Welcome to the Speech State Talk-a-Lot Tournament

Hosted by IPOD (In Pursuit of Dispute) Speech and Debate Club

Thank you

We appreciate your interest in serving as a judge at the Speech State Talk-a-Lot speech tournament. You are the most valuable participant in a tournament by making the tournament possible. Without you, students would not receive valuable feedback from your unique perspective which helps them improve their skills.

When you are ready, please click “Judge Registration” at the top of the page to register.

Tournament Dates
Friday, March 13 - Saturday, March 14

Tournament Location
Gentian Baptist Church
3853 Gentian Blvd
Columbus, GA 31909

Time Commitment for Judges
You do not need any prior experience to judge. We will provide simple training and clear instructions when you arrive. Our friendly staff will guide you through every step: check-in, training, judging, and completing your ballot, all while enjoying delicious refreshments and welcoming hospitality as our honored guest. Please plan to arrive 1 hour before your selected speech round(s).

It takes just 2-3 hours to judge and the impact you can make on our students is lasting and meaningful.

Qualifications
We welcome student judges who compete in Stoa Speech and Debate tournaments. Adult friends and family of our club members are also welcome. Training will be provided when you arrive. The goal of our competitors is to be able to communicate their ideas clearly and respectfully to anyone. If you are a good listener who enjoys helping our youngest students gain experience in public speaking, WE NEED YOU! You are qualified to judge!

If you are on the fence about whether to try community judging, watch this short Video.

What types of events will I be judging?
Speech events vary from prepared speeches to impromptu speeches where competitors have two minutes to outline a short speech. Some speeches are humorous, some are dramatic, while others are informative.
For a full list of events and descriptions, please see the tabs to the left.

Who are the students I will be judging?
The competitors are homeschool students ranging in age from 5 - 13 years old. Some of the students are just now giving their first speeches and others have been competing for years. Many are from the Columbus area, but some students will travel to compete. You will see a wide range of skills, abilities, and styles.

Day of Tournament
On the tournament day, please follow the campus signs to the judge check-in table. You will receive an e-mail with details about check-in, judge orientation, and additional information approximately a week before the tournament.
During Judge Training, you will be given a simple and clear overview of the events and the judging process at the tournament.

You be the judge!

When you are ready, please click “Judge Registration” above to register and pick the time/event that works best for you.

We are grateful for you.
We truly could not do this without you. Thank you for giving your time and helping these students grow and develop their skills by sharing your thoughtful feedback.