FCDI State Championships 2025

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General information

This is a High School tournament in Florida.

View manager contact information

This is a Middle/High School tournament in Sarasota, Florida.

ROOM ABBREVIATIONS:

HSR= Heiser Building with S, N, E, Wings

L=Library

HCL = Hamilton Center

HC = Hamilton Caferteria

Extemp Prep will be held in Heisser - Auditorium 114!

(Topics posted here after release in prep room)

Round 1 Topic:

• The right to privacy is more important than national security.

Round 2 Topic:

• The voting age should be raised to 21.

Round 3 Topic:

• K-12 education should move to a year-long model.

Round Quarters Topic:

• The minimum wage should be abolished.

Round Semis Topic:

• The usage of animals in scientific research is justified.

Round Finals Topic:

• More government services should be contracted out to private companies.  

You are cordially invited to the Florida Civics & Debate Initiative 2024 State Championship, to be held Saturday, April 5th, 2025 at New College of Florida, 5800 Bay Shore Road, Sarasota, FL.

The FCDI State Championship at New College of Florida offers middle school, and high school varsity competition.

Please read all tournament information carefully as this tournament operates differently than our regional tournaments.

JUDGES: Judges must be present for 1 round past when their team is eliminated!!  Missed judge rounds after round 1 will results in a $100 fine for your team.  This includes if your team is eliminated.

There will be three rounds of preliminary competition in all events except Congressional Debate, where there will be two preliminary sessions and 2 semi-final chambers, and 1 finals chamber. There will be two elimination rounds in speech events. There will be three elimination rounds in debate events.  Check-in will start at 7am. The tournament will begin promptly at 8:00am Eastern time. We hope to finish awards by 7PM, but please be flexible regarding the end time of the event.

The full schedule can be found in the Schedule tab on the Speechwire registration page for the tournament. We reserve the right to modify the published schedule.The schedule may change as we track entries for different events. 

Please plan to arrive at New College of Florida, 5800 Bay Shore Road, Sarasota, FL, no later than 7:45am the morning of the tournament to check in.

EVENTS and DIVISIONS: We offer middle school, and varsity divisions. We reserve the right to combine divisions.

 EVENTS INCLUDE:

• Declamation
• Dramatic Performance
• Extemporaneous Debate
• Impromptu Speaking
• Informative Speaking
• Legislative Debate
• Lincoln Douglas Debate
• Original Oratory
• Public Forum Debate

Observers are allowed.

DEBATE TOPICS:

NOTE: Students will debate BOTH sides of the resolution. 

Lincoln Douglas Debate: Resolved: The right to free speech ought to be upheld, even if it protects controversial or unpopular opinions.

Public Forum Debate: Resolved: The federal government should reduce its role in education, allowing states and localities greater control.

Extemporaneous Debate Topic Areas: Rights, Voting, Education, Minimum Wage, Scientific Research, Privatization

Impromptu Speaking Topic Areas: Civic Duties, The Founding Fathers, Whimsical What-if Scenarios, Presidential Quotes, Free Speech in a Democratic Society, Technology

CONGRESS LEGISLATION: Legislation is posted in the "Files for Download" Section.

JUDGES:  We will need your judges in order to run the tournament. All schools must supply judges. 

The judge ratio for this tournament is 1 judge for every two debate entries; 1 judge for every 5 speech/interp/congress entries.

Please bring parents, teachers, former students, etc.!

Adults and coaches may judge any division. Student judges will be allowed.  Student judges will judge middle school division only.  Student judges must have competed for 2 prior years and be 11th or 12th grade.

FOOD: 

Concessions (snacks and drinks) will be available for purchase.

Food is allowed on campus, food trucks will be present for lunch.  Please ensure that your students bring money for meals.

JUDGES: Judges must be present for 1 round past when their team is eliminated!!  Missed judge rounds after round 1 will results in a $100 fine for your team.  This includes if your team is eliminated.

BEFORE TOURNAMENT CONTACT:

Claude Smith, FCDI Program Manager

Email address: claude.smith@fldoe.org

352-210-9825

DAY OF TOURNAMENT CONTACT:

Important tournament rooms

Judges Lounge - (L)228-Special Collection
Extemp Prep - HSR-RM 114 - Auditorium

Florida Civics and Debate Initiative Handbook

Click here to view the FCDI handbook

Manager contact information

Claude Smith
Email address: claude.smith@fldoe.org
Phone number: (352)210-9825

Mailing address

325 W.Gaines St., Suite 1524
Tallahassee, FL 32399