Training & Certification #
Interscholastic Theatre contests involve subjective and standards-based evaluation of students in a fully produced play of up to 40 minutes. Coaches and/or adjudicators (judges) gain certification through training, and can report time spent as professional development. We offer an entirely online course for individuals adjudicating our one-act play series.
Get Hired to Adjudicate #
Contact us and we’ll connect you to a contest manager in your area. You also may check our Jobs Board.
Adjudication Changes 2021-onward #
- Adjudicators no longer recommend “Advance” nor “Stop,” nor overall school awards at State.
- Adjudicators award points across several evaluation criteria, and the average of each adjudicator’s scores determines which shows advance to the next contest level.
- Comments for each evaluation criterion should justify scores. Bear in mind:
3 = Proficient – meets expectations of questions in the criterion; not necessarily perfect;
2 = Developing – some elements are still progressing, but not finished;
1 = Minimal – most elements are unfinished and distract from the overall message to be conveyed by the production. - Average scores needed by at least two adjudicators:
District → Advance to Sectional: 1.5+
Sectional → Advance to State: 2.3+
State → Awards (Direction, Ensemble, Technical, Overall/Critic’s Choice): 2.67+
Acting awards are still based on at least two nominations of individual actors. - Evaluation criteria simplified/streamlined.
