Lincoln
Northeast
Speech
Handbook
2008-2009
SPEECH HANDBOOK
2008-2009
Welcome to the Northeast Speech Team! Being a part of the team offers many opportunities
and personal rewards. Forensic members become better writers and speakers, gain confidence
and meet new people!
It is important to know exactly what you are getting into by becoming a member of the Northeast
Speech Team. Please read the handbook and return the last page to Mrs. Wardyn by October
3rd.
CONTENTS
1. Practices
2. Tournaments
3. The LNE tournament
4. District Speech Tournament
5. State Speech Tournament
6. National Forensic League
7. Lettering Requirements
Thank you very much!
Autumn Wardyn, Coach
awardyn@lps.org
PRACTICES

Practice is a time to work with the team. This means we watch and evaluate each other.
As with any skill, you must practice, practice, practice.

If you are doing excessive goofing around, causing your teammates to lose practice time,
you will be asked to leave and will not compete in the upcoming meet.

Sign up sheets for practice time will be posted in room 32. Mrs. Wardyn will be available
after school for practice. You must sign up at least one day in advance. There may be
some days when coaches are not available due to meetings; we will mark this on the
practice sign-up sheets. These practice times will generally be 1/2 hour to 1 hour in
length. You must schedule at least one hour of one-on-one practice time each week.
Practice on your own is also encouraged.

Scheduled team meetings/practices are every Monday from 3:00 – 3:30 pm in room 32
(unless otherwise notified). If you cannot attend practice please let Mrs. Wardyn know
ahead of time.

Know when you are going to practice so that you can get a ride home or have someone
pick you up.
TOURNAMENTS

TRAVEL
We will ride to the out-of-town tournaments together in a van. If your parents want to
pick you up from the meet, you will need to bring a note signed by a parent at least one
day before the tournament. Exceptions will be made in the case of emergencies.

For Friday tournaments, you will usually be excused from school for part of the afternoon.
You are responsible for making up any work you will miss. If you receive a notice that
you were truant from the classes that you were excused from, let me know and I will get
it cleared.

For in-town tournaments, you will need to find your own way to the tournament and
home. If this is a problem, talk to me.

Be on time. I cannot stress this enough. We will leave without you if you are not on
time.

We will give you approximate arrive home times so that you can arrange for a ride. We
can also let you into the school to call if necessary.

BEHAVIOR AT TOURNAMENTS
All school rules apply at tournaments!!!

Be professional at all times. Be confident, but not cocky. “Listen to others as you would
have them listen to you.”

Find out your competition rooms early. Write down the time, room number, and speaker
position. Locate the room so you know exactly where to go.

If you are double entered, make sure you put your code on the board and indicate you
are double entered (or triple entered).

Be polite to everyone you see. Never say anything unkind while at a tournament about
anyone or anything - including yourself. Listen to everyone in the round if you are not
entered in another event. Judges are always around and pay attention to your behaviors.

Do not ask the judge anything concerning your performance - before, during, or after.
Wait for your ballots!

Don’t go wandering off during a tournament. If there is a round in which you are not
competing, don’t just sit around. Choose an event to watch.
 Refrain from talking between speakers. The judges need quiet to fill out their ballots.
BEHAVIOR AT AWARDS
 Act like winners. Professional competitors do not shout or stand up at awards. Applaud
equally for everyone.
 If you do not win an award, try not to act shocked, angry or show disappointment.
TOURNAMENT FEES
 We pay for you to enter a tournament. It costs around $6 for each entry. We also pay for
judges at each tournament. That cost is $10. If you sign up to compete at a meet and
then back out at the last minute or decide not to show up, you must pay the entry fee and
the judging fee.
 Each tournament will have a concession stand. Make sure you bring money to buy food
or bring food from home.
ATTIRE AT TOURNAMENTS
 You will need to dress professionally for competition. This means a dress or suit for the
ladies, and a suit or dress pants, shirt, and tie for the men.
 If you break into a final round and will be receiving an award, you must remain dressed up
for the awards. You should look professional at all times.
 If you do not break into finals you may change out of your dress clothes into appropriate
casual attire.
 You may NOT change before finals are posted. Even if you feel like you didn’t make to
finals, you never know what those judges will do!
 We will order team t-shirts chosen by the varsity team. We would prefer it if you would wear
your LNE team shirts when you change.
 If you are on free/reduced lunch, there is a fund available to use for tournament attire.
Please talk to one of the coaches about this.
THE LNE TOURNAMENT

Our tournament this year is on January 31, 2009. There is a lot that needs to be done
and you will be expected to help out.

About a month or so before our tournament, we will send out invitations. We will ask for
your help folding invitations and stuffing envelopes.

The week of the tournament you will need to help get everything organized. We all need
to be here to work on Friday, January 30 after school. There will be many last minute
things that will have to be put together. We may be working late, so be prepared.

The day of the meet, we will all need to be at Northeast bright and early. There will be a
lot to do. All day you will be running errands for the people in the tab room, stuffing
ballots into envelopes, and doing whatever is asked of you. Be prepared for a long and
busy day.
DISTRICT SPEECH

District competition will be held in Omaha on Tuesday, March 3rd.

Only two competitors are allowed to go to districts in each individual event (one entry for
OID and DUET).

In the event that more than two people have competed in a given event, district competitors
will be chosen by the coaches based on number of tournaments attended and success at
those tournaments.
STATE SPEECH

The state competition is held at the University of Nebraska-Kearney on Thursday, March
19th.

Only those who qualify for state will be allowed to go with the team.

This is an overnight trip since the tournament begins early in the morning.
Accommodations will be paid out of the speech budget. Students are expected to pay for
their food.
NATIONAL FORENSIC
LEAGUE

Membership in NFL provides many opportunities: sound training in speech, recognition of
forensic achievement, membership that is recognized by colleges and universities, and the
right to wear the NFL insignia.

You become a NFL member when you receive 25 NFL points.

You receive NFL points according to rank received in each round.
LETTERING
REQUIREMENTS

You must have 150 points to letter.
Gain Points
Compete in a regular meet
Compete at the district meet
Compete at the state meet
Help with the LNE meet
+ 20
+ 30
+50
+20
Lose Points
Not show up for practice
Back out of a regular meet
Back out of the district meet
I have read and understand the Northeast High
School Forensics Handbook 2008-2009.
_________________________________________________
(Parent Signature)
_________________________________________________
(Student Signature)
Contact Information:
Home Phone
Number______________________________________
Parent Cell
Number_______________________________________
Student Cell
Number______________________________________
-5
-10
-20
Email
address___________________________________________
Please return this page to Mrs. Wardyn by October 3, 2008.