SpeechWire Tournament Services - Forensics Tournament Software

Dramatic Interpretation: Alejandro Cuellar-Mayoral, G. Holmes Braddock High School

Duo Interpretation: Abigail Gualda & Annamaria Nuryasin, Miami Beach Senior High School

International Extemporaneous Speaking: Andrew Langford, Lake Highland Prep

Policy Debate: Reilly Markowitz & Roberto Fernandez, Cypress Bay High School

Program Oral Interpretation: Jayley Halpern-Drock, Charles Flanagan High School

Group Interpretation: Kayla Terry, Mickenzie Donnelly, Monica Claudio, Rebecca Claudio, Sofia Paez and Sophie Ross, Western High School

On behalf of the Board of Directors, I am pleased to provide the following information regarding the 2017 VARSITY STATE CHAMPIONSHIP TOURNAMENT. The 540 students who qualify for this event will compete on Saturday March 4, 2017 & Sunday March 5, 2017 at Gulf Breeze High School in Gulf Breeze, FL which is located, in the Florida Panhandle. Our host, Kim Messer and the Gulf Breeze students has been working hard to prepare for a memorable State Championship!

Only students who have qualified through the Regional Tournament process may compete at the State Championship. When the results from your region’s qualifying tournament have been certified, coaches of schools that qualified students to the tournament will be able to begin to confirm and verify student entries via www.speechwire.com

Please read the information in this invitation carefully. You must adhere to ALL deadlines—failure to do so will result in the penalties listed. We are committed to running an efficient and on-time event, but we will only be successful if all member schools follow the published requirements.

Good luck to your qualifiers on their preparations for the tournament. I look forward to seeing you in March!

Coaches should verify name and events for accuracy of the entries on Speech Wire. Please make sure all the students that qualified have been transferred. Additionally, in some regions (not using Speech Wire) script information is blank or missing. Please make sure to update all script information for all the entries requiring scripts.

If there is a problem with your entry, you will be contacted by the League President, Carol Cecil at ccecil@dadeschools.net

The Head Coach or Assistant Coach of a member school (as designated by the principal on the membership authorization form) qualified for the State Championship must attend with his/her students. If neither designated individual can attend the tournament, then a letter from the principal (signed and printed on school stationery) must designate the adult in charge and be submitted to the Tournament Director no later than Wednesday, February 15th. See the Standing Rules of the League for more information.

Monday February 13: Student Congress legislation deadline – send bills to Paul Gaba (paul.gaba@palmbeachschools.org) by 4:00 p.m.

Friday February 24: Last day to change judge names or add judges without penalty

(CX, PF, Duo count as 2; Group = same as # of students in group; double entries count as 1 only)

Policy Judge Fee: $60.00 flat fee for schools with qualified policy debaters; to be used to hire additional judges

Extra Sat. Lunch: $ 7.00 per meal; must order for all coaches/judges/parents/student observers

Extra Sat. Dinner: $ 8.00 per meal; must order for all coaches/judges/parents/student observers

***All fees will be calculated at the time of announcement of qualifiers in each region. Therefore, all drops – regardless of when reported – must pay the entry fee. ***

Drops 5:00 pm Friday February 24^th -5:00 p.m. through Wednesday March 1^st: entry fee +$20.00 drop fee

Drops after 5:00 pm Wednesday March 1^st: forfeiture of entry fee +$40.00 drop fee

Drops made after 10:00 am Thursday March 2^nd: forfeiture of entry fee + $50.00 drop fee

Unreported drop discovered at tournament: forfeiture of entry fee + $75.00 drop fee

Yes, these drop fees are punitive. Drops, especially those just before the tournament, interfere with our ability to run an on-time event. It is also unfair to the alternates when drops occur too late for them to participate.

The By Laws and Standing Rules of Florida Forensic League, Inc. shall govern the operation of this event. All coaches and students are responsible for reviewing the rules in the Governing Documents. Questions about rules should be addressed to the President, who serves as the Tournament Director for the State Championship.

