Contest Judging Workshop Guide + Handbook In Landscape Mode

Be Fair! Accuracy Rules!

Listen Carefully!

Man! This Wig Really Itches!

Bob Turel, DTMBob Turel, DTM

Toastmasters Learning InstituteToastmasters Learning InstituteDistrict 47District 47

What’s Your Mission?What’s Your Mission?

It is the responsibility of a Contest Judge to do two things:

1. SELECT A WINNER

2. Be ETHICAL

Contest Judges should strive to be:• Accurate

• Fair

• Trustworthy

• Knowledgeable

• Effective Listeners

The Contest Judge’s CODE OF ETHICSCODE OF ETHICS• Avoid bias in selecting winners.

• Do not time speeches or consider the possibility of under or overtime when making selections.

• Support Contest rules and do not reveal scores.

What Makes an Effective Judge?What Makes an Effective Judge?

The Barrier

• First or last speaker is best.

• Let’s help the underdog.

• The Halo effect.

BarriersBarriers to Objectivity to ObjectivityPart 1

The Judges’ Challenge• Treat each speaker the

same.• Don’t let feelings

influence your judging.• Resist giving speakers

high marks for anything other than good performance.

The Barrier

• Reverse Halo effect.

• Second time around.

• Give someone else a chance.

• Club norms.


The Judges’ Challenge• Don’t downgrade in one

category because of performance in a different category.

• Judge the speech as if it’s the first time you’ve heard it.

• Never consider past successes or failures.

• Think about the norms in your club. Then determine whether they should be applied universally.

The Barrier• Bias and personal

preference.

• Unfamiliar judging

forms.


The Judges’ Challenge• Set aside likes and

dislikes by asking yourself:

– What do I like or dislike about this speech?

– Is what I like or dislike relevant?

• Study them thoroughly.

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How can you stay focused on judging one speaker’s presentation at a time?

First, enter the contestants names from right to left right to left according to the speaking order.

Next, fold the form over so that the previous contestant’s name and scores cannot be seen.

Note: You must vote for the top three contestants, and sign the Ballot, or your vote is voided!

Bob Turel

Joyce SmithSamantha JonesJennifer Thayer

Very often when we are ready to engage as a judge in a Toastmasters Contest, we may not have all the Rules and Regulations committed to memory, or even available to us as a handy reference guide.

This following supplemental section to the workshop participant’s guide is a compilation of information gathered from the experience of several Toastmasters over the years. It is comprehensive enough to help you address most issues that may arise before or during a contest.

Since there is no rule against keeping it with you when you are a contest judge, it is recommended that you have it with you before and during each contest in which you participate as a judge.

Frequently Asked QuestionsFrequently Asked Questions

Competing and Judging at the Same TimeCompeting and Judging at the Same Time

1. You are planning to compete in your Club, and you have judged in

another Club’s contest. Are you allowed to still compete in your

Club? NO

2. In Scenario 1, would it matter what Area the Club was in? NO

3. Are you allowed to judge at the Club level after you have

competed and won? NO

4. Using Scenario 3, what if you lost? YES

5. Are you allowed to judge at any Area level after you have won

either 1st or 2nd place at the Club level? NO

Frequently Asked QuestionsFrequently Asked Questions

Judging When You’re an Officer or PresenterJudging When You’re an Officer or Presenter

1. While holding a District Office (Area Governor and above) are you allowed to

judge a contest? For Division Contests and above ? NO

For Area Contests other than your own Area? YES, but it is still recommended

against by World Headquarters, because it invites bias.

2. Can you be a judge if you have declared for a District Office? NO

3. Are you allowed to judge at the District Conference if you are a Presenter?

YES

4. Can you be a Presenter and a Competitor at the District Conference? NO

Audio-Visual IssuesAudio-Visual Issues

1. You have a blind contestant in your Contest, and a sound timer is used for signaling and it sustains a power

failure, what do you do?

A. Ensure there is a manual sounding device available for backup (Ex. Buzzer, Bell, or Human voice.)

B.The contestant may choose a special device of his/her own, but must do so before the contest and provide

instructions for it as well.

2. Use of a microphone, if available, must be offered to all contestants. There is no requirement to use it.

A.Can a contestant bring his own? NO

B.May a contestant bring her own sound system? NO

3. If a timing device’s bulb goes out during a speech, what do you do?

A. Give the speaker an extra 30 seconds, and

B. Implement a backup system immediately (Ex. Placards or a secondary set of lights.)

C. The Chief Judge should ensure that is noted by the Timers. The Contest Master does not comment. The speaker does

not stop.

4. A Stopwatch fails. Can a Timer stop the Contest? NO*

* All Contests call for a backup stopwatch that should be running simultaneously with the main timing device.

5. Does the “Extra 30 Seconds overtime, in the event of a technical failure” rule apply to all Contestants, even

blind ones? YES

6. A microphone fails while a contestant is speaking? Is it a technical failure? NO (Only lights. Use of a mike is

optional. Lights are not.)

ProtestsProtestsAn audience member tells a judge that a contestant’s speech was not original. May the judge lodge a protest? NO+

+ The judge must have personal knowledge that the speech is not original.

1.What is the most effective way to lodge a protest?A.Write the word “protest” on the voting ballot submitted to the Counters, or

B.Discreetly approach the Chief Judge during the moment of silence between speakers, or before the awards are

announced.

Judging BallotsJudging BallotsA Contest Master reads the Contest’s results incorrectly. After the awards are presented, can a correction be

made, even if its only a minute or so? NO++ Corrections to the awards results can only be made by the Chief Judge or ballot counters prior to the

announcements.

1.A ballot is cast without a signature. Can it be counted? NO^^ The ballot is invalid. Ballots should be signed by judges before the contest begins. Do not obtain a signature after

the fact.

2.There are four speakers in a contest, and one of the ballots lists only two contestants. Is it valid? NO~~ Three places must be completed on ballot forms in a contest that has three or more contestants.

The Tiebreaker Judge’s ballot must contain the names of all the contestants listed according to the places awarded

by that judge.3.If a judge requires a replacement ballot form, may another one be made available? YES`

` See the Chief Judge during the moment of silence between speakers, or the two minutes of silence during the final ballot completion.

Use of Props and Speaking AreaUse of Props and Speaking AreaMay the lectern may be moved based on the contestant’s request? NO

1. A contestant walks into an area not designated as the speaking area. Is s/he disqualified? NO~~ A judge may lower the point score, but only two things can disqualify a contestant: Timing and Originality

2. A contestant who drew first place arranges his props on stage at the beginning of the contest. Is

that allowed? NO*• Any props must be set in place only during the moment of silence preceding the announcement of the

contestant. This arrangement should be made with the Sergeant at Arms beforehand to make the setup,

and the props must be removed during the moment of silence that follows.

3. May the Contest Master remain on stage while a contestant speaks? YES** However it is not recommended, and in fact the Chief Judge should insist the Contest Master exit the stage

to avoid distractions.

Judging in More Than One ContestJudging in More Than One ContestA TM is available to judge one of the contests, (Ex. Table Topic) but not available to judge the second

contest (Ex. International Speech.) Should that Toastmaster be a judge? YES^^ A judge should participate in both contests if held the same day as a convenience, but separate judges are

acceptable. (Especially when Contests held in periods of time than span more than day.)

MiscellaneousMiscellaneousShould a judge, even informally, express his thoughts to anyone before or after the contest

performances? NO## Judges, Counters and Timers should never say anything about the competition.

Contest Judging Workshop Guide + Handbook In Landscape Mode

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