Brookland Middle School Speech and Debate Invitational

WHEN: October 25th, 2025

WHERE: 9200 Lydell Dr. Richmond VA 23228

EVENTS: For invitationals, NSDA rules will be followed, with the exception of limited preparation events, which allow will notecards. We hope to provide a great local tournament option for Central Virginia schools! Students are permitted a paper script or notecards in all events.

Registration is only open to middle school competitors (6th-8th Grade)

1. Lincoln-Douglas: Open, 4 rounds.

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

2. Public Forum: Open. 4 rounds.

TOPIC: Resolved: The United Kingdom should rejoin the European Union.

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

Domestic

Congressional Redistricting

Washington D.C.

International

Cambodia-Thailand

U.S. Missile Defense/Golden Dome

Economic

Work Verification for SNAP

Water Quality Standards

Email Congress legislation to: Sanchez@rRichmondForum.org by October 13, 2025

4. Speech Categories: The following open speech categories will be offered (4 rounds each): Declamation, Extemp*, Impromptu, Original Oratory, Prose, Poetry, DI*, HI*, Duo, Storytelling, and Informative.. Students MAY double-enter in all speech categories EXCEPT Extemp. Students may enter in no more than two events.

Extemp Topics

Virginia Elections – Candidates, issues, and how young people might be impacted.

Technology & AI – The benefits and challenges of technology and AI policy

Social Media - The benefits and challenges of growing up in a digital world.

Global Conflicts and Peace Efforts – Understanding what’s happening in the world and why it matters.

*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. Judges may be high school students if they are current speech and debate competitors, juniors/ seniors, and are a part of a RFSDI member school.

COSTS:

Competitors in RFSDI circuit schools participate at no cost. Schools outside the region will be assessed a $10 fee per single entry and a $20 fee per partner entry (Duo and Public Forum)

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. Students may not be able to compete. The League reserves the right to charge a $75 dropped judge fee.

SCHEDULE:

Registration: 8:00-8:30 AM

Judges Meeting: 9:00 am
Debate Round 1: 9:30 am
Congress Session 1: 9:30 am
Extemp Draw 1: 9:00 am
Speech Round 1: 9:30 am
Debate Round 2: 11:00 am
Extemp Draw 2: 11:00 am
Speech Round 2: 11:30 am

(Lunch after Congress Session 1, Speech Round 2, and Debate Round 2)

Congress Session 2: 12:30 pm
Debate Round 3: 1:00 pm
Extemp Draw 3: 1:30 pm
Speech Round 3: 2:00 pm
Debate Round 4: 3:00 pm

Extemp Draw 4: 2:45
Speech Round 4: 3:15 pm
Awards Assembly: 4:00 pm

CONCESSIONS and LUNCH:

Lunches for competitors, coaches, and judges are included.

AWARDS:

Awards will be given to the top 3 finishers in each category.

REGISTRATION:

Please go to http://brooklandinvitational.tabroom.com/

You will need to create a Tabroom.com account with an email and password (free). Add your entries and judges.

Direct any tabroom questions to Sanchez@richmondforum.org

All registrations will be due by October 17, 2025

Thank you for being amazing and visiting Cub Nation,

Tournament Host: Dr. Brooke Maynor-Rayfield, blmrayfield@henrico.k12.va.us

Tournament Directors: Lucretia Anderson, Lucretia@RichmondForum.org and Sanchez Tucker, Sanchez@RichmondForum.org