Schools from the RCDL, PCDL, and GSDL are invited to the Polytechnic Invitational MSPDP Tournament on Saturday, March 7, 2020.

The deadline for coaches to register their teams on tabroom.com is Saturday, February 29.

There is no limit on the number of teams per school, but there is a cap of 120 teams, based on the number of classrooms available, so be sure to register your teams and judges early. Registrations will be accepted on a first-come-first-served basis.

Students will debate two topics (each side once) in four rounds. After the awards ceremony, we will hold a final public debate between the top two teams at the tournament (from different schools).

Important reminders:

Please note: Schools must provide at least one previously certified full-time judge (for four debates) for every two teams registered. If your judges do not wish to judge all four rounds, be sure to include this in your calculation and bring additional judges. Teams will be cut if schools don’t bring enough judges.

Please bring flow sheets for your own teams and judges.

Coaches should bring a medical kit and copies of their students’ medical forms in case of an emergency.

Topics for the regular rounds:

(Teams will debate both prop and opp.)

·      The United States should have a single-day national primary for presidential elections.

·      The United States should not have dropped atomic bombs on Japan at the end of World War II.

Topic for the final public debate:

·      Raising the federal minimum wage to $15 per hour would do more good than harm.

Schedule

Registration: 8 a.m.

All teams MUST be checked in with the Tournament Director by their coaches by 8:25 a.m.

ANY STUDENT WHO ARRIVES AFTER 8:25 WILL BE CUT FROM THE TOURNAMENT.

(Please remind students to plan accordingly.)

The times below are approximate:

Welcome/Opening Remarks: 8:40 a.m.

Round 1: 9:00 a.m.

Round 2: 10:35 a.m.

Lunch: 12:00 p.m.

Round 3: 1:00 p.m.

Round 4: 2:45p.m.

Awards: 4:30 p.m.

Final Public Debate: 5:00 p.m.

Results and School Awards: 5:45 p.m.

We will be selling tickets for delicious Teri & Yaki lunches at $10 per meal. Lunches include teriyaki chicken or tofu, stir-fried noodles, white rice, salad, and a fortune cookie. Teams will be given one free coach’s lunch per school. 

There are also many lunch options near Polytechnic, but debaters should NOT leave campus at lunchtime. If students wish to take advantage of these lunch options, parents should bring the lunches to school. Barring unforeseen events, Round 3 will start right at 1:00 p.m. 

The Boy Scouts will be selling snacks and drinks throughout the day, with 100% of the proceeds going to local charities.

Please park in the school's garage, which is on Wilson Street. Please do NOT park in front of neighbors' homes.

Coaches, please bring

·      Flow sheets for your teams and judges

·      Students’ emergency forms and a first aid kit

Detailed information can be found on the tournament website at https://katieward.wixsite.com/poly-ms-debate-tourn, including

·      The judging rubric and timing guide

·      A judges’ manual

·      Video sample debates

·      Information about lunch purchase at Poly and local lunch options

·      Topics

·      Schedule

·      Directions, parking information, and campus maps