Everyone (competitors and judges) join this link at 9:30 am on Saturday. Rounds will be separated into breakout rooms. https://us02web.zoom.us/j/9751230314

Entries should change their name to name - team code - speaking order. Ex: Elijah Onik - Glen Rock OS - 2nd Speaker

Judges should change their name to Judge last name. Ex: Judge Onik

Entries

Entries should be novice or JV. They should not have competed in any varsity tournaments, and should not have been debating for more than 1-2 years. For any clarifications on entries, please email us. 

Judges

Generally, every 2 entries require 1 judge. That also means if your school is sending one team, they still need one judge. If there are any special cases/inability to provide judges, please let us know and we will try to accommodate. Varsity high school debaters may judge. Every judge MUST have a paradigm to count as a judge to cover entry obligations. 

Procedure

Topic: Resolved: Japan should revise Article 9 of its Constitution to develop offensive military capabilities.

Coinflip: Will be done on tabroom after pairings come out. If there are any issues, email the given emails above. If teams debate each other again, they will flip again. To be clear, sides and order are NOT preset when teams debate each other for a second time. 

Speech times: 4, 4, 3, 4, 4, 3, 3, 3, 3, 2, 2

Prep time: 3 minutes

Tech time: 10 minutes. Once 10 minutes is up, the judge should email the above emails explaining the situation. 

Forfeit: If debaters/teams are not in their zoom room up to 10 minutes after start time, they forfeit the round with L25s. If one debater does not show up, their partner can maverick (debate alone, carrying out the jobs of both first and second speakers). Mavs will NOT be given any extra time or any other advantages. The partner that did not show up will get the same speaks as the debater who did.

Speaks: Judges should factor BOTH strategic choices and presentation into their speaker points, with an emphasis on strategy/quality of debate. Personal biases and opinions may NOT influence speaker points. Speaks are given in increments of 0.1 and ties are allowed. The range should be between 26-30, with average speaks being approximately 28. Low-point wins are allowed. 

Decisions: Judges MUST disclose their decision after the round (after submitting their ballot) and give at least verbal and preferably written feedback explaining their decision. Disclosing speaks is permitted but not mandatory. 

We will probably be breaking to semis, (4 teams), depending on the number of entries. Win/loss ratio will determine which teams break, and speaks will break ties.