Coast Forensic League

Congress 1

Saturday, October 29th, 2022

Hosted IN-PERSON at:

Fremont High School

575 W Fremont Ave., Sunnyvale, CA 94087

We will be offering the following events:

(House and Senate)

Docket: https://docs.google.com/document/d/15UYQwzJzGc9uN98EQOwMjlhyVzNsm0uroQsa7IK4ubA/edit?usp=sharing 

Congress Rules and Procedures: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1a8VMyToaGZl6K2qUZn-kho8bNKX1wodw2HZ53BC5430/edit?usp=sharing

HELPDESK EMAIL: coastforensicleague2@gmail.com

Tentative Schedule for Saturday, October 29th:

Registration/Judge Training: 9:45 AM - 10:10 AM

Round 1: 10:40 AM - 12:40 PM (take one 5-10 minute break)

Lunch: 12:40 PM - 1:30 PM

Round 2: 1:30 PM - 3:30 PM

Awards: ASAP after ballots have been turned in

Judging:

Please provide 1 judge for every 6 entries or part thereof. Schools may use school affiliated judges and/or hired judges to fulfill their judging obligation. However, EVERY school MUST provide at least one judge available for both rounds on Saturday. This is to ensure that we have enough judges to run the Tournament.

We will attempt to hire judges, but need to know entry numbers ASAP to organize this. If we are able to hire out enough judges, we will excuse some or all parent/school affiliated judges on the day of the Tournament. If you would like to hire out judging, please enter the number of entries that are uncovered. For example, if you have 10 entries, provide one judge, and would like to hire out the rest, you should enter 4 as the number of uncovered entries. Each uncovered entry will be $6. Please enter your school affiliated judges no later than October 27th at 5 PM. If you would like to hire judges, please note that on Tabroom by October 19th at 5 PM.

All judges should complete the NSDA Cultural Competency Training found on the Tabroom website and must have a linked Tabroom account.

Registration:

Registration and all entries are due on October 26th at 5 PM on Tabroom. All competitors will be placed on a waitlist and will be removed from the waitlist after judges have been entered to fulfill your school's obligation. Drops and adds after October 27th at 5 PM will be assessed a late fee.

Each school may enter unlimited entries in the House, but are limited to no more than THREE (3) entries in the Senate. Schools should place their most experienced debaters for Senate competition. 

Concessions:

To help the host school estimate the number of lunches they will need to buy, please add "lunch" as many times as necessary for your students to your invoice during registration. While Tabroom denotes that lunch is "$0," the host school will be charging students for lunch for a reasonable price at the Tournament. Lunches for judges and coaches will be free. Please input these by October 24th at 5 PM.

Congress Rules:

CHSSA Rules will govern all events. In addition, Bills and Resolutions may NOT be laid on the table and all business before the Chamber MUST be completed (voted on) before the end of a session. Debaters are not permitted to suspend the rules.

Electronic retrieval devices will be allowed in round, but NO INTERNET PREP is allowed. Electronic retrieval devices include laptops, iPads, netbooks, etc. Secondary electronic retrieval devices like flash drives and hard drives are allowed as well. Cellphones and smartphones may only be used as timers in the round. Any electronic retrieval device MUST be battery operated and NO power plugs or outlets may be used in round. All devices should be DISCONNECTED from the WiFi during round or placed in Airplane Mode. 

There will NOT be a separate Presiding Officer contest. Instead, students will vote for the best PO in each chamber via Google Form at the end of the 2nd Session. These Outstanding Presiding Officers shall be recognized at the Awards Ceremony. Presiding Officers are required for competition and each chamber requires a student Presiding Officer, though more than one may serve throughout the day.

House Chambers will have 14-20 competitors and the Senate Chamber shall have 8-20 competitors. The Senate MUST have at least 8 entries to be held. 

Each Chamber will set their own docket and all students should be prepared to debate both sides of the legislation.

CFL COVID-19 Policy:

Everyone must complete the Safety Forms linked on the CFL website and should read over the CFL COVID-19 policies here: https://sites.google.com/site/coastforensicleague/covid?authuser=0

If you are under 18, a parent/guardian should submit the Safety Form for Minors on your behalf. Those 18+ should submit the Safety Form for Adults. 

You will NOT be allowed to attend the Tournament (including school affiliated and hired judges) without having submitted the COVID Safety Form. Entries that do NOT submit the COVID Safety Form in time for the Tournament shall be dropped. 

Masks will be required for all attendees. These masks MUST be surgical, N95, KN95, or KF94. Cloth masks are not allowed. The CFL will have a limited quantity of masks available for judges, coaches, and competitors. 

Students, coaches, and judges should complete the Wellness Check linked here. Those answering "YES" to any question should not attend the Tournament and should stay home.

Awards:

The Top Congressional Debater in each House Chamber shall receive a wildcard to the State Qualifying Tournament. 

If a Senate Chamber is held with 8-10 entries, the Top Congressional Debater will receive a wildcard to the State Qualifying Tournament. If a Senate Chamber is held with 11 or more entries, the Top Two Congressional Debaters will receive a wildcard to the State Qualifying Tournament.

Outstanding Presiding Officers will also be recognized at the Awards Ceremony. Presiding Officers are also eligible to earn a wildcard should they win their Chamber in the House or place in the Top 1 or 2 in the Senate, entries permitting.