Coach Resources at a Glance
Everything a coach needs to prepare a team for a CISL meet is collected here. Use the sections below to go directly to the materials you need.
- Coach notes — technology rules for poetry, prose, and extemp, how to submit extemp questions, and yearly dues.
- Event Rules & Judge Forms — downloadable PDFs for every individual event, along with the Duet Improv document.
- Author's Lists — the approved poetry and prose authors for the season.
- League calendar — the embedded CISL Google Calendar with upcoming dates.
Coach Notes
- Students competing in poetry or prose reading may read from e-readers such as a Nook, Kindle, or iPad. Any device malfunction is a risk the student takes.
- Host schools do not guarantee internet access or computers for competitors, so plan ahead.
- Students competing in extemp may use online versions of their permitted sources.
- Every school must submit 2 National and 2 International extemp questions for each meet.
- Yearly dues are $100 per school. Schools that host a meet get $75 back toward food and copying costs.
Event Rules & Judge Forms
Download the rules and judge form for each event below.
Author's Lists
Approved authors for the season:
- CISL Poetry Authors 16-17 (DOCX, 44.289 Kb)
- CISL Prose Authors 16-17 (DOCX, 44.458 Kb)
Frequently Asked Questions for Coaches
Can students use an e-reader for poetry or prose reading?
Yes. Students competing in poetry or prose reading may read from e-readers such as a Nook, Kindle, or iPad. Any device malfunction is a risk the student takes.
Will host schools provide internet access or computers for competitors?
Host schools do not guarantee internet access or computers for competitors, so plan ahead.
Can extemp students use online versions of their allowed sources?
Yes. Students competing in extemp may use online versions of their permitted sources.
How many extemp questions must each school submit?
Every school must submit 2 National and 2 International extemp questions for each meet.
What are the yearly dues, and is there a host school credit?
Yearly dues are $100 per school. Schools that host a meet get $75 back toward food and copying costs.
Where do I find the rules and judge forms for each event?
The Event Rules & Judge Forms section on this page links to a downloadable PDF for each event, including Duet Acting, Extemp, Humorous/Serious, Original Oratory, Poetry, Prose, Radio Speaking, and Storytelling, plus a Duet Improv document.
Related Topics
- Contestants — event rules and judge forms students can use while rehearsing.
- Judges — details for those evaluating at league meets.
- Team Registration — sign up your school's team for the league.
- Meet Results — outcomes from league meets.
- Questionaires — league questionnaires.
- Contact — reach the league with any remaining questions.
Coaches can use this page as a single reference point before each meet: review the coach notes, download the rules and judge forms for every event, and confirm the approved author lists. The embedded league calendar helps you track upcoming dates, and the FAQ answers common questions about e-readers, extemp sources, and dues.