Coast Forensic League

Congress 3

Sunday, February 2nd, 2025

Hosted IN-PERSON at:

Leland High School
6677 Camden Ave, San Jose, CA 95120

We will be offering the following events:

House and Senate

BEST PO VOTING FORM: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScrOdg6HQEblcV_pJCRzoayIbgF_cSnr9u4sTzIWmpaz_YfAQ/viewform?usp=sharing

Docket: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1KTmwk8glKPhygYjC_UmTXRhJicq-3nrUPdX-b22_iog/edit?usp=sharing

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

HELPDESK EMAIL: coastforensicleague2@gmail.com

Schedule:
Registration/Judge Instruction: 9:15-9:45AM
Session 1: 10:00AM-12:30PM
Lunch: 12:30PM-1:15PM
Session 2: 1:30PM-4:00PM
Awards: ASAP

Rooms:
Tabroom: H5
Judges area: Faculty dining room
Student gathering area: Cafeteria

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 Sunday. This is to ensure that we have enough judges to run the Tournament.

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 January 30th at 11:55 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 January 30th at 11:55 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 January 30th at 11:55 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.

All pieces of legislation must be placed on the legislative agenda during the docket nomination/creation process. (i.e. if bills A, B, and C are scheduled for a given session, all three bills must be placed on the docket and voted upon before the end of the session, even if speeches are only given on bills A and B).

Internet prep is now allowed, though the use of electronic devices to communicate with competitors, coaches, or other individuals during the session is still forbidden.

Competitors may break the Aff-Neg cycle at the discretion of the chamber, though that will be frowned upon.

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 11-20 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/Sickness Policy:

If you are sick, please stay home and do not attend the Tournament. We are no longer requiring masks to be used in round. Please be courteous to all competitors and judges for choosing to wear/not wear a mask. Judges should not penalize students for choosing to or choosing not to wear a mask.

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.