Community Judge registration will open at 8:00 am Sat 03/01/2025 (Pacific)
Tournament Status will update to Open at 8:00 am Mon 03/17/2025 (Pacific)
Tournament Status will update to Closed at 12:00 pm Sun 03/23/2025 (Pacific)
Meal registration will close at 12:00 pm Fri 04/18/2025 (Pacific)
Setup:
This status is used while the tournament is still being setup.
Open:
This status means tournament registration is open. Families can register for the tournament.
Drops Only:
This status means only registration drops are allowed. There are no new entries allowed but families can drop entries.
Closed:
This status means registration is currently closed for the tournament. There are no adds or drops allowed. Please contact the tournament director with any questions.
Completed:
This status means the tournament is completed.
Parent and Competitor Information
Each registered competitor must have at least one parent on campus with them and available to judge for the entire day. Students will need to have their parent physically with them to check-in.
JUDGING REQUIREMENTS: Every student must have a participating parent/adult judge present at the tournament. While we understand that it is sometimes more convenient or cost effective for families to send their students to tournaments with other families, this puts a severe strain on the availability of parent judges. For this reason, you must either be present with your student at Espresso Cup or you must have another adult who can fulfill your judging responsibilities.
We understand that for larger families with multiple students participating, the system may generate an unachievable number of rounds for you to judge. If this is your situation, we ask that you be available to judge all day each day.
Recruit Community Judges!
We have a generous judge recruitment contest! Even with parents judging, we do not have enough to cover all the judging slots for every round to give the competitors 3 judges/round for speech. And more is needed for outrounds for both Speech and Debate on Saturday. Ask a Friend, co-worker, family members to come and judge!
STUDENT CHECK IN:
A Parli Parent/Chaperone will be REQUIRED to participate in a check-in process that will be simultaneous to the student check-in. If the student does not have an adult able to judge rounds, they may not compete.
YOUNGER SIBLINGS: They must be supervised at all times.
Thank you for working with us to make this a quality tournament for everyone!
Fees, Payments and Deadlines
*Entry Fees:* Team Policy Debate -- $50 per person Lincoln Douglas Debate -- $50 per person Parliamentary Debate -- $50 per person Speech Individual Events -- $35 for first two events and $15 for each additional event.
Facility Fee: $10/family due to significantly higher facility costs.
*Deadlines:* * If you cancel or drop after registration closes on *Sunday, March 23rd, midnight PST.*, there will be _no refunds_. * Registration must be paid in full by Sunday, March 23rd or you may be dropped from the tournament * A Drop fee of $25 per event will be charged for any drops after Sunday, March 23rd.* * Script Submission deadline is April 11th.* There will be a Late Script fee of $20 for any script submitted after the deadline. * If you drop an event the *DAY OF* the tournament, you will be charged a $30 processing fee. * Meals may be added until April 13th.
*Why do we charge late fees?* Planning a tournament revolves around the number of students attending. We set deadlines that allow us to order food, print ballots, order awards, print name tags, etc. When a student drops an event or misses a deadline, it can affect the planning process. Sometimes this causes tournaments to incur an extra cost.
Please help the tournament run smoothly by adhering to all deadlines.
Community Judge Information
Stoa is a Christian Homeschool Speech and Debate forensics league that seeks to develop world-class communicators who speak boldly and change the world for Christ.
Our student competitors, parents, coaches, and tournament staff are so appreciative of you sharing your time by judging at Espresso Cup.
As a Judge, you will be provided with all the necessary training, as well as snacks and meals during the tournament hours.
In turn, you will listen to and evaluate a variety of student speakers in different events. Your investment in our students helps them become articulate, persuasive, and winsome in their speaking ~ skills that will last them for a lifetime!
Judge Qualifications:
Judges must be 18 years or older and have graduated from high school.
Alumni Judges:
We are delighted at your ongoing commitment to Speech and Debate. You will need to attend Judge Orientation especially since might have changed. You may not judge someone you previously competed against in the prior year.
How to register:
To register for judging, please go to the Community and Judge Registration tab. If someone has invited you to judge, please type their name in the "Recruited By" box. This is important because there is a recruitment contest, and we want the student to get credit for those they recruited!
Time Commitment:
It will take about 2 1/2 hours to judge one round.
Be sure to arrive 40 minutes before your round begins.
This allows you to receive judge training orientation before you judge the round. On the day of the tournament, please follow the signs to the Community Judge Check-In table. You will then be directed to your orientation room.
If you are judging speech or debate, there are Powerpoint presentations to familiarize you with the information that you will need to know. Here is the link to the Speech Orientation Slides.
