YSA Competitive: (12-18 year olds)*
Meetings:
- Once a week on Wednesdays
- Debate 2:00-3:30
- Speech 3:30-5:30 (competitive speech does not meet the 1st Wed. of the month due to the YSA Chapter meeting at that time)
- Monthly family meeting. On the 1st Thursday of the month, from 7:00-9:30 p.m. a meeting will be held for families participating in the competitive portion of club. We especially invite and encourage the fathers of the students to be a part of this night!
- Where: The Rock United Methodist Church, Cedar Park
Family Registration Fee: $35
Curriculum:(Dependant upon events participating in)
Speech:
- Required Text: As I was Saying -$22
- Recommended but not required: The Art of Interpretation -$22
- Beginning Public Speaking: 6-11 year olds- $12
*(Class available on club nights for those with older siblings participating in competitive YSA)
- Extemporaneous: “Keys to Extemp” $25
-
Speech Camp:-required for all new students. TBD (tentatively Aug. 28, 9:00-4:00). Minimal cost
Debate:
- Team Policy Debate: TBD approx. $60
- Lincoln Douglas Value Debate: TBD approx. $45
- Debate Camp-required for all debaters: TBD (Tentatively Sept.2-4, 9:00-4:00). Minimal cost
Student Time Requirements:
Speech Time commitment / speech event
(If you are doing multiple speech events, additional time may be needed.)
Fall Semester 2 – 5 hours per week
Spring Semester 2 – 3 hours per week
Debate Time commitment
Fall & Spring Semester 4 – 6 hours per week
These hours given here are in addition to student participation time at Club Day. These time requirements will vary and are dependent on the student’s age and ability. They are meant to serve as a guideline only. Each family will need to determine their maximum time of input at home; these are merely stated as minimums.
Tournament Requirements:
All senior student members are required to compete in at least one tournament per club year 2009-2010. Each family decides which tournaments they will participate in.
Tournament costs and traveling should be factored into your decision when choosing to join Young Speakers of Austin. Since local tournaments are NOT guaranteed, every family will incur travel expenses in order to fulfill this Club requirement.
NCFCA fee: usually $45 per family; the final figure will be announced in August 2009.
Tournament Entry Fees:
Approximate speech cost is $25 – $55 (depends on # of speech events you compete in)
Approximate Debate cost = $25/team member for Team Policy and $35 for LD.
Tournament Clothes: All competing students are required to wear Professional Business Attire (suits/sport jackets + tie) at every tournament.
Traveling Expenses/Tournament: You will need to also add travel expense to the above costs.
Example: ONE tournament in Houston, for a family with one student competing in debate and two speech events:
- $50 to $60 - tournament fees / student
- $225 – hotel expenses / room ($69 x 3 nights)
- $25 – food / person
- $50 to $100 - gas
Approx. total costs for one tournament = $350 – $525
Expenses can be lowered depending on where you stay, taking your own food, carpooling options, and optional free “Host Housing” provided by the families where tournament is hosted.
