General: I welcome fact-based claims while users display an appropriate level of passion for their perspective. I deduct points for Ad Hominem and other unnecessary or non-value-added attacks. Participants should attack the claims or the merits of the claims only.

General: Participants are encouraged to do real-time research on any data presented during the claims. This can foster spontaneous exchanges or "Clash" between teams. "Clash" exchanges will influence individual scores.

General: I view my role as a keeper of the debate rules, standards, and best practices. In addition, I am the owner and protector of the room/setting where the debate occurs. My goal is to create an environment where each participant can display a grasp of the subject from the given perspective.

General: Final speeches are best when they include main arguments, rebuttal points, and a recommendation for the judge to align with their claims.

Specifically: Participants will greet opposing team prior to the start of the match and will thank opposing team at the conclusion of the match. This can be a simple handshake, wave, “hello,” or “thank you.” Un-sportsman like conduct or other forms of disrespect will result in a lower score for the team and the individual(s) involved.

Specifically: I welcome observers in the room. Observers must remain silent and cannot coach or discourage any participant. If any observer violates this rule, time will be halted, the observer(s) will be dismissed from the room, and penalty points will be assessed against the appropriate team.

Specifically: If time permits, we will have Q&A after the match. I will allow observers an opportunity to share general points of interest related to the topic, without comments to or about any participants. These comments will not influence any final scores.

I did PF throughout high school

tl;dr:be organized, be clear, and speak well

super important stuff:

•collapse. I hate overcrowded flows, they make the round a pain for everyone involved. try to have just 1-3 major pieces of offense you're gonna try to go for by FF

•weigh. If you don't and your opponent does, you'll probably lose. tell me what arguments are important, why they're important, and why you're winning them. and don't just bring this up at the end of FF--your weighing can start as early as rebuttal.

•signpost and follow your roadmaps. messy rounds are bad rounds

•don't extend through ink. I'll know, you'll know, and your opponents will know. it's waste of time.

major points:

•don't run plans/advocacies unless you run them in a way that proves they're an inherent advantage of your side

•I prefer that second rebuttal is split, but I'm ok with new defense on the second team's case being done in second summary

•if you think an arg is squirrely, I probably agree. don't waste too much time on these but make sure you respond

•please date your cards (or at least have dates available), it makes the round more fair

Speaker points:

I won't drop points below a 25 unless you've really messed up (rudeness, remarkably poor speaking, etc). outright racism/sexism/homophobia/etc will result in very, very low speaker points. you'll also lose the round for those and I'll go to tab about it. otherwise, just be compelling. your humor and rhetoric are just as important as your evidence and logic

Evidence:

I'll check evidence if I need it to make my decision, if one team tells me to, or if I think it sounds sketchy. severely misrepresented evidence will lose you the round and will probably get you in trouble with tab

ask me any other questions you may have, I'm happy to answer anything!

Explain why your arguments matter. 

My paradigm is pretty straight-forward. I believe debate is an educational opportunity designed to promote discourse. While I can handle speed, I do not prefer it as I believe that it detracts from the intentions of the activity. I prefer lots of clash. Having the ability to provide a strong line-by-line response is effective. Use your evidence to your advantage. Don't assume I will make the connections for you. If you want me to flow it, say it.

In Congressional Debate, there is no need to preface how many times you have spoken. It's a waste of time. Your name and your school is sufficient. As a Parliamentarian, I will be as hands off as possible. If you think there is an issue, that is up to you as representatives to ask the PO. Try to be as direct as possible in your questions. Lots of time is wasted in prefacing.

I have been coaching debate for nearly twenty years and I competed in Congressional Debate as a high school student.