Lesson 2: Timing Competitors

Please time the speeches during the round. There is a timer built into your eBallot on the feedback forms. Start the timer when the competitor begins, and stop the timer when they’re done. 

Give the competitors time signals during their speech. Time signals are visual signs for how much time competitors have left for their speech.

For example, middle school impromptu has a maximum time of seven minutes. When the timer reaches five minutes, so the competitor has two minutes left, signal a ‘2’ with your fingers.

Signal ‘2’ for 2 minutes left

When there’s one minute left, signal a ‘1’.

When there’s 30 seconds left, signal a ‘C’ shape with your hand.

You do not need to cut off the speech at exactly 7 minutes, or the given time.

As a judge, use your discretion and give the competitors an appropriate grace period to finish up their speech. If the competitors go over 2 minutes, you can ask them to stop speaking.