Handbook Info

PREPARATION FOR THE SEASON

1. Pay attention to daily announcements for information on speech/debate team meetings and contest information. When in doubt, check with Mr. or Mrs. Heimes for this information. Check your e-mail regularly as this is how we will most often communicate important information to you. Respond if necessary!

2. Get started on your events as soon as possible. For those of you who might be new to speech and debate competition, refer to the event summaries found in this handbook. The coaches can give you ideas for speech topics, interp materials and debate cases.

3. LSW is a member of the National Forensic League. NFL is an educational honorary for speech and debate. Students become eligible for membership by (1) earning points through competition, (2) ranking in the upper two-thirds of their class, and (3) paying a $10 membership fee. The point system allows students to earn a sequence of degrees/awards. NFL membership is a requirement for participation in the NFL regional meet, which allows students to qualify for national competition. Upon graduation, members in good standing will be given the opportunity to wear the honor cords that signify membership in the NFL. Elections will take place each year for the following offices:  team captain as well as senior, junior, sophomore and freshmen captains..

4. Don’t forget to share this handbook with your parents. Both you and your parent(s) must sign the student three pages of forms (at the back of this handbook). No one will be allowed to compete until these forms have been submitted to Mr. or Mrs. Heimes.

ACADEMIC ELIGIBILITY AND ATTENDANCE

1. Because speech is an academic activity, students must maintain eligibility by meeting the NSAA requirement: passing at least 20 credit hours of class during the semester prior to competition. You must also be enrolled in 15 hours (three full classes) per term.

2. Refer to the LSW handbook for policies concerning absences prior to, or the day of, a competition. These policies will be enforced for any member of the forensics team.

3. All of the invitational meets are on Fridays and Saturdays. District and state competitions take place at various times during the week. If you will be missing school because of a contest, it is your responsibility to notify teachers of the classes that you will be missing in advance. Maintaining cordial relationships with your teachers is very important. This includes informing teachers of absences and making up work ahead of time.

LETTERING CRITERIA

In order to receive a varsity letter, students must earn 50 points through competition in speech, debate or congress at varsity-level tournaments. Points are earned in the following ways:

Attending an invitational meet = 5 pts

Placing in an event = 5 pts

Winning an individual or group event = 10 pts

Being a member of District or NFL team = 15 pts

Competing at state = 20 pts

Qualifying for nationals = 25 pts

COMPETITION AND PRACTICE RESPONSIBILITIES

1. Students are required to sign up for the various competitions throughout the season. These forms will be located in either Mr. & Mrs. Heimes’s room and will need to be complete two weeks prior to a tournament. Signing up to compete in a meet means making a commitment to the team as well as the school. Checks to cover our team’s registration are written almost one week prior to the actual meet. If a student withdraws from a meet or event at the last minute and doesn’t compete, we have lost the money that was paid for his/her registration. The host of the meet is also inconvenienced by the schedule change. Therefore, if you withdraw from a meet or event after the check has been submitted, you are required to reimburse the team for the money spent on your registration. The only exceptions are illness or a family emergency.

2. Practice with at least one of the coaches at least once a week. Debate reherasals will occur on Mondays and Wednesdays from 3:30-5:30 for LD; Tuesdays and Thursday from 3:30-5:30 for Forum; and Wednesdays from 6:00-8:00 for congress. Attending once a week is a requirement for competition. Failure to do so will result in not being allowed to participate in future meets.

3. Students are expected to practice on your own before coming in to work with the coaches. We have many students to work with, and listening to a speech that has never been practiced or has not been rehearsed since the previous meet inconveniences other competitors as well as the coaches.

4. When you sign up for a practice, please come to practice at that time. Other students and the coaches plan their time based on those that have previously been scheduled. Failing to show up (without notification) is inconsiderate to your teammates, especially for those involved in any of the group events.

