This is a Middle/High School tournament in Pace, Florida.

You are cordially invited to the NWFL Full Events Season Opener! The Sims Spooktacular Speech & Debate Tournament, will be held Saturday, October 18, 2025 at Thomas Sims Middle School,5500 Education Dr. Pace, Florida, 32571.This tournament will be live and in person.

The tournament offers middle school and high school divisions for most events. This is an open tournament and all schools are welcome to compete. Those interested in joining the Florida Forensics League and/or NCFL Pensacola may do so at tournament check-in. Those who join the league will receive 5 free entries! We would LOVE for your team to enjoy all the benefits of full events tournaments offered in our region as well as the opportunity to attend an open State tournament and have a chance to qualify for NCFL Nationals.

FEES: $20.00 per single entry and $30.00 for partner events.

To celebrate Halloween there will be holiday-themed games, candy, and treats for judges and students. Coaches are encouraged to come in costume and competitors are encouraged to spice up their competition outfits with a hat, cape, or mask! However, please note that these items are not to be worn during competition and performance.

There will be three rounds of competition in all events. Please plan to arrive at Thomas Sims Middle School, 30 minutes prior to your event start time. This means no later than 8:00 for extempers and no later than 8:30 for all other speakers/debaters for all other events to check-in.

Tournament check-in begins at 8:00 a.m. CST, for competitors and judges.

8:15: Judge Training Begins

8:30: Check-in time ends/ Prep for Extemp Events begins

9:00: Round 1 of Competition Begins

3:00: Tentative Ending/Awards but please be flexible regarding the end time of the event.

Impromptu and Prepared Prompt Speaking events with Halloween-themed topics have been added as special tournament events.

EVENTS and DIVISIONS: We offer middle school, and high school divisions. If numbers allow. We reserve the right to combine divisions for events with low entry numbers. If we combine divisions, we will offer a Middle School Champion Award in addition to the usual awards.

Double entries ARE allowed for students in the following IE events ONLY: DEC, DP, DUO, OI, OO, POI, PP, IMP. EXT, STO

EVENTS INCLUDE:
Debate Events-(1 judge per every 2 entries)

• Public Forum Debate
• Lincoln Douglas Debate

Speech/Congress Events-(1 judge per every 5 entries)

• Student Congress
• Extemp Speaking
• Declamation
• Dramatic Performance
• Storytelling (Halloween Themes Encouraged)
• Duo Interpretation
• Oral Interpretation
• Original Oratory
• Informative Speaking
• Program of Oral Interpretation
• Impromptu (Halloween Themed)
• Prepared Prompt Speaking (Halloween themed, Special Event for this tournament only)

Observers are allowed but must be registered.

TOPICS:

NOTE: Students will debate BOTH sides of the resolution.

IMPROMPTU TOPIC AREAS: Halloween Traditions & Customs, Classic Halloween Symbols, Folklore & Legends

EXTEMP TOPIC AREAS are :

Round 1:International Affairs Round 2: Domestic US Issues Round 3: Mass and social media

PREPARED PROMPT SPEAKING: Students may choose from one of the three quotes:

Mary Shelley, Frankenstein (1818): “Beware; for I am fearless, and therefore powerful.”

Bram Stoker, Dracula (1897): “Listen to them, the children of the night. What music they make!”

Edgar Allan Poe, The Tell-Tale Heart (1843): “It is impossible to say how first the idea entered my brain; but once conceived, it haunted me day and night.”

We are using NSDA rules for Prepared Prompt Speaking and speeches should not exceed 5:30 long.

LINCOLN DOUGLAS TOPIC (NSDA Sept/Oct Resolution):

Resolved: In the United States criminal justice system, plea bargaining is just.

PUBLIC FORUM TOPIC (NSDA Sept/Oct Resolution):

Resolved: The United Kingdom should rejoin the European Union.

CONGRESSIONAL LEGISLATION: Legislation Packet: (will be uploaded by October 1, 2025)

Spooktacular.Legislation.Packet.2025.docx

JUDGES: We will need your judges in order to run the tournament.

The judge ratio for this tournament is 1 judge for every two debate entries; 1 judge for every 5 speech/interp/congress entries.

Please bring parents, teachers, former students, community members, etc.! Judges should be available for the duration of the tournament. Leaving early must be communicated with the tabroom and approved in order to avoid a no-show fee.

Judge training videos and additional judging resources can be found at https://www.speechanddebate.org/learn/judge-accreditation/

It is the affirmative duty of the coach to ensure that all judges (except students) must be approved as volunteers through their district’s volunteer system.

LUNCH: Meals will be provided for all coaches, and judges. Student lunches may be purchased for a $5 fee per student.

CONCESSIONS: Concessions, including breakfast items, coffee and snacks will be available for purchase with cash only.

NO OUTSIDE FOOD DELIVERIES ARE PERMITTED AT THE TOURNAMENT.

COACHES: Coaches must be available on-site for the duration of the tournament.

Please make checks payable to:

Thomas L. Sims Middle School

C/o Ashley Carter

5500 Education Drive

Pace, FL 32571

Tournament Director and League Contact:
Ashley Carter,850-516-8586