Section 6 Pairing Procedure

Any event with 10+ entries:

Round 1 and 2 are preset randomly. Schools cannot meet for a second time in the preset rounds.

Round 3 to 6 are powered hi/low within brackets. All pullups are done via Worst Opponent Seed (see Rule III State Debate Tournament - B State Tournament Debate Pairing - #1 Rounds 3 to 6)

Round 7 (if needed) in LD or PF only. If there is a clear break of entries based on wins for state tournament qualification a seventh rounds is not needed. However, if there is a tie based on win-loss record between the 6th and 7th seed then the following process is used.

10 to 12 entries (LD/PF)

· Seed #6 vs #7

· Seed #5 vs #8

· Seed #4 vs #9

· Seed #3 vs #10

· Seed #2 vs #11

· Seed #1 vs #12

If there are 11 or 10 entries, the #1 and #2 seed can be given a bye as needed. In the event of 13+ entries, then those seeds not listed above will be matched against each other. Entries can meet a second time in the seventh round with sides flipped from a previous meeting. Same school may not meet in round 7. In the event the same schools are scheduled to meet the higher seed should not be moved. Forexample, if the #3 and #10 seed were from the same school, the #10 and #9 seed would swap places. Seed is based on the MSHSL State Qualifier seed process (see rule II Section Debate Tournaments – 3 State Qualifiers).

Any event with 9 entries:

A modified round robin will be used. Rounds 1 to 4 will be a preset round between schools. Round 5 and 6 will be paired high/low within brackets. All pullups are done via Worst Opponent Seed (see Rule III State Debate Tournament - B State Tournament Debate Pairing - #1 Rounds 3 to 6). See Round 7 rule above.

Any event with 8 entries or fewer:

A round robin format will be used with a maximum of six rounds in CX. In LD and PF, a modified or full round robin (if 8 teams) can be used for the first six preliminary rounds. In the event of a tie after six rounds in LD/PF, a seventh round will be run using the above format. In CX debate, the preferred number of rounds is five.