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VERBAL SPONTANEOUS: CATCH PHRASE

(With a few helpful tips at the end for new coaches about Verbal Spontaneous)

JUDGE READS TO STUDENTS: (Do not read numbers or phrases in parenthesis.)

1. You will have two minutes to think and two minutes to respond. Questions count against your thinking time.

2. You will receive one point for each common response. Highly creative or humorous responses will receive five points. This will be a subjective opinion of the judge and the judge's decision is final.

3. Your team is to take turns in sequence. You may not skip your turn, nor repeat nor pass. If one member of the team is stuck, the team is stuck.

4. Once the time begins, it will not be stopped. If the judge asks you to repeat or to clarify your answer, it counts against your time. Speak loudly and clearly.

THE PROBLEM IS:

Name as many things as you can that you "catch" or that include the word "catch". For example, you could say "I can catch a fish."

(Repeat #5, THE PROBLEM IS: )

"BEGIN" (Judge starts timer).

FOR JUDGES ONLY:

Be sure to give exactly two minutes to think and two minutes to respond. Timing is critical. Students responding at the buzzer can finish and be scored.

You should repeat the problem for each team. You may answer questions during the two minutes thinking period, but time continues.

Score: One point for each common response and five points for each creative.

Common Responses: Catch a fish, catch a cold, catch my brother, catch a runaway horse … anything you would ordinarily think of physically catching

Creative responses: Unusual or humorous responses, or those that make different connections, such as "catch a break," "catch an idea," "Catch-22," "dream catcher," "play catch-up" … or even different spellings, such as "Ketchup"!

©L.Love 2001

Keep practices fun!!! This is about learning to think on their feet, and team members should see this as a fun challenge, not a stressful situation!!! At the tournament, the most successful teams are the ones who are having a lot of fun, and who see spontaneous as an opportunity to show off their creativity. The coach often sets the tone for this attitude, so make spontaneous an enjoyable activity and if you, as a coach, feel concern about the team’s ability, figure out other ways to practice, keeping things fun and not stressful.

Score: One point for each common response and five points for each creative.

Common Responses: Tough as nails, cold as ice, happy as a lark, blind as a bat, etc. Any usual expressions heard in everyday speech.

Creative responses: Unusual or humorous comparisons, such as "happy as Austin Powers if he could be in the 60’s," "faster than the speed of a message on the internet," "proud as my mom when she can see the floor of my room," or "light as my heart when spontaneous is finished!"

Note: most creative answers will have a qualifier that explains the creative connection.