This MIGHT not be your year…

How do you handle CTSO non-winners?

Well, I had one year when all eight of my competitors won at State and went to Nationals, where I had a national finalist! It was an incredible year! They were incredible inner-city students who rose above expectations and proved to themselves that they could be successful on the biggest high school stage in the country. I still have the picture of them hanging in my office, from well over a decade ago. It was an amazing accomplishment for them, and I was in the front row of their growth and pride.

That. Is. Not. Common. It’s happened to me once in all these years, and I don’t expect it to repeat. For one thing, I’m bringing 30 to FBLA State this year. The chances of universal success when you have that number is slim to none. In addition, I am bringing exactly one senior, experienced competitor. Yup—just one. 

So, I need to prepare for the difficult conversations and do do you. This is how to handle CTSO non-winners…

You didn’t create your pre-judged document?

Every year, this happens on a small scale. This year, we had a group of freshmen sign up for a Business Plan writing event. You know, the one where you have to have a full business plan written, formatted, and professionally bound? Yeah, the one that can take months of preparation. That one. Really, ladies? For your first conference?

Even knowing the requirement, they wouldn’t be discouraged during the sign up period, no matter how hard we tried. Since our state allows students to compete in five different competitions, we allowed them to keep Business Plan. Then, as expected, they didn’t even get it finished.

How To Handle These CTSO Non-Winners:

This is an easy conversation—because they simply failed to meet the pre-judging requirement of the competition. But making it a lesson…that’s where we come in.

They were still required to write the plan to attend the state conference.

Our competition rules and field trip paperwork clearly states that you MUST compete in the maximum number of events allowed. It’s part of what drives our success, and we have found over the years that students find passions they hadn’t considered by taking a multitude of competitive events. So, yeah, they are still required to write the Business Plan and submit it before they get on the bus.

They won’t “win,” but they will learn and they will be successful.

You didn’t take your test?

The logical consequence of not taking the testing portion of an event at DECA and FBLA is the students’ failure to win. But is that enough for them to understand the commitment they made?

For us, we only allow a certain number of students to compete in each event—we spread our strength around. So, if a student signs up for a popular event, then fails to take the test, they have essentially robbed our potential winner of the opportunity to compete in that event.

That is unacceptable. This requires a harsh conversation.

As above, nobody travels who didn’t compete in the maximum number of events allowed, so we require them to “compete” before we get on the bus. We have a fairly wide variety of study aids and past tests for different CTSO’s, and we require that person to come in after school and take at least two of those tests. And pass them with at least an 80. In addition to demonstrating our point about participating fully in the event, it prepares them not only for their other events this year, but for their future events. 

You didn’t come to practice?

You’re not getting on the bus. Period. End of conversation.

Why Do We Handle These CTSO Non-Winners This Way?

Prior to traveling to a state-level competition, there are several mandatory meetings that need to happen to have a successful trip.

• Paperwork and requirements 
• Practicing in full dress
• Presenting pre-made materials to an advisor

If your students can’t find the time to attend scheduled, pre-trip meetings related to the conference itself, are those really the students who will devote the proper time and energy at the conference? Are those really the people you want representing you and your school?

Obviously, there are exceptions, and we make arrangements for students all the time. But failing to appear at mandatory meetings in your classroom will lead to failing to make curfew on the trip.

I’ve been there, too.

Our first mandatory meeting for the upcoming FBLA State Conference opened with a Bingo-style game, where kids had to greet each other professionally, and share one vocabulary word they had studied in advance. This had nothing to do with vocabulary. That activity was about starting the process of team bonding. This group will spend four days together—including a total of 18 hours on a bus. It is to our benefit that they get to know each other so they can have fun with their roommates, encourage each other, and potentially cheer or console each other. 

You are a first-year!

This is the easiest conversation to have after awards sessions. 

Their first year in any of the CTSO’s should be about learning and growing and enjoying what is probably their first multi-day trip away from your family. Focus your first-years on the networking opportunities, the keynote speakers, and the workshops—get their feet wet and let the passion for CTSO’s consume them.

Here Is EXACTLY How You Handle These CTSO Non-Winners:

The best suggestion I can make to console first-year students who were sure they were going to place is to show them around…literally.

Walk through the convention space with them pointing out the tremendous difference in size and experience they see. Once they recognize that their competition might have three years of experience on them, they feel quite a bit better about their performance. Then walk them around and show them their peers. Having prepared well in advance of the conference, I guarantee your first years are better dressed and more confident than the majority of other students their age they will find. Point out to them how much confidence they are exuding and compliment how prepared they were. 

One of the best pieces of advice I can give to first year students is to visit, and possibly participate, in the election of next year’s state officers. Every year I have students running for state office, and we assign the freshmen some time working at that table. We give them a “cheat sheet” of how to ask questions, and always team them up with upperclassmen. What I’ve found is that this two-hour shift tends to light a fire in them for their future participation in the state officer opportunities. It forces them to network and do some public speaking, which can only improve their confidence and sense of belonging to the organization.

Hey, if you do that? They’ll be back next year and win. I guarantee it.

Well, You’re Simply not going to nationals!

Yes, this inevitably happens.

The kid comes out of competition positive they won the whole thing. They did amazing, the judges loved them, they’re going to Nationals. Then…crickets at awards. Now, you can see the tears in their eyes from down the row in the dim light. So, what do you say?

This Is How I Handle These CTSO Non-Winners…

Focus on the positive. Approach them with pride in your eyes and in your voice, because they worked very hard, and stepped way outside their comfort zone to even attend the conference! Then, remind them of the depth of experience they were up against in their competition, and express pride in how well they performed. 

Most importantly, approach them. Maybe not right away—they are trying to save face in front of the rest of your chapter—but definitely speak to them soon. A smile, a kind word, encouragement from you, could all combine to turn this non-winner into next year’s national champion. It is crucial that you acknowledge the hard work they did to prepare, and how that work is going to continue to serve them in the future. 

Best of all, for 29 of my kids this year, there is next year to start preparing for already. And yes, they are all coming back.

So, Are my methods effective?

Reading through this, you may think I’m overly strict or critical, particularly since CTSO’s are extracurricular activities. In other words, should I be this strict considering participation is 100% optional? Maybe my approach is rooted in coaching sports for so many years. Or, maybe it’s rooted in my personal approach to competition and discipline. Maybe I really am the Wicked Witch of the West.

However…

My clubs are full and thriving.

My kids are winning at state and national competitions.

My alumni call, text, visit, keep in touch.

Maybe, just maybe, I know what I’m doing.

THANK YOU FOR READING THIS FAR

Wow, thank you for reading about how to handle CTSO non-winners!

Hey, since you’re here! You may as well check out some other ways to win CTSO performance or testing events, here and here! Check out our other topics here! Either way, I appreciate you!

Please leave a COMMENT about any tips you may have!! Or comment what your favorite tip of mine was! How do YOU start these difficult conversations with your students? Let me know.

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