TFL Constitution

* to enable students to apply general knowledge gleaned from curricular studies through the medium of oral communication,
* to promote development of more effective communication skills,
* to offer regional competition among high school students,
* to recognize outstanding achievement in oral communication skills,
* and to awaken community interest in forensic activities.

A. preside over general meetings.
B. call executive and general meetings when necessary.
C. arrange schematics for TFL tournaments, and
D. direct Rules of Procedure for Tab Room.

A. assume the duties of the president in his or her absence.
B. automatically succeed the president in the event he or she is unable to complete the term.
C. assist in the Tab Room, and
D. publicize TFL activities by contacting local papers with tournament results: name, school, and ranks which pertain to their localities.

A. notify member schools of tournament dates the week before school starts.
B. take minutes of meetings.
C. notify member schools of tournament dates and registration deadlines.
D. distribute copies of TFL rules and regulations and judging procedures to each member school.
E. keep a financial record of cost of supplies and postage, and
F. assist in the Tab Room.

A. keep financial records of TFL.
B. collect dues from member schools.
C. order trophies for each tournament.
D. pay TFL expenses.
E. present financial reports at coaches' meetings, and
F. assist in the Tab Room.

1. All secondary school students may be members of TFL.
2. The maximum number of students per school per event is four (4) including Varsity and Junior Varsity (J.V.) Prose and Poetry events.

1. Each school must provide one (1) judge for every five (5) entries or fraction thereof.
2. Prior to the tournament, coaches are responsible for providing rules, regulations, guidelines, and sample ballots.
3. The number of judges will be determined at the time of call-in pre-registration and this commitment must be honored regardless of drops.
4. Judges are required to go through a judge certification training session.

1. A sixty dollar ($60.00) drop fee per judge will be assessed for any school that does not honor its commitment the day of the tournament. This fee must be paid at registration for the tournament at which the drop takes place.
2. Any school whose team and/or judge(s) fails to participate at the Tournament of Champions without duly notifying the President by the normal registration date will be assessed an additional fine of fifty dollars ($50.00). Appeals will be made to the Executive Board.
3. No school shall be permitted to compete in any TFL tournament if debts are outstanding beyond a sixty (60) day period.
4. A five dollar ($10.00) drop fee will be assessed for each student who has been signed up but does not attend the tournament.
5. As of the second preliminary tournament, a sixty five dollar ($65.00) fine will be assessed for any school bringing judges who are not certified.

a) All contestants entered in an event will compete in three (3) rounds of a prearranged schedule.
b) Contestants will follow a prearranged speaker order. This order may be altered by the President or his/her designee.
c) Students may not enter more than one (1) category and may qualify for no than two (2) categories at the Tournament of Champions. Qualifiers for the Tournament of Champions in Extemporaneous Speaking may not compete in any other category at the tournament.
d) Except for Extemporaneous Speaking, contestants should arrive in the room at the beginning of the round and are expected to remain in the room until the end of the round.
e) Students in ninth and tenth grades can compete in the J.V. Prose and Poetry categories. Once a student competes on the varsity level, he/she can no longer compete on the J.V. level.
f) Contestants may not use podiums during presentations.

a) Judges should pick up ballots at the Tab Room at the beginning of each round.
b) Judges are responsible for proper decorum in the room during rounds.
c) Judges may not critique orally at any time during the evening. All responses/critiques must be written and these written critiques will be returned to the contestants after all the judging takes place.
d) Judges are ultimately responsible for the accurate timing of events.

1) Judges are responsible for obtaining and using a stopwatch.
2) Contestants will receive one drop in rank for exceeding the time limit.
3) Contestants may not be penalized unless the judge uses a stopwatch.
4) Judges must report any penalty assessed to the President of TFL at the end of the round in which the penalty was assessed.

e) All contestants must be ranked first through fifth place by the judge. There cannot be any ties in rank except for fifth place. Judges are responsible for making sure that master ballots are filled in completely and returned to the Tab Room.

a) Host schools will provide directions to their schools.
b) Host schools will provide the following:

1) Adequate rooms for the contests.
2) Tab Room.
3) General meeting area.
4) Coaches’ lounge area.
5) Extemp preparation room (preferably the library).
6) Extemp time keepers.
7) Copier and supplies.
8) Extra judges.

a) The League will host four (4) preliminary tournaments to held the first Thursday in October, November, and December and the second Thursday in January.
b) A Tournament of Champions will be held the first Thursday in March.

