• OUR FIRST TOURNAMENT BOOK!!!!
• SCHEDULE
• Downtime Expectations for when you aren't in a round.... As we begin our first three-day tournament scheduled, we realize that some students may have more downtime than they are used to having at at typical tournament! During your downtime at the state tournament, you represent not only yourself but also your team, school, and community. To maintain a respectful and professional presence, all students must adhere to the following expectations: 1.Stay Reachable –You must be accessible via phone or another agreed-upon method at all times. Respond promptly to messages or calls from your coach or designated chaperone. 2.Adult Supervision & Location Awareness –An adult (coach, judge, or chaperone) must always know your whereabouts. If you need to leave a designated area, notify your coach beforehand. 3. Remain on Campus –Students must stay on the tournament campus unless granted explicit permission from their coach. Leaving without approval may result in consequences. 4. Respect the Campus –Treat the tournament host facility with respect. Follow all school policies, dispose of trash properly, and be courteous to staff, students, and other competitors. 5.Engage in the Tournament –Whenever possible, watch rounds, support teammates, and learn from other competitors. Show up for break rounds, support your teammates, and represent your school with pride. 6.Maintain Professionalism –Conduct yourself in a way that reflects positively on your team. Avoid disruptive behavior, excessive noise, or anything that could disturb competitors, judges, or tournament staff. Failure to follow these expectations may result in disciplinary action, including reduced participation or removal from the tournament. Let’s show respect, responsibility, and team spirit throughout the event. Have a great tournament weekend everyone!
• CONGRESS DOCKET is available on the right hand toolbar.
• Prepared WSD motions can be found on the right tool bar. AND, here is the WSD schedule with motions:

• THURSDAY	TIME	NOTES
  Worlds Judges Meeting	2:30 PM
  Worlds Round 1	3:00 PM	Prepared Motion- This House believes that social media activism has done more harm than good to the feminist movement.
  Impromptu Resolution Announced for Worlds Round 2	4:30 PM
  Worlds Round 2	5:30 PM	Impromptu Motion
  Worlds Round 3	6:45 PM	Prepared Motion- This House regrets the dominance of the two-party system in American politics.
  Worlds Round 4	8:00 PM	Prepared Motion- This House believes that social media activism has done more harm than good to the feminist movement.
  FRIDAY
  Impromptu Resolution Announced for Worlds Round 5	9:00 AM	Impomptu Motion
  Worlds Round 5	10:00 AM
  Impromptu Resolution Announced for Worlds Round 6	11:15 AM	Impromptu Motion released.
  Worlds Round 6	12:15 PM
  Worlds Semifinals	1:45 PM	Prepared Motion- This House regrets the dominance of the two-party system in American politics.
  Impromptu Resolution Announced for Worlds Finals	3:15 PM
  Worlds Finals	4:15 PM	Impromptu Motion

• Please remember that ALL judges must complete the appropriate NSDA trainings before being entered in the system.
• Please remember that legislation for SUPER CONGRESS can come from the Fall or Spring packets!

Hello, Coaches!

It is time for our WIAA State Individual Events and Debate Championships! This year, we will be attempting our new three day schedule on Thursday-Saturday, March 20-22, 2025 at the beautiful University of Puget Sound, hosted by Dr. Derek Buescher. Thank you to this college program for welcoming us to their campus for the culmination of our competitive season!

Please reach out to the district chairs or the WSFA Board if you need any help or have questions. We look forward to seeing you at the tournament!

We look forward to seeing the best our state has to offer in a few short weeks,

Kelley Kirkpatrick- WSFA President

Sarah Sherry- Western Vice-President

Chelsea Brandon- Northern Vice-President

Vicky Hyde-Eastern Vice-President

Nick Phillips-WSFA Secretary

Morgia Belcher-WSFA Treasurer

Paul Sealey- WSFA Treasurer

GENERAL INFORMATION

Registration is due by Monday, March 3, 2025 by 9:00 pm. Each student may enter two speech events that they have qualified for at the district level. Each student may enter one form of debate if they have qualified at the district level. We ask that all drops are done by March 10, 2025 by 9pm (no other changes are permitted.)

