TCFL Debate State Qualifier Tournament

February 22, 2025

Oaks Christian School

31749 La Tienda Rd.

Westlake Village, CA 91362

Tentative Schedule

08:00am - 08:30am - Judges' Check-in & Registration

08:30am - 09:30am - Judges Orientation

09:30am - 11:30am - Round 1

11:30am - 01:30pm - Round 2

02:00pm - 04:00pm - Round 3

04:30pm - 06:30pm - Round 4

07:00pm - 08:00pm - Round 5 (if needed)

08:00pm - 09:00pm - Round 6 (if needed)

Awards to follow ASAP!

Parliamentary Debate Prep will start at the following times in the Disciples Chapel:

Round 1 - 09:30am; Round 2 - 11:30am; Round 3 - 02:00pm; Round 4 - 04:30pm; Round 5 - 06:30pm; Round 6 - 08:00pm

Students should arrive to Parli Prep at least 10 minutes prior to the start of Prep for roll call, important announcements, etc.

Topics

Lincoln-Douglas Debate Topic (NSDA January/February): Resolved: The United States ought to become party to the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea and/or the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court.

Parliamentary Debate: Topics will be announced 20 minutes before each round.

Policy Debate Topic (NSDA 2024-2025): Resolved: The United States federal government should significantly strengthen its protection of domestic intellectual property rights in copyrights, patents, and/or trademarks.

Public Forum Debate Topic (NSDA February): Resolved: The United States should accede to the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court.

Entries Deadline, Limits, & Restrictions

All entries must be entered in Tabroom no later than Tuesday, February 18th, 2025 at 11:55pm. No exceptions will be made for this deadline. Coaches may drop entries until Wednesday, February 19th, 2025 at 11:55pm. Schools will still owe entry fees and judges for all drops made after this deadline.

Schools are limited to enter a number of entries that is no more than one number above the TCFL's 2024-2025 Allocation for each event. This means that schools may enter no more than 8 Lincoln-Douglas entries, 7 Parliamentary entries, 6 Policy entries, and 7 Public Forum entries. Coaches of record may send their entry rankings for each event via e-mail to TCFL Co-President Brandon Batham at brandonbatham@gmail.com. Entries will be "power protected" (for Round 1 only) by these optional rankings. Please review the TCFL Constitution for more information.

Registration is limited to students who have competed at a TCFL Open Tournament or Congress during the 2024-2025 Season. Coaches must submit the list of eligible students via the Qualifier Eligibility Form, which must be completed by Tuesday, February 18th, 2025 at 11:55pm. Additionally, only schools who were fully registered and paid members of the California High School Speech Association as of Friday, February 7th, 2025 will be permitted to register entries. All entries will be waitlisted until reviewed and approved by a TCFL Officer to verify these requirements.

All entries must have submitted a completed and signed Event Preference Form prior to the start of Round 1. Coaches who do not upload their forms via Tabroom, or e-mail them to TCFL Co-President Brandon Batham at brandonbatham@gmail.com, must submit the physical forms for their students at Registration.

School Fee and Entry Fees

There is a mandatory $50 School Fee for our TCFL Debate State Qualifier, which will be added to each school's balance on Tabroom. Entry fees are $40 for each Parliamentary, Public Forum, or Policy entry, and $20 for each Lincoln-Douglas entry. Please make checks payable to "Tri-County Forensic League". Alternatively, entry fees may be paid via PayPal. All PayPal payments will be assessed a 4% processing fee.

Judges

Each school is obligated to provide one experienced judge for every two Lincoln-Douglas, Parliamentary, Policy, or Public Forum debate entry (or fraction thereof). All judges must be available to judge one round beyond their school's elimination in each event. Schools who do not meet their judging obligation will be required to drop entries until their entry numbers match the judging obligation that they have met.

Because of the differences that exist in human perception, a subjective quality is present in the scoring of Speech and Debate rounds. Even with rules and evaluation criteria for guidance, judges will not evaluate the same performance in an identical manner. While we do everything possible to maintain consistency in scoring, winning results are not guaranteed.

Upon entering, you agree to the following:
In consideration for my participation in events sponsored or run by TCFL, I hereby expressly and irrevocably grant TCFL and its assigns, successors, licensees, affiliates, and designees (collectively the “Association”) the irrevocable, perpetual, worldwide right, license, and permission to use my name, image, likeness, voice, appearance, biographical information, statements, performance, and/or testimonials (collectively, the “Appearance”) in all forms and media including composite or modified representations for all purposes, including advertising, promotion, trade, or any commercial or non-commercial purpose throughout the world in perpetuity. The foregoing right and license extends to my Appearance in any video or audio recordings, photos, and any other media, how known or later developed, that are created in connection with any Association events and/or activities in which I participate, whether in person or virtually. I waive the right to inspect or approve versions of my Appearance used for publication or the written copy that may be used in connection with the Appearance or such publication.