League Policies
If a student experiences an error with the timepiece that results in being unable to show you their time or a correct time for the speech, please mark “timer issue” and instruct the other judges to do the same. (For any timing errors during Apologetics or Impromptu prep time, please bring the issue to Compliance after the round.)
Examples of an “incorrect time” would be:
- The student failed to start the timepiece at the beginning of their speech. Judges will mark “timer issue.”
- The student notices mid-speech that they did not start the timer. Please instruct them to continue and mark the ballot “timer issue.”
- The student informs you that they accidentally added time that now exceeds the time limit. Judges will mark “timer issue.”
- The student accidentally cleared the timepiece. Judges will mark “timer issue.”
Examples that do NOT require a timer issue mark:
- The student realizes they failed to start the timepiece within the first sentence. In this case, you may allow them to begin again without marking the timer issue.
- The student fumbles and delays pressing “stop.” In this case, please record the exact time displayed (even if it exceeds the limit), but do not mark “timer issue.”
- The competitor correctly times the speech and is over the time limit. In this case, announce and enter the time displayed. Any time exceeding 15 seconds over the limit will automatically receive a 2-rank penalty.
Please bring any questions about this to Compliance after the round.