The Speech & Debate Society of Phillips Academy

cordially invite you to the

Inaugural

Big Blue Invitational

Sunday, May 14, 2023

The Big Blue Invitational is a one-day online tournament that offers competitors the ability to showcase their skills in Public Forum Debate. Our tournament is open to competitors of all levels, specifically catering to students in the middle/junior high or high school debate circuit. We recognize that this will take place at the end of the debate season. With that in mind, we strive to provide the most reliable, equitable, and fun experience, prioritizing an educational backdrop at this competition.

Format: This tournament will be held virtually through Zoom, with PF Debate taking place synchronously.

Eligibility: We welcome competitors from high school and middle schools of all levels of experience. Club entries and independent entries are welcome.

Events: Our tournament will offer Public Forum Debate. The NSDA Manual will serve as the official standard for adjudication. The PF Debate topic will be the April 2023 topic, "Resolved: The United States Federal Government should ban the collection of personal data through biometric recognition technology."

Judging: Our tournament is committed to providing quality judging. While we have a judging pool of volunteer debate alumni, we will require each school to enter one judge into the pool for every two entries in debate. If a team has only one entry total, we ask that they enterone judge, however, we understand if some flexibility is required here.If finding judges presents a hardship, please contact the tournament staff in advance for suggestions or alternatives.

Fees: We aim to provide the most competitive fees while supporting our speech and debate program. Public Forum Debate is set at $30/team. Fees can be paid online (more information to come). There are no miscellaneous hospitality or registration fees.

Based on our school's motto of non-sibi (latin for "not for self") and the importance of need-blind admission, we are committed to creating an equitable experience for competitors of all backgrounds. If finance presents a hardship, please contact the tournament staff.

Awards: All finalists in each event will receive awards. Awards will be mailed following the completion of the tournament.

Schedule: (elimination rounds are subject to change based on entry numbers, debate rounds will be accelerated where possible)

Sunday, May 14 (all times are in Eastern Time)
9:30 AM - Introductory Remarks & Attendance / Judge Training
10:30 AM - PF Debate Round 1
12:15 PM - PF Debate Round 2
2:00 PM - PF Debate Round 3 (power-matched)
3:45 PM - PF Debate Semifinals
5:15 PM - PF Debate Finals
7:00 PM - Awards Ceremony

Registration will take place through Tabroom and will close on Wednesday, May 10, 2023, at 8:00 PM Eastern Time.

Questions? Contact Anna Korczak, Tournament Director, at akorczak24@andover.edu.