Bishop Kelley Comet Challenge

2026 — Tulsa, OK/US

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6A Lincoln Douglas

Event Description:

Lincoln-Douglas Debate

1. Only two (2) speakers are involved: one fulfilling the affirmative case responsibilities and the other, the negative. The following format is used:

1. First Affirmative Constructive 6 minutes

2. Cross examination 3 minutes

c) First Negative Constructive 7 minutes

d) Cross examination 3 minutes

e) First Affirmative Rebuttal 4 minutes

f) First Negative Rebuttal 6 minutes

g) Second Affirmative Rebuttal 3 minutes

h) Each debater will be allowed a total of four (4) minutes preparation time during the course of the debate.See SPE19-2-M.

2. The national topic from the NSDA will be used for competition. The topic designated for March and April will be used for regionals and state. The OSSAA will notify the schools of the topic.

3. Each judge will award the decision to the affirmative or negative and will award speaker points on a 1-6 point scale.

4. Judges may read evidence after the round for a period of time not to exceed five (5) minutes.

*5. Plagiarism or falsification of evidence in oratory, extemp, or debate shall result in suspension in that event for that

competition.

*6. The use of profanity and vulgarities is forbidden and may result in 0 speaker points or disqualification and a protest being filed with the tournament director.

7. After debaters have debated preliminary rounds (including round robin), qualifying for the placement on the bracket will be based on the following criteria: (1) win-loss record, (2) head-to-head meeting (only used to break a two-way tie), (3) total speaker points, (4) opponents’ win-loss record; (5) opponents’ speaker points. In all divisions of debate, when only 3 rounds occur, all winning records must advance.

1. Placing teams on a 16 point bracket will be in this manner: See bracket on page SPE26.

b) Placing teams on an eight-point bracket from preliminary rounds will be in the following manner: See bracket on page SPE29.

8. In qualifying tournaments, at least three preliminary rounds must occur to result in regional qualification. If sixteen (16) or more compete, eight (8) must advance to elimination rounds. If thirty-two (32) or more compete, at least sixteen (16) must be advanced to elimination rounds. If sixty-four (64) or more compete, at least thirty-two (32) must be advanced to elimination rounds. At the discretion of the Tournament Director, to avoid the elimination from competition of debaters with exact won-loss records, partial-elimination brackets will be allowed, giving sufficient byes to the higher seeded contestants to fill the bracket. Partial-brackets will not be broken.

9. In 3A/4A regional tournaments with nine (9) teams entered, the four (4) teams with the best records from preliminary rounds will qualify for bracketing. When ten (10) or more teams are entered, eight (8) teams will qualify for bracketing. In regional and state tournaments, when eight (8) or fewer teams are entered, the round robin system will be used.

10. Debaters from the same school should not be paired against each other in the first elimination round. The minimum amount of bracket movement must be used. No brackets shall be broken after the first elimination round has occurred. When moving debaters to break the bracket, move the lower seeded debater. Partial elimination rounds are not considered the first elimination round for the purpose of breaking brackets.

11. Forfeiting a round to gain an advantage for the school will be a violation except in elimination rounds.

12. At all double elimination tournaments, brackets will not be broken to prevent two people from the same school from meeting.

13. When mixed classes debate in qualifying divisions, wins will be recorded as wins; losses will be recorded as losses; and elimination rounds must be separated by class.

1. In all debate events, all students unable to return to scheduled competition on Saturday must notify the tournament director before registration. Changes made after registration will be counted as a “Drop at Registration”: and fees will be assessed by the tournament director. Students marked as “not returning” will not be reinstated after round 1 has begun.

2. Internet access is allowed in all forms of debate.

1. Computers or other electronic devices may not be used to receive information from any sources not competing in the debate.

2. * Sanction: Contestants found to have violated the provision above shall be disqualified from the tournament and shall forfeit all rounds. Contest directors shall be empowered with the final decision concerning disqualification.

3. Availability of evidence: Contestants electing to use computers shall have the responsibility to promptly/immediately provide access to any evidence read in a speech for inspection by the judge or opponent. Printers may be used. Evidence may be printed in the round but must be provided in a format readable by the opposing team and the judge. See SPE 20-21-C

4. Contestants electing to use computers are responsible for providing their own computers, batteries, extension cords, and all other accessories. Tournament hosts shall not be responsible for providing internet access, computers, printers, software, paper, or extension cords for contestants.

5. Sanction: Contestants found to have violated provisions a-c above shall forfeit the round of competition and receive zero points. Contestants found to have violated provision d above shall be disqualified from the tournament and shall forfeit all rounds. Contest directors shall be empowered with the final decision concerning disqualification.