Tournament Booklet/Live Doc

 (click on link above for the Live Doc)

If you need assistance throughout the weekend please email the tab staff at:

LD/PF/CX/Worlds Help Desk: newmaninvitational+debatehelp@gmail.com

Speech Help Desk: newmaninvitational+speechhelp@gmail.com 

Congress Help Desk: newmaninvitational+congresshelp@gmail.com

Equity Office: newmaninvitational+equity@gmail.com

You and your students are cordially invited to attend the 43rd Newman Invitational, which will be held on December 10-12, 2021. We provide a unique and diverse competitive experience. Last year, we attracted over 70 schools from 12 different states. Join us this year for a wonderful celebration of 43 years of forensics excellence.

We will hold a virtual tournament one more time this year on the NSDA Campus Platform. ALL EVENTS WILL BE SYNCHRONOUS.

All events will begin on Friday afternoon, December 10. They will continue all day on Saturday. We expect that many will finish on Sunday, depending on field size. Those attending should expect this to be a three-day tournament. See the Debate Events Schedule and the Speech Events Schedule.

I. Registration Overview

We anticipate a larger field in all events. However, we are committed to remaining true to the historical character of the tournament. Therefore, we will implement the following measures:

A. All entries are waitlisted. We will move entries off the waitlist and into the tournament based on the following factors:
1. Has your school attended the Newman Invitational in the past?
2. Is your school in the geographic region traditionally represented at the tournament (Southeastern US and Southwestern US).

Schools that do not meet either of those characteristics may still be admitted, but priority will be given to those who meet at least one of the two listed factors. Schools who fit in either of these two categories must request entries (with names or with TBAs) by October 15 in order to be given priority.

B. Field caps in all events. Debate events will be capped at 120 entries (with a maximum of 8 entries per school). Speech events will be capped at 102 entries (with a maximum of 8 entries per school). If coaches wish to exceed those caps, they must contact us and request additional entries.

C. All schools must complete the School Verification Form. See details by clicking on the yellow button for School Verification Form on the right.

II. Events Overview

We are pleased to announce that we are a qualifying tournament for UK's TOC in all twelve events they host. Students advancing to the designated place will earn one bid to the 2022 National Tournament of Champions hosted by the University of Kentucky.

We plan to offer 6 preliminary rounds of debate in novice and varsity divisions of Policy, LD, and PF. We plan to offer 4 preliminary rounds of World Schools Debate. We also offer 3 two-hour preliminary sessions in Congress. Additionally, we offer 4 preliminary rounds in all Speech events; however, students will not be able to cross-enter debate and speech events. Speech competitors can enter up to 3 events within the speech category, but no triple entry within a pattern. Our event schedule in a virtual tournament is significantly different than in a physical tournament. Please consult the schedule in the appropriate divisions at the right.

IMPORTANT NOTE ABOUT PF:  There will be no "coin flip" in preliminary rounds. The tabulation software determines sides, guaranteeing best possible balance between "pro" and "con" sides in the prelims. The pro side always speaks first. In the elims, the teams flip for sides (unless they met previously in the prelims), but the pro side still always speaks first.

IMPORTANT NOTE ABOUT WSD: We will permit hybrid teams (where team members do not attend the same school). However, all team members must attend schools in the same geographic region, defined by NSDA Districts. Hybrid teams that do not meet the criteria of being geographically connected to a single NSDA District should contact the Tournament Director to seek permission to attend. Details are specified on the Entry Rules page. 

We will tabulate all events on tabroom.com. All postings will be available online and emails/texts will be blasted. All contestants must have a linked tabroom account in order to access competition rooms. All judges must have a linked tabroom.com account in order to access competition rooms and electronic ballots. They must have devices to complete online ballots and watch/listen to rounds.

Summary of events and TOC qualification status

*semis bid for the Silver division and finals bid for the Gold division

If you have any questions about the tournament, please do not hesitate to ask.

Thank you,

Christopher Vincent
Tournament Director

Greg Malis and Alma Nicholson
Associate Tournament Directors