Sample Speech and/or Debate Invitation

{School Logo}

WHEN: [Date}

WHERE: {School Address}

EVENTS: This Speech and Debate tournament will follow VHSL rules unless otherwise indicated to prepare students for upcoming conference, regional and state tournaments, although private schools are encouraged to compete as well. We hope to provide a great local tournament option for Central Virginia schools especially! Middle school students are also encouraged to compete in the Novice category and Declamation.

1. Lincoln-Douglas: Novice*, JV, and Varsity, 4 rounds.

TOPIC: Resolved:

2. Public Forum: Novice*, JV, and Varsity. 4 rounds.

TOPIC: Resolved:

3. Student Congress: Open division. Each student should submit a bill and teams should coordinate to divide bills up among the following 4 categories (Domestic, International, Virginia, Economic). 2 sessions of Congress, 2 hours each.

Congress topics are:

Domestic: {Topic}

International: {Topic}

Economic: {Topic}

Virginia: {Topic}

Email Congress legislation to: {Congress Contact} by {Date}

4. Policy Debate: Novice*, JV, and Varsity. 3 rounds.

TOPIC: Resolved:

*Novice debaters must be in their first year of competitive debate. If there are not enough numbers to operate a separate novice bracket, they will be combined into the open division but top novice awards will still be given. Please indicate on Tabroom if a competitor is in his/her first year of competition.

5. Speech Categories: The following open speech categories will be offered (3 rounds each): Declamation (JV), Extemp*, Impromptu, Oral Interpretation, Original Oratory, Prose, Poetry, DI*, HI*, Duo, Storytelling, Informative, and Program Oral Interpretation. Students MAY double-enter in all speech categories EXCEPT Extemp. Students may enter in no more than two events.

*Extemp Topics: TBD

*DI/HI may be combined based on numbers entered.

JUDGES:

Each school is responsible for providing their own judges with the following quotas:

1 judge for:

…every 2 Lincoln-Douglas Debate entries or fraction thereof,

…every 2 Public Forum Debate entries or fraction thereof,

…every 2 Policy Debate entries or fraction thereof,

…every 5 Student Congress entries or fraction thereof, and

…every 5 Individual Events entries or fraction thereof*

*Student Congress and IE event judges may be combined.

COSTS:

Any school that is NOT part of the Richmond Forum Speech and Debate Initiative will be assessed a $5 per competitor fee.

**Above cost includes lunch for all competitors**

Tabroom will create an invoice for you that you can print out. Receipts will be given at the tournament.

DROPS:

Drops (for any reason) are permitted up to 48 hours before the tournament with no penalty. Drops within 48 hours require schools to honor the entry fees AND still require the original judging quota. If the original judging quota is not met upon registration, students may not be able to compete and there will be a $50 dropped judge fee.

SCHEDULE: {Appropriate schedule based on tournament type}

CONCESSIONS and LUNCH:

{If applicable:} Concessions will be made available throughout the day. Observers may purchase snacks from the concession stand if available. Lunches for competitors, coaches, and judges are included.

AWARDS:

Medals will be given to the top 3 finishers in each category. Sweepstakes and runner up sweepstakes trophies will be given to the schools with the most points in each division (speech and debate).

REGISTRATION:

Please go to {Tournament Website}

You will need to create a Tabroom.com account with an email and password (free). Add your entries and judges. On the main page, you will be able to print an invoice to know the amount due. Direct any tabroom questions to lucretia@richmondforum.org

All registrations will be due by {Date & Time}.

Schools outside of RFSDI circuit, please bring checks payable to {School Name}. Thank you for supporting our Speech and Debate Program!

{Salutation},

Tournament Host {Name, Contact Info}

Tournament Director {Name, Contact Info}