Dear Director of Debate:

We invite your top first and second year competitors to attend the 2015 First and Second Year National Championships hosted by Woodward Academy on March 20-22, 2015. We are determined to continue our dedication to providing the highest quality of judging and an enjoyable atmosphere for everyone. Given the nature of this tournament, we take great pride in aspiring for this event to be a competitive as well as teaching tournament. 

We offer the following events:

• First Year Policy Debate

• Second Year Policy Debate

• First Year Lincoln Douglas Debate

• Second Year Lincoln Douglas Debate

A first year debater is defined as a debater in their first year of high school debate competition.  They cannot have debated at a high school tournament on any previous NFL topic.  If they debated at a high school tournament prior to the 2014-2015 season, they are no longer first year debaters.  A 9th grader with 3 years of high school debate is not eligible simply because they are in 9th grade.

A second year debater is defined as a debater in their second year of high school debate competition.  They cannot have debated at a high school tournament prior to the 2013-2014 season.  If they debated at a high school tournament prior to the 2013-2014 season, they are not eligible to debate at our competition.  A 10th grader in his/her 3rd or 4th year of high school debate is not a second year debater.

We will be incredibly strict on the eligibility standards for the tournament.  A team entered in the wrong division will be removed from the tournament. Please see our Eligibility Page for specific questions and answers.

We require all students who enter the tournament to do so as an official school field trip with the permission of the school they attend and accompanied by the school's debate coach.  All debaters must compete under their school's name.  

All policy debate teams must be comprised of two debaters who attend the same school. Mavericks will not be allowed to enter. If a team has a debater who needs to leave mid-tournament, the decision to allow the partner to continue will be at the discretion of the tournament director.  Under no circumstances may mavericks clear to elimination rounds in policy debate. 

Other important details include:

• We will offer six preliminary rounds in all divisions.

• Schools will be initially limited to five entries in each division.  We will establish a waiting list for additional requested entries if needed.

• The LD topic will be the January/February NSDA resolution.

• We do not require First Year Policy debaters to observe the Georgia Forensic Coaches Association argument restrictions for novice divisions.

• Policy debate will use an 8-3-5, switch side format.  There is not a 4-person division. 

As has become our tradition, we will again be providing exceptional hospitality to all of our guests including delicious food and a free shuttle service between the tournament hotel and campus. Schools that stay at the tournament hotel do not need to rent a vehicle.

Please make checks payable to "Woodward Academy Debate." If possible, please mail in advance to:

Woodward Academy
ATTN: Maggie Berthiaume / Debate
1662 Rugby Avenue
College Park, GA 30337

If we receive your check in advance, you will be able to E-Register once in Georgia.

If you have any questions, please email Maggie Berthiaume at maggiekb@gmail.com.  The entire Woodward Academy community is looking forward to hosting you soon.

Sincerely,
Maggie Berthiaume, Bill Batterman, and Brian Keith Jackson