1. The following rooms will be needed
for the tournament:
Library (for Extemporaneous Speaking)
Cafeteria
Auditorium
A room designated as the Coaches’ Lounge
A room designated as the Tab Room
45 - 65 classrooms
2. Set-up for the on-site TFL
registration, Tab Room, and Awards Assembly:
Select an appropriate location in your building for the on-site
registration. Set up a long table and 4 chairs for
registration. Please have 400 copies of the map of your school to
be given out at the registration table.
The Tab Room must be equipped with student desks or tables/chairs
for tabulation work, and 2 long tables for folders. Please
provide the Tab Room with one ream of 81/2 x 11 white paper and access
to a copier.
Have a microphone and podium set up in the auditorium for the
Awards Assembly. Also, set up a long table in auditorium for the
display of the TFL trophies. Be prepared to assist the
co-president in setting up the trophies.
3. Refreshments for the tournament:
Have refreshments set up for the coaches/judges in the Coaches’
Lounge. Also, have a tray, especially, prepared for the TFL
officers and student helpers in the Tab Room. TFL will give the
host school $250.00 for the cost of refreshments. You need to get
your check from the TFL Treasurer at the tournament prior to the
tournament you will host.
Set up concessions to be sold at the tournament site so schools
will not have to leave the tournament site in order to find meals.
4. Please provide the following
information to the TFL President prior to the tournament:
Typed directions to your school that show the locations of nearby
fast-food restaurants, and a price list for food items you are selling
at concessions. This information is needed a month or more prior
to the tournament you will host.
A list of classrooms to be used for competition and a copy of
your school map. After the Fax-in/Call-in registration, the TFL
President will discuss room allocations with you. Classrooms
close to library will be selected for extemp competition rooms.
Make the president aware of rooms designated for the Coaches’ Lounge
and the Tab Room. Try to select rooms in close proximity for the
Coaches’ Lounge and Tab Room, if possible. Also, let the
president know where the on-site TFL registration table will be set
up. This information is needed a week or more prior to the
tournament you will host.
5. Student helpers for the tournament:
Secure 2 dependable student helpers to work in the Tab
Room. These helpers must be in the Tab Room no later than 3:30
p.m. One of the TFL officers will instruct them on what they have
to do. Tell them they will be working in the Tab Room until about
8:00 p.m. Any refreshments/food brought to the Tab Room for the
TFL officers will be shared with the student helpers.
Secure dependable students and train them to time in the extemp
rooms. In the training explain how the competition is staggered
in extemp because of the 30 minute preparation in the library.
Show them how to use time cards and instruct the timer to ask the
contestant how he/she wants to be timed prior to the beginning of the
speech. You must provide student timers with stopwatches and time
cards---don’t forget to show them how to use the stopwatch! Express the
importance of appropriate behavior in the extemp room while a
contestant is speaking and the necessity of accurate timing.
Also, tell them that the time must be given to the judge at the end of
each speech. Student timers must report to their assigned rooms
no later than 4:15 p.m. with their stopwatches and time cards.
They should time in the same room for all 3 rounds. Student
timers will finish at approximately 7:45 p.m. One timer is needed
for each extemp room---the exact number of student timers needed cannot
be determined until after Registration.
If possible, secure dependable students (cheerleaders, JROTC
cadets, NHS members, SCA members, etc.) to help TFL contestants,
coaches, and judges get around your school by serving as building
guides. Guides must be in their designated locations in the
school no later than 2:55 p.m. The busiest times for the guides
will be between 3:00 – 3:30 p.m. as teams, coaches, and judges are
arriving and approximately 15 minutes prior to the start of each
round. Building guides must work until 6:30 p.m.
A Few
Tournamentt-hosting Tips
As the host, DO NOT plan to judge---you will not have time.
TFL gives one FREE judge for hosting the tournament!
Start preparing for the tournament EARLY!!
Give your student activities director a copy of the How To Host A
TFL Tournament instructions and discuss with him/her the things you
must do to prepare.
Make the arrangements for concessions, and food for the Coaches’
Lounge at least a month in advance.
Make your staff aware of the tournament at least 3 weeks in
advance. Let them know that Round 1 will begin a 4:00 p.m.
Give every staff member a list of the classrooms and other locations
that will be used for the tournament. Be aware that some teachers
may NOT want their classrooms used for competition!
Head custodians (day & evening) must have a list of the
classrooms and other locations being used for the tournament, in
advance, to assure that all needed rooms will be UNLOCKED!!
Make colorful signs with category event & room number, and
put them on the doors of the classrooms used for competition.
Make colorful signs with Coaches’ Lounge and Tab Room, and put them on
the doors of those locations.
Have “WELCOME TFL” on your school marquee, if possible.
Stay in contact with the TFL President---they are ready and
willing to assist you any way.
BE AWARE THAT SOME FORENSIC TEAMS/COACHES MAY ARRIVE FOR THE
TOURNAMENT AS EARLY AS 12:00 NOON BECAUSE OF TRANSPORTATION
SITUATIONS. THESE COACHES SHOULD CA.LL/FAX YOU, IN ADVANCE, TO
MAKE YOU AWARE OF THEIR EARLY ARRIVAL. PLEASE TRY TO ACCOMMODATE
EARLY ARRIVALS.
