Tournament Rules and Procedures

As this is an invitational tournament, the final interpretation of all rules and procedures will be at the sole discretion of the tournament hosts, with all participants agreeing to such interpretations with their attendance at the tournament.

Policy, Lincoln-Douglas and Public Forum Debates

Policy Debate

Policy debate teams will debate the 2018-19 National high school topic. The resolution to be debated is – Resolved: The United States federal government should substantially reduce its restrictions on legal immigration to the United States.

Policy debate will feature 6 prelim rounds (powered paired after round 2). We expect to hold a runoff or sextodecimofinals as circumstances dictate. Awards will be given to all teams that reach elimination rounds. Speaker awards will be given to the top speakers.

Preparation time is 8 minutes for each team.

Lincoln-Douglas Debate

Lincoln-Douglas debaters will debate the September/October 2018 National Speech & Debate Association LD topic. 

Lincoln-Douglas debate will feature seven preliminary rounds (power paired after round 2).  We expect the division to have a runoff round to ensure that debaters with a preliminary record of at least 5-2 will have an opportunity to earn a spot in an elimination round. Awards will be given to all debaters that reach elimination rounds and speaker awards will be given to the top speakers.

Preparation time is 5 minutes for each debater.

Public Forum Debate

Public Forum debaters will debate the September/October 2018 Public Forum Debate topic.

***NEW: Sides will be assigned to teams during the preliminary rounds, including round 7 where sides will be randomly assigned.  In all rounds, Pro will speak first.***

Public Forum debate will feature seven preliminary rounds (power paired after round 2).  We expect the division to have a runoff round to ensure that teams with a preliminary record of at least 5-2 will have an opportunity to earn a spot in an elimination round. Awards will be given to all teams that reach elimination rounds and speaker awards will be given to the top speakers.

Preparation time is 2 minutes for each team.

Debate Format, Evidence & Electronic Communications

For the three above debate events, there can only be one win and one loss in each round. Speaker points are on a 30-point scale with tenth point increments.  Low point wins are permitted.  Unless otherwise stated, NSDA rules apply to the tournament.  Modified NSDA evidence rules will be available at the tournament, which will show changes from the existing rules for your reference.  Such modifications are intended to clarify procedural (but not substantive) issues.

During rounds, internet and other electronic communications by competitors are limited to communications with those participating in the round, including the judge. There are no other restrictions on access to the internet, whether for evidence retrieval or research.  There is no assurance that WiFi, cellular service and the like will be available throughout the entire building.  Participants electing to use electronic devices do so at their own peril and are responsible for providing their own computers, batteries, extension cords and other accessories. 

Congressional Debate

Congressional Debate will feature three preliminary sessions and then clear to semifinals. Each Congressional Debate session is allotted at least 2.5 hours.  Awards will be given to all finalists and semifinalists. Unless otherwise stated, NSDA rules apply to the tournament.  Only the semifinal and final session will feature Direct Questioning as the format for Cross Examination.

In addition to the NSDA rules, we would like to highlight the following:  We expect limited recesses during each session and certainly no more than 15 minutes in total.  Chambers should use the maximum amount of time to debate and certainly not adjourn more than five minutes prior to the allotted session time. In general, a session ends after the earlier of a minimum of two cycles of debate and the official session closing time.  Additionally, in order to maximize the time for debate, when ranking competitors judges and parliamentarians will be instructed to consider a penalty to any competitor who uses the point of privilege to address the chamber.

Speech

We will feature Dramatic Interpretation of Literature, Duo Interpretation of Literature, Extemporaneous Speaking, Humorous Interpretation of Literature, Original Oratory, Program Oral Interpretation and Prose & Poetry.

Speech will feature five preliminary rounds and clear semis or quarters as the circumstances dictate. Awards will be all participants in the elimination rounds. Unless otherwise stated, NCFL rules apply to the Prose & Poetry division and NSDA rules apply to other divisions.