The International Speech Contest is the highest-risk contest operationally, because the District winner advances beyond the District and the winning speech must be recorded correctly for quarterfinal judging. The following checklist combines the current 2026–2027 Toastmasters requirements with practical best practices for running a professional contest.
International Speech Contest Best Practices
1. Start with the current rulebook. Make sure the Contest Chair, Chief Judge, Contest Master, timers, counters, Sergeants at Arms, and key volunteers are working from the 2026–2027 Speech Contest Rulebook. Do not rely on procedures from previous years.
2. Verify contestant eligibility early. International Speech contestants must be paid members of clubs in good standing and, with limited exceptions for qualifying charter members, must have completed Levels 1 and 2 of a Pathways path or earned the Distinguished Toastmaster award.
3. Confirm the contest progression. The International Speech Contest proceeds from Club→ Area → Division → District → Quarterfinals → Semifinals → Finals.
4. Remember that contests beyond the club level are in person. For the 2026–2027program year, International Speech contestants must be physically present for Area, Division, and District competition. The quarterfinal stage is the exception because judging is conducted from the District winner's recorded speech.
5. Require contestant paperwork before the contest. Have every contestant complete the required certification of eligibility and originality. At the District level, also secure the required quarterfinal video release documentation before the contestant competes. Toastmasters specifically requires those materials when the District winner advances.
6. Conduct a thorough contestant briefing. Cover speaking order, timing, speaking-area boundaries, microphone use, props, introductions, protests, timing signals, and where contestants should report before and after speaking.
7. Draw speaking order rather than assigning it. Complete the official draw during the contestant briefing and document the order clearly for the Contest Master, timers, judges, and production team.
8. Establish the speaking area before contestants arrive. Clearly identify the boundaries and give every contestant equal opportunity to inspect and become comfortable with the stage, microphone, lectern, and physical space.
9. Test the sound system with an actual speaker. Do not settle for a technician saying, "The microphone works". Have someone walk the speaking area and deliver several sentences at realistic contest volume.
10. Position timers where contestants can clearly see them. International speeches are 5–7minutes, with green at 5:00, yellow at 6:00, and red at 7:00. Under the current timing rules, contestants are time-disqualified below 4:30 or once the official time reaches 7:31.
11. Use two trained timers. One maintains the official elapsed time while the other operates the signaling device. Have both rehearse the process before the room opens.
12. Give judges a dedicated briefing. Do not assume experienced Toastmasters automatically understand contest judging. Review the official International Speech Contest ballot, judging criteria, confidentiality, bias, protests, ballot completion, and procedures for submitting ballots. Toastmasters provides a dedicated International Speech Contest Judge's Guide and Ballot.
13. Protect judge anonymity. Avoid identifying voting judges in the program, publicly thanking them before results are announced, or seating them in an obvious "judges section."
14. Recruit more qualified officials than you technically need. Have backup judges, timers, counters, and Sergeants at Arms available. A District championship is not the place to discover that one absence makes the operation fragile.
15. Standardize every contestant introduction. The Contest Master should pronounce names and speech titles correctly and use the same introduction structure and energy for every contestant. Avoid commentary such as "our next wonderful speaker"; or other language that could subtly favor one contestant.
16. Protect the one-minute silence between speeches. That time belongs to the judges. Donot fill it with music, announcements, interviews, jokes, sponsor messages, orhousekeeping. The room should understand beforehand that the silence is intentional.
17. Manage props before contest day. Contestants planning to use props should notify the Contest Chair in advance. Make sure any prop can be safely and quickly positioned without disrupting another contestant's opportunity or the contest flow.
18. Create a formal protest procedure. Contestants and judges should know how and when protests may be submitted. The Contest Chair and Chief Judge should know exactly who handles eligibility, originality, timing, and judging-related questions. Do not improvise these decisions from the stage.
19. Prepare a minute-by-minute run of show. Include check-in, briefings, doors opening, opening remarks, contestant transitions, judging intervals, ballot collection, contestant interviews, awards, photography, and contingency time.
20. Assign someone specifically to contestant care. Contestants should know where to report, where to sit, where to warm up, when they will be called, and whom to approach with questions. Removing logistical uncertainty helps competitors focus on performing.