools with teams inelimination rounds must maintain arepresentative in the tab room area until therounds have started.

i. Judges are expected to notifythe contest manager of any conflicts of interestprior to the start of competition.

E. Special Rules and Limitations:1. Use of Inappropriate Material:If, in the opinion of any judge, material

which is debated for his/her adjudication isinappropriate for public presentation by a highschool student, the judge may rank the teamdown. If, in the judge’s opinion, a debate ispersistently inappropriate or is flagrantly profaneand vulgar, he/she may stop the debate anddisqualify the students or team. In either case,the judge shall explain his/her opinion and actionin a written critique and the manager shallforward a copy of the critique to the IHSA Office.

Please Note: Material which isinappropriate for public presentation by highschool students will not be tolerated.


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IHSA By-law 6.010 will be applied inthe event contestants utilize material which, uponinvestigation by the Executive Director, isdetermined to be inappropriate. By-law 6.010states:

Any violation of the IHSA Constitutionand/or IHSA By-laws, IHSA Terms andConditions, IHSA Policies and Guidelines, and/orother rules of the Association, shall be reportedto the Executive Director, who shall haveauthority to investigate all alleged violations. Thefindings of the investigation shall be made knownto the school (or schools), person (or persons),alleged to have committed violation. TheExecutive Director shall then have full authority toinvoke penalties against such school or personsfound to have committed violations. Penaltiesshall include, but not be limited to, writtenwarning or reprimand, requisite affirmationcorrective action... up to and includingsuspension and/or expulsion. Failure to take thecorrective action required by any penalty shall bethe basis for further action up to and includingsuspension and/or expulsion.

Note that these provisions includepossible penalties against the school or individualpersons found to have committed violations.This means that competitors, coaches, directors,and/or principals/official representatives may bepenalized directly for the use of inappropriatematerial in the IHSA competitions.

A debate (language or action) whichincludes symbolic or colloquial expressiondescribing or naming anything which is profaneand/or vulgar, whether or not suited to a specificcase being presented, IS ALWAYS CONSIDEREDINAPPROPRIATE!

2. Violation of Limitation Rule:If a student participates in more events

than permitted by Art. III-E, his/her school shallbe disqualified in all the events in which he/sheparticipated. If the student or his/her school wonany awards in, or as a result of, the events inwhich he/she participated, such awards must besurrendered to the IHSA Office.

3. Late Discovery of Violations:If a violation, the penalty for which is

disqualification, is not discovered until after theclose of the contest in which the violationoccurred, the following procedure shall befollowed:

a. The student, team or schoolshall nevertheless be disqualified and theviolation shall be reported to the IHSA office.

b. The rankings of the othercontestants in the event shall be revised upward.

c. If the disqualified individual,team or school has won any awards, suchawards shall be returned to the IHSA Office. Anattempt will then be made to redistribute theseawards on the basis of the revised rankingrankings.


A. Damage to Property or EquipmentIf contestants or people from any school

entered in a state series are found guilty ofcarelessness or maliciously breaking, damagingor destroying property or equipment belonging to

the host school, such school shall be heldresponsible for costs incurred in replacing orrepairing such property or equipment.


a. Any media person wishing totake photographs will contact the State Finalmanager to verify arrangements to take photos atthe tournaments. Photographers are welcome totake photos in the commons area. Managers’names and information can be found on the IHSAwebsite or by contacting the IHSA Office.

b. Photography is NOT allowedin rooms while rounds are taking place, however,media personnel are invited and encouraged tosit in on rounds as spectators.

c. At all levels of IHSAcompetition, an area may be set aside forphotographs. All participating students will beinvited and encouraged to make themselvesavailable during the tournament for the OfficialIHSA Photographer as well as local mediaoutlets.

d. Results from each level of thetournament can be obtained by logging into theIHSA website and choosing the appropriateactivity. State Final results will be posted onlineas soon as possible following the tournament.

2. Managersa. May arrange an area for

photographers and students to gather for photoopportunities.

b. Will post any information forall participating students to have the opportunityto meet with area media.

c. Will cooperate fully with mediapersonnel to arrange photo opportunities andensure coverage of all levels of the tournament.

C. Tobacco/Liquid Nicotine Products: Theuse of tobacco or liquid nicotine products in anycompetition area, either during a practice or while acontest is in progress, or affiliated property of anyIHSA state series contest by any coach, player, anyother person connected with a team, or fan shall beprohibited. State series hosts are required to makeall state series contest sites and any affiliatedproperty, including parking lots, fan accommodationareas, and other school or event venue property,tobacco/liquid nicotine free zones on the date ordates of any IHSA event being held at the site.

D. Use of Inhalers:A student with asthma may possess and

use his/her medication during an IHSAcompetition under the supervision of schoolpersonnel, provided the school meets theoutlined procedures of self administration in theIllinois school code.


The possession, distribution, sale and orconsumption of alcoholic beverages areprohibited at the site and on any affiliatedproperty of any IHSA state series contest. Stateseries hosts are required to make all state seriescontest sites and any affi l iated property,

including parking lots, fan accommodation areas,and other school or event venue property, alcoholfree zones on the date or dates of any IHSA eventbeing held at the site. Violation of this policy byan event host will subject the host to a penalty forviolation of IHSA By-law 2.020. Such penaltymay include but not necessarily be limited toprohibition against subsequent event hostingassignments. Violation of this policy by a non-hosting member school will subject the school topenalty for violation of IHSA By-law 2.020.Patrons of any IHSA state series contestdetermined to be in violation of this policy will beremoved from the premise, and law enforcementofficials will be called as warranted.

F. Special Report Forms and SAWAForms

Special report forms have been developedto facil itate schools reporting any matterconcerning high school programs that merit theattention of the high school principal. Theseforms can be used for reporting any incidents orproblems with a competitor, coach, director orspectator. The forms may also be used to reporterrors in applying rules or any phase of judgingin which a judge should immediately attempt toimprove. The SAWA Report form should be usedfor reporting any instances where a coach,director, participant, judge or spectator has donean exemplary job of Sporting A Winning Attitude.These forms can be found on the IHSA Web Siteat www.ihsa.org.

G. Responsibility for Theft or OtherLosses: The IHSA will not be responsible forloss or theft of any personal or school propertyduring the course of the contest.

H. Prayer at IHSA State Series Contest:Prayer at an IHSA state series contest that

takes place over the public address system isprohibited.

X. AWARDS

Trophies shall be awarded to the Policy,Public Forum, Lincoln-Douglas andCongressional Debate teams finishing first andsecond. In Policy, Lincoln-Douglas,Congressional and Public Forum Debate,medallions shall be given to the top ten (10)ranking speakers in each event after thepreliminary rounds and in Policy, Lincoln-Douglas and Public Forum all other contestantswho qualify for the octa-final, quarter-final, semi-final or final rounds. In Congressional Debate, allqualifiers for the Super Congress will receivemedallions.

XI. JUDGING

Refer to the Rules of Competition for eachDebate category in Article VIII.

—39—

Future Standardized Dates

IHSA Standardized CalendarIHSA-sponsored State Tournament Series and IHSA Sport Seasons shall be conducted on dates established in accordance with the Associates

Standardized Calendar. This calendar shall number the weeks of the year, with week one (No. 1) being the first full week of July (Sunday throughSaturday).

Speech - Individual Events 2014-2015 2015-16 2016-17 2017-18 2018-19List of Participants Due On-Line (Mon. Week 31) Feb. 2 Feb. 1 Jan. 30 Jan. 29 Jan. 28Regional Entry Mtg. (Mon. Week 31) Feb. 2 Feb. 1 Jan. 30 Jan. 29 Jan. 28Regionals (Sat. Week 31) Feb. 7 Feb. 6 Feb. 4 Feb. 3 Feb. 2Sectionals (Sat. Week 32) Feb. 14 Feb. 13 Feb. 11 Feb. 10 Feb. 9State Final (Fri.-Sat. Week 33) Feb. 20-21 Feb. 19-20 Feb 17-18 Feb. 16-17 Feb. 15-16

SPEECH – DEBATEList of Participants Due On-Line (Wed. Week 35) Mar. 4 Mar. 2 Mar. 1 Feb. 28 Feb. 27State Final (Thurs.-Sat. Week 37) Mar. 19-21 Mar. 17-19 Mar. 16-18 Mar. 15-17 Mar. 14-16

SPEECH - DRAMA, GROUP INTERPRETATIONNOTE: The week of the state series usually revolves around Easter.List of Participants Due On-Line (Performance Title and Author Only) Jan. 30 Jan. 30 Jan. 30 Jan. 30 Jan. 30

List of Participants Due On-Line (Entire Cast List Due) (Mon. Week 36) Mar. 9 Mar. 7 Mar. 6 Mar. 5 Mar. 4

Sectionals (Fri.-Sat. Week 37) Mar. 20-21 Mar. 18-19 Mar. 17-18 Mar. 16-17 Mar. 15-16State Final (Fri.-Sat. Week 38) Mar. 27-28 Mar. 25-26 Mar. 24-25 Mar. 23-24 Mar. 22-23

2015-2016Note:EasterSunday is boxed.

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