Invitation Home

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

You are cordially invited to the Emerald Coast Classic! The Emerald Coast Classic, will be held Saturday, November 15, 2025 at Gulf Breeze High School, 675 Gulf Breeze Parkway, Gulf Breeze, Florida, 32563. 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.

There will be three rounds of competition in all events. Please plan to arrive at Gulf Breeze High School, 30 minutes prior to your event start time. This means no later than8:00for extempers and no later than8:30 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
• Duo Interpretation
• Oral Interpretation
• Original Oratory
• Informative Speaking
• Program of Oral Interpretation
• Impromptu

TOPICS:

NOTE: Students will debate BOTH sides of the resolution.

IMPROMPTU TOPIC AREAS:TBD

EXTEMP TOPIC AREAS are : TBD

LINCOLN DOUGLAS TOPIC (NSDA Nov/Dec Resolution):

Resolved: The United States ought to rewild substantial tracts of land.

PUBLIC FORUM TOPIC (NSDA Nov/Dec Resolution):

Resolved: The United States federal government should require technology companies to provide lawful access to encrypted communications.

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

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 athttps://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:

Gulf Breeze High School

C/o Dr. Torie Fowler

675 Gulf Breeze Parkway

Gulf Breeze, FL 32563

Tournament Director and League Contact:
Dr. Torie Fowler, 601-550-2058