Qualification Rules

There are four ways to qualify for the Tournament of Champions in Extemp:

1. TOC Extemp 2011 Elimination Rounds

Any student who advanced to quarterfinals, semifinals or finals in extemporaneous speaking at the 2011 TOC Extemp is automatically qualified for this year’s tournament.

2. State Finals/National Elimination Rounds

Students that advance to the final round of the open division of their qualifying state tournament in extemporaneous speaking will automatically qualify for the TOC Extemp. Because many states hold their state tournament after our entry deadline, please note the following rule: “Qualifying state tournaments” are defined as (a) any 2012 state tournament that takes place before April 15th, 2012; and (b) any 2011 state tournament if your 2012 state tournament takes place after April 15th, 2012.

Additionally, individuals who have broken to elimination rounds at either CFL Nationals, 2011 or NFL Nationals, 2011 are qualified for the TOC Extemp.

All tournament entry fees will be waived for all 2012 State Champions in Extemporaneous Speaking. A waiver form will be available on our website for qualifying participants.

3. Qualifying Tournaments

A student can automatically qualify by getting a “leg” at 2 of the following tournaments:

Alief Taylor High School (TX) Apple Valley HS (MN) Arizona State University Berkley (CA) Bradley Universitry (IL) California State University – Fullerton Chanhassen High School (MN) Columbia University (NY) Crestian Classic (FL) Dowling (IA) Downers Grove South (IL) Emory University (GA) Fayette Classic (GA) Florida Blue Key George Mason University (VA) Glenbrooks (IL) Harvard (MA) James Logan HS (CA) Lamar Consolidated (TX)

Laird Lewis Invitational (NC) Nova High School (FL) Northwestern University (IL) Pennsbury Falcon Invitational (PA) Princeton Classic (NJ) St Mark’s/Highland Park (TX) Salina HS Central (KS) Schwan Speech Spectacular (MN) Stanford University (CA) Sunvitational (FL) University of Oregon University of Pennsylvania University of Texas-Austin Villager (PA) Wake Forest University Early Bird (NC) Western Kentucky University Whitman College (WA) Winston Churchill High School (TX) Yale (CT)

4. At-Large Bid Applications

Any student who does not or cannot qualify through one of the above methods may apply for an at large bid. If your state tournament occurs after the bid entry deadline, we encourage you to send in an at large bid noting that fact. An application is included with this invitation. All bids must be accompanied by the $25 at large application fee before they will be considered.

Bid Application Acceptance

Any student who does not or cannot qualify through one of the above methods may submit a TOC bid application. Bid applications will be accepted online and require a $25.00 fee before being processed.

1. The applicant or the applicant’s coach must submit a Bid Application.
2. Upon completing the online application, a $25.00 bid application fee must be mailed to:

   Tournament of Champions
   Attention: Luke Hill
   Department of Communication Studies
   Northwestern University
   1815 Chicago Ave 
   Evanston, IL 60208

   1. Check must be made payable to “Northwestern University”
   2. Check must indicate the school and student(s) for whose application(s) the check covers. One check may be written to cover multiple applications from the same school. Do not include any other information other than payment; excess information will be disregarded by Tournament staff.
   3. Payment must be postmarked by the Bid Application Deadline, April 15th 2012.   Under no circumstances are we able to accept applications with a late and/or missing payment.
3. We will confirm receipt of the fee via e-mail within five business days. Once the check is processed, we will review the online application and notify the coach of the applicant’s acceptance status on or before April 19, 2012.