We ask that you let us know about open spots as soon as possible, ideally by March 10, 2025. We would like to notify alternates as quickly as we can so that they may have time to prepare for the competition. Please contact kkirkpatrick@mvsd320.org with this information.

Individual Event Judges

1. One judge is required for every 4 entries.
   
   

2. This year, former students who graduated in 2024 may judge. We ask that coaches use their best discretion when choosing to use these young judges.
   
   

3. Please list any schools or competitors a judge cannot judge.
   
   

4. Please indicate whether judges are a coach. We try to place at least one coach on each final panel.
   
   

5. Each school is required to provide enough qualified, experienced judges to cover their entries. This is the time to bring your best judges, please. Judges must obtain the Level 1 NSDA judge accreditation to be entered as a judge. (We recommend the Level 2 as well, as it gives training in the specific events.)
   
   

6. All preliminary rounds will be double judged and the final round will have three judges.
   
   

7. Schools will be assessed a $100 fine for each ballot their judges misses, with a one ballot grace period. When the second ballot missed the $100 fine will be retroactive to the first ballot missed. Meaning if a judge misses one ballot, we will forgive them, if they miss two ballots your school will be assessed a $200 fine.

1. All ballots will be on-line! Judges must have their own account on Tabroom.com. Please include any limitations in the notes section. If you need help with tabroom.com, here is a helpful guide from Eastern Vice-President and Chiawana coach Vicky Hyde: Tabroom Help

1. Interpretation Information

For Dramatic, Humorous, Duo, and Program of Oral Interpretation events, the WSFA Script Check Cover Sheet (WSFA Script Check Cover Sheet) must be completed to compete at State. Coaches should maintain all of the forms for their students and be ready to provide a copy during the tournament if asked to provide one. The contestant is required to have the original copy/copies, plus a photocopy of their script, which includes the changes (cuts), introduction, and transitions, which are highlighted at the State Tournament. These must be provided in electronic form (scans, high quality pictures) if asked by tournament tab staff during competition.

Please email your scripts to be checked to WAScriptcheck@gmail.com. The Script Check Committee will need the original pages of the interpretation marked with the words used, a copy of the script, and the cover sheet for each interpretation entry. We recognize that this is a new process and appreciate your patience! If you have questions, please contact Andrew Shimer at ashimer528@gmail.com.

Oratory Scripts

Students competing in Oratory are required to have an electronic copy of their speech available if a judge requests it or the tournament headquarters needs to verify the work. Quoted words (not to exceed 150 words) should be highlighted.

Debate Judges

1. One experienced judge is required for every debate entry for Policy, Lincoln Douglas, and Public Forum.

2. One experienced judge is required for each school in congress.

If you have three entries in congress your judge must be neutral (that doesn’t mean School A can hire School B’s judge to make them appear neutral. We need neutral judges in each chamber, please.)

3. Judges may only be entered in one judging pool: Policy, Lincoln Douglas, Public Forum, Worlds or Congress. Schools must cover the event they have entries in.

4. A judge must have graduated no later than 2024. Coaches, we ask you to use your discretion when hiring these young judges.

5. All Lincoln Douglas and Policy judges must have a paradigm on tabroom.com that is linked to their tabroom account.

6. The tournament will strive to provide judges for hire, but cannot guarantee availability.

7. The tournament will hire judges to ensure we have enough judges for both days. These judges are not available for hire by schools.

8. If your judges leave the tournament, or you do not cover your commitment, your team will forfeit its debaters.

9. Judges are obligated two rounds past their school’s elimination.

Failure of each judge to cover their elimination round commitment will result in a $200 fine.

