Contests: Competing and Judging
Competing in a contest? Want to run a quality contest? First and foremost, you need the Rulebook! How do you get the contests and judging running smoothly? The first step – check it out
It is dated July 1 2021 – 30 June 2022. Not only does the Rulebook tell you the rules for each contest, it also has very helpful checklists for the Contest Chair, Chief Judge and contestants.
Table of Contents
Training Video and Briefing Notes
When organising a contest, it is important that you take into account the difference between an online contest and a face-to-face contest. To help you to run a quality contest, our District 91 Chief Judge for 2020/21 programme year, Neil Coleman, has created some helpful guides.
Start by reading the Online Contest Organisation Presentation by Neil Coleman and watch the webinar on running a successful online contest.
We’ve even created some guidance on how to brief the judges and contestants, along with some useful contest management documents to support you.
Online Contests
- Chief Judge Briefing Guide: Voting Judges
- Chief Judge Briefing Guide: Tiebreaker
- Chief Judge Briefing Guide: Functionaries
- Chief Judge Sample Email; Voting Judges
- Contest Chair Briefing Guide: Contestants
- Contest Chair Sample Email: Contestants
- Contest Script Notes
- Organisation grid and participant chart
- Virtual Timing cards
- Winners Certificates
- Participant Certificates
- Neil Coleman running a online successful contest
- Best Practices for Online Speech Contests
Face-to-face Contests
- Chief Judge Briefing Guide: Voting Judges
- Chief Judge Briefing Guide: Tiebreaker
- Chief Judge Briefing Guide: Functionaries
- Chief Judge Sample Email: Voting Judges
- Contest Chair Briefing Guide: Contestants
- Contest Chair Sample Email: Contestants
- Contest Script Notes
- Organisation grid and participant chart
Additional Resources
There are also some additional resources on Toastmasters International including digitally editable forms.
Evaluation contest
Copies of the Evaluation Contestant Notes sheet will be required for all members who choose to make preparatory notes during the test speech.
This is the only sheet contestants can now use to make notes during the contest at all levels. Notepads, iPads, evaluator forms, etc. are no longer permissible in contests.
Contestants may have multiple copies of the sheet, with equal numbers being available to all members.
Ballots and Certificates
Get all the materials you’ll need on the day of the contest – free! You can get these digital downloads of all the contest materials you need, including ballots and certificates at the Toastmasters Online Shop (click on the contests tab which is likely to be right at the bottom of your screen or just below!).
And you can also use our New Powerpoint winner certificates or participant certificates, especially for online contest meetings.
District Speech Contests 2022
If you are the lucky winner and are competing in our District Speech Contest this year, please additionally check the following resources provided by Toastmasters International:
- Online Speech Contest Best Practices
- Video Recording Guidelines Online Speech Contest
- Video Release Form
Questions?
If you have further questions about contests – how to run them or whether you’re eligible to compete or judge – please check our
to find answers to some burning points like eligibility checks for judges or to clarify dilemmas like should the audience cameras be on or off during a contest.
And you can also contact our Chief Judge to ask your questions.
