League Policies
For in-person tournaments:
- Step 1 – Report for preparation. You will be allowed into the Prep room beginning two minutes before the assigned time and will remain in the room until the assigned speech time. (If late, competitors may enter the room until the assigned speech time.) Competitors should disable Wi-Fi or other cellular capability prior to the beginning of preparation time and be sure to mute their device.
- Step 2 – Set the timer to the prep time limit counting down (20 minutes or or whatever prep time remains in the event of a late arrival).
- Step 3 – Show the timepiece to the Extemp Prep staff member for confirmation.
- Step 4 – The Extemp Prep Director will instruct competitors when to draw the topic. “Drawing the topic” means picking the card with the competitor’s name on it from the table. Start the timer immediately upon drawing the topic.
- Step 5 – Prepare for the speech within the time allotted.
- Step 6 – The Extemp Prep staff will announce the conclusion of the preparation. Stop the timepiece when finished preparing and/or time has run out.
A Communications Team staff will escort competitors to their rooms.
For online tournaments:
- Step 1 – Enter the assigned competition room a minute or two before the assigned draw time. Do not turn on the camera or microphone as other competitors will be preparing and/or speaking.
- Step 2 – Set the timer to the prep time limit counting down (20 minutes). You have an option to mute incoming room sound while you prepare.
- Step 3 – View the assigned topics at the assigned draw time, starting the timer at the same time.
- Step 4 – Prepare for the speech within the time allotted.
- Step 5 – At the conclusion of preparation time, unmute the audio coming from the room, confirm that the previous speaker has concluded, and then turn on your own camera and microphone.
- Step 6 – Show the timepiece to the Head Judge for confirmation.