Awards (Competitors, Judges, Spirit of S.O.S.)

Competitor Awards:

1) Placements in preliminary rounds will be determined based on 1) total number of ranks, 2) number of reciprocals, and 3) speaker points.

2) Categories with only one section will not have a final round. Placement will be determined based on preliminary rounds. The top competitor will get a Gold medal, second place will get a Silver medal, and third place will get a Bronze. The competitors will be listed in alphabetical order before awards so they know to stay for the awards ceremony. If there is an unbreakable tie, the tournament may give multiple Golds, Silvers, or Bronzes.

3) Categories with more than one section of competitors will advance the top six or seven competitors (typically six; seven if there is a tie) to final rounds. Eight competitors may advance in SPAR.

4) Categories with more than four or more sections of competitors will advance to semifinal rounds of 12-14 (Acting, Public Address, Impromptu) or 16 (SPAR) total students.

5) When categories break to final rounds, the top half (rounded down) of the final round will receive Gold awards. The bottom half of the final round will receive Silver awards. Students who missed the break on a tiebreaker will receive Bronze awards. Final placements will be based on 1) total number of ranks in the most recent elimination round, 2) judges' preferences in the most recent elimination round, 3) reciprocals in the most recent elimination round, 4) points in the most recent elimination round.

6) When categories break to semifinal rounds, the non-advancing semifinalists will receive Bronze awards.

7) Final placement will be based on placement in elimination rounds (the 'clean slate/sudden death' format).

Judge Awards:

1) Within an hour of the competition's end, a survey will be distributed via tabroom.com to all teams. The teams should give that survey to their students/coaches.

2) Students/coaches will have 48 hours to complete that survey. Multiple students from the same team are encouraged to fill it out. These surveys are not anonymous; participants will be asked for identifying information.

3) Participants will be able to nominate up to three judges each. Nominations should be based on that judge's outstanding conduct in-round and feedback on their ballots. Participants will be asked to write explanations for their nominations. Vague or satirical nominations will be discounted.

4) Participants may not nominate judges from their own program.

5) Outstanding judges will be recognized with digital certificates emailed to their tabroom.com email within 48 hours of the form being closed.

Spirit of Scholars of Speech

1) Within an hour of the competition's end, a survey will be distributed via tabroom.com to all teams. The teams should give that survey to their students/coaches.

2) Students/coaches will have 48 hours to complete that survey. Multiple students from the same team are encouraged to fill it out. These surveys are not anonymous; participants will be asked for identifying information.

3) Participants will be able to nominate up to three individuals (coaches, competitors, or volunteers) each. Nominations should be based on those individuals' sportsmanship, civility, kindness, and other elements of the NSDA's honor code. Participants will be asked to write explanations for their nominations. Vague or satirical nominations will be discounted.

4) Participants may not nominate coaches, competitors, or volunteers from their own program.

5) The Spirit of S.O.S. winners will be recognized with digital certificates emailed to their tabroom.com email within 48 hours of the form being closed.