Info/Fees

INFORMATION/FEES

Platform: NSDA Classroom

Entries: Entries will be accepted until our spaces are filled. We have a limited number of rooms, so plan on entering early! All entries dropped after 4:00 pm on Monday, December 16th will lose their original entry fee. We reserve the right to charge nuisance fees for drops that are not communicated with us in a timely fashion.

Judges:

· Policy Debate – One judge for every two entries, or portion thereof. YOU MUST PROVIDE AT LEAST ONE JUDGE. TOTAL BUYOUT IS NOT ALLOWED!

· Lincoln-Douglas – One judge for every two entries, or portion thereof.

· Public Forum Debate – One judge for every two entries, or portion thereof.

· Congressional Debate – One judge for every eight entries.

· Speech Events – One judge for every six entries, or portion thereof.

*All judges/hire requests must be entered on the website by Monday, December 16th at 4:00 pm or you will be assessed missing judge fees, which will be set. We need to get an accurate idea of how many judges to hire. Provided judges are always preferred to fees. Schools of judges who are scheduled to judge rounds and do not pick up ballots will be assessed a fee of $25 for every missed round. Committing to a judge and then not providing that judge will result in a missing judge fee assessed on the day of the tournament.

Debate Event Topics:

· Cross-Examination Debate – NFHS Topic

· Lincoln-Douglas Debate – November/December NSDA Topic

· Public Forum Debate – November/December NSDA Topic

· Congressional Debate – The current TFA docket will be used. Lindale Legislation: Prelims: 16, 17, 18; Semis: 19, 20, 21; Finals: 22, 23, 24. Chapel Hill Legislation: 25, 26, 27. Semis (if necessary): 13, 14, 15. Finals: 28, 29, 30.

· World Schools Debate – R1/R2 of CH (switch sides) will be "This House regrets the narrative that democracy is the best form of governance." R1/R2 of Lindale (switch sides) will be "This House, as a state with an aging population, would prefer policies that increase immigration (e.g. more visas) over ones that encourage citizens to have more children (e.g. tax benefits)." R3 and Semis of both tournaments will be Impromptu motions. Finals of CH will be "This House would nationalize energy companies." Finals of Lindale will be "This House would implement a living wage."

Fees:

· Missing Judge (IE/Debate) - $200

· Individual Event, Duo/Duet Entry - $15

· LD, Congress Entry - $25

· PFD, CX Entry - $50

· Worlds Entry - $75

Payment of Fees: Schools should mail a check payable to Lindale High School Speech and Debate to cover all fees. We will require at a minimum a Purchase Order or proof of payment (emails with business offices would suffice) by the start of the tournament. We will require that all accounts be paid in full within 30 days after the tournament. All delinquent accounts are subject to a $100 fee.

Cross-Entering: All cross-entry is at your own risk. There is the potential to be added to speech events if you do not advance in a debate event. Otherwise, we will not knowingly allow cross-entry that is detrimental to our schedule. Speech students may cross-enter, but should be prepared for the busy scheudle that gives them.

Student Behavior: All competitors and judges are held to the rules and regulations of the Texas Forensic Association. A coach (or another teacher) from every school or a parent must be immediately available online at all times while students from the said school are competing. Parents/Guardians may attend the tournament with (and be responsible for) their child(ren) if a school representative is unavailable. Failure to comply with these guidelines may result in forfeiting the school from competition.

Other Notes:

· We will make every effort as a tournament to run on schedule and will attempt to accelerate when possible. We ask for your patience and cooperation in the event that this is not possible.

· We believe that oral critiques and disclosure are valuable teaching tools in debate. However, an oral critique does not replace a well-written ballot, as that is helpful communication at this time of the year between the judge and coach.

· Panels will be provided for all TFA events in semifinals.

· We will NOT break brackets in debate.

· The third round of debate will be power-matched (hi-low).

· We will be allowing Lindale and Chapel Hill students to participate and place at these tournaments utilzing the "Home Field Advantage" protocols outlined in the Constitution.

· Please pay attention to the TFA Constitution as it will govern this tournament. You can find the full TFA Constitution here: https://txfa.org/documents/2020-21/TFA%20Constitution%208-5-20.pdf

· Questions should be directed to Rory McKenzie.