This will be an Elementary School (SPAR and Impromptu only) and Middle School Tournament.

 Please register for the tournament at: https://forensicstournament.net/Thumpers/21

The host of this tournament is Nova 42 Academy and its students. The tournament allows for all public, private, and home schooled students to compete. This tournament is meant to encourage healthy competition at all levels.  We would like schools to be aware of the following:

1.  The tournament will be held entirely online.  Please see the Best Practices Guide on this tournament page for additional information regarding the preparation for Internet tournaments and important reminders for those who have experience with online tournaments. Additionally, this guide will have suggestions and policies regarding specific events. 

2.  Throughout the entire tournament, we will have a live help room for anyone having trouble.  The URL will be 8x8.vc/TEHhelp. If anyone from your team has problems, this virtual room will be the first place to go.

3.  All Elementary competitors will be required to have a parental guardian onscreen for the duration of the round 

Tab Staff:

Tournament Director: Katie Babb (Nova 42 Academy)

Tabulation: Mike Kyle (Nova 42 Academy)

Help Room: Dylan Muller (Nova 42 Academy)

Judges: Ted Kim (Nova 42 Academy)

Ombudsperson: Jackie Fassbender (Nova 42 Academy)

Events and Divisions include:

Expository - Middle School                   

Informative - Middle School

Storytelling - Middle School                                

Dialectic SPAR - Middle School 

Original Oratory - Middle School              

SPAR - Elementary and Middle School 

Impromptu - Elementary and Middle School 

Extemporaneous Speaking (Single Entry Only) - Middle School                 

*Students may enter up to two different events in each pattern, with the exception of Extemp. 

 Pattern A: Dialectic SPAR, Storytelling, MS Impromptu, ES Impromptu, ExpositoryPattern B: OO, Informative, Extemp, MS SPAR, ES SPAR

Rules/Event Descriptions:

All events will follow the attached rules unless otherwise noted in this invitation.  For a full list of all the event descriptions, tournament procedures, and round design, please see the attached document.  

Eligibility:

This tournament is open to the entire Universe! Including all schools, clubs, after-schools, aliens, and homeschoolers.

Students from 2nd - 5th grade are permitted to compete in the elementary division.

Students from 6th - 8th grade are permitted to compete in the middle school division.

Postings: 

Postings will be sent to each student before the round begins. Coaches should update their student rosters on ForensicsTournament.net to include the cell numbers or the e-mail addresses for each student. Once the posting preference is selected, coaches can test that the cell/e-mail is getting through to the student(s). Students and judges do not need to create their own accounts on ForensicsTournament.net. Here is an article which explains how competitors and judges alike can update the school’s roster, it is heavily suggested for it to be done.

Judges:

Each school must supply at least one judge. Judges must be existing 10th grade or higher for middle school judging and 7th grade or higher for elementary judging. If it is a high school age judge, we require they have a minimum of 2 competitions worth of experience. We require each judge to have a reliable Internet connection and use a laptop or desktop computer to evaluate the round, as can be checked in the enclosed Best Practices guide. We encourage computers for the easiest accessibility on eBallots and the video screen simultaneously. We recommend that judges open the eBallot on one computer tab and the video on another.  Alternatively, judges can take notes on paper while viewing the round, and then transcribe the notes to the eBallot after the round has concluded.

While the tournament will attempt to accommodate those with Internet problems, it cannot do so at the expense of fairness or delay of the tournament. 

Special Rules:

In keeping with the rules and by-laws, we would like to call your attention to a few items that may be different from other tournaments.

- Internet access is permitted for Extemp. Students should not use this access to confer with coaches or other direct outside sources, but may use the Internet to access articles and case files.

- SPAR and Dialectic SPAR times are the following: (2 prep) Pro 2; Con 2; Cross 4; Pro 2; Con 2.

- Performative plagiarism, prevents the “copying the performance of other performers.”  Please review this section of the rules for all students entered in the Storytelling event, as we will not be tolerating plagiarism of any kind.

Theme:

As this is Thumper’s Early Halloween Invitational, there would be nothing without the honoring of the infamous rabbit himself in a fun Halloween way!

• Every student will be allowed to dress as their coach or personal hero when competing in debate rounds. 

• After, each student will be given the option to send in their costume to Nova 42’s Instagram (CONSENT FORM NEEDED) to which they will all be voted on! No pressure!

Fees:

$15 per student/per event     

Judge Requirements:

Each team must bring one judge for every 3 competitors per division.

Judge fees for missing judges are as follows:

     The tournament will charge $30.00 per insufficient judge. Schools with a missing judge from a round will be charged $15.00 for the first offense and $30.00 thereafter.

Schedule: (all times in PST)

7:30 AM Check In/Registration

8:00-9:30 AM Round 1 Pattern A 

9:00 - EXTEMP PREP BEGINS

9:30-11:00 AM Round 1 Pattern B 

11:00-12:30 AM Round 2 Pattern A 

12:00 - EXTEMP PREP BEGINS

12:30-2:00 PM Round 2 Pattern B

2:00-2:15 PM BREAK

2:15-3:45 PM Round 3 Pattern A

3:15 - EXTEMP PREP BEGINS

3:45-5:15 PM Round 3 Pattern B

5:20 PM PATTERN A FINALS ROUND POSTED

5:30-7:00 PM Pattern A Finals

5:45 PM - EXTEMP PREP BEGINS

5:40 PM PATTERN B FINALS POSTED

6:15-8:00 PM Pattern B Finals 

8:30 PM Awards