Rules and Guidelines for the Seneca High School Speech Team

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 your clothing 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., or a nice skirt and blouse.

Practices

1.   You are required to practice a minimum of twice a week in each event in which you are entered.  Short weeks will   be taken into account.
2.   Until the season starts, you will practice with your event’s primary coach only.
3.   After the Morris meet, you are required to meet once a week with each coach.  Remember,
      these 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 judged 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.
7.   PHONE NUMBERS: Mrs. A at home: 357-1675, Cell: 343-1967

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 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.  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 performers 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 within the earshot of the judge.  NEVER make critical comments about another speaker in the rounds!
5.   Be friendly and complimentary of your competitors when you see them after your rounds.
6.   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!