5. Cancellation/Postponement Procedures: The first Thursday in February will be used as a make-up tournament.

1.. Students may not use their oral interpretation selections or speeches from a previous year even if the presentation is done in another category (i.e.Prose and S.D.I.).
2. To promote development of more effective communication skills, coaches should encourage students to present a variety of material during the year.
3. The student or coach will be able to produce the original copy of the script used in interpretation events. A Xerox copy with bibliography should be available at the meet. A copy of a student’s original oratory shall be available at the meet.
4. The TFL Executive Board may use any of the following categories for a tournament and new categories may be added to this list at any time:

a) Original Oratory (10 minutes maximum)

1) Contestants will deliver an original speech which should be persuasive in purpose. (One might speak in order to convince stimulate, or inspire.) 2) No more than 150 words of quoted material may be contained in the speech, and all quoted material must be identified.
3) Two (2) 3x5 cards containing a key word outline are allowed.
4) There is no restraint on movement.

b) Varsity/Junior Varsity Prose Reading (10 minutes maximum)

1) Each contestant will present a program of single or multiple selections of published prose. Children’s literature is acceptable.
2) The program should include an original, memorized introduction.
3) Prose must be read from a manuscript and may not be memorized.
4) Gesturing is allowed, but contestants may not move around the room.

c) Varsity/Junior Varsity Poetry Reading (10 minutes maximum)

1) Each contestant will present a program of single or multiple selections of published poetry.
2) The program should include an original, memorized introduction.
3) Poetry must be read from a manuscript and may not be memorized.
4) Gesturing is allowed, but contestants may not move around the room.

d) Extemporaneous Speaking (7 minutes maximum)

1) Before each round the student will choose, at random, three (3) topics phrased as questions on news taken from the last two months of Time, Newsweek, and U.S. News and World Report.
2) The contestant will select one topic and return the other two.
3) The contestant will have thirty (30) minutes of preparation time in the extemp room to prepare the speech.
4) An index file for the magazine articles, along with older issues of the three magazines may be used during the preparation time. (Students may supply their own magazines.)
5) Students may use both sides of one 3x5 card during their speeches.
6) There is no restraint on movement.

e) Impromptu Speaking (7 minutes maximum)

1) The student will be allowed a total of 7 minutes for both prep/think time and speaking time. During prep time the student will receive oral time signals. During speaking time, the student will receive manual time signals.
2) One index card may be used during the speech; contestants may make notes during the “think time.” The notes are for organizational purposes and may be used while the contestant is speaking.
4) There is no minimum speaking time, though students are encouraged to speak for a least 2 minutes for quality purposes.

f) Children’s Storytelling (10 minutes maximum)

1) Each contestant will present a recitation of a published work of children’s literature. “Published” does not refer to original works on the Internet. The content must be aimed at children in contrast to a work that would be applicable to an adult.
2) The recitation must be in story form.
3) Gestures are encouraged; however, action must be restricted to movement in place.
4) No props or costumes are allowed.
5) The selection must be memorized. Students using a script will receive rank of fifth place.
6) A brief, memorized introduction is required.

g) Serious Dramatic Interpretation (10 minutes maximum)

1) Each contestant will present a recitation from any play, book, or declamation. The selection must be of a serious nature. It may be a monologue.
2) The selection may be edited for unity and/or coherence.
3) Each contestant is to work alone, without costumes or props.
4) Only suggestive, limited movement should be used.
5) The selection must be memorized. Students using a script will receive the rank of fifth place.
6) A brief, memorized introduction must precede the presentation.

h) Humorous Dramatic Interpretation (10 minutes maximum)

1) Each contestant will present a recitation from any play, book, or declamation. The selection must be of a humorous nature. It may be a monologue.
2) The selection may be edited for unity and/or coherence.
3) Each contestant is to work alone, without costumes or props.
4) Only suggestive, limited movement should be used.
5) The selection must be memorized. Students using a script will receive a rank of fifth place.
6) A brief, memorized introduction must precede the presentation.

i) Duo Interpretation (10 minutes maximum)

1) Two contestants will present a recitation from any play or book.
2) The selection may be edited for unity and/or coherence.
3) The contestants are to work without costumes or props.
4) Only suggestive, limited movement should be used.
5) The selection may be memorized. Students are not required to hold scripts, but may do so.
6) A brief, memorized introduction must precede the presentation.
7) Contestants can make eye/physical contact only during the introduction.

1. Winners will be determined by the lowest total number of ranks. Ties in ranks are broken by referring to the highest total points. In case of a tie in ranks and points, the winner will be determined by the highest number of first places.
2. Individual trophies will be awarded to the top six (6) contestants of each event.

1. Sweepstakes points are awarded according to the following scale:

1) 6 points for first place
2) 5 points for second place
3) 4 points for third place
4) 3 points for fourth place
5) 2 points for fifth place
6) 1 point for sixth place

2. In case of a tie in points, the sweepstakes trophy will be awarded to the school with highest number of first place winners.
3. Sweepstakes trophies will be awarded to the top six (6) schools.

C. Tournament of Champions

1. The Tournament of Champions will be held as a final tournament.
2. The top three (3) contestants in every event for each preliminary tournament who have not previously qualified will be invited to compete in the Tournament of Champions. Therefore, three (3) new students will qualify from each preliminary tournament.
3. A judge will be required for every three (3) entries per school or fraction thereof.

A. Amendments to these By-Laws may be proposed by any member at any TFL Coaches’ meeting.
B. A two-thirds (2/3) vote of TFL membership present shall be necessary for ratification of the proposed amendment.
C. The amendment becomes effective immediately.

I. Name	II. Purpose	III. Membership
IV. Dues	V. Meetings	VI. Election of Officers
VII. Duties of Officers	VIII. By-Laws	IX. Amendments