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Member Requirements
2026-27
(Revised April 2026)

Though Plumb has acting directors and coaches, our coaching philosophy extends beyond that. We aim to be a family-centric club where parents are active participants. Speech and debate are not like any other activities or sports. This is life training that will cross apply for whatever else your students do, now and in the future; parental support is integral to success. Parents will be asked to attend specific weeks throughout the year for training or to assist coaches.
Year 1:

Student Requirements:​

  • Attend the mandatory team building camp on Saturday, August 29, 2026

  • Attend club weekly and participate in all activities

  • Honor the Code of Conduct

  • Weekly read the Plumb Communique on Band

  • Do all the assigned homework

  • Compete in Impromptu and Original Oratory (a 10-minute, self-written, memorized speech) - additional events are optional  

  • Compete in one fall tournament and three in the spring (the spring tournament requirement must be on a semi-monthly basis. Student may not attend three tournaments in one month and then be done for the year. Example 1: Compete in Feb., Mar., and April. Example 2: Compete in Jan., Feb., and April. Additional tournaments are helpful, but optional) (If Plumb hosts any tournaments, those will be mandatory for our students, but would take the place of another tournament in one of the above specified months/seasons)

  • Recruit at least 3-5 community judges (per student) for local tournaments

  • Participate in a goal setting session with Mrs. Ankrum and Mrs. Miller (over Zoom) at the beginning of the year

  • Participate in a student evaluation session with Mrs. Ankrum and Mrs. Miller (over Zoom) at the end of the year

Parent Requirements:​

  • Attend the mandatory parent meeting on Tuesday, August 18, 2026

  • Weekly read the Plumb Communique on Band

  • Attend club parent days (you will be notified of these weeks in advance via Band) (Parents are always welcome whenever they would like to join in, but there will be specified weeks that are required due to content we want to share with you)

  • Help students with homework

  • Remain at a tournament for the duration as your student's chaperone (or make arrangements with another parent to be there in your stead, filling out the necessary medical permissions)

  • Judge at tournaments that your students compete in

  • Help your students recruit required number of community judges

Year 2:

Student Requirements:​

  • Attend the mandatory team building camp on Saturday, August 29, 2026.

  • Attend club weekly and participate in all activities

  • Honor the Code of Conduct

  • Weekly read the Plumb Communique on Band

  • Do all the assigned homework

  • Compete in at least three events

  • Compete in one fall tournament and three in the spring (the spring tournament requirement must be on a semi-monthly basis. Student may not attend three tournaments in one month and then be done for the year. Example 1: Compete in Feb., Mar., and April. Example 2: Compete in Jan., Feb., and April. Additional tournaments are helpful, but optional) (If Plumb hosts any tournaments, those will be mandatory for our students, but would take the place of another tournament in one of the above specified months/seasons)

  • Recruit at least 3-5 community judges (per student) for local tournaments

  • Participate in a goal setting session with Mrs. Ankrum and Mrs. Miller (over Zoom) at the beginning of the year

  • Participate in a student evaluation session with Mrs. Ankrum and Mrs. Miller (over Zoom) at the end of the year

Parent Requirements:​

  • Attend the mandatory parent meeting on Tuesday, August 18, 2026

  • Weekly read the Plumb Communique on Band

  • Attend club parent days (you will be notified of these weeks in advance via Band) (Parents are always welcome whenever they would like to join in, but there will be specified weeks that are required due to content we want to share with you)

  • Serve in a specific role assigned by Mrs. Ankrum (which will be discussed with you in advance =) )

  • Help students with homework

  • Remain at a tournament for the duration as your student's chaperone (or make arrangements with another parent to be there in your stead, filling out the necessary medical permissions)

  • Judge and/or staff at tournaments that your students compete in

  • Help your students recruit the required number of community judges

Year 3+:

Student Requirements:​

  • Attend the mandatory team building camp on Saturday, August 29, 2026

  • Attend club weekly and participate in all activities

  • Honor the Code of Conduct

  • Weekly read the Plumb Communique on Band

  • Do all the assigned homework

  • Compete in at least four events, one in each category: Limited Prep, Platform, Interp, Wild card (including ones your coaches are challenging you to do)

  • Be prepared to support novice and younger students

  • Compete in one fall tournament and three in the spring (the spring tournament requirement must be on a semi-monthly basis. Student may not attend three tournaments in one month and then be done for the year. Example 1: Compete in Feb., Mar., and April. Example 2: Compete in Jan., Feb., and April. Additional tournaments are helpful, but optional) (If Plumb hosts any tournaments, those will be mandatory for our students, but would take the place of another tournament in one of the above specified months/seasons))

  • Recruit at least 3-5 community judges (per student) for local tournaments

  • Participate in a goal setting session with Mrs. Ankrum and Mrs. Miller (over Zoom) at the beginning of the year

  • Participate in a student evaluation session with Mrs. Ankrum and Mrs. Miller (over Zoom) at the end of the year

Parent Requirements:​

  • ​Attend the mandatory parent meeting on Tuesday, August 18, 2026

  • Weekly read the Plumb Communique on Band

  • Attend club parent days (you will be notified of these weeks in advance via Band) (Parents are always welcome whenever they would like to join in, but there will be specified weeks that are required due to content we want to share with you)

  • Serve in your given role (may change year to year)

  • Help students with homework

  • Remain at a tournament for the duration as your student's chaperone (or make arrangements with another parent to be there in your stead, filling out the necessary medical permissions)

  • Judge and/or staff at tournaments that your students compete in

  • Help your students recruit the required number of community judges

Notes:

  1. Novice students who are older will be expected to meet the above requirements, but may also be challenged personally to take on more depending on their own personal development and interest. The above information is just a baseline from which to start and assumes the student is beginning in middle school.

  2. The study of and training in apologetics is required for all speech members even if they are not competing in this event. We feel that every one of us should be well-versed in Biblical truth and that this is the most important training we can invest in.

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