If you are judging debate, there are 3 different styles to choose from. You can find links to a Powerpoint presentation on each of those styles (TP, LD, Parli) here.
If you have need any help or questions regarding registration for judging, please contact Sue Danielson 425 345 3200 or susanL.danielson@gmail.com
Local Hotels and Host Housing
Local Hotels:
Priceline, Hotwire, Travelocity etc are good options to get a reasonable booking.
"Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins. Offer hospitality to one another without grumbling. Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms." 1 Peter 4:8-10
Looking to Host or in Need of a Place to Stay for the Espresso Cup? Let's encourage one another with the gift of hospitality, both in hosting and being gracious guests. Please either respond by email following the directions below. Please remember that there must be a supervising adult present with competitors whenever they are at the host housing.
__________________________________________
LOOKING TO HOST:
If you would like to host, please send an email to:
Adair Kreft (adair.kreft@gmail.com) in the following format
Subject Line: EC Host Offer
Body of Email - copy and past below questions, answer and send:
# Name:
# Email (if different than sending email):
# Phone:
# Dates you can host:
# Number of people you can host and preferences if you have them (ages, one family, genders, etc):
# Facilities for people to sleep (bedrooms / beds / cots / air mattress / linens / sleeping bags / pillows)
# Number & Type of bathrooms:
# Any pets:
# Any other information you would like to convey to potential guests:
__________________________________________
LOOKING FOR A PLACE TO STAY:
Thank you for joining us for Espresso Cup. We know costs add up, so we hope to help you find a host if we are able. Host housing is on a first come, first served basis.
Host housing coordinator - Adair Kreft - (adair.kreft@gmail.com) in the following format*
Subject Line: EC Host Housing Request
Body of Email - copy and past below questions, answer and send:
# Name:
# Email (if different then sending email):
# Phone:
# Dates you are in need of housing:
# People in your party (Name, age, gender, please note supervising parent):
# Briefly explain your group (ie. mom with three kids, coach with 4 kids from different families, etc)
# Any allergies or special considerations, please explain:
# Where you are coming from:
# Planned transportation:
# Any other information we should know in order to help find you a place to stay?
Cocoa Cup Junior Tournament
Cocoa Cup Junior Tournament
We invite younger students to experience speech competition at this tournament at our Junior Speech Tournament.*
Your child is welcome to participate even though your family is not a regular member of the Stoa League. For insurance purposes you must become a member, but families with junior members it is a small fee. Click on this link below for details and registration.
Ages: 6-12
There will be two rounds held on Saturday, April 26th.
This schedule may change depending on the number of participants.
Events: Interpretation, Duo Interpretation, Platform, Apologetics, and Impromptu
Cost: $10 per event. Maximum $20/competitor
Each competitor may compete in up to 3 events.
No script submission is necessary. We will ask available tournament competitors, older siblings, and community members to judge. Parents, we will need you to judge at the main tournament as much as possible. The rules for these events are described below. Please contact if you have questions.
Parents ~ Make sure child's presentation meets time frame and the content is appropriate for all ages of audience.
Platform – a speech on any topic The speech must be an original work, scripted word for word by the competitor. Humor and satire are permitted. Props are allowed. Only feet are permitted to touch the floor at any time. Students are permitted to express opinions which are contrary to those of the judge. All outside sources must be cited within the speech. Memorization is encouraged but there is not an automatic penalty for using a script. Time limit: 5-7 minutes maximum; no minimum time.
Interpretation – a speech using literature Junior Interpretation provides an unrestricted opportunity for a student to creatively explore and develop the intellectual, emotional, and artistic embodiment of any type of literature he or she chooses. This may include original work, unpublished work by others, or traditional published material. Any genre is acceptable including, but not limited to: prose, poetry, storytelling, historical speeches, historical sermons, and thematic selections. Media transcriptions from movies, TV, or tape recordings are not allowed. Selections may be humorous, dramatic, or a combination of the two. The title(s) and author(s) of the selection(s) must be introduced. The identification of the piece should be near the beginning of the piece but may follow a teaser or other background information. No props, costumes, audiovisuals, or gratuitous vulgarity will be allowed. Limited singing and dancing is permitted but it must be purposeful and motivated by the literature. All action should generally take place center stage. Only feet are permitted to touch the floor at any time. Memorization is encouraged but there is not an automatic penalty for using a script. Time limit: 5-7 minutes maximum; no minimum time.
