What to Expect During Your First High School Speech Competition

If you are a novice during the 2008 high school speech season, you are no doubt anxious, nervous and excited for the season to begin. With competitions coming up soon, it's time to prepare to dazzle your audience. However, you also need to know what to expect during your first competition. As a Speech Team veteran, I can hopefully ease your nerves and walk you through your first competition.

When you first board the bus bright and early that Saturday morning for competition, give yourself time to warm up. Many coaches use the bus ride to do vocal warm-ups; also, feel free to polish your speech. Once you arrive at the competition, make sure to write down your room numbers and times of the rounds. If you are double-entered, visit each of your rooms to leave a double-entered message on the board. Most competitors will write "B7 (or whatever your code is) is D.E. B.B.A.S.A.P. (Be back as soon as possible). Thanks!" Any variation is sufficient, as long as you leave your code and the D.E. message.

Most speech competitions are split into three preliminary rounds and finals. If you are single-entered, you will just follow your schedule and get to your rounds on time. If you are double-entered, it's important to go to the shorter rounds first. Heavily timed events like Extemp, Radio, and Impromptu should take priority, and scripted events should come later. If you don't show up for a round or go to the longer event first, your judge may very well leave without you, which will result in an automatic six.

In your rounds, make sure to be a great audience member. Keep in mind that everyone will be nervous, so it's important to put the other competitors at ease. Make great eye contact, smile, nod as you listen, and clap enthusiastically at the end. You'll make new friends, and judges also pay attention to those who show good spirit during rounds.

Make sure to keep your energy up during all of your rounds. Have a coffee, eat a snack, talk to your coach or teammates for a pep talk, and so on. Judges can tell when your energy is low, so make sure you're ready to go. When you aren't performing, use your rounds as a learning experience. Take note of different techniques that others competitors try, whether you see great hand gestures, page turns, or facial expressions. Finding what sorts of techniques you like watching can help polish your own event later on.

After your rounds are over, you will have about an hour for lunch. Even though you're waiting for posting, make sure to eat something, as you still have a long day ahead of you. When the final event lists are posted, maintain your composure. Some competitors go wild, which looks very unprofessional to the other teams and judges. If you break into finals, fantastic! If not, don't let one competition get you down. It's the beginning of a long season, and your time will come. Use this time to watch other rounds, especially your own events. By seeing the competitors who stood out during this day, you will be able to see the best of the best and learn from them. If anything, final rounds are great fun to watch.

The end of the day will be capped off with an award ceremony, which may range from quick to very elaborate. Winners will receive certificates, medals, or trophies, though the recognition is the best award of all. Again, maintain great team composure and show a professional image. Make sure to congratulate winners and save any complains you may have for the bus ride home.

At the end of the day, you'll be exhausted but most likely elated as well. You've just survived your first competition, and there is a long season ahead. Best of luck to all competitors this season!