2026 Blacksnake NIETOC Tournament

January 9-10 at Idaho State University

In loving memory of Peggy Oliver and Leora Hansen

Friends, thank you for attending the 69th Annual Blacksnake Tournamentat Idaho State University! As always, we strive to run an efficient tournament. Technology has permitted us to pool judges and competitors to reduce walking across campus in the lovely Idaho winter weather. Please note the following:

The LD topic for Novice, JV and Varsity will be the NSDA January/February topic:

The PF topic for Novice and Varsity will be the NSDA January topic:

Open Policy will use the NSDA/NFHS topic: Resolved: The United States federal government should significantly increase its exploration and/or development of the Arctic.

Open World Schools Debate will be offered for teams of 3. More topic details on the World Schools Page

Congress submissions are due DECEMBER 15 and the legislative packet sent on December 17. The docket for this tournament will be set in Session 1 through submission of proposed docket order, not by individual bill.

Speech will follow IHSAA rules concerning timing and content, but judges will be given direct instruction to disregard the rule in EXTEMP prohibiting notecards and will allow one side of one 3x5 notecard. Judges will be instructed to take into consideration if scripts detracted from the quality of a speech, but they will not be instructed to prevent a scripted student from taking first in a round.

NoviceDivisions of Debatewill be restricted to competitors in theirfirst year of competition, even if they have never competed in that particular event before.

JV Divisions of Debate will be restricted to competitors in theirfirst or secondyear of competition, even if they have never competed in that particular event before.

Sponsors
This year, we opened sponsorship opportunities to allow alumni and community members to support specific events in an attempt to offset the cost to participants. Please see our sponsor page to learn a little more about the generous people who helped cover tournament costs.

EVENT SPONSORS

The tournament schedule can be found here

Friday

9:00 Registration

9:25 Opening Meetings

9:45-11:45 Speech Round 1

11:45-1:30 Speech Round 2

1:30-3:15 Speech Round 3

3:15-6:45 Congress Session 1

3:15-4:30 World Schools Debate Round 1 (Prepared Motion)

3:15-5:15 Debate Round 1

4:45-7:00 World Schools Debate Round 2 (Impromptu Motion)

5:15-7:15 Debate Round 2

7:15-9:00 Semi-Finals Speech

Saturday

8:00 Registration
8:30-10:45 Debate Round 3
8:30-9:45 World Schools Debate Round 3 (Prepared Motion)
8:45-12:15 Congress Session 2
10:00-12:15 World Schools Debate Round 4 (Impromptu Motion)
10:45-12:45 Debate Round 4
12:45-2:30 Speech Finals
2:30-5:45 Congress Supers (15 minutes for PO election + docket setting, 3 hours for debate)
2:30-4:00 Quarters PF/LD
2:30-3:45 World Schools Debate Quarterfinals (Prepared Motion)
2:30-4:30 Semis Policy
3:45-5:45 World Schools Debate Semifinals (Impromptu Motion)
4:15-5:45 Semis LD/PF
6:00 Awards
7:00 Finals (Prepared Motion)