Word went out among the competitors that if Extemp had one more participant at a certain qualifier the event would break to semis rather than finals, allowing more students to advance and continue participating. The Extemp kids (and let’s be honest, Extemp parents) were very excited at the prospect.
My son’s Duo partner could not attend this particular tournament, so he, who for four years had given a hard pass to every limited preparation speech that wasn’t Apologetics and anything that required technology in the round, decided he would do Extemp.
Continuing his daily habit of reading The Wall Street Journal, he also downloaded auto-file software, reviewed the rules, got tips from coaches and competitors, and gave practice speeches—keeping in mind that he was primarily doing his friends a favor.
He had a great experience at the tournament. Besides the snacks the Extemp prep staff provided and being escorted from the prep room to the competition room like he was the president of a small nation, he discovered that he liked it: the high-pressure prep time, using a device for research, making the card, analyzing and explaining current events. He also got a first place ballot in one of the rounds that included something like, “I enjoyed seeing your personality coming through in your speech.”
One way that NCFCA meets its mission to “challenge and equip” is to offer multiple speech events to help students develop a range of skills and the ability to appeal to a variety of audiences. While it is tempting to stick with the speech events that best fit your personality, gifts, and goals, I want to encourage you to try a new speech event this season or at least consider some pros and cons before you shut the door on new options, and we can start with the cons.
Six Reasons NOT to Try a New Event
Have you thought or said one of these?
“I don’t have enough time.”
Students are busy. Important commitments quickly fill the days: worship and activities at church, classes, extracurriculars, time with family and friends, chores . . . Spotify, YouTube, and Discord.
“I won’t be very good at that.”
We like to be successful and feel confident; trying a new event can feel overwhelming and intimidating. Some speech events feel like too much of a stretch outside what is known and comfortable.
“It’s too late.”
If you’ve been in the league for a while, you may feel that you have established your comfort zone, learned what you came to learn, and even developed a bit of a reputation as the “Limited Prep guy” or “Interp girl” or “Debater who does Impromptu” or “Platform Only.”
“I can’t think on my feet.”
While some students thrive on the spur-of-the-moment nature of Limited Prep events, others can only see themselves standing in front of the judges with minds swirling, unable to think a thought or speak a coherent word.
“Scripts add another layer of work.”
Whether it is a concern about word-for-word memorization or the effort it takes to write and re-write, scripts can be a deterrent to students (who stick to the script-less Limit Prep events instead).
“I’m not an actor. I feel silly doing accents and dancing around.”
I had to play Juliet’s mother in a super-condensed version of Romeo and Juliet in 9th grade. I COULD NOT remember my lines (there were like three of them). In the end, I had to write the lines on a poster board and use it like a cue card while “Juliet” was over there churning out perfectly memorized Shakespeare scene after scene. I get it.
You Can Do It!
Doing something new takes time and feels risky, but young people are amazing at multiplying time, and I have yet to meet an NCFCA competitor who doesn’t have enough talent and creativity to mix with the humility and flexibility it would take to compete in a new event this year.
Consider the benefits. If you compete in a new event this year, you will slowly chip away at your fears and develop valuable new skills like thinking on your feet, understanding current events, incorporating characterization and blocking, using technology or a visual aid, defending and explaining the Christian faith, or memorizing a longer speech.
Undoubtedly, you will discover new talents and abilities that you didn’t know you had. Maybe you will be great at designing digital slides or making an audience laugh or “popping” between characters.
You will grow in respect for competitors who have already honed their skills in the new event, and you will make new friends as you wait outside the competition room. You will inspire other students to try something new.
Especially if you have been in the league for a few years, trying a new event will enable you to have a fresh tournament experience like eating chocolate in the Extemp room, continuing a discussion of your Apol topic after the round, keeping your laptop charged for DP, or remembering your Biblical visual aids.
Finally, you will see the world in a whole new way. If you decide to do Apologetics for the first time this year, suddenly every quiet time, Bible study, and sermon will provide illustrations and answers for the Apol topics. If you sign up for Extemp, the news is no longer just background noise; it is connected and meaningful. Preparing an Open or Duo means that you will pay attention to the gestures, movements, and voices of people in your everyday life and in the movies you watch. You’ll notice if people give you a call to action, like in a Persuasive speech, and if it is effective. Everything becomes fodder for Impromptu speeches.
“Behold, I am Doing a New Thing”
One of the most powerful doctrines throughout Scripture is the idea of supernatural transformation—nothing to something, darkness to light, mourning to laughter, lost to found, condemned to saved. A beautiful summary of this is in Isaiah 43:19 when God says: “Behold, I am doing a new thing; now it springs forth, do you not perceive it? I will make a way in the wilderness and rivers in the desert.” Amen!
Trying a new event is a little taste of transformation. You will be a different person with novel experiences, improved skills, greater opportunities, more friends, funny stories about mishaps, and inspirational stories of success. Informative presenter to Impromptu speaker. Open performer to Digital Presentation specialist. Extemper to Interper.
Keep Me Posted
The year that my son showed up for his friends in Extemp, he made it to Nationals for the first time. Not in Extemp—but in some of his long-time favorite categories. The memory of that first try at Extemp is still a favorite one.
And, if you try something new, reach out and let me know how it goes!
Disclaimer: The information in this (or any other) blog article is intended for explanatory purposes and to promote good conversation and competition in our league. Blog articles are not intended to interpret, augment, or supersede our League Policies or Competition Event Rules.
