Welcome to the Carter/King!

LINK TO LIVE DOC

Dear Speech and Debate Coaches,

The Jesters Speech and Debate Team at Midtown High School is pleased to invite you to the 15th Carter/King Annual Speech and Debate Tournament in Atlanta, GA.

The tournament is at Midtown High School on December 6, 2025 (Saturday).

EVENTS

Events in the Speech division will be divided into patterns and students may double enter in each pattern. We will follow GFCA and NSDA guidelines. Competitors that use scripts/notes or are overtime by more than 30 seconds may not receive first place in the round.

Pattern A

Extemporaneous Speaking

Humorous Interp.

Impromptu Speaking

Duo Interp.

Original Spoken Word- Poetry

Pattern B

Program Oral Interp.

Informative

Dramatic Interp.

Oratory

Congress

Events in the Debate division are Policy, Lincoln-Douglas, and Public Forum. We offer Novice and Varsity divisions in all flavors of debate, with a JV division in PF. If there are fewer than 8 entries, JV will be folded into Varsity divisions.

We are pleased to offer two new events at the Carter/King: Original Spoken Word Poetry and Worlds Debate.

Open Spoken Word Poetry is a five-minute event (with a 30-second grace period) where students perform original poetry from memory. The piece must be written by the student and may include no more than 150 words of direct quotation, which must be cited in a printed copy. Poetry should be presented from memory.

World Schools Debate is a high school speech event where teams of three to five compete in a dynamic debate format that blends prepared and impromptu topics. Teams argue for or against a motion, with a specific structure of alternating speeches: three 8-minute constructive speeches per side, followed by a 4-minute reply speech from each team. The format emphasizes argumentation, teamwork, and engaging with the opponent through "points of information" (POIs).

ENTRY FEES

$20 per student for EACH event

To pay online, please click the following link or copy and paste the address into your browser. Enter the amount shown on your invoice.

Payment Link: Carter King Payments

https://www.midtownjesters.org/pay-link/c533ab05-cbd3-4145-b23d-3e7797761506

JUDGING REQUIREMENTS AND FEES

Speech - 1 judge for every 4 entries or portions thereof. ALL judges are obligated for elimination rounds.

Debate - judging obligation is 2 preliminary rounds per entry. All judges are obligated for elimination rounds.

HIRED JUDGE FEES (FOR EACH MISSING JUDGE)

We much prefer and would love for you to bring judges! Please do all you can to fulfill judge obligations. If you are unable to, we have a limited number of judges for hire. The cost for judges not provided is as follows:

Speech - $75.00 Lincoln-Douglas Debate - $125.00 Worlds School Debate - $100.00

Public Form - $100.00 Policy Debate - $150.00

DIVISIONS EXPLAINED

1. Novice Division

This is for FIRST YEAR debaters. We will follow the GFCA rules for novices, meaning debaters must utilize and are limited by the approved state GFCA Packet information: https://www.gaspeechanddebate.org/novice

1. JV Division

This is for students in their FIRST OR SECOND YEAR OF HIGH SCHOOL COMPETITION. If a student is competing in their third high school season or beyond, they are not eligible for this division.

3. Worlds Debate

This debate category will be Open Division.

CROSS ENTRIES

Speech

Double entry within each pattern ONLY. Students may enter up to four Speech events, BUT they are responsible for making their rounds on time and informing their judges of cross-entry.

Debate

One flavor of debate ONLY, no cross entry

INDEPENDENT ENTRIES

Independent entries are NOT allowed at the Carter/King Tournament. Should an entry manage to be accepted by mistake, the entry will be disqualified upon discovery and the entry forfeits its entry fees.

A school-authorized adult must be in attendance AT ALL TIMES at the Carter/King Tournament.