Dates, Contact Info & Application Process

IMPORTANT DATES

December 7, 2015:  All entries and applications due online (Members and Non-members). On this date, Member Schools who are not entered will forfeit reserved entry.

December 11, 2015:  All non-members will be notified about whether they have been accepted for entry into the tournament. 

December 21, 2015-January 3, 2016:  Barkley Forum office is closed.  Please do not attempt to leave messages by voicemail. 

January 6, 2016:  Congressional Debate bills and resolutions are due (email them to kara.grant@emory.edu) by 6:00 p.m. EST.

January 11, 2016: Preliminary Legislation and Chambers Released for Congressional Debate by noon EST.

January 11, 2016:  Nominations for the Melissa Maxcy Wade Social Justice Award are Due (EmoryBFHS@gmail.com or fill out form here).

January 22, 2016:  Last day changes can be requested without penalty fees.

CONTACT INFORMATION

Barkley Forum Email Address (preferred method of contact):  EmoryBFHS@gmail.com

Barkley Forum Telephone:  404-727-6189.  We receive many calls during this period.  We check messages throughout the day.  We return all calls promptly.

Barkley Forum Fax: 404-727-5367    

Tournament Website:  http://bfhs.tabroom.com             

APPLICATION PROCESS

The application process at the Barkley Forum High School Tournament is required to accommodate an efficient registration process. Please review the following procedures. These procedures apply to both MEMBER schools and non-member schools.

Step 1

Enter students online, including student records and judges, which will automatically place them on the waitlist.  ALL entries must be entered online by December 7, 2015. We will assume any MEMBER school not submitting entries will not be in attendance because they will not want to prevent the entry of worthy non-member schools.

NOTE for Non-Member Schools:

We ask you to provide records for each student who is being recommended for entry at the tournament.  Entry into the Barkley Forum High Schools Tournament for non-member schools is based on the student’s record.  Therefore, it is important that the student records be carefully completed.  The records should be entered online by December 7, 2015.

Step 2

The Barkley Forum will first count the MEMBER entries for each event. Non-member applications will be considered based on available space and the student's record in each event.

If there are any open slots in Lincoln-Douglas after the member and non-member schools are admitted, then second entries will be considered based on the student's record.  If there are any open slots in Public Forum and the Pelham Debates after the member and non-member schools are admitted, then third entries will be considered based on the students’ records. 

Step 3

The Barkley Forum will email the coach listed in tabroom.com as the primary contact when students are admitted. When coaches look at their entry on tabroom.com, students who are admitted into the tournament will have “In” under “status” next to their names, and students who are still on the waitlist will have “WL” under “status” next to their names. 

The Barkley Forum will continue to admit students off the waitlist until the tournament starts.  If your student is accepted off the waitlist, tabroom.com will generate an email to the coach on record for the school.  We expect that those students will attend unless you email emorybfhs@gmail.com to let us know they will not.

IMPORTANT NOTE FOR ALL SCHOOLS:

Once you receive the email confirming your entry into the tournament, we expect that you will attend.  If you decide not to attend the tournament and do not drop your entrants by the January 22nd drop date, you will be charged for your entries. 

If students qualify to participate in the tutorials (i.e., clear), they are expected to be available through the final exhibition round to respect their opponents and the participants who will learn from their performance.  If a student must leave the tournament and cannot participate in a tutorial or exhibition round for which s/he has qualified, s/he will forfeit his/her award and all rounds after preliminary rounds.  Special circumstances may lead to rare exceptions to this rule at the tournament director’s discretion.  We are providing this information so you may make your travel plans accordingly.