Apologetics - a speech prepared on the Attributes of God The student will choose 2 topics to prepare speeches on in advance of the tournament from posted topics under the "Junior Tournament Apologetics" Tab in the area of Apologetics. Each round the student will present a different topic from their 2 prepared presentations. Families are encouraged to study the material with their juniors to help develop the cards and understand the material. _______ "Learning About God from A to Z," by Mary Erickson, is a resource material which makes it fun for the family to study these topics . Please begin on this early.
There will be NO prep time AND notes (4x6 cards) may be used during speaking time. This does not need to be memorized. Time Limit: 4-5 mins
Impromptu - a limited prep speech 1. You must pick three topics set out on the table by one of the judges. 2. You must choose one topic quickly as “prep-time” (thinking time) begins when you take the topics from the table. “Prep-time” lasts for three minutes. 3. The timekeeper will start the timepiece when the speaker draws and will give auditory countdown signals every minute until three minutes of prep time have elapsed. Unused preparation time may not be added to the speaking time. 4. No outside sources may be brought into the room other than a blank piece of paper. You may write notes during “prep-time,” but you cannot use them during your speaking time. 5. The chosen topic paper may be held and quoted from during the speech but no notes may be written on the chosen topic paper. 6. No visual aids or props may be used. 7. You must state your name. 8. You must state your topic somewhere near the beginning of your speech. 9. Each speech should adhere to the chosen topic, while demonstrating originality and creativity. 10. Only feet are permitted to touch the floor at any time. 11. You may not watch any other speakers before you, only those that compete afterwards. 12. The judge will set aside the chosen topic after the speech, so that it is not chosen again. 13. Each speech may be a maximum of three minutes. There is no minimum time. Preparation time – Three (3) minutes. Speaking time limit - Three (3) minutes maximum. No minimum time
Cocoa Cup Apologetics Questions
The following will be the Apologetics statements for the Cocoa Cup Junior competitors.
Competitors will define and explain the attribute of God in terms they can understand and its importance to you (yourself).
1. God is omnipotent: God is all powerful.
2. God is omnipresent: God is everywhere, all the time.
3. God is omniscient: God knows everything.
4. God is eternal: God has no beginning and no end. He is everlasting.
5. God is holy: God is pure and separated from sin.
6. God is just: God rules with fairness and power.
7. God is sovereign: God is king and in charge of everything.
8. God is immutable: God never changes.
9. God is loving: God gives of Himself to others
10. God is a trinity: One God, three persons.
We encourage each student to prepare material ahead of time on 3 statements and bring it to the tournament for use in competition.
Resources to help you that can be purchased used on Amazon:
Learning About God From A to Z by Mary Erickson, Sonlight Curriculum
Note about this material: "We have been using this book this year and the younger kids are really enjoying it. It also has many plays in it for impromptu reading and acting, usually on a bible story that demonstrates that particular character of God that it is teaching. It has fun activities and puzzles so that helps the kids enjoy it as well."
Script Submission
MANDATORY ELECTRONIC SUBMISSION:
DEADLINES: All scripts must be submitted by the deadline. There will be NO on-site submission. Failure to submit scripts by the deadline will result in $20 late fee. **If scripts are not submitted by the deadline, you will be dropped from that event.*
Script Submission opens Mar 31st.
Original Script Deadline: Friday, April 11th - 11:59PM PST
Fast Track Approval: If you have an approval from the Shamrock Showdown, please note that in your submission because we will have the Shamrock approval on file. If you make changes after Shamrock, you must re-submit your speech for approval for Espresso Cup (see below).
GETTING STARTED 1. Watch this quick tutorial for platforms and interps and your scripts will sail through submission and be NITOC ready!
WHO NEEDS TO SUBMIT? Competitors who are entered in the following events must submit scripts for approval. - Interpretive Speeches: Dramatic, Duo°, Humorous, Open - Platform Speeches: Expository, Original Oratory, Persuasive - Wild Card Speech: Slam Poetry Duo and Open have their own separate Submission Form
HOW TO SUBMIT 1. NAME FILES CORRECTLY: Last Name, First Name - Event, Document Type
2. ONLY pdf and doc files accepted. Please compile into one file. - Platforms: Form, Script, Citation Page - Interps: Form, Typed Script, Source Script
*3. Click here to upload your file (Link coming soon) If your file is too large, use a pdf compressor such as [www.smallpdf.com](https://www.smallpdf.com)
4. After upload is complete the screen will state "Upload Complete" and you should receive an email confirming your submission has been submitted. Your scripts are in queue for review. Once reviewed, you will receive an email that your script is either approved or needs correction.
5. If your script needs corrections, make the necessary correction and resubmit using the link above, noting that this is a corrected script.
Tournament Time