The first place to look for further information is the Speech Contest Rulebook. This contains all the rules for speech contests, several checklists with common steps to run or participate in a contest, and a list of available resources. Additionally, you can find more resources included in the speech contest kits which are all available for free as digital downloads including certificates, ballots, tally sheets, and other supplies for conducting a speech contest.

Toastmasters International World Headquarters does not track the dates and times that contests will be held for club, area, division, or district level contests. We would recommend speaking with your club or district leadership for further information on speech contest dates.

In general, any individual who is performing the role of a contest official including judges, counters, sergeant at arms, and a contest Toastmaster cannot compete in a contest in which they are serving or in a contest in which the outcome of the contest they are officiating will be affected.

Additionally, district, region, and international leaders should not be competing in speech contests. This includes current officials and candidates for future roles.

Lastly, education session presenters and event committee chairs for the event where the contest is being held may not compete.

For a full and complete list of all individuals who may not compete, review section 2.A.4 of the Speech Contest Rulebook.

You are, unfortunately, ineligible to compete. To compete in a speech contest, you must be a paid member of a club in good standing. The only way to maintain your paid membership is to make sure your club treasurer submits your dues to World Headquarters by October 1 for the October renewal period and by April 1 for the April renewal period. For new, dual, transfer, or reinstated members, the membership application and applicable dues must be received by World Headquarters prior to competing in the first contest.

The only speech contest with a requirement of this type is the International Speech Contest. To participate in any level of the International Speech Contest, a member must have completed at least six speeches in the Competent Communication manual or two levels in the Toastmasters Pathways learning experience prior to the club contest. * Beginning July 1, 2019, a member must have completed at least six speeches in the Competent Communication manual or earned certificates of completion in Levels 1 and 2 of any path in the Toastmasters Pathways learning experience.

For clubs that chartered less than one year before the area contest, the charter members are permitted to compete without having completed this requirement.

No. A member can only compete in one area contest of a given type.

Yes, as long as the contest where the member is competing and the contest where the member is serving as a contest chair are not at the same event.

Example: Jane Doe is competing at District G's annual conference in the Tall Tales Contest. She cannot serve as a contest chair for any contests at District G's annual conference.

Jane is not competing in District F's annual conference. Jane Doe can serve as a contest chair for any contest at District F's annual conference.

The following are contest officials: contest chair, contest toastmaster, event committee chairs, chief judge, voting judges, tiebreaking judge, timers, sergeant at arms, and counters. Officials should not serve in more than one role at the same contest and they may not compete in the contest at which they are serving as an official.

The alternate speaker is the next person who is eligible to be a contestant after the first-place winner, when applicable. The alternate speaker is not limited to the next person in line for the contestant spot. For example, if the first-place winner from Division A is not available, then the second-place winner from Division A would be considered the alternate. If the second-place winner from Division A is unavailable, then the third-place winner would be the next alternate, and so on until the last place contestant would be the alternate. If no other contestants are available, there would be no alternate.

Yes, the names of the voting judges should remain anonymous when it is practical. Judges are not known to the contestants and no judges' names or contact information is provided in any contest materials. Judges’ decisions are confidential. Their identities are confidential as well. Announcing judges could lead to confrontations with contestants or audience members who do not agree with the contest results. Anonymity helps the judges be more effective. They can be more objective with their decisions because confrontations after the contest are less likely.

No, while the chief judge is a judge, he or she does not judge the contestants. The role of the chief judge is to appoint and advise the judges, counters, timers and tiebreaking judge. The chief judge also conducts the judges’ briefing before the contest, collects the time record sheet from the timers, collects the ballot from the tiebreaking judge, handles protests and delivers the list of winners to the contest chair at the end of the contest.

Beyond the club level, a member cannot judge a contest where the contest result could lead to the member competing against the contest's winner.

Example Scenarios:

John Smith wins Area B's Evaluation Contest. He is asked to judge Area C's Evaluation Contest. If he judges at Area C's Evaluation Contest, he is ineligible to continue competing in the district's Evaluation Contest.

Jane Smith is disqualified from Area B's Tall Tales Contest. Because she is no longer competing in the Tall Tales Contest, she can judge Area C's Tall Tales Contest. Similarly, if Jane Smith loses Area B's Tall Tales Contest, she can judge Area C's Tall Tales Contest.

Yes. Areas with four assigned clubs or fewer in good standing may have clubs send two contestants to the area contest.

Note: The decision whether or not to allow two contestants to advance from club to area, from area to division, and/or from division to district must be made and communicated throughout the district prior to any club contests being held. Once the decision is made, it must be implemented consistently throughout the district in all clubs, areas, and divisions affected.

Twenty-five percent or less of the speech may be devoted to quoting, paraphrasing, or referencing another person’s content. Any quoted, paraphrased, or referenced content must be so identified during the speech presentation.

No. You cannot nominate a new contestant to compete at the next level of competition nor can you allow the disqualified contestant to compete.

No. Requiring members to pay an entry fee would be considered an addition to the eligibility rules outlined in the Speech Contest Rulebook. Rules can only be added through the administrative protocol with the approval of the Chief Executive Officer and International President. This provision is found under Speech Contest Policy in the Speech Contest Rulebook.

Example: Contestant A is competing in a speech contest at a district conference and intends to only compete in the contest. Contestant A is not attending any of the other conference sessions. Contestant A cannot be charged a registration fee. Contestant B is attending education sessions at the district conference in addition to competing in the speech contest. Contestant B can be charged a registration fee.

The use of props (which include music and PowerPoint presentations) are allowed during speech contests in accordance with speech contest rules. Please review the Use of Props section of the Speech Contest Rulebook for complete details.

If a recording is made for any purposes other than to be used in regional quarterfinal judging, the districts determine the guidelines regarding video or audio recording of a district contest. Any guidelines established must not contradict the Speech Contest Rulebook and must consider the safety of contestants and audience members.

Any recordings to be used in regional quarterfinal judging must follow the rules outlined in the International Speech Contest Rules found in the Speech Contest Rulebook. All contestants must complete the Speaker’s Certification of Eligibility and Originality form (Item 1183) and the International Speech Contest Region Quarterfinals Video Release form (Item 1193).