The Central Catholic Forensics Society warmly invites you to participate in the Dalmasse-Sterner Invitational, held fully in-person on Friday, December 15 and Saturday, December 16, 2023 at Central Catholic High School & Oakland Catholic High School.

Addresses

All debate events, and all elimination rounds will be held at Central Catholic High School: 4720 Fifth Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA, 15213. Limited parking is available in the lot behind the school.

All speech preliminary events will be held at Oakland Catholic High School: 144 N Craig St, Pittsburgh, PA 15213. Limited parking is available in the lot at the school.

Registration Information

The following Debate events will be offered: Open Lincoln-Douglas, Open Public Forum, Open Policy, Open Parliamentary, and Open Student Congress. All debate events will follow PHSSL rules.

Speech

The following Speech events will be offered: Declamation, Duo Interpretation, Dramatic Interpretation, Humorous Interpretation, Extemporaneous Speaking, Informative Speaking, Persuasive Speaking, Impromptu, Poetry, Prose, and Program Oral Interpretation. All speech events follow NSDA rules, with the exception of Impromptu, Prose and Poetry, following PHSSL rules. In the event of a rules violation or protest, please have readily-accessible publication information of your student’s prepared speeches, including source information for Persuasive, Informative, and POI.

Main speech events will take place on only Saturday, December 16.

On Friday, Saturday 15, Supplemental competition will take place,at the same time as Debate preliminary rounds. Entry for each supplemental will be $2, and entry fees will be pooled together to get gift card prizes for winners, in lieu of a trophy. The following Supplemental Events will be offered: Expository, Storytelling, Radio Broadcasting, Improv Duo. See the "Speech & Supplemental Event Information" tab for more details on descriptions and rules.

Students may enter in up to four Main Speech events and all Supplementals. given they are confident in their ability to do so. Competitors participating in Extemporaneous Speaking, or Debate events will not be permitted to double enter.

The cost per individual entry will be $10, while the cost of partnered entries will be $20.

In speech, the judging burden is 1:7. In debate, the judging burden is 1:2. In student congress, the judging burden is 1:6. A number of judges will be available for hire.

At this time, no registration cap will be imposed, but if space fills up quickly, one will be added.

The final deadline for registration is December 8, including a complete list of your judges. Please request any hires on Tabroom.com as soon as possible and understand that your request may not be met.

Please register early! This is our first two-day in-person tournament!

Entries registered prior to November 24 will be granted a 50% discount per entry, recorded & entered on Tabroom on December 8.

Hotel Information

The following are options for reasonably priced hotels within and outside of Oakland. Further information on hotel blocs is coming.

Residence Inn by Marriott Pittsburgh/Oakland/University Place

3341 Forbes Ave, Pittsburgh, PA 15213 • (412) 621-5600

Hilton Garden Inn Pittsburgh University Place

3454 Forbes Ave, Pittsburgh, PA 15213 • (412) 683-2040

Hotels within Oakland will be more expensive than hotels in surrounding neighborhoods.

Outside Oakland:

Holiday Inn Express Pittsburgh E - Waterfront Dr, an IHG Hotel

658 E Waterfront Dr, Munhall, PA 15120 • (412) 205-3904

Hampton Inn & Suites Pittsburgh/Waterfront-West Homestead

301 W Waterfront Dr, West Homestead, PA 15120 • (412) 462-4226

Courtyard by Marriott Pittsburgh West Homestead/Waterfront

401 W Waterfront Dr, West Homestead, PA 15120 • (412) 462-7301

Comfort Inn & Suites Pittsburgh-Northshore

820 E Ohio St, Pittsburgh, PA 15212 • (412) 325-9210

ADA Accessibility Information

Central Catholic is not wheelchair-accessible in most of the main building. If you or your student needs ADA accommodations, please reach out at the earliest convenience. We will plan to place you/your student’s rounds in locations that are accessible in advance.

Oakland Catholic is accessible in both buildings, including elevators, ramps, and additional entrances. If you have any questions or concerns, please reach out as soon as possible.

Food

Food information will be announced in the coming weeks. Vegetarian options will be provided.

Schedule

The anticipated start time on Friday is 4:00pm, and 8:00am on Saturday. Awards should begin by 4:30pm on Saturday. Further details about schedules will be posted separately.