5. Legitimate conflicts with the practice schedule will be dealt with on an individual basis. Work is not considered a legitimate practice conflict unless worked out prior to the season. For each unexcused absence, the student will miss one competition. After the third unexcused absence, the student will be suspended indefinitely from the team.

FUNDRAISING EXPECTATIONS

Due to continually tightening school budgets, we are required to rely on outside funding to offer a top-notch forensics program. Team members are asked to help in these endeavors by participating in our major fundraising events: Gold Card sales, Stock in Hawk Talk, Christmas greenery sales, and hosting invitational tournaments. More information specific to each of these fundraisers will be distributed to students and/or parents prior to their start. All speech and debate participants are expected to work at the invitational tournaments that we host at LSW during the season. Often, this participation will include a donation of food items and/or money for the concession stand.

APPROPRIATE APPAREL

You are representing Lincoln Southwest High School, and you are expected to dress up for meets. The judge’s first impression of your presentation will be based on how you look. Your personal appearance should make a statement that you take pride in your activity, your presentation, your school, and yourself. Keeping this in mind, please follow these guidelines:

DRESS FOR SUCCESS!

The old saying is that a picture paints a thousand words and perhaps that applies to the nonverbal picture that is painted by a speaker’s clothing. An outfit can make a very strong statement to the audience. Although the perfect attire won’t guarantee success, the wrong outfit does guarantee problems. It’s very important that nothing distracts from the message and if possible it should attract to the performance. The following guidelines are based on the findings of many public speakers and their experiences.

1. Neatness counts — Detail is important because all eyes are on the speaker and whether it is a crooked tie, a dangling thread, a hair out of place or a slip showing, it will be noticed. Be meticulous.

2. Never wear busy patterns — This will distract the listeners. In fact, studies show that the bolder the pattern, the more the audience blinks and if the audience is busy blinking, it listens less. Stick with solid colors vs. prints.

3. Avoid anything that snaps, crackles, or pops — Jewelry should be kept to a minimum, especially dangling earrings, noisy bracelets, and gaudy rings because they tend to make noise!

4. Pay attention to detail — An outfit should be carefully coordinated from shoes to shirt. One good podium costume will take a speaker a long way with the audience.

5. Use color advantageously — Deep, rich colors can enhance the tone of the speech. The color choice should compliment the event. Avoid looking washed out because of light, monochromatic color combinations.

6. Some no-nos — Blue jeans, short skirts, hats, boots, slippers, and tennis shoes are not considered acceptable attire.

7. Wear comfortable dress shoes — You will be doing a lot of walking and standing!

8. Stay dressed up — You need to look your best at the awards ceremony, and the entire team needs to be in professional attire. If the ride home is considerable, coaches may give you permission to change before we depart.

9. Don’t overdo it — One, preferably two, nice outfits can be worn at every weekend tournament. If the student cares for his/her outfit, it will last more than a season.

10. Care for your clothes — Investing in a garment bag for travel is wise.

SPECIFIC PROFESSIONAL DRESS GUIDELINES:

MEN —

1. Suits are the way to go! A blazer and slacks can be an appropriate choice as well. Khakis are less formal and not recommended.

2. Long-sleeve dress shirts please. White is always safe and there are many great colors as well. Choose something that makes you look sharp.

3. Belts and shoes should match. Shoes should be dress (not casual) and dark socks are a must.

4. Ties should complement the color of your shirt and suit.

5. Hair should be conservative, neat, and off the face.

WOMEN —

1. A suit is great for women as well. It does not need to be black. Color is quite appropriate but stay with one color. An elegant red or purple suit can be quite striking.

2. Dresses are appropriate but should be simple, sophisticated, and monochromatic. Skirt length should be to the knee or below.

3. As for jewelry, small and simple is a must. Rings should be limited and bracelets tend to distract. Conservative makeup is best, as is clear nail polish.

4. Shoes should be pumps with a 1 to 2 inch heel. No open toes and dark sheer hose.

5. Hair should be conservative, neat, and off the face. Long hair should be pulled back with something that is unobtrusive and/or matches the suit.

