Foley Debate Information

Policy Debate: We will provide junior varsity and open divisions in policy/CX debate. Three and four person teams are allowed. However, only two students may compete at any one time. We will use the 2022/2023 National Forensics League policy topic. WSFA and GSL rules will apply. Copies of these rules will be forwarded to any school upon request.

Lincoln Douglas Debate: We will provide novice, junior varsity, and open divisions in Lincoln Douglas debate. We will be using the 2023 January/February National Forensics League topic. WSFA and GSL rules will apply. Copies of these rules will be forwarded upon request.

Public Forum: We will provide novice and open divisions in Public Forum Debate. Three and four person teams are allowed. However, only two students may compete at any one time. NSDA and WSFA rules will apply. The 2023February National Forensics League topic will be used, which will be available on the NFL website.

Parliamentary (Parli) Debate: We will provide an open division only in Parli Debate. Three and four person teams are allowed. However, only two students may compete at any one time. The Open division is available to all teams.

NOTE WELL: We use the NPDA rules for parliamentary debate with the following exception. Students are not allowed to bring a copy of the NPDA “Rules of Debating and Judging” with them into their rounds and the provisions for appealing a judge’s decision have been eliminated. High school tournaments are not set up to facilitate such appeals.

Parli Debate Rules at Foley

We will follow NPDA Rules with an adjustment to Speech times in order to double flight the round and the removal of point of orders (POIs).

Foley Parli Format of the debate

Pre-Round Prep Time: 15 minutes

First Proposition Constructive Speaker: 5 minutes

First Opposition Constructive Speaker: 6 minutes

Second Proposition Constructive Speaker: 6 minutes

Second Opposition Constructive Speaker: 6 minutes

Opposition Rebuttal by First Speaker: 3 minutes

Proposition Rebuttal by First Speaker: 4 minutes

There is no cross-ex/crossfire period in Parli but Points of Information can be asked during the constructive speeches. A POI is when the opposite team raises their hand or stands. The Speaker will then recognize them for a question. The first and last minute of constructive are protected time in which no question may be asked. The judge will knock on the table to indicate when a minute has passed and when there is one left. A speaker should take between 1-3 questions during a constructive speech. We will not be utilizing Points of Order which are traditionally used during the rebuttals.

Topic Announcement for Parli will take place in a centralized location where it will be verbally announced and posted.

Prep time will start immediately after the topic is announced/posted. Students will have a two-minute grace period to be in the room ready to debate after the prep time is announced. Being late for the round = an automatic drop.

Group prep is allowed as in consulting outside information. This means students may use any files, news sources, coaches etc. that they have access to. Any files, documents, websites, etc. which may have been consulted before the debate, cannot be brought into the debating chambers for use during the debate. The debaters may bring in the handwritten notes they have prepared during preparation time.

Resolutions will be a mix of policy, value and metaphors.

Examples: The United States should raise the federal minimum wage. In politics, pragmatism should be favored over idealism. This House would share the sandbox.

Schedule for topic announcement (if everything is running on time)

Round 1

A: Topic Announce @ 3:00, Round Starts @ 3:15

B: Topic Announce @ 3:45, Round Starts @ 4:00

Round 2

A: Topic Announce @ 5:00, Round Starts @ 5:15

B: Topic Announce @ 5:45, Round Starts @ 6:00

Round 3

A: Topic Announce @ 2:45, Round Starts @ 3:00

B: Topic Announce @3:30, Round Starts @ 3:45

Round 4

A: Topic Announce @ 7:15, Round Starts @ 7:30

B: Topic Announce @ 7:10, Round Starts @ 7:25

Round 5

A: Topic Announce @ 10:30, Round Starts @ 10:45

B: Topic Announce @ 11:50, Round Starts @ 11:05

Laptops MAY NOT be used during parli debates unless a specific competitor has an ADA reason to do so and has so notified the tournament director. Laptops may be used to help research during the before round prep, but for fairness for all competitors, laptops may not be used during the round. Handwritten notes, prepared during the prep time, may be taken into the round."