Dates and Format

• January 19-20
• In Person at Carrollton High School
• LD and Public Forum will run Friday/Saturday
• Policy will run Friday/Saturday but may conclude with online elim(s) on Sunday
• Speech events will run Saturday only
• Complete schedules will be posted on Tabroom.com shortly, but Friday's events will start at 3:00PM.

Meals

The GFCA will provide dinner on Friday night and lunch on Saturday to all judges, coaches, and competitors at no additional cost. (see tab on right side for details)

Events Offered

• First Year Lincoln Douglas Debate, Second Year Lincoln Douglas Debate
• First Year Policy Debate, Second Year Policy Debate
• First Year Public Forum Debate, Second Year Public Forum Debate
• First Year Dramatic Interpretation, Second Year Dramatic Interpretation
• First Year Extemporaneous Speaking, Second Year Extemporaneous Speaking
• First Year Humorous Interpretation, Second Year Humorous Interpretation
• First Year Original Oratory, Second Year Original Oratory
• First Year Program of Oral Interpretation, Second Year Program of Oral Interpretation
• First Year Informative Speaking, Second Year Informative Speaking
• First Year Impromptu Speaking, Second Year Impromptu Speaking
• First Year Duo Interpretation, Second Year Duo Interpretation

Guidelines for Combining or Canceling Divisions

• The GFCA will cancel a state tournament event if there are fewer than six entries and/or fewer than three schools when registration closes.
• Students in that event will then have an opportunity to transfer to other event(s) if desired and if their school has not reached the cap in the other event or alternately, students may participate in a scrimmage on those dates. (Bylaw 3.1.3)

Entry Criteria

• As a reminder, bylaws 1.2, 1.3, and 3.2.1.1 address the qualifications for attending.
• First Year students are defined as students competing in their first year of high school speech and debate activities.
• Second Year students are defined as students competing in their second year of high school speech and debate.
• It is the coach’s responsibility to affirm that their debaters are eligible to compete. Email jonwaters7@gmail.com if you have questions about a particular student — I’m happy to help you figure it out in advance!
• Note: There is NO in-state invitational requirement to attend the First and Second Year State Championship.

Judging Qualifications — LD, Policy, PF, Speech

• Experienced students may judge these events. Refer to bylaw 3.2.5.1.1
• Students must be two years “out” of that division to judge — so a student in their third year of high school speech/debate can judge first year events only and a student in their fourth year or beyond of high school speech/debate can judge first or second year events. Please make sure to use the “judge notes” field to notify the tournament about student judges and their number of years in the activity.
• Please ask your judges to make sure they have an updated judge philosophy on Tabroom.com — it really helps the students that they are judging!

Note: if we collapse an event by combining the First and Second Year divisions, students in their third year of high school speech/debate will no longer be eligible to judge that division. We will notify impacted schools if that occurs.

Hired Judging

• We will have a limited amount of judging available to hire from the tournament.
• If you know you will need a hired judge, please submit this request ASAP when registration opens so we can make sure to meet as many needs as possible.
• Hired judging requests are due by Jan 5, but are not guaranteed.

Forms to Submit

• Each school must submit a School Eligibility Form (one per school). This form is available on tabroom where you will also upload the completed form.

Topics/Argument Restrictions

• The First Year Policy division does not limit students to debating arguments in the novice packet.
• LD will be using the January/February NSDA topic.
• PF will be using the January NSDA topic.