SDIVSL Debate Opener
2024 — Poway, CA/US
Information
NOTE: A coach or authorized adult needs to be present and available to students from your school for the entirety of the tournament (for as long as students are participating). Students/unauthorized parents cannot be the primary contact with tournament officials. Only adults out of high school who appear on the 2024-25 SDIVSL Membership Application (signed by a school administrator), or who are otherwise authorized by a school administrator from the team's school, are able to serve in this capacity.
Please stay up to date on emails and messages. It is coaches' responsibility to pass along necessary material to their students and judges.
THIS TOURNAMENT IS INTENDED AS A "KICK OFF" FOR TEAMS TO GET THINGS ROLLING AND TO GIVE COMPETITORS, COACHES, AND JUDGES AN IDEA OF HOW TOURNAMENTS WORK, IN GENERAL. IT DOES NOT MIRROR EXACTLY THE FORMAT AND PROCESSES OF A REGULAR LEAGUE TOURNAMENT. PLEASE BRING YOUR STUDENTS TO COMPETE, EVEN IF THEY DON'T THINK THEY ARE "READY". THERE IS VALUE IN EXPERIENCING ROUNDS AND HAVING A CHANCE TO TRY OUT THEIR CASES TO GET IDEAS FOR HOW TO DO BETTER AT THE UPCOMING TOURNAMENTS. THERE IS ALSO VALUE FOR JUDGES TO TRY OUT TABROOM IN A LOW PRESSURE SETTING, AS WELL AS FOR COACHES TO LEARN THE TABBING SOFTWARE TO MANAGE THEIR TEAMS AND TO HELP RUN THE TOURNAMENTS.
Entry Limitations:
This tournament is open only to schools in the San Diego Imperial Valley Speech League. Competitors may enter only one event.
The tournament will feature a Varsity division and a Novice division in all events. In order to be eligible for the Novice division, debaters must not have competed in any high school debate/congress tournament in any event in previous school years. In cases where partners are "mixed" (one Novice, one Varsity), that pair must compete at the Varsity level.
Parliamentary Debate internet access and cell phone policy:
Following our experience with online tournaments and for concerns related to equity, CHSSA has officially allowed the use of internet and cell phones during prep for Parliamentary Debate. In order to prepare our students adequately for the State Tournament in April, SDIVSL will be following these rules at our League tournaments. Each tournament site will determine whether they are able to offer internet access to students in the prep room. This information will be posted on the tournament information page to allow teams to prepare adequately. However, tournament sites which offer internet access are NOT in any way guaranteeing that the internet access will function properly overall or for any particular student. There are no resources available for tournament officials to provide tech support and it is up to each coach and debater to troubleshoot any issues and develop backup options. No delays to prep time or rounds will occur due to internet issues. Other rules and regulations related to prohibiting communication with external individuals during prep, prohibiting the use of any electronic devices during Parli rounds beyond cell phone timers on airplane mode, and prohibiting any note taking or speech writing on electronic devices remain.
Judges:
All judges must have a Tabroom account linked to a school, and the account must include the judge's phone number. Each school is required to provide one judge for every four entries, or part thereof. The required number of judges must be present throughout the entirety of the rounds. Schools not meeting their judging commitment at all times during the tournament will be required to drop uncovered entries. Please be sure to enter the correct number of judges on this entry site.
When you enter your judges, you are able to mark shifts that your judges are not available. Be sure that you let your judges know that they need to check in to the judges' room at least 30 minutes prior to the start of the round. Also, let them know that time blocks are estimates and actual end times will be determined by the progression of the tournament.
Do not wait until the last minute to confirm your judges. It is time consuming for tournament officials to have to manually add your judges during the tournament if you didn't straighten it all out in advance.
Entry Deadline:
Entries must be posted on www.tabroom.com by 5:00 p.m. on Monday, Sept 9. No new teams or students may add after the entry deadline, even if the site allows these changes. The only changes allowed after the entry deadline is dropping entries (see below). The site tracks entry changes, so any changes made after the deadline will be disallowed.
Drops:
Dropped entries will be accepted without charge until Wednesday Sept 11, at 5:00 p.m. After that time, the website will be closed and entry fees will be final. Continue to register your drops through your registration page AND email Matt Valji (valjim@bishops.com) notifying him of the change.
Awards:
Suitable recognition will be given to all undefeated and 1-loss debate teams, and Congress finalists