TOC

To access information on the Extemporaneous Speaking Tournament of Champions, including the invitation and registration forms, visit the TOC’s official website.

The Extemporaneous Speaking Tournament of Champions began in 2003.  It has always been hosted by Northwestern University and it allows the best extempers in the country to compete against each other in a two day tournament.  The tournament typically holds six preliminary rounds and three elimination rounds.

QUALIFICATION PROCESS

There are three ways to qualify for the Extemporaneous Speaking Tournament of Champions (per the TOC’s invitation):

1)  TOC Extemp Elimination Rounds
Any student who advanced to quarterfinals, semifinals or finals in extemporaneous speaking at the previous years’ TOC Extemp is automatically qualified for this year’s tournament.

2) State Finals

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 2019 state tournament prior to the TOC Extemp entry deadline or (b) any 2018 state tournament that occurred after April 8, 2018 (this time frame is not verified yet by the TOC).

All tournament entry fees will be waived for any State Champions in Extemporaneous Speaking. However, in order to waive the fee, verification of the state tournament results must be included with the registration form.

3)  Qualifying Tournaments

Students who do not qualify under the first or second criteria above can earn a qualification by reaching the indicated elimination round or placing at TWO of the following tournaments:

Quarter-Final Level Bids

Berkeley {The California Invitational} (CA)
Florida Blue Key (FL)
George Mason University (VA)
Glenbrooks (IL)
Harvard (MA)
NSDA National Tournament 2018 (FL)
Saint Joseph’s University- Villiger (PA)
Sunvitational (FL)
Yale (CT)

Semi-Final Level Bids

CFL National Tournament 2018 (VA)
Emory University (GA)
James Logan HS (CA)
St. Mark’s (TX)
Stanford University (CA)
Schwan Speech Spectacular (MN)
University of Texas- Austin (TX)

Final Round Level Bids

Apple Valley HS (MN)
Bradley University (IL)
Cypress Bay {Crestian Tradition} (FL)
Dowling (IA)
Isidore Newman (LA)
Parish Episcopal (TX)
Princeton Classic (NJ)
Winston Churchill (TX)
University of Pennsylvania (PA)

Top 3 Bids

Arizona State University
California State University – Fullerton
Chanhassen High School (MN)
Columbia University (NY)
Downers Grove South (IL)
Durham Academy (NC)
Lamar Consolidated (TX)
Nova (FL)
Ridge (NJ)
Plano West Senior HS (TX)
Saint Mary’s Hall (TX)

**Students who do not qualify via these processes can submit an application for an at-large bid**

KEY DEADLINES FOR THE 2019 TOC (Will be updated later)