REGISTRATION INFORMATION
March 27: Registration opens at 8:00amCST
April 6th: Registration closes at 11:59pmCST
April 7-14: Wait lists will be addressed and communicated
Scripts Due: April 15th, 2025 by 11:59 pm
Script Corrections Due: April 17th, 2025 by 11:59 pm
April 16th: Last day to change Meal Registration
If you missed registration, please contact penandsword.ar@gmail.com
Patterns are listed on the Schedule page but are subject to change based on registration.
Registration Fees
Speech Event - $30 for first event, $15 for each additional event
Parliamentary Debate - $40 per debater
Junior Events - $20 flat fee per student
Family Registration Fee: $10 per family
This is NOT a drop off event.
Payments
Electronic payment of all registration fees and meal tickets is mandatory for participation in The Pen and The Sword. Payment via Stripe (through ETCNWA Homeschool Group) is appreciated, and no check or cash will be accepted. Payments will not be accepted at the tournament.
Registration is not complete until your fees have been paid. Please understand that in the team event, Duo Interpretation, if both partners are not registered and paid in full, both registrations remain incomplete. A space cannot be held for that team. The partially registered teams will be moved to the wait list with their partner until both registrations and payments are complete.
Stripe Surcharge: Competitor is responsible for all charges incurred via Stripe, whether those be associated with initial registration, event add/drop, or withdrawal from competition. Please note that these fees are non-refundable, regardless of date of add/drop as we cannot recover these costs.
Refund Policy
Cancellations prior to registration close, will garner a full refund minus any Stripe fees. Registrants must contact The Pen and The Sword director before registration closes. If we are contacted after that time, we will not be able to offer refunds.
Dropping Events
There will be a $25 drop fee if an event is dropped after registration closes up through check-in. Drops create a domino effect of extra work for staff because they affect room allocation, judging needs, awards orders, and award ceremony.
Partnerships
All DUO events require a partner. Each should check with your partners to ensure that they are also registered. A team is not registered until the second person of the partnership has registered.
Waiting List
If you are wait-listed, we will contact you asap if you have been moved to an open spot.
We will make considerations for the wait-list after registration closes. Thank you for your patience!
Please contact us for extenuating circumstances which will be evaluated on a case-by-case basis.
Dress Code
Please come in STOA dress code attire. For the duration of the tournament, students should remain in proper attire that is clean, neat, and modest. If at any time a student changes into casual wear, this standard applies.
Judges
It is our goal to have three judges in every speech round.
Judges don't need any prior experience! Our Judges Orientation will fully equip everyone in attendance to judge ANY event.
We have a lot of judge slots to fill. We sincerely appreciate your assistance.
Visitors
To keep everyone safe, all adults in the building need to check-in and wear a name badge..
If you don't receive a name badge at the Friday morning check-in, please stop by the Judge Greeter to get one.
ETCNWA, our parent homeschool organization, requires guests to check in and name badges. Please let family and friends know to enter though the Main Entrance on the North side of the building so they can pickup a badge.
Registrar Contact
Please direct any questions concerning registration or tournament details to the
Michelle Johnson at penandsword.ar@gmail.com