Contest Form Creator
Follow these steps to create shareable, customized Google Forms for your contests -based on Toastmaster's official contest forms.
If there's a form you would like added to this framework, please let us know and provide feedback. Contact information can be found at he bottom of this page.
Any Contest Chair with a Google Account can use the Contest Form Creator tool.
1. The Contest Form Creator tool (below) pulls data from a Spreadsheet.
You need to create your own spreadsheet. COPY this one: Contest-Data-Spreadsheet
2. Update your new Spreadsheet with your contestant names. Remove any rows you don't need, but KEEP the header (the very first row).
3. Next, select the green "SHARE" button in the upper-right of your Sheet. Then click "Copy Link" (1), and "Done" (2) Example:
4. The link you copied is long and looks complicated. Save this link somewhere. Paste it to Notepad or Notes -you will use this later.
5. Log in to your Google Account. For best results, use the Chrome browser's "Incognito" mode. (Tip: Cntl+Shft+N )
7. Google will ask you to Authorize the App and review permissions. You can always revoke permissions at a later time, after creating your contest forms.
Follow the steps in EACH of the slides below. Thankfully, you only need to do these steps ONCE. 😃
8. After the "authorization" steps above, you will see the first screen of the form making tool:
9. From this screen you can customize the Contest Title and Club Number that appears at the top of each form.
The Contest Form Creator app will generate 2 links per form. Don't worry about losing this information because you can have them sent to you by email. Your email address will be used. If you don't want an email, clear the field.
10. When you're ready to generate the form(s), select the "Click here to create customized contest Google Form(s)" button.
You will see an animation while Google builds your form(s) and linked-spreadsheet(s). The spreadsheet is used to record form submissions.
11. After a few seconds, you are presented with 2 links (for each of the forms you selected).
The first link is the form itself. This link can be distributed to all of your judges or contestants.
The second link (for responses) is intended only for the Chief Judge and Contest Chairs.
Next Steps
You may want to customize the look of your forms. This is optional. If you wish to customize the form's theme... continue to the page: "How to customize a form's theme"
IMPORTANT: You will have the best experience using the Chrome browser. If you are using any other browser (Edge, FireFox, Safari)... please log-in to your Google account FIRST by going to: https://accounts.google.com/ -before using any of the links created by this tool.
The Form Creator tool provides 2 links for each form. For a successful contest, do the following:
JUDGE’S CERTIFICATION OF ELIGIBILITY AND CODE OF ETHICS (Item 1170)
SPEAKER’S CERTIFICATION OF ELIGIBILITY AND ORIGINALITY (Item 1183)
Send the FIRST link (the form itself), via email to all Contest participants (contestants and judges).
Send the SECOND link (the response spreadsheet), via email to the Chief Judge.
CONTEST TIME RECORD SHEET (Item 1175)
Send the FIRST link (the form itself), via email to each timer.
Send the SECOND link (the response spreadsheet), via email to the Chief Judge. As each timer submits their response, the Chief Judge will know when to notify the Toastmaster to continue with the next contestants presentation
TIEBREAKING JUDGE'S GUIDE AND BALLOT (Item 1179A)
CONTEST BALLOT (Item 1179)
Send the FIRST link (the form itself), via email to each Judge (Item 1179A should be sent to the Chief Judge only)
Send the SECOND link (the response spreadsheet), via email to each BALLOT COUNTER
While Judges are submitting their ballots, the responses can be seen by the ballot counters in real-time. After all Judges are finished, the ballot counters will select "Tally Ballots" from the "Ballot Counter" menu (see below). The ballots will be counted and sorted, highest score on top. In the event of a tie - the ballot counter will notify the Chief Judge (or the Chief Judge can also view their own spreadsheet)... and the Tiebreaking Judges spreadsheet comes into play.
Questions and Feedback always welcome. Contact: JD at jd.lindaman@fattm.org