Resources for ALL judges

Dear Judges: 

Thank you for helping to make attending tournaments possible. Without the necessary judges, we would not have the opportunity to attend debate tournaments and students would not realize the full benefit of the program. We are confident you will be an excellent judge today. On the tabs to the right are instructions for each event, including times and information on each event. Also included is a sampling of helpful comments - and comments we prefer you do not include. 

For the most part, the students you will watch at tournaments have worked very hard in researching and writing their cases and preparing to do their individual speaking events. Many of them may be new; all are young teens, invested in providing the best argument for the topic given. Be kind on your ballots and give helpful critiques on what they are doing right AND how they can improve. Calling students names on ballots and being overly critical without any encouragement is something the debaters will remember...forever. You are more than just a judge, you are a mentor. 

The most important thing we can ask of you is to please fill out your ballot carefully. Your comments will assist both the coaches and students in making improvements and learning; also, to be an attentive, courteous listener for all speakers. You may not always agree with the topic they are defending, they may not either, but the judge's job is to evaluate whether or not evidence was provided to uphold the position presented, arguments upheld or refuted by the opposition, and decorum maintained. Please fill in any comments on the ballot in the RFD section. Coaches need input from you on how to help their debaters, the only way for that to happen is if you write it on their ballots. Oral critiques will back up the entire tournament - submit your ballot decision and then write your RFD - this can be done even after the tournament has finished. 

Remember to make decisions and fill out ballots according to who won or lost the round, and not based on how your decision will affect the school you are employed or volunteering for. At the end of the tournament, we want the best to win and appreciate your help in keeping judging ethical and fair. If you have any questions, please don't hesitate to ask. Again, thank you for being here and thank you again for helping to provide these students with this amazing opportunity. 

SCHEDULE

New judges - briefing / Q&A at 8:30 AM in the judge lounge (link below)

All judges - briefing at 8:50 AM in the judge lounge (link below)

Approximate round START times are listed in the yellow tabs on the right.  Postings will come out ~ 15 minutes earlier

JUDGE LOUNGE LINK

HERE.

It will also be available through Tabroom -

(1) Log into Tabroom

(2) Click on your username (email address) in the upper right corner of the tabroom screen

(3) Click on yellow CURRENT BALLOTS & PANELS button on right side of screen

DURING THE DAY - Watch for rounds to be posted (see schedule, above)

• If you get no ballot, please go to the judge lounge.

• If you get ballot, click on START immediately.  Your ballot will appear

• Then click on blue camera icon in upper corner of ballot.  That will bring you to the room.

• Before starting round, ask participants what side they are defending and whether their team is speaking first or second.  If it does not match your ballot, then reload your ballot.

• Start round as soon as possible, but definitely within 15 minutes of when the pairing comes out.

• If a team runs into trouble with their connection, they get 10 minutes of tech time to fix the situation.  Come back to the judge lounge if a team runs out of tech time.  It is not prep time.  Prep time is 4 minutes.

• When round ends, enter winner and points.  THEN you can talk to debaters and/or enter ballot.  

• Stay in room until you have entered your winner and points.

• If you run into problems, have questions, come to the judge lounge.  If that is not feasible, email westdebateut@gmail.com

BASIC JUDGING INSTRUCTIONS 

1. Please fill out ballots carefully, but quickly and return them to the ballot table after each round. If giving oral critiques, please keep them brief. The longer you stay in the room with your ballot, the longer the tournament goes. When debaters enter the room, please have them tell you their code/names and fill them in on the ballot. 

2. No matter how you feel about the topic, put aside those feelings so that AFF/NEG or PRO/CON have an equal chance of winning. If you feel you can't do that, please don't take a ballot. 

3. Please write a REASON FOR DECISION on debate ballots. Who wins shouldn't be a matter of the best speaker, but the best argument/s. If the best speakers convince you that their arguments are best, that is fine as well. Please write some comments. These help coaches know how to help their debaters. Debaters will see your ballots and read them. 

4, If you think of a great argument against one of the debaters' arguments, but the debaters don't say it, don't use this as a reason to have a team lose. Only judge what happens in the round between the debaters.-. 

5. Let the debaters know what experience you have so that they can adjust to you. Sometimes they will ask you about yourself and how you judge. Please don't take offense, they just want to give you the best round they can. This also teaches them how to adjust and communicate with a variety of people. 

6. In a good debate, there is clash. Debaters should attack the other debater's case and defend their own. 

7. Please give time signals, especially in individual events. If debaters want to time themselves, that is fine. If they don't have a timer, please give time signals. 

8. Please pay close attention to what is happening in a round. No matter how slow or boring you think it is, you are a judge/mentor first and should not be texting or playing games on your computer or phone.