Hello!

I am currently in my 18th year as head coach at Canfield HS (Ohio). For many of those years, I have specifically coached Lincoln-Douglas, Public Forum, Extemp, and/or Congress.

At most tournaments, I serve as a member of the tournament staff, often helping run debate.

When judging, I keep a rigorous flow. From my perspective, both the big picture (framing of the round) and the details (line-by-line) matter.

While evidence and cards are essential, explanation and context matter as well.

Clarity is key. Going too fast can impact your clarity as well as my ability to follow your argumentation.

Signposting during rebuttals helps distinguish debaters as the round progresses. Crystalizing your arguments and overall position as the round progresses is key. Jargon can be used but please do not overuse it. Debaters excel with clarity. Often, jargon impedes clarity.

When determining the winner, I definitely consider each debater's KVI. Do you know how you could win the round and can you articulate that accurately to me?

Best of luck at this tournament!