Judges Training
District 26 Toastmasters
Part One
Contest Roles
Contest Chair
Responsible for the entire contest
 Make room arrangements
 Make sure you have all materials needed to
run a contest
 Know the contest rules
Contestants
Prepare and deliver a speech
Participate in Evaluation and Humorist
(Fall) or Table Topics and International
(Spring) Contests.
Chief Judge
Appoint and brief timers, counters and tie
breaking judge
Brief the judges
Provide the names of the winners to the
contest chair
Knows the contest rules
Chief Judge
Brief judges by reviewing the judges guide
ballot
Remind judges that their decision is
confidential
Brief timers
Brief counters
Chief Judge
Explains to the audience that…
 The contestants have been briefed
 The judges have been briefed
 The timers and counters have been briefed
Chief Judge
Explains to the audience…
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Contestants know where the timing lights are
No photography during the speeches
Turn all cell phones off
Announces the speaking order
Toastmaster
Briefs contestants
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Verify their presence and name pronunciation
Review rules
Review timing protocol
Review speaking area
Draw for speaking order
Toastmaster
No opening remarks about any contestant
Announce each contestant by name,
speech title, speech title, name
Observe one minute of silence between
speakers
Toastmaster
After the contest…
 Conduct brief interview
 Have each contestant give club name and
area
 Present certificate of participation
 Announce any disqualifications without
naming any contestants names
Toastmaster
Announcements from Area, Division and
District Officers
Announce winners
 Contest with five or more contestants
announce 1st, 2nd and 3rd place (in reverse
order)
 Contest with four or fewer contestants
announce 1st and 2nd place (in reverse order)
Toastmaster
The announcement of contest winners is
final unless the list of contest winners is
announced incorrectly
If the list of winners is announced
incorrectly…
 The chief judge or counters may immediately
interrupt to correct the error
Judges
Use the judges ballot to select a 1st, 2nd
and 3rd place winner
All information is confidential
Tiebreaking Judge
Rank all the speakers numerically on the
tiebreaking judges ballot
Ballot is given only to the chief judge
Ballot is only opened in case of a tie
Timers
To record the duration of each speech
Submit the information to the chief judge
All times are confidential
Counters
Collect and count all ballots
All information is confidential
Sargent at Arms
Opens meeting
Introduce the Toastmaster
Ensures that no one enters or leaves
during a speech
Part Two
Judging
What is the purpose of a Judge?
To Pick A Winner!!
To Select the person who has given the
best speech
What is the difference between
judging and evaluating?
Evaluating:
Is a speech appraisal
Measures presentation against purpose
Offers improvement advice
What is the difference between
judging and evaluating?
As a Judge:
You do not Evaluate
Your decision is confidential
 Don’t explain your decision
 Don’t offer contestants suggestions for
improvement
What makes a good judge?
Fair
 Completely impartial
 Set aside - friendship, age, race, gender, etc..
 Don’t let anything including disapproval of
speech topic get in the way of your decision
What makes a good judge?
Accurate
 Dedicated to making the correct decision
 Filling out the judges form correctly
 Adding points carefully
What makes a good judge?
Trustworthy
 Understand that the contestants, contest
officials and Toastmasters International is
counting on you to select the best speaker
What makes a good judge?
Knowledgeable
 Know the current contest rules
 Be familiar with the judging form
What makes a good judge?