10. All ballots will be on-line! All judges will need a tabroom.com account. Please include any limitations in the notes section. If you need help with tabroom.com, here is a helpful guide from Eastern Vice-President and Chiawana coach Vicky Hyde: Tabroom Help

11. Please bring your best judges for this event.

ERIK HELPPIE AWARD

The Erik Helppie Award and scholarship is to recognize not necessarily the best debaters and speech competitors, but debaters and speech competitors that exemplify a spirit of helping and giving back to their community and/or debate team. The committee will interview the selected candidates during the State Debate Tournament. The top three finalists will be recognized at the Awards Assembly on Saturday, 3/22. Applications must be received by Saturday, 3/10 and should be sent to kkirkpatrick@mvsd320.org.

Background

Erik Helppie was a speech and debate competitor at Interlake High School in the 1960s. After Erik graduated from Interlake he began attending college. He soon learned that the Interlake debate team was now without a coach, and would cease to exist unless they found a replacement. Erik also learned he had cancer. Despite the arduous fight with cancer, and the full college course load, Erik also began to coach the Interlake team. When Erik died a few years later the Interlake community, and the entire speech and debate community lost a terrific mentor and friend. It is in his honor the WSFA awards the Erik Helppie Award, not necessarily to the top speech and debate competitor, but to a speech and debate competitor that exemplifies the spirit of Erik Helppie. A competitor that gives back to their community and team.

Criteria

The Erik Helppie Award is one in which a coach nominates a student that they feel is an outstanding individual who exemplifies the qualities of a leader and community member. Explain what this student has done to promote forensics on your team, in the school, and community. Please indicate a list of major awards both in forensics and school activities. Be specific and cite examples. The student must be a graduating senior to qualify. Both the coach and the student must be present at the State Speech Tournament, on Saturday, 3/22, as the finalists selected by the committee and their coaches are interviewed.

Your nomination paper, including the achievements should not exceed two typed pages.

LOIS GORNE PRESIDENT’S AWARD NOMINATION

The Lois Gorne President’s Award honors students that have demonstrated outstanding achievement in speech and performing arts. This reaches beyond speech and debate and includes theatrical performances, public address, and similar activities. The committee will interview the selected candidates during the State Individual Events Tournament. The top three finalists will be recognized at the Awards Assembly on Saturday. Applications must be received by Monday, 3/10 and should be sent to kkirkpatrick@mvsd320.org.

Criteria

Coaches should include in their nomination an explanation of what the nominee has done in the performing arts (including speech and debate) and what qualities you believe make them qualified for this honor and scholarship. Please include a specific list of major awards and honors. The student must be a graduating senior to qualify. Both the student and coach must be present at the State Speech Tournament, as finalists will be interviewed by a committee appointed by the WSFA President.

In keeping with the goals and ideals of Lois Gorne, nominations should address these areas:

• Describe the various performing arts/speech events the nominee has chosen to participate in throughout high school, and give specific examples of the nominees work – i.e. names of cuttings for interp performances, favorite orations, other speech topics, etc.
  
  

• Describe why the nominee would be a good candidate for the award, including financial need.
  
  

• Describe how the nominee anticipates utilizing his or her performing arts skills at the college level.
  
  

• Describe how the nominee is an above average example as a group or team leader.
  
  

Your nomination paper, including the achievements should not exceed two typed pages.

SCHEDULE

Please feel free to distribute this link to those who need it…thank you! SCHEDULE

TOURNAMENT FEES

Individual Event Tournament School Fee… $30

Individual Event entry… $10

Lincoln Douglas entry… $30

Policy entry… $30

Public Forum entry… $30

Congress entry… $10

Pre-pay WSFA Dues… $30

Checks and purchase orders are acceptable to pay fees. Fees are to be paid at the tournament registration or mailed to the billing address prior to the state competition. If a school has entries in the IE and Debate tournaments, the check may include both in one check. Make the check payable to Washington State Forensics Association, Morgia Belcher, Treasurer, 4318 Murphy Drive NW, Gig Harbor, WA 98335.

Worlds School Debate Trial Event Rules

Each district may enter up to three teams of 3-5 students in the tournament. These may be hybrid or school-based teams this year. Details are included below. If you need any help introducing this event to your students, please contact kkirkpatrick@mvsd320.org.

