Dear Forensics Family:

Welcome to the annual Krider Invitational Speech Tournament for both High School and Middle School hosted by Henry County High School in TN! We look forward to having you join us SaturdayNovember 1st, 2025.

We will also be hosting the JR. KRIDER TOURNAMENT at the same time on the same day. The tournaments will run concurrently and judges will be expected to judge High School AND Middle School events so please prepare your judges accordingly.

MAKE SURE YOU ENTER KIDS IN THE CORRECT DIVISION…JR/SR.

STUDENTS MAY TRIPLE ENTER, as long as it doesn’t keep them from getting to rounds on time.

EVENTS

Unfortunately this year we will not be hosting Public Forum Debate due to the probability of low numbers and lack of assistance in tabroom.

The tournament will host the following 11 high school forensics events.

Dramatic Interpretation

Duo Interpretation

Extemporaneous Speaking

Humorous Interpretation

Impromptu Speaking

Informative Speaking

Oratory

Poetry

Program Oral Interpretation

Prose

Radio Broadcasting

Storytelling

The following MIDDLE SCHOOL events will be hosted as well;

Radio Broadcasting

Declamation

Duo Acting

Extemp

Humorous Interpretation

Dramatic Interpretation

Impromptu

Oratory (informative will be included in this unless numbers warrant a separate category)

Prose

Poetry

Storytelling

THE RULES FOR RADIO BROADCASTING (HS & MS)

Overview

The Broadcast Announcing event requires students to assume the role of a radio broadcast

announcer. The competition consists of multiple rounds, each designed to test a student’s

ability to prepare and deliver various broadcast formats under timed conditions.

General Rules

1. Contestants act as radio broadcast announcers.

2. Judges may turn their backs to contestants during performances. Eye contact is not

evaluated.

3. Contestants must remain outside the room until called.

4. After performing, contestants hand in their script and leave.

5. The structure of rounds listed applies to the State Championship Tournament.

6. Regional tournaments follow Rounds I and II and use the third-round format for any run-off

rounds.

7. Contestants may time themselves during their performances.

Round 1 – Commercial

- A commercial (real or fictitious) is prepared by the tournament director.

- Text is provided in all capital letters, and each contestant receives an individual copy that

must remain in the room.

- Contestants have three minutes to prepare after receiving the script.

- The judge times preparation and notifies contestants when to begin.

- Contestants must read the script exactly as written; no alterations are allowed.

Round 2 – Student Prepared News Script

- Contestants prepare an original news script in advance using up-to-date materials (e.g., AP

scripts, newspapers, radio stations, internet sources).

- Scripts must be original to each student and may not be reused in multiple tournaments.

- Contestants provide a copy of their script to the judge.

- The script must include an introduction, a sign-off, and a brief 15-second commercial.

- Delivery should last three minutes, with a 15-second grace period above or below.

- The judge calls each contestant in individually to perform the script as written.

- Students who share scripts will be ranked last in this round.

Round 3 – Breaking News (New for 2025–2026)

- Preparation: 3 minutes

- Performance: 2–3 minutes (not timed)

- Contestants deliver a breaking news story from within the last 10 days.

- All students receive the same prompt.- The story must come from a reliable, up-to-date source and may be international, national,

or statewide.

- The script cannot be edited but may allow for sign-ons, sign-offs, transitions, or commentary.

- The performance should simulate a live newsroom report.

- Students may take handwritten notes during prep and may only write on the provided script.

- Host schools must provide clean copies for all students.

- Sample prompts and example texts are included in the official handbook.

Final Round – News Program

- In the Prep Room, contestants receive a packet of news copy prepared by the tournament

director.

- They must compile, arrange, and present a complete news program according to

tournament rules.

The judging differences formiddle school are the following;

1. There is no time minimum for oratory, prose, poetry, storytelling, Duo, DI, HI or Dec. Max is 10 with 30 sec grace on each.

2. Jr. Extempers only have 5 minutes to speak. Jr. Impromptu speakers must speak for 3 but have 10 total minutes to prep and speak.

More information about competition guidelines for high school can be found on the the official THSSDL website (THSSDL.com). Please take time to review the THSSDL guidelines as you prepare both your students and judges for competition. We will be using TN guidelines for middle school as well (they are similar to KY but please double check to make sure.)

Schedule of Rounds

Round 1- 8:30am

Round 2- 10:00 am

Round 3- 11:30 am

Sr. Finals- 1:30 pm

Jr. Finals - 2:00 pm

ENTRY FEES

The cost for students to participate in individual events is $10, with Duo Interpretation (Sr.), and Duo Acting (Jr.) being $20.

JUDGES

Teams are required to provide 1 judge for every 6 entries into the competition. 6 entries = one judge, 7 entries = 2 judges, etc. In the event you cannot provide the required number of judges, you may hire judges for $30 each. Schools must provide at least one judge.

Your judges should be familiar with THSSDL rules.

We will be using online balloting so all judges will need to have an tabroom account registered with their team to have access to the ballots and access to a laptop or tablet. Phones may be used, however they are not as easy to access. Those ballots will be “blasted” out 15-30 minutes before each round is set to begin. There will be WiFi available.

AWARDS

Awards will be given to 1st-6th place in each event and for the top three performing schools for sweeps. Middle School individual awards will be certificates and top three performing teams will receive a trophy.

DROP FEES

Teams will be assessed a drop fee of $10 per entry after Wednesday, October 30th at 7pm central. Any judge drop after this deadline will result in a $50 fine.

Please let us know at your earliest continence when you have drops or changes. Contact information is available below to text or email me information letting me know you’re running late or have drops or changes.

Checks for entry fees may be made out and sent to

Henry County High School Speech Team

315 S. Wilson St.

Paris, TN

38242

We look forward to seeing you all in November!

David Weatherly

Coach, Henry County Middle School Speech Team

Coach, Henry County High School Speech Team

David - 731-326-7523

weatherlyd@henryk12.net