Getting to Know The UIL
I. Things to Know for All UIL Contests
- Constitution and Contest Rules - available online
- Academic Coordinator's Manual - available online
- TEA-UIL Side by Side - question and answer format concerning state laws, eligibility; available online
- Importance of tournament procedures, roll call, checking ballots, contest verification procedures
- Speech Handbooks for all seven contests (available free of charge from the UIL website)
II. Things to Know for CX Debate
- Topic Release - topic announced in January and debated the following fall; posted on website, in Leaguer
- CX Fall District Planning Meet - held prior to October 1; contact principal to know the date and permission to attend
- District selects CX District Director - register name and contact info online by November 1
- Fall Planning Meeting Agenda - all agenda items should be discussed; posted online at www.uiltexas.org/speech/debate
- District CX Meet - District Director sets up entry form in the Spring Meet Entry System by December 1; link to system found on speech web page
- Dates for CX Debate District contest - see UIL calendar for window
- Tournament Format - District: prelim rounds, advancing to elimination rounds or round robin
- District Entry Form - submit online at least 10 calendar days before meet
- Winner's Info - details about State tournament posted online for students
- Coach's Packet - large red and white envelope you are responsible for picking up from District Contest Director before leaving the district tournament
- Judging requirement if qualified for State Meet - deadline posted in Constitution & Contest Rules
- Judging form - completed online; there is a late fee if you miss the deadline
- UIL's A Guide to Cross-Examination Debate Handbook - Available free of charge from UIL website
- Rules particular to UIL Debate - certification of some 1st and 2nd place teams; procedures for substitutions at State; prompting, open CX, scouting prohibited. use of computers
III. Things to Know for LD Debate
- Topic Release - mid-August/mid-December; posted online
- Tournament Format - District: prelim rounds, advancing to elimination rounds or round robin
- UIL's LD Debate Guide - available free of charge from UIL website
- Winner's Info - details about State tournament posted online for students
- Coach's Packet - large red and white envelope you are responsible for picking up from Regional Contest Director before leaving Regional contest site
- Judging requirement if qualified for State Meet - deadline posted in Constitution & Contest Rules
IV. Things to Know for Prose & Poetry
- Contestants prepare two performances, one from Category A and one from Category B
- Categories/Category restrictions - see UIL Prose and Poetry Handbook
- Documentation requirements - students don't compete without approval of documentation
- Prose and Poetry Handbook - responsible for reading, critical for documentation explanation; download for no charge from UIL website
- State Office assistance - contact with questions or for clarification
- Research opportunities - links at www.uiltexas.org/speech/oral-interp/resource-web-sites-for-interpretative-speech
- Contest Procedures - sectioning, drawing for the category, time limit
- Speech IE Ranking System for Multiple Judges - TalkTab software downloadable free from UIL speech webpage
V. Things to Know for Persuasive & Informative
- Rules in the Prep Room - what materials are allowed and not allowed
- Informative/Persuasive Handbook - download for free from the UIL website
- Sources for files - website links and news sources to explore at www.uiltexas.org/speech/extemp/extemp-web-resources
- Contest Procedures - no talking in prep room, draw at 10 minute intervals, no outlines in prep, one card no larger than 3" x 5" is permissible, limitation on what can be taken out of prep room
- Speech IE Ranking System for Multiple Judges - TalkTab software downloadable free from UIL speech webpage
VI. Things to Know Congress
- Contest held during fall and winter
- Intent to Participate form must be submitted online by September 10, 2018
- Regions organized by Educational Service Cetner rather than by traditional UIL Districts or Regions.
- See website for your Regional Clerk's contact info
- Access contest rules, structure and procedures on the UIL website and review the UIL Congress Handbook, availalbe for free download from the UIL website
- Contestants can submit legislation to ESC Regional clerk for consideration by September 10, 2018.