By Marilee Applebee

August 15, 2007

Rules and Guidelines for the Seneca High School Speech Team 2007-2008

Dress

Remember, you are representing your school when we go to tournaments. Your appearance sends a message about you. You want the judges to be listening to your words and watching your performance, not looking at your outfit. We reserve the right to approve of your clothes for meets, but here are some general guidelines that you must follow:

Men: Must wear dress slacks and dress shoes.

Must wear a shirt/coat/tie or shirt/sweater/tie or long sleeve shirt/tie

Women : Must wear dresses or skirts and blouses/sweaters

The colors should be subdued and the hemlines and necklines need to be conservative.

NO SHORT SKIRTS. Must wear hose and dress shoes.

We strongly recommend that you get a simple, long dress in a dark color: black, brown, navy, maroon, hunter green, etc.

Practices

1. You are required to practice a minimum of twice a week in each event in which you are

entered.

2. Until the season starts, you will practice with your event's primary coach only, unless we tell

you otherwise. Mrs. Applebee would like to see/hear everyone at least once before the

first meet, though.

3. After the Morris meet, you may be asked to split your practices between different

coaches. Remember, two times a week are minimums.

4. DO NOT set up a practice and then not show up. Have the courtesy to call ahead if you are

unable to make your appointment. Sicknesses judges\d on a case by case basis.

5. The rule is simple--IF YOU DON'T PRACTICE, YOU DON'T PERFORM.

6. Practice schedules, times, and routines will continue to vary some this year. Be prepared to

adapt.

7. PHONE NUMBER: Mrs. A at home: 357-1675, Cell: 343-1967

8. If, early on a Saturday morning or late on a Friday night, you become ill or unable to attend a speech meet, CALL MRS. A AT HOME! She prefers a late night or early morning call rather than having to wait for you to show on the bus or waking up your entire house searching for you!

Sportsmanship and Etiquette

In the past we have had some problems with sportsmanship within the team. Our new policy is this: If any coach gets a credible report of or observes unkind or unsportsmanlike behavior toward another teammate, you will be warned once, and after a second incident, you will be suspended from performing for one meet, yet your attendance will still be required. If the behavior continues, you will be removed from the speech team.

On a similar topic, there are certain rules of etiquette that all speech team members are required to follow, especially at our speech meets.

1. Be quiet in the hallways.

2. Do not engage the judges in unnecessary conversation in the rounds. If they speak to you first, then fine.

3. Do not hold conversations between performances while the judge is trying to write, and certainly NEVER when another competitor is speaking or preparing to speak.

4. Do not make comments, either positive or negative, before or after you have performed while within earshot of the judge. Never make critical comments about another speaker during rounds! No passing notes either.

5. While in your rounds, be a good listener! Give the speaker your full attention. Do not be reviewing your notes, script, etc.

6. Be friendly and complimentary of your competitors when you see them after your rounds.

7. Remember that your judges are often coaches from other schools. At any time, your behavior at the speech meets may be observed. Always conduct yourself with maturity and show good sportsmanship.