The WHSFA invites member and partner high schools to participate in our second-annual culminating state debate tournament. UW-Oshkosh is our host.

Philosophy

The emphasis of this contest is on the spirit of collaboration over competition, and empowerment of young people in self-directed learning. In that spirit, politeness, respect, collegiality, and authenticity of communication are paramount. Judges should evaluate what students say, rather than what they ought to have said. Ahead of the tournament, coaches should prepare students to think for themselves, rather than hovering around rounds during the tournament and telling students what arguments to run.

Fees

Non-WHSFA schools will be assessed a $20 service charge. All schools are initially charged this fee, which will be reversed by the state office within a day or so of registration for member schools. All entries will be a assessed a $10/entry fee. 

Entries/Judges

Any number of entries may be registered by 12 Noon, Monday, December 4, with one judge for every two entries, and coaches should bring lay, non-debate specialist judges whenever possible. This does not preclude judges who have experience in debate, but they should be aware that the prime objective of this contest is to build participation, and not on esoteric technicalities of debate theory. Uncovered judging obligations will be assessed at a rate of $100/judge, payable to WHSFA. For for any special needs/dietary restrictions accommodations your students or judges may have, please contact us.

Schedule

  8:00 a.m. - Registration Begins, Sage Hall, 3rd Floor Lounge
  8:30 a.m. - Registration Ends; Meeting for Debaters and Judges, Sage Hall, 3rd Floor Lounge
  8:45 a.m. - Round 1
  9:30 a.m. - Round 2
10:30 a.m. - Round 3
11:30 a.m. - Round 4
--- LUNCH ---
  1:15 p.m. - Semifinals
  2:15 p.m. - Finals, Clow Hall
  3:30 p.m. - Awards, Clow Hall

Topic

The topic will be released Nov. 1, and will be the December National Speech & Debate Association topic: Resolved: NCAA student athletes ought to be recognized as employees under the Fair Labor Standards Act.

Contest Rules/Guidelines

We use the Public Forum format for debate, with one modification in timing: the Final Focus will be up to one minute in length. Also, speaker points are on a scale of 1-10.

Rounds 1 and 2 will be randomly paired; Rounds 3 and 4 will be power-matched, high/low within brackets. Multiple teams from the same school will not be protected against each other. The emphasis of this contest is on the achievement of individual teams, and not schools/squads, overall. Elimination rounds will consist of a panel of an odd number of judges. The final round will compile a vote of all student observers who write a ballot as counting equivalent strength to one adult judge.

We will allow judges the option to input e-ballots. Read instructions here.

Parking/Food

Use Lot 7 (adjacent to Sage Hall). UWO is also hosting ACT Testing that date, and we will be sharing the building with them. Parking Map >>

All participants may bring/arrange their own lunch or visit Reeve Union Marketplace (food court style).