Event Info & Judge Requirements

Event Descriptions 

All events will follow GFCA rules 

Policy Debate:

We will offer an open division of Policy Debate. Debaters are to be prepared to debate both sides of the National High School Policy Resolution for 2017-2018, Resolved: The United States federal government should substantially increase its funding and/or regulation of elementary and/or secondary education in the United States.

Because we are keeping to a one-day schedule, our tournament will feature 4 preliminary rounds in policy debate and break to elimination rounds as registration numbers dictate. 

For every two policy teams, schools will be required to provide one qualified judge. Because this is an open division, student judges are not permitted. 

Elimination round competitors will be recognized during the awards ceremony.

Lincoln Douglas Debate:

We will offer both Novice and Varsity Lincoln Douglas Debate. Contestants must be prepared to debate both sides of the January/February NSDA resolution, which may be found at this link after December 1^st:  https://www.speechanddebate.org/topics/

Novice LD debaters must be debating in their first year of Lincoln Douglas. The tournament will feature 4 preliminary rounds and will break to elimination rounds as registration numbers dictate. LD Debaters may not be entered in any other events. 

For every two LD entries, schools will be required to provide one qualified judge.  Student judges are not permitted to judge in the Varsity division; junior and senior debaters with at least 2 full years of LD experience may judge in the Novice division only. 

Elimination round competitors in each division will be recognized during the awards ceremony.

 Public Forum Debate:

We will offer both Novice and Varsity Public Forum debate.  Each team must be prepared to debate both sides of the January NSDA resolution, which may be found at this link after December 1^st: https://www.speechanddebate.org/topics/

The tournament will feature 4 preliminary rounds (potentially double-flighted, depending on numbers) and break to out rounds as dictated by the registration numbers. 

For every two Public Forum teams entered, schools will be required to provide one qualified judge. For every fraction thereafter, you will be required a half judge. High school students are not eligible to judge Varsity Public Forum debate. Junior or senior debaters with at least 2 full years of PF experience may judge in the Novice division only.

Elimination round competitors and top speakers in each division will be recognized during the awards ceremony. 

Individual Events & Student Congress:

We will offer Congressional Debate (Student Congress) and 8 individual events: Original Oratory, Informative, Extemporaneous, Impromptu, Humorous Interpretation, Dramatic Interpretation, Duo Interpretation, and Programmed Oral Interpretation.  All events will follow the National Speech and Debate Association rules and use the Georgia Forensic Coaches Association ballots. Students may double-enter in IEs, including Student Congress (Congress + 1 individual event, or 2 individual events).  

We plan to offer four preliminary rounds and hold elimination rounds as needed, pending registration numbers.

For every five Individual Event entries, schools will be required to provide one qualified judge.  High school students are not eligible to judge Individual Events. The top speakers in each division will be recognized during the awards ceremony, including all State Tournament Qualifiers.