Tournament Rules and Procedures

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 2020-2021 National high school topic. The resolution to be debated is – Resolved: The United States federal government should enact substantial criminal justice reform in the United States in one or more of the following:  forensic science, policing, sentencing. 

Varsity Policy Debate will feature 6 preliminary rounds (powered paired after round 2). We expect to clear to sextodecimofinals but will adjust as circumstances dictate.  Junior Varsity Policy Debate will feature 5 6 preliminary rounds (powered paired after round 2).  We expect to clear to sextodecimofinals octofinals but will adjust as circumstances dictate.

Preparation time is 8 minutes for each team.

Public Forum Debate

Public Forum debaters will debate the September/October 2020 Public Forum Debate topic.

Public Forum will use the Current NSDA Pilot Rules for PF.

Varsity Public Forum Debate will be single flighted and feature 7 preliminary rounds (power paired after round 2).  The top entries will compete in at least the sextodecimofinals, and, depending on the number of entries, may include a triple-octofinals.

Junior Varsity Public Forum Debate will be single flighted and feature 6 preliminary rounds (power paired after round 2).  We expect to clear to sextodecimofinals but will adjust as circumstances dictate.

Preparation time is 3 minutes for each team.

Lincoln-Douglas Debate

Lincoln-Douglas debaters will debate the September/October 2020 National Speech & Debate Association LD topic. 

Varsity Lincoln-Douglas Debate will be single flighted and feature 7 preliminary rounds (power paired after round 2).  The top entries will compete in at least the sextodecimofinals and, depending on the number of entries, may include a triple-octofinals.  

Junior Varsity Lincoln-Douglas Debate will be single flighted and feature 6 preliminary rounds (power paired after round 2).  We expect to clear to sextodecimofinals but will adjust as circumstances dictate.

Preparation time is 4 minutes for each debater.

Debate Format & Evidence

For the three above debate events, there must 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.

Congressional Debate 

Congressional Debate will feature three preliminary sessions and then clear to semifinals. We expect each chamber to have 12 students. Each Congressional Debate session is allotted 135 minutes. Unless otherwise stated, NSDA rules apply to the tournament.  The semifinal and final rounds will feature Direct Questioning as the format for Cross Examination.

Speech

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

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

Awards

Awards will be given to all entries that reach elimination rounds and, in Lincoln-Douglas, Policy and Public Forum Debate, speaker awards will be given to the top speakers of each division.  All awards earned by students from one high school will be mailed to one address for that high school.  Please be sure to designate that address in tabroom under the Refund Information field in your registration.

Other Information

Other information related to the tournament will be released via email or on the website (nyc.tabroom.com) from time to time.