Laptop Computers: The use of laptop computers shall be permitted in all debate events at all FFL sanctioned Events. Computers equipped with removable wireless cards must have the cards removed/disabled (if possible) before the beginning of any round of competition. It is the responsibility of the contestant to disengage equipment. Computers with built-in wireless capability may be used only if the wireless capability is disabled. It is the responsibility of the contestant to disable the equipment. Wired connections (Ethernet or phone) during rounds of competition are not permitted. During debate rounds computers or other electronic devices may not be used to receive information from any source (coaches or assistants included) inside or outside the room in which the competition occurs. During debate rounds Internet access, use of e-mail, instant messaging, or other means of receiving information from sources inside or outside the competition room are prohibited. (This does not prohibit non-electronic communication between debate partners during prep time). Contestants found to have violated the provisions above may face the following actions: forfeit the round of competition and receive zero points or disqualification from the tournament and forfeiture of all rounds.

Availability of Evidence: The FFL will be following the NSDA Rules in regards to evidence in debate events.

· Debaters are responsible for the validity of all evidence that they introduce in the debate.

· Evidence must be provided orally or written and must include primary author(s) and year of publication. Any other information such as qualifications etc… may be given, but not required.

· Judges are responsible for resolving disputes between debaters – both oral and written sources.

· Judge decisions may not be appealed unless – judge misapplied, misinterpreted, or ignored the rule.

Extemporaneous Speaking: students can access information on jump drives, which will be screened by a tournament official/extemp prep room proctor. Competitors will NOT be permitted to use the internet at FFL Varsity State this year.

Policy Debate: Resolved: The United States federal government should substantially increase its economic and/or diplomatic engagement with the People’s Republic of China

Lincoln Douglas: Resolved: The United States ought to guarantee the right to housing

Public Forum: Resolved: The United States should no longer pressure Israel to work toward a two-state solution.

Student Congress: Each qualifier to the State Championship may submit one (1) piece of legislation for the agenda. Legislation must follow FFL format (see FFL Congress Manual, Appendix B for details) and emailed as a Microsoft Word attachment to Paul Gaba (paul.gaba@palmbeachschools.org). Legislation that is not properly formatted, not submitted as a Microsoft Word attachment or not received by the deadline will not be placed on the agenda. Bills are due by 4:00 p.m. Monday, February 13, 2017 and legislation will be released to schools via the website by Wednesday, February 15, 2017.

Speech Events: Please remember that a hard original copy of each student’s script/oration, and proof of publication when applicable, should be brought to the tournament in case of protest. Script information must be available on joyoftournaments.com. Students must use the same piece at the State Championship that they used at their Regional Qualifying Tournament. Students who change pieces will be disqualified.

At the State Championship Tournament judge drops at registration will incur a fine of $200. Hidden judge drops at the State Championship Tournament will incur a fine of $250 plus the $25 fine per round they were assigned and missed.

In the event that a school changes or drops a judge after the strike sheet for debate has been published, the school making the change shall be required to pay a “Hired Judge” Fee of $175 or $200 (Policy).

Policy Debate: 1 judge for every 2 teams or fraction thereof. Note: By rule, all Policy judges must have heard a minimum of twelve rounds on this year’s topic. Policy judges must submit a judge philosophy on the website by Fri., 2/24. Go to: http://judgephilosophies.wikispaces.com/

***LD judges must submit a judge philosophy on the website by Fri., 2/24. Go to: http://judgephilosophies.wikispaces.com/

Speech/IE/Congress: 1 judge for every 5 entries or fraction thereof (Please mark Congress willing judges in the judge notes on Speech Wire.)

All schools are required to designate 1 judge who can judge Student Congress, even if the school has no Congress Entries.

Each school’s judge quota will be determined on the speechwire.com registration website. The Board of Directors asks that all coaches make themselves available to adjudicate the Final Rounds.

Judges are obligated for one full round past the last round in which contestants from their school are still competing. Judges will be required to check out with the Cathy Brown; FFL Treasurer - if they have completed their obligation and would like to be excused.

