2025 Espresso Cup

• 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.

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!

*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 2nd.* 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.

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:

Priceline, Hotwire, Travelocity etc are good options to get a reasonable booking.

South Everett and Lynnwood are nearest cities.

Holiday Inn Express & Suites Everett (2 star)

131 128th St SW, Everett, WA 98204

(425) 609-4000

Extended Stay America - Seattle - Everett - Silverlake (3 star)

1431 112th Pl SE, Everett, WA 98208

(425) 337-1341 

Motel 6 Everett South (2 star)

224 128th St SW, Everett, WA 98204

(425) 353-8120 

Quality Inn & Suites (2 star)

101 128th St SE, Everett, WA 98208

(425) 609-4550 

La Quinta Inn Everett (3-star)

12619 4th Ave W, Everett, WA 98204

(425) 347-9099

Another Option is Airbnb.

Host Housing:

"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

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 $30/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. NOTE:  If needed, a judge may read the three topics to the student. The topics may be read to the student a maximum of three times.
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

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 Wednesday, March 26th.

Original Script Deadline: Wednesday, April 2 - 11:59PM PST. Final submission due April 9th.    

GETTING STARTED
1.  Watch this quick tutorial for platforms and interps and your scripts will sail through submission and be NITOC ready!

2.  Read Rules on the Stoa website

3.  Fill out Script Submission form pertaining to your event in Submission Forms 

4.  Have citations? PLATFORM: See Platform Submission Guidelines

5.  Interps? See Interp Submission Guidelines

6.  Slam Poetry? See Slam Poetry Submission Guidelines

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

If your file is too large, use a pdf compressor such as 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. 

QUESTIONS? Contact submissions at:  EspressoCupScripts@gmail.com

Useful Tools for your platform speech and bibliography

-http://www.easybib.com/ - Easy Bib - to help create citation pages

We know how hard it is to recruit judges to commit time to come to judge at a tournament. But Community Judges are an essential part of the process - this is the audience to whom we are training to speak.

Who do you ask?  EVERYONE!  -Friends,Family, Boy Scout families, Co-ops, Sports teams, Church, neighbor, and Dad and/or Mom's work!

It is a ministry for people to take time and come and judge. Remind those you ask that it is important for you to get feedback from a variety sources as you are developing your communication skills in speech and debate. And you would love for them to come and judge.

With the ability to offer multiple TP debate Outrounds we really need LOTS of judges on Saturday! 

To encourage you to encourage you to recruit judges we are offering some great incentives!

* $75 Top Prize for minimum of 10 Community Judges
* $50 for second prize for a minimum of 8 Community judges
* Smaller cash prizes for 5 Community judges

PS.  Don't forget to get Dad to come AFTER work to judge on Thursday, Friday nights and Saturday!