Topic Strikes

All rounds will have topic strikes. The procedure will be as follows:

a. Debaters and judges must be in the room prior to the round time listed in the schedule. We recommend arriving at least a few minutes early.Strikes on Sunday will commence at the scheduled round time unless there is a contrary announcement on the topics page.

b. The three topics for the round will be posted at the top of this web page.

c. Opposition has one minute to strike one topic. If they do not arrive by the end of their strike time, Government picks the topic for the round.

d. After Opposition strikes, Government has one minute to strike one topic. If they do not arrive by the end of their strike time, Opposition picks the topic for the round.

e. The teams prep the remaining topic for 20 minutes. Both teams should stay near the round room, and should not prep near other debaters, especially those from the same school.

f. One judge per round should oversee the topic strikes. If a topic strikes form is announced, after the topic has been selected, the judge who oversaw the topic strikes should fill out the Topic Strikes Form.

g. Topic strikes and prep time should proceed even if one or more participants are not present. If a team is not in the round room by five minutes after start time, it should forfeit the round.