Florida Sunshine District Qualifier

for the 2026 National Tournament

Debate/IE Information

Saturday, January 31, 2026

Paul R. Wharton High School

20150 Bruce B. Downs Blvd, Tampa, FL 33647

Jym Froelich, District Chair 941.786.5000 james.froelich@sarasotacountyschools.net

Events: NSDA District Tournament for Debate and Individual Events

Events offered: CX, LD, PF, HI, USX, IX, POI, DI, OO, INF, DUO

If students wish to compete in World Schools Debate, please indicate this interest by completing the Single-Entry Letter of Intent form.

*Participation in the District Tournament is a prerequisite for schools that wish to compete in the online Last-Chance Qualifier in April.

Entries: Fully paid NSDA member schools may enter up to 4 competitors/teams in each event. Schools may NOT enter more than their Debate/IE/HSE/SEN entry limit per NSDA (see chart below). These are separate entry limits. REMINDER: Students must be members of NSDA (25 points on record, fees paid, and website registration) to compete and to have membership and degrees counted toward their schools. Rules for each event can be found on the NSDA website. Each school's NSDA coach of record must attend the entire tournament with students. The District tournament is a championship/national qualifying tournament. If a coach cannot attend the tournament, do not register the team. If a coach becomes unavailable after the close of registration (January 24), contact the League to drop the school’s entries.

Debate and IE event requirements of at least four (4) entries from at least two (2) schools are needed to run each event. Events with at least ten (10) entries will qualify an additional entry to Nationals.

Double Entry:

1. Students may compete in two Speech events at this tournament, subject to the school’s entry limit. A double-entered student uses two of a school’s slots.

2. Due to scheduling limitations, students may not enter both Extemp events, and students may not cross-enter Speech and Debate.

3. A student who competes in more than one event at NSDA Districts MUST submit, before the start of the tournament, a Single-Entry Letter of Intent form to indicate the event in which they will compete at Nationals.

Fees:

1. The Florida Sunshine fee (school fee) is $25 per school. It must be paid separately by cash or check.

2. Entry fees are $60 for each partnered entry (CX, PF, DUO) and $30 for each individual entry. Double-entered students pay entry fees for each event separately.

3. Host/meal fees require an additional $10.00 meal fee for each student and judge. One complimentary lunch will be provided to each school for the head coach. Coaches must order ALL meals for students and judges on the “Meals” tab. Vegetarian options may also be specified on the “Meals” tab.

4. Schools will pay their fees at registration on Saturday morning via PayPal <@payfgccfl>, check for the full amount, or cash. Late payments are not accepted. All checks should be payable to FGCCFL, as the League account handles FGCCFL and NSDA business.

Judge Quotas: 1:4 for IE, 1:2 for PF and LD, 1:1 for CX.

Judge Requirements: The District Committee requires that schools supply TRAINED (NSDA Level 1 Debate/Speech and Multicultural Competence) judges for a national qualifying tournament. We cannot run the tournament without judges. All judging will be conducted via online balloting. Judges must bring and utilize a reliable, fully charged laptop and enter their feedback on the ballots. Coaches must NOT place themselves in the judge pool as they will be used in tab staff, Extemp Prep, other official functions of the tournament, and for elimination round panels.

Dates:

1 December 2025: Registration opens at http://floridasunshine.tabroom.com

24 January 2026: Finalize entries on Tabroom by 9 p.m., including students, real judge names, judge conflicts, and meal orders. LAST day to enter NSDA points to determine competition eligibility.

Tech Reminders: Per NSDA rules, laptops, tablets, and cell phones are permitted in CX, LD, PF, and Extemp Prep. Devices must be silenced and run on their batteries. Students may not use their devices to gain help from coaches, other students, or any other person or generative AI, such that it would prevent the speech from being the original work of the competitor. Devices are prohibited in all other events except that a cell phone (silenced, in airplane mode, and placed on a desk or lectern) may be used for timing. If a prohibited use of a device is reported in any round the student/students will be automatically disqualified.

The burden of knowledge for tech rules or event rules falls to each coach in the district. Please be sure you, your students, and judges know the NSDA rules.

Tabbing Information for the NSDA District Tournament can be found on pages 88-120 of the NSDA Unified Manual: <https://www.speechanddebate.org/high-school-unified-manual/>. Debate divisions of 4-6 entries will be run as round robins; larger divisions will run four preliminary rounds, followed by a single elimination bracket. Speech events will run three preliminary rounds; events with at least 8 participants will break to Finals.

The NSDA and FGCCFL Tournament Code of Conduct for all students, coaches, and adults will be in effect.

Required Forms: Coaches must print out the registration forms and the Single-Entry Letters of Intent. Make sure they are signed by the coach. Bring them with you to registration.

• Single-entry letter of intent can be accessed here: https://www.speechanddebate.org/district-tournament-single-entry-letter-of-intent/

• Student of the Year nomination form can be accessed here: https://www.speechanddebate.org/student-of-the-year-nomination-form/

• Coach of the Year nomination form can be accessed here: https://www.speechanddebate.org/high-school-coach-of-the-year-nomination-form/

Remember that all interpretive events require an MLA formatted bibliography with your registration form. Tabroom requires titles and publication information. OO and INF also require a full text with highlighted quotes and a bibliography.

The FGCCFL Rules of Decorum for all students, coaches, and adults will be in effect.

All guests should park in the NE Student Parking lot (Red Arrow on map). Overflow parking in SE Staff Parking lot (Blue Arrow on map). Students will be housed in the cafeteria. Judges and Coaches will report to the Media Center. The Tab Staff and Morning Registration will also be in the Media Center.

DIRECTIONS to Paul R. Wharton High School at 20150 Bruce B. Downs Blvd, Tampa, FL 33647:

From I-75 / the North or South (depending on where you’re coming from):

1. Take I-75 to the Bruce B. Downs Blvd exit. (Bruce B. Downs Blvd is part of State Road 581.
2. Exit onto Bruce B. Downs Blvd / SR-581.
3. Head south on Bruce B. Downs Blvd toward the school address.
4. Continue until you reach 20150 Bruce B. Downs Blvd. That’s Wharton High School.
5. Turn into the school’s driveway when you see the campus entrance.