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Check-In: Parents must check in with their student between 7:00–7:25 AM. After confirming that both the competitor and parent judge are present, the student will be allowed to compete. After check-in, come to Ballot Push so that we can get the ballots pushed and start the tournament on time. When you can, please move your car to street parking to make room for community judges. See the Parking Map for suggestions about where to park.
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Ballot Push: Plan to arrive at Ballot Push 40 minutes before each round to confirm if you are needed to take a ballot. Parent judges are essential to the success of this tournament—your willingness to judge is deeply appreciated!
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Judging Commitment: Plan on judging at least three rounds, and more if possible. Ballot Push will let you know if additional judges are needed. Be prepared to:
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Judge alternating rounds or consecutive rounds, depending on the schedule.
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Be flexible and prioritize community judges who have volunteered their time, giving up your ballot if needed.
Greatest needs for Parent Judges: The 8:00 AM round, 12 pm round, and Finals (5 pm).
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Online Judge Orientation is available: Use this Google Form (https://forms.gle/fvaPqdiK4ixCFyHA8) to watch Stoa's 20-minute video before you come to the tournament. The Judge Orientation Team will be available to answer additional questions.
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Meals:
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We do not have a set lunch break. Parents will need to eat when they are not judging, and students will squeeze meals between speeches.
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Snacks, coffee, and simple refreshments will be available in the Judges’ Lounge.
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So that you can stay on campus to judge, please pre-order meals during registration or bring your own food.
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Judging Policies
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If necessary, during preliminary rounds, parents may judge students from their own club under these conditions:
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The parent has not actively coached that speech.
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The parent does not have a personal conflict with the competitor (e.g., the competitor is their child’s close friend).
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The parent can remain impartial throughout the round.
We strive to have three judges per preliminary round and trust parents to honestly assess their ability to judge impartially.
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Final Rounds: Parents may not judge students from their own club in Final Rounds.
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Judging Events: To ensure fairness and variety, parents should judge each event only once during the tournament (e.g., judge Apologetics one time, not multiple rounds).
Thank You!
Parents, your willingness to serve as judges is what makes this tournament possible. Thank you for helping us run smoothly and ensuring every student receives the feedback they need to grow! Here is a 4-minute video from Stoa, explaining why parent judges are important!