1. Each WIAA District may enter up to three teams in the tournament. Each team will be 3-5 students.

2. It is at the discretion of each District to determine which students to enter. Options for choosing teams include, but are not limited to the following:

- Application process

- Alternates from other debate events

- Past competitors in Worlds at NSDA or other events.

- School representation

- Displayed interest

- a scrimmage

3. Electronic devices are not allowed during any Worlds rounds.

4. All rounds will be matched using Tabroom.com’s auto-match function using the same criteria used for PF and LD debate events.

5. Each team must provide 1 judge who is available for the entirety of the tournament.

6. During the tournament, all members of the team are allowed to participate during the preparation portion of impromptu rounds:

a) During each round, only 3 members of the team are allowed to compete. The extra debaters are allowed to observe the round, but are NOT allowed to participate in any way and may not take notes or flow the round.

b) Members of the team who are not participating in the debate during a round are not to speak, interact, or communicate with the members of the team who are debating. Knocking (which is a convention of Worlds used to show approval) is permitted.

c) Non-speaking members shall not sit at the same table or group of desks as the rest of the team.

d) During preliminary rounds, sides will be set by the tournament program. Elimination round sides will be determined by a coin toss with the winning team selecting which side they want to defend.

e) The proposition or Government team advocates for the motion to be debated. The opposition team opposes the motion to be debated.

f) Before the round begins, each team must declare to the judge the order of speakers, including the reply speech.

2. Speeches

a) Each speaker delivers an 8-minute substantive speech to introduce

arguments and counter opponents’ arguments.

b) Each team then delivers a single 4-minute reply speech, with the opposition going first followed by the proposition. ONLY the first or second speaker can deliver the reply speech. The third speaker is NOT allowed to give the reply speech.

c) Each team ought to present three main arguments supporting their side, with two arguments presented by the first speaker and the third argument presented by the second speaker of each team.

d) During each constructive speech, the opposing team is permitted to request Points of Information (POI’s) of the speaker.

(1) A POI is only allowed to be requested during the middle 6 minutes of the speech.

(2) The first and last minute of the constructive speech is protected time. No POI is allowed to be requested during this time or during Reply Speeches.

(3) A POI is an opportunity for the opposing team to ask a question of the speaker or to make a statement in opposition. A POI can be asked by any member of the opposing team. The POI can be accepted or denied by the speaker with a simple “No, thank you” or hand motion.

(4) It is considered bad form to harass the opposing team with POIs occurring too frequently while convention also suggests that a speaker take 2-3 POIs during their speech at their discretion.

3. World Schools Motions

a) Topics for the state tournament will be determined by the state board before being released in February.

b) At the state tournament, the order of motions will be as follows:

c) Impromptu motions will be available on tabroom.com and will be sent to all teams as close to the designated schedule time as possible. Teams should immediately go to their assigned preparation spaces.

(1) Proposition teams will prepare in the competition room.

(2) Opposition teams will prepare in the hallway immediately outside of the classroom where debating.

(3) Teams are allowed to use one reference book; These sources should be of a reference nature: Black’s Law Dictionary, Webster’s Dictionary, almanac, textbook, etc.

(4) All members of the team are allowed to participate during the preparation segment of the round but only 3 may participate in the debate segment.

(5) No electronic devices are allowed including cell phones, laptops, tablets, etc. Use of such devices may result in forfeiture of the round and/or disqualification from the tournament.

Congress Docket:

Prelims (Bills fixed to session):

Session 1

• C - Ethical Pharma Testing

• G - College tuition savings

• F - Civil Service

Session 2

• D - Fetal Personhood

• I - prescription drug price cap

• A - Indian Country

Session 3

• B - Light trucks

• E - Paid jury leave

• J - EV charging infrastructure

• H - Fairness doctrine

Supers:

• Spring EE - Repeal Citizens United

• Fall AA - Israel

• Spring CC - Nationalization of Energy

• Spring BB - Demilitarize Police