What are these extras?!?!?

We like to add unique twists to the traditional tournament (while simultaneously making sure that we don't send you home at 6:00 or later)!

Congressional:  This is our most unique twist.  We host what we call "a scramble round."  For years, we have heard complaints that congress just goes to the person that 'speaks the prettiest off of their prepared/pre-practiced script!'  Now first of all, if that is what judges like, than good for that kid.  We like to put this to the test, however.  For the scramble round, we will "create" a situation regarding real world events. We will have the congressional aides put together a packet of information regarding the emergency and hand it to each congressperson (they all get the same info).  They will then caucus together (varsity and novice) in order to go through the information and prepare their speeches.  How they caucus is entirely up to them.  They could work with their teammates, friends from other schools, other speakers planning to go on their side, by themselves.  They can read, speak, discuss the issues at hand in order to formulate their positions.  We will pair the scramble round with one other bill in the afternoon session.  

In varsity Congress, we also host the James Cavallo Leadership Award.  This award is voted on by the congressional debaters for who they believe was the best congressional debater in the tournament (modeled after the NSDA awards).  We strongly encourage kids to approach this appropriately and with prestige, rather than voting for their friends/teammates.  

PF/LD:  We like rounds!  Six rounds at a tournament means that the kids are guaranteed a tournament and a half of competition and the NFL points that go with it.  It also allows us to do better power-matching and get to a clear cut winner - rather than utilizing arbitrary (but necessary tie-breakers such as speaker points).  We hope to host a final round to determine the overall winner.  This helps fulfill our educational mission.  Kids get to see their opponents, but watching a true final round allows them to sit back and watch a round with their peers and have a legitimate discussion about "what makes a debater win."

Policy:  This year I am bringing back the challenge round.  In round 3, the students will be able to choose their opponent.  We will print out/post the current records, points, placings of everyone after round 2.  We will then start at the bottom and give that team the opportunity to challenge any team above them (except their teammates).  Teams that are "challenged" get the option of picking the side that they would like to be on.

World School Debate:  We only have one Prepared topic, but will make sure that kids debate both sides of it.  That ensures that their work doesn't go to waste