TEAM SELECTION PROCESS

1. All of you who have prepared and practiced your speeches will be allowed to compete in the invitational contests, provided that you meet the eligibility requirements in this handbook.

2. Participation in the district and state meets is limited to two students per individual event and one in each of the group events. In addition, students may only be double-entered at these contests. Selection for these positions will be based on prior tournament placing, willingness to practice regularly, and overall quality of performance. The coaches will decide which material and performances would be most successful at the district and state levels.

3. Entries and events are very limited at the regional NFL meet. Decisions on who attends will be made by the coaches and based on accumulation of points throughout the season, overall point total, and adaptability of material to NFL rule requirements.

NATIONAL TOURNAMENT PARTICIPATION

1. Students who qualify for nationals are expected to participate. Please make sure that you are able to attend the national tournament prior to competing at the qualifying meet.

2. Students who qualify for nationals will be expected to travel and stay with the team for the duration of the competition. Special exceptions may be considered on a case-by-case basis.

3. Families of students qualifying for nationals will be asked to provide financial assistance when budget constraints warrant. This will generally be equal to the cost of round-trip airfare. Students are expected to pay for most of their own meal expenses during the trip.

TRANSPORTATION

1. Before boarding the vehicle, please make sure that you have everything with you that you will need for the meet: scripts, notecards, visual aids, easels, extemp files, etc. Don’t forget that scripts must be placed in black notebooks.

2. Don’t be late! We plan our travel time carefully and don’t have time to wait for stragglers. Lateness shows a lack of consideration for the students who arrive on time, the coaches, and the driver. If you have a tendency to oversleep, enlist the help of your parents or a teammate. Missing the van will require you to reimburse the team for your entry fees.

3. Stereos will not be permitted on the trips. You may bring a portable CD/tape player as long as you have headphones for it. The school is not responsible for theft of these items. Make sure cell phones are always turned off during rounds of competition!!!

4. Transportation to all out-of-town meets will be provided. Transportation to city meets will be handled on an individual basis and communicated to team members in advance. Competitors may not leave the meet without a coach’s permission, as the school is liable for you when you are on a school-sponsored activity. If you have a commitment to another activity or a family event that prevents you from riding the van home from a tournament, you must handle this in accordance with the school transportation policy.

5. Check to make sure that you have all of your personal possessions before you leave the van. Anything left cannot be retrieved until the Monday following a meet. Be sure to check the area around you to make sure that no trash is left.

TOURNAMENT RESPONSIBILITIES AND BEHAVIOR

1. Remember that you are representing Southwest High School from the minute you step out of the van in the morning until you re-board it that afternoon or evening. Your behavior and language should be more than acceptable at all times.

2. When we arrive at the host school, we will find an area to assemble. It is at this time that you will receive your speaker codes and specific room assignments. You should have a pencil and paper of some type for recording this information. It is important to pay attention and be patient; this part of the meet can be hectic and time-consuming. After you have obtained your round assignments and any final words of wisdom from your coaches, you can find the rooms in which your rounds will be held.

3. Report to your rounds on time. If you are double- or triple-entered in events taking place at the same time, you should do one of the following: tell the second judge that you are doubling and will return as soon as you have finished your first event, or write your event, code and last name on the board followed by double-entered in the room you will come back to after your first performance.

4. Stay in your rounds and listen to all speakers. The only exception is when you are double-entered in two events taking place at the same time. If that is the case, ask your first judge for permission to leave after you have spoken. When you go to a round that is already in progress, never enter a room while someone is speaking. Wait until the end of a presentation before entering. If you go to a round to watch a friend, you should stay and watch everyone in the round; don’t come in for just one person’s performance.

5. Give the speakers in your rounds your undivided attention. You should not be reading, whispering, or practicing while someone else is speaking. Remember the golden rule of speaking: be the type of audience member that you want to have.