Good Listener
 Listen carefully to each speaker
 Don’t become distracted
 Don’t daydream
Barriers to Objectivity
Speaker position
 People tend to remember the first and last
contestant
 May hold a slight advantage
Barriers to Objectivity
Champion for the underdog
 Normal to want to give a break to someone
with a handicap or has overcome a hardship
 As a judge you do not
Barriers to Objectivity
Halo effect
 Attributing a favorable trait because of
another favorable trait
Example: “Joe’s delivery is dynamic so his
content is really good”
Barriers to Objectivity
Reverse halo effect
 Attributing a non-favorable trait to another
non-favorable trait
Example: “Jane has questionable grammar,
therefor her speech is weak”
Barriers to Objectivity
Second time around
 Longer you are in Toastmasters the more
likely you are to see a speaker more than
once
 Imagine you are hearing the speaker for the
first time
Barriers to Objectivity
Give someone else a chance
 Betty won last year, let’s give Bob a chance
this year
 Never let past performance effect your
decision
Barriers to Objectivity
Not the norm
 Social behaviors that are not common to you
 Behaviors differ from club to club
Common Misconceptions
Speeches must to be serous
 Contestants can use humor
Speeches must be motivational or
inspirational
 Contestants can give any kind of speech they
wish
Common Misconceptions
Contestants CAN use props, visual aids or
music
 As long as they are in good taste
 Must place them on the stage and clean up
right after the speech
Disqualifications
Contestants can only be disqualified for
 Eligibility
 Timing
 Originality
Disqualifications
Eligibility
 Member of good standing in a club of good
standing
 Maintain eligibility at ALL levels
 Check eligibility with Word Headquarters prior
to the contest
Disqualifications
Timing
 30 second grace period
 Clock starts with the first definite verbal or
non-verbal communication with the audience
Disqualifications
Originality
 No large amounts of quoted material
 Properly cited sources
 No plagiarizing
Disqualifications
Protest
 For originality only
 Must protest in writing to the chief judge
before the winners are announced
 Only contestants or judges can protest
Part Three
Judges Guide and Ballot
Judges Guide and Ballot
Is laid out in two parts
 Top portion to help you pick a winner
 Is not given to the counters
Judges Guide and Ballot
The bottom portion is the official ballot
 Will be given to the counters and must be
complete
 Three different names for 1st, 2nd and 3rd
 Must signed by the judge
 Chief Judge will throw out if not filled out
correctly
Judges Guide and Ballot
Not only one way to fill out the ballot
Use a notebook to take notes then fill in
ballot
This way you are focused on the speech
not the ballot
You must break your own tie
Judges Guide and Ballot
Three main categories
 Content
 Delivery
 Language
Judges Guide and Ballot
Content
 Worth 50% of the speech points
 Determines the quality of the speakers
message
Judges Guide and Ballot
Content
 Speech development
• Structure – defined opening, body and conclusion
• Organization – purpose clear and defined
• Support material
Judges Guide and Ballot
Content
 Effectiveness
• Achievement of purpose – Subject matter clear to
audience
• Audience interest – Subject relevant to the
audience
• Reception – How does the audience react
Judges Guide and Ballot
Content
 Speech Value
• Ideas – Does the speaker have something to say
• Logic – Have a clearly defined message
• Original Thought – Stimulate listeners thinking
Judges Guide and Ballot
Delivery
 Worth 30% of speakers points
 The way the content of the speech
represented
 Delivery is both verbal and physical
Judges Guide and Ballot
Delivery
 Physical
• Appearance – Does the speaker look neat and
appropriate
• Body Language – Gestures have purpose, facial
expression match the message
• Speaking Area – How well the area is used
Judges Guide and Ballot
Delivery
 Voice
• Flexibility – Good quality, modulate to show feeling
and emotion
• Volume – adequate for the room, words clear,
easy to understand
Judges Guide and Ballot
Delivery
 Manner
• Directness – Does the speaker believe in their
message
• Assurance – Clear and confident in sharing the
message
• Enthusiasm – Speak with enthusiasm conveying
the message
Judges Guide and Ballot
Language
 Counts for 20% of the speech points
 Is about the speakers word choice and
grammar
Judges Guide and Ballot
Language
 Appropriateness
• To speech propose – Does the language fit the
speech
• To audience – Promote understanding of the
speakers message
Judges Guide and Ballot
Language
 Correctness
• Grammar – Is the speakers grammar good
• Pronunciation – Enunciation good
• Word Selection – diction and word choice effect,
show study and preparation
Judges Training
You are now ready to
confidently judge the contest!
Have fun and enjoy