Invitation and Tournament Overview

You are invited to the Sims Spooktacular Speech and Debate Tournament

Come out and celebrate the Halloween Season with Coach Costumes, Candy, Tricks, Treats, and a truly Spooktacular Speaking Competition.

Proud NIETOC Bid Tournament!
Registration is OPEN!

You are cordially invited to the NWFL Full Events Season Opener! This is a High School and Middle School tournament taking place in Pace, Florida. This tournament will be Live and In-Person.

The Sims Spooktacular Speech & Debate Tournament, will be held Saturday, October 24, 2026 at Thomas Sims Middle School, 5500 Education Dr. Pace, Florida, 32571.

The tournament offers high school and middle school divisions for events.

· FEES: $20.00 per single entry and $30.00 for partner events. Student Lunches are $5.00 each. Payment information on the bottom of this invitation.

· To celebrate Halloween there will be holiday-themed games, candy, and treats for judges and students.

· Coaches are encouraged to come in costume.

· Competitors are encouraged to spice up their competition outfits with a hat, cape, or mask. However, please note that these items are NOT to be worn during rounds!

· Observers are allowed but must be registered in Tabroom.

This is an open tournament, and all schools are welcome to compete. High School Competitors who place can earn Bids for TWO different National Tournaments:

1. Sims Spooktacular is a proud NIETOC Bid tournament and will report results to the NIETOC Board. Bids are awarded for NIETOC events according to tournament rules. For team events (DUO) bid earning teams must remain in-tact for their bid to qualify them for registration. Visit www.nietoc.org for more information.

2. Students from NCFL-Pensacola League Member Schools receive Grand National Tournament bids for top 3 placement at local tournaments. Bids are only earned in NCFL events, for that event. For team events (PF and DUO) bid earning teams must remain in-tact for their bid to count towards entry registration. Entries to the Grand National Tournament that our league receives are awarded to league students with the most bids in that event. See NCFL-Pensacola Bylaws for more information about the process.

This is the Season Opening Tournament for NCFL-Pensacola and FFL Region 1. League registration information will be available at tournament check-in. Those who join either 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.

Please plan to arrive at Thomas Sims Middle School between 7:30 and 8:00 am. Extemp students are encouraged to arrive as early as possible for check-in.

· Tournament check-in begins at 7:30 a.m. CST, for competitors and judges.

· COACHES check-in their teams, pay fees, and report any drops or changes.

· Judges report to the library, students to the cafeteria.

· A designated Coach, responsible for students, MUST be on-site for the duration of the tournament.

· 8:00: Judge Training and Extemp Prep Begin

· Round 1 of Competition will begin at 8:30 am CST.

· Full schedule will be finalized and published prior to the tournament.

o We do our best to make sure everything stays on schedule, but that also depends on students, coaches and judges checking in and being where they are supposed to be each round, as well as technology functioning properly. Please be kind, flexible, and give grace to our tournament staff.

EVENTS and DIVISIONS: We offer middle school, and high school divisions. We reserve the right to combine divisions for events with low entry numbers as needed. Combined divisions will be separated for the purposes of awards. NIETOC bid events will not be combined.

Double entries ARE allowed for students in the following IE events: DEC, DP, DUO, POE, PRO, POI, OO, INF, IMP, EXT, STO. No double entries for debate events.

TOPICS:

NOTE: Students will debate BOTH sides of the resolution.

LINCOLN DOUGLAS TOPIC (NSDA Sept/Oct Resolution):

Resolved: Outer space colonization is a moral imperative.

PUBLIC FORUM TOPIC (NSDA Sept/Oct Resolution):

Resolved: The United States federal government should enact a moratorium on hyperscale data center construction.

CONGRESSIONAL LEGISLATION: Legislation Packet: (will be uploaded by October 3, 2026)

IMPROMPTU TOPIC AREAS:

Round 1: Tricks and Treats Round 2: Witch-hunts Round 3: Heroes and Villains Finals: The Masks We Wear

EXTEMP TOPIC AREAS are:

Round 1: AI and Technology Round 2: Climate and Energy Round 3: U.S. Education Finals: Trade Policies and Supply Chains

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. Providing extra judges will qualify your team for a discount on registration.

Please bring parents, teachers, former students, community members, etc.! Judges should be available for the duration of the tournament in order to fulfill your school’s judge quota. Leaving early must be communicated with the tabroom and approved to avoid no-show fees.

Judge training videos and additional judging resources can be found using the link and the QR Code below:

https://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. Lunches are ordered based on concession registration. PLEASE purchase student lunches through the concessions tab to ensure they have a meal.

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!

Please make checks payable to:

Thomas L. Sims Middle School

C/o Ashley Carter

5500 Education Drive

Pace, FL 32571

Electronic payment options will be offered at the tournament through MySchool Bucks. A processing fee applies.

Tournament Director and League Contact:
Ashley Carter: 850-516-8586