Contest Rules and Norms

All TFA Qualifying and non-qualifying events will follow TFA rules as stipulated in the TFA Constitution found here:

TFA Constitution

Judges and competitors are expected to log in and access their virtual tournament spaces (Extemp Draw for Extempers, competition rooms for everyone) 10 minutes prior to the start of each round of competition for which they are scheduled. This will also serve as their technology check for audio/video and internet connection stability. The tournament cannot be held up because of an individual's technology or connection issues and it is the responsibility of each competitor and judge to ensure that they have a sufficient internet connection and working audio/video equipment to facilitate their participation in this contest.

Additionally, because the tournament schedule is tight, we will be enforcing TFA rules regarding forfeiture of rounds for late arriving students unless the lateness is due to factors outside of the control of the students (i.e. judge replacements, Tabroom.com becoming inoperative, etc.).

Lastly, judges will be expected to provide comments for all rounds they judge on the ballot and we will be monitoring rounds to enforce our prohibition on oral critiques. Students should also be directed by their coaches to refrain from asking for oral critiques. If it is important enough for a judge to say to a competitor, it should be written down on that competitor's ballots for both the competitor and their coach to read and process. Oral critiques cut the coach out of that process, which is why we do not welcome them.