Debate Online Adaptations for NCFL Qualifiers

The NCFL has yet to adopt any specific rules for online tournaments.  We will borrow the rules and standards used by the MSDL for online tournaments.  The full Guide for Online Tournaments can be found here, but these are the debate highlights each coach and competitor should be aware: 

Debate Prep Time:

Lincoln-Douglas Debate (LD): 5 minutes per entry

Public Forum Debate (PF): 4 minutes per team

Debate Evidence:

The best thing to do is to start an email chain before the round so all evidence is shared just before it’s read into the debate. This reduces time spent during cross-examination and Crossfire on the tasks of gathering and exchanging evidence. Email chains also make it possible to look up files and arguments to prep against after the debate has ended.

Download or make a PDF copy of all paywall evidence; that is, articles that are not freely accessible by everyone. This ensures that everyone can actually read your evidence. 

You may wish to create a free email account (yourdebatercode@gmail.com, for example) so you don’t have to share your personal or school email address.

General tips for debaters:

Mute your mic when you are not speaking or asking questions.

Do not attempt to talk over another debater. Wait until the speaker is finished speaking.

Electronic communication has limitations that the human ear does not have - it does not do a good job handling multiple people who attempt to speak at the same time. Cross-talk creates audio distortions that are annoying to everyone, especially your judges.

Speak efficiently. The idea is word economy. Think of ways to say the same thing, but in a shorter period of time.

Watch your speed and enunciation. Speak in a manner that considers the limitations of both electronic transmission and human hearing as well as the judge’s expressed preferences.  Judges do not have to consider what they cannot understand!