NOTE: As a result of the 2006 voting, the governing documents now contain this under Rule 4 (Judging Responsibilities) – Letter L: Any coach in or out of the judge pool that refuses or fails to pick up an elimination round ballot, his/her school shall be fined $50.00 and the school of the person who judges the round shall be credited $25.00.

FFL uses additional fees charged to Policy Debate teams for the purpose of hiring experienced judges who will enrich the quality of the TD judge pool. Interested parties should contact FFL Vice President Dario Camara (dariocamara@gmail.com)

Coaches, judges, other observing adults, contestants, and student observers shall comply with the rules set forth in the FFL Civility Code, which is available for download at www.floridaforensics.org. Please review this document with all participants from your school.

In the fall of 2005, FFL member schools voted to establish anti-vandalism measures. All coaches should read Standing Rule 19 and share its contents with their students, which include:

1. No contestant or student observer shall enter or remain in a contest room without a judge present. The penalty for violation of this regulation shall be immediate disqualification.

2. Vandalism of property by any person at an FFL tournament shall result in immediate notification of school and/or local police authorities. The Board of Directors shall notify the principal of the school associated with the vandal(s) in writing and insist upon appropriate remuneration. In the case of vandalism by a contestant, the additional penalty of immediate disqualification from the tournament shall also apply.

This year we will be using E-Registration. FFL Varsity State Tournament will be held on Saturday, March 4, 2017 and Sunday March 5, 2017, with E-Registration taking place on Wednesday, March 1, 2017.

1. All schools who will be attending the 2017 Varsity State Tournament will receive their school codes, Gulf Breeze High School arrival information and expedited registration procedures for Saturday morning via email on Wednesday, March 1, 2017.

You may mail your fees in advance! By mailing your fees in advance you will be able to bypass the fees line at registration and pick-up your meal tickets and programs!

If you wish to mail your fees they need to be in the hands of the FFL Treasurer – Cathy Brown – No Later than Friday February 24, 2017. Cathy will then email confirmations to schools as she processes checks.

FINAL REGISTRATION: Final registration will be held at Gulf Breeze High School on Saturday, March 4, 2016. Registration will begin at 7:00 AM and close promptly at 7:45 AM.

Please note: The purpose of this registration is to make final payment (unless fees were mailed in advance) and pick-up meal tickets. It is not a place to report drops and change judge names. That information should be communicated via E-Registration. There are still penalties for drops and name changes made via E-Registration, but they are less than day of tournament changes. Registration should be conducted by the Head Coach or Assistant Coach for the member school. If those individuals are not available, an adult proxy may complete registration. However, that person must be able to answer all questions about a school’s entry. Students will not be permitted to register for a school or be present in the registration area. Schools not registered by 8:00 AM will be dropped from the tournament. Make all fees payable to FLORIDA FORENSIC LEAGUE.

STUDENTS SHOULD REPORT TO THE CAFETERIA AND JUDGES/COACHES/ PARENTS SHOULD REPORT TO THE MEDIA CENTER. REGISTRATION WILL TAKE PLACE IN THE MEDIA CENTER – COACHES ONLY!

OVERVIEW OF SCHEDULE: PLEASE SEE THE FFL MANUAL FOR INFORMATION ON HOW ROUNDS ARE PAIRED/POWERED/SECTIONED. THE TOURNAMENT WILL FOLLOW THE RULES IN THE MANUAL.

***The tournament will begin with registration on Saturday morning at 7:30 a.m. and end with Awards at 4:30 p.m. on Sunday.

***Schools leaving the tournament prior to awards on Saturday must make arrangements for another school to pick up their ballots. Ballots will not be released prior to awards, nor will they mailed.

The host school will serve a LUNCH on Saturday and DINNER on Saturday. Items will be available on Sunday, but students should bring money to purchase items ala cart. By rule, the dinner and lunch fees are included in the cost of entry. You must order extra meals for all coaches, judges, parents, observers, etc. Meal options can be found online at Speech Wire when the site is opened for registration.

Availability of Evidence: The FFL will be following the NSDA Rules in regards to evidence in debate events.

· Debaters are responsible for the validity of all evidence that they introduce in the debate.

· Evidence must be provided orally or written and must include primary author(