Palm Beach Middle School Forensic League Tournament #1 (PBMSFL #1) Invitation

COACHES - PLEASE READ THE ENTIRE INVITATION CAREFULLY!

 

Date: Wednesday, September 18, 2024

 

Location: FAU / A.D. Henderson

777 Glades Rd. 

Boca Raton, FL 33431

*Please follow the directions linked below from A.D. Henderson's website to find the school.  If you try to find the school using GPS, you will not be able to find the correct entrance to the parking lot. https://adhus.fau.edu/directions/

 

Time: 3:30 PM - 7:30 PM

 

 

Deadlines:

- Wednesday, Sept. 11th, 5:00 PM is the deadline for entering students.

- Friday, Sept. 13th, 5:00 PM is the deadline for entering judges and meals.

**You are REQUIRED to buy meals for all judges and coaches; the meal is included in the entry fee for students.**

 

Tournament Guidelines:

• This tournament is open to all students from PBMSFL member schools.

• The following events will be offered: Congressional Debate (separate Novice and Varsity divisions), Declamation, Dramatic Performance, Duo Interpretation, Extemporaneous Speaking, Impromptu Speaking, Lincoln Douglas Debate, Program Oral Interpretation, Informative Speaking, Original Oratory, and Public Forum Debate.

• There is an option to enter students as “observers.” Again, this is for STUDENTS-ONLY!

• The top six students in each event/division will receive awards

• Speech students may double enter. 

Fees:

• The entry fee is $15 per student. This entry fee includes registration costs and dinner. Students who are double entered will pay for each entry separately.

• The entry fee is $7 for observers. This entry fee covers the cost of dinner.

• Schools are REQUIRED to buy meals for all judges and coaches at $7 per person.

• Students dropped after Wed, Sept. 11th, 5:00 will forfeit the cost of entry ($15 total).

• Students dropped after Fri, Sept. 13th, 5:00 will incur a $15 drop fee, in addition to forfeiting the cost of entry ($30 total). 

• Any changes to entries (add or drop) on the day of the tournament, Wed, Sept 18th, will incur a $30 fee ($45 total).

Meals:

The cost of dinner is included in the $15 entry fee for students and the $7 entry fee for “observers.” Schools are REQUIRED to buy meals for all judges and coaches at $7 per person. The meal will include pizza (cheese or pepperoni), chips, and water.

**You must enter your meals on Speechwire under “Update your Meal Order” by Friday, Sept. 13th, 5:00 PM.

 

Judge Information:

• Schools are required to provide a specific number of TRAINED judges based on their entries (judge quotas are listed below).

• Judges MUST provide a cell phone contact number on Speechwire.

• Please use the JUDGE NOTES to annotate conflicts, event preferences, or other pertinent information (i.e., the judge has a different last name than their child(ren)).

• Judges will go to the password-protected Speechwire website, to access their e-ballots. The ballot will also provide space to write a reason for decision (RFD) explaining their ranks, as well as space to leave individual feedback for the competitors. This feedback is important to competitors. Even though we’re in-person, the tournament will still use e-ballots on Speechwire. Judges MUST bring a laptop or tablet!

• We have changed our high school judge policy to allow any sophomore, junior, or senior with 150 NSDA points to judge.

• Schools will be fined $50 for each missing judge and will be required to drop students until your school complies with the judge quotas.

Judge Quotas:

Congress - 1 judge for every 5 entries, or fraction thereof

Lincoln Douglas - 1 judge for every 2 entries, or fraction thereof

Public Forum - 1 judge for every 2 entries, or fraction thereof

Speech - 1 judge for every 5 entries, or fraction thereof

 

Topics:

Lincoln Douglas Debate will use the Sept/Oct Topic: "Resolved: The United States ought to require that workers receive a living wage."

 

Public Forum Debate will use the Sept. Topic: "Resolved: The United States federal government should substantially expand its surveillance infrastructure along its southern border."

Impromptu Topics:

1) 2024 Summer Olympic Athletes

2) Extinct Animals

 

Extemporaneous Speaking Topic Areas:

1) The U.S. Economy

2) South/Central America

 

Congressional Debate legislation is posted under “Files for Download.”

(vr24)