6. Behave courteously toward contestants, judges, and coaches not only during the rounds, but also throughout the course of the tournament. Remember that judges listen to comments made before the rounds begin and in the hallways. What you do before and after you actually speak can have a significant influence on the judge’ final decision.

7. Don’t congregate in the hallways while rounds are in progress. This excessive noise can create a real problem for the students who are in the rooms competing.

8. Remember that we are guests of the schools hosting the meets. You must respect their property and their facilities. Don’t let trash accumulate during the day in our student area. We will not board the bus until our area has been completely cleaned. Keep track of your personal possessions and all speech team supplies such as easels and stools. You are responsible for all of these supplies.

9. Bring money for your lunch or a sack lunch to eat during a break at the meet. Don’t try to go without eating. Speech competition demands a great deal of mental energy, and bringing healthy snacks is a good idea. Drinking plenty of water is also beneficial. Depending upon the location of the meet and its length, we may stop somewhere for a meal on the return home.

10. During awards assemblies, sit with our team. Try not to become impatient while we wait for the results to be announced. Please applaud for every LSW student who wins an award. It is always important to be gracious losers and humble winners. Please congratulate those schools and students who win sweepstakes or their particular events. At no time should you belittle a member of any team.

OVERNIGHT TRIPS

1. During an overnight trip, you must remember why you are there in the first place–to compete. You are not there for an all-night slumber party. A good night’s sleep is important for everyone, including your coaches. You will not perform well, and we cannot become rested to judge or drive vans home the next day if we are patrolling the hallways looking for students who are attempting to escape from their rooms.

2. You will be given a room assignment that will not be changed without a coach’s permission. You must abide by the curfew time you are given. Lights out and quiet should follow one half-hour after curfew. Males and females must not be in each others’ rooms after your designated curfews. Room checks will occur to account for everyone.

3. Specific information about all of the overnight trips will be sent or emailed to parents prior to departure. This will include the hotel, phone numbers and all other pertinent information.

4. Please respect others who are staying in the hotel: walk quietly and speak softly in the halls; respect all lodging regulations, don’t let doors slam closed behind you; and keep room talk and TV volume at a low level.

5. Remember that there may be up to four of you trying to get ready for the contest. Make sure that you set your alarm or get a wake-up call early enough so that you do not have to rush to get ready or are late for the departure.

6. Make sure that you tidy the room before you leave. We want to make a good impression as guests at the hotels. Remember to check under beds, behind curtains and in drawers for personal items before leaving.

7. All school rules will be followed on overnight trips. Make sure you know the guidelines for student behavior as outlined in the Forensic and LSW handbooks. The coaches reserve the right to enter the rooms by knocking or by pass key in cases of suspicious behavior. Students who violate the rules regarding overnight travel will not be allowed to travel on future overnight trips and, depending on the infraction, may be sent home from the meet at their own expense.

PARENTAL INVOLVEMENT

LSW Forensics welcomes and encourages parents to take an active role in our program. The most successful speech and debate schools rely on outstanding parental involvement to foster the growth of a dynamic team. Parents of all forensic team members will be invited to a special meeting in the fall to receive an orientation about the program and answer any questions they may have. Forensics is a part of the Performing Arts group of the LSW Booster Club and has a Speech Parent Rep and Debate Parent Rep. In addition to those two positions, we would like to develop a six-parent forensics committee consisting of the following primary job duties: concessions, fundraising, publicity and hospitality. If you are interested in serving in any of these capacities, please contact the coaches. There are many ways in which parents can volunteer to help and we’d be glad to put your talents and dedication to work for the Silver Hawk Forensics family.

FINAL COMMENTS

Although these team policies may seem lengthy, we have tried to cover a wide variety of topics, potential questions, and possible problem areas. Not only does public speaking prepare you for life, but it also allows you to develop friendships with your teammates and with students from other schools. We hope that these are some of your very best high school memories and want them to be positive for everyone involved.