academic health
(i.e. grades)
rehearsal
participation
tournament
behavior
preparation of a
number of events
budget and time
constraints
team involvement
and support of teamFCCJ Forensics Handbook
Updated: September 19, 2005
Greetings from the FCCJ speech and debate team! This handbook is a resource to
help you become more familiar with the protocols of the team, outlining the
expectations for participating on the team, as well as providing some insight
into being a successful competitor.
Our team stresses the
importance of academic success, and strives to reach that same success in the
events that we prepare. Although winning trophies and tournaments are nice
rewards, our attention focuses on making each student an excellent speaker and
performer. As
coaches, we understand that if our students dedicate their time and effort to
being an excellent presenter, the rewards of competition will quickly follow.
As you read through this handbook, consider your
role as a competitor on the FCCJ forensics team. Think about:
What goals do you wish to accomplish during
the season?
What type of events / topics will be
valuable to your growth as a person and communicator as well as beneficial
to your audience?
What level of success do you wish to
achieve?
What will your level of commitment be,
because any level of success demands it?
How will you be a supportive and
encouraging member of the speech and debate team?
Mull over each of these questions carefully. You
need to have specific and concrete answers to each of these questions so that
you may focus on your goals over the next year of competition.
We look forward to an exciting and productive
season!
Sincerely,
Coach Copeland & Coach Smires
FCCJ Speech Team Membership
Requirements
As a member of the Florida Community College at
Jacksonville Speech and Debate Team and / or scholarship recipient, competitors
must:
1)
be available to attend all the
tournaments during the course of the term.
2)
present coaches at the beginning of the
semester with their class and work schedules and any conflicts to attending
rehearsals or competitions.
3)
devote appropriate time and effort
preparing for each event entered.
4)
meet with a forensics coach for at least
one hour a week, keep assigned meeting times and return calls as soon as
possible.
5)
attend all designated meetings.
Absence without prior notice is unacceptable. If a competitor misses a
meeting, the competitor must contact the coach beforehand and arrange for an
additional individual rehearsal. Individual meetings with coaches are for
individual coaching; meeting nights are for overview of particular events, as
well as a time to decide whose events are ready to compete.
6)
provide proof of medical / health
insurance and submit the emergency medical treatment information and release of
liability forms before the first tournament.
7)
be on time to all scheduled rehearsals /
meetings. Tardiness without notice is unacceptable.
8)
register for the forensics practicum
class.
9)
be accountable for all materials you are
given to compete with (tripods, portfolios, prose books, R.T. props, etc.)
10)
do up to three demonstrations of events
per semester for recruitment and / or community service needs.
11)
be prepared for competition as outlined
in the competition preparation section and put forward the best effort in every
competitive event.
12)
travel to competitions in the school
vehicles with the entire team. No guests may accompany team members, either in
the van or in hotel rooms. Members will often share beds in hotel rooms (3-4
persons per room).
13)
remain drug-free as a competitor. When
attending tournaments, no alcohol, smoking, or illegal drug use is allowed. If
found to be in violation of this guideline, members will be immediately
dismissed from the team and his or her talent grant will be revoked.
14)
be supportive of team members and also
the efforts of other schools’ teams. (i.e. attend teammates' rounds)
15)
be courteous and respectful at all times
during the trip, both to teammates, coaches, judges, and to others we encounter
in public. You are an ambassador of F.C.C.J.
16) abide by the highest code of ethics in competition and by the tournament rules for each competitive event entered. If you have a question of ethics, speak with one of your coaches.
17)
be respectful of a diversity of opinions and backgrounds and
do not discriminate or harass individuals based on
age, gender, race, ethnic background, sexual orientation or religious
affiliation.
18)
do one’s best, learn from the process
and have fun.
Talents grants may be awarded to actively involved F.C.C.J. Forensics Competitors provided the following criteria are met:
Fulfill and abide by all admissions and general regulations of the college catalog.
Earn a minimum of 12 credit hours each semester if enrolled full-time. (NOTE: Students may not change status mid-semester) Student will be reimbursed for no more than 18 hours per semester.
Earn a minimum of 9 credit hours if enrolled three-quarter time.
Earn a minimum of 6 credit hours if enrolled half-time.
Submit a federal financial aid application to the Financial Aid Office at the beginning of the term.
Maintain at least a 2.0 cumulative grade point average for the above term(s).
Must not have earned an associate or higher degree.
Must be registered at F.C.C.J. as a degree seeking student.
Students testing into college preparatory courses are only eligible for half-time grants and are limited to 12 hours of classes until redemption is completed.
The student must successfully complete all credit hours covered by the talent grant. The student may not withdraw, receive a NP (Non-Penalty) or the grade of a "D" or "F" in any class while receiving the talent grant.
Students seeking an A.A. degree must earn a minimum of 12 General Education Requirements credit hours (6 for part-time) with a minimum 2.0 grade point average per academic year. At least 6 of these must be taken during the fall term, during the winter term.
Students seeking an A.S. degree must earn a minimum of 5 credit hours (3 for part-time) in GER courses per academic year.
The student must meet additional requirements as specified by the Forensics Coaching Staff.
In
order to maintain the F.C.C.J. tradition of excellence in all events, a
competitor is considered prepared for competition when he or she has:
1)
received topic / material approval from BOTH
coaches before beginning work on the event. This prevents a teammate from
devoting effort to a topic that will be a competitive disadvantage.
2)
presented an outline of a new speech or copy of
the selection of literature to perform several weeks before the scheduled
tournament. The coach will review the outline / selection with the competitor
and approve it to begin rehearsal. This prevents having to rewrite / re-cut an
event after work has begun.
3)
provided manuscripts of each event to coaches
during rehearsals. Keep your manuscripts and all of your supporting material
together in this binder. Typed manuscripts of speeches and interpretation
events are helpful aids in rehearsal and are often required to be available at
competitions as well.
4)
prepared the event to competition level 2 weeks
before the competition. Coaches decide which events are competition-ready.
Coaches will determine who
attends tournaments based on:
academic health
(i.e. grades)
rehearsal
participation
tournament
behavior
preparation of a
number of events
budget and time
constraints
team involvement
and support of team