Main

Hello, and thank you for considering our tournament on March 14th, 2026. We are very limited on space and so there will be restrictions on how many entries you can bring. Right now we have a tournament wide entry cap set at 120. 140 if we are really squeezing people into rooms. We would prefer that you hold off on triple entering at least until tournament time gets closer. We’ll try to allow extras for everyone, but for the most part we are here to offer a tournament for our Flint Hills District, and those that have reciprocated to us over the years. Below you will find all of the rules and regulations regarding this tournament.

Events:

The events for competition will be: Original Oration, Informative Speaking, Domestic Extemporaneous Speaking, International Extemporaneous Speaking, Impromptu Speaking, Humorous Interpretation, Dramatic Interpretation, Duo Interpretation, Program of Oral Interpretation, Prose and Poetry Interpretation

Schedule:

Draws begin at 8:00 AM, 9:45 AM, and 11:30 AM. The specific draw schedule will come out the week of the tournament on a google sheet.

Registration: 7:45

Round 1: 8:30-10:00

Round 2: 10:15-11:45

Round 3: 12:00-1:30

Finals: 2:00-3:30

ASAP and quite possibly grab and go.

1. Student participation: Students should enter no more than 2 events. I know impromptu is a popular third event, but I’d really like to let people enter this tournament without clogging it with impromptu. No one will be allowed to enter both extemp events.

2. Extemp topics: Topics will be written from current magazines and online news sources dated from January 1, 2026 to the present. Laptops may be used in the Extemp draw room, but we do not guarantee an electrical outlet for you to use. It is first come first serve.

3. Impromptu topics: Topics will be drawn from the following categories: Quotes from Best Picture Oscar Nominees 2000 to the Present, Lyrics from the Hayden Coaches’ Spotify Playlist, and Hot Takes. In the final round, which we are shamelessly stealing from Washburn Rural, contestants will draw one of three fortune cookies. Choose one, open it, and therein you will find your topic.

4. Time limits: Judges will be informed of time limits for individual events as posted below. We will inform them of a 30 second grace period in all events, yes, even Prose and Poetry. If there are no timekeepers, judges will be the final arbiters of time infractions.

Event Max Time (mins)

Oration 10

Informative 10

Extemp 7

Impromptu 5

Dramatic and Humorous Interp 10

Duo Interp 10

Program of Oral Interp 10

Prose and Poetry Interp 7

5. Awards: Awards will be presented to the top six finalists in each event. Sweepstakes awards will be presented to the top three schools. Points will be awarded to the best two student entries in each event, as follows:

5 pts for a “1” rank

4 pts for a “2” rank

3 pts for a “3” rank

2 pts for a “4” rank

1 pt for all other ranks

6. Judging: There should be plenty of judges and your students need to know that there may be panels in some rounds. However, if the weather gets weird or there is an epidemic of flu, you may need to plan on providing a couple of rounds of judging.

7. Fees: $8.00/person/event. Schools will be required to pay for all entries, including “extras” requested, after the entry form has been submitted. This includes “extras” given on the day of the tournament. I’d rather not hunt you down for fees.

8. Performance Order Expectations: Any student who does not perform within the time limits of the round as posted will not be allowed to perform or will receive the last rank in the round. This is at the discretion of the tournament director.

THOSE CONTESTANTS ENTERING EXTEMP: All extempers will be expected to perform in the order as posted. They should then arrange to participate in additional event(s) either before their scheduled “draw” time, or after their scheduled speaking time.

10. The Hayden High School coaching staff will deal with issues that arise in a way that seems fair to us.

11. Finals: Finals will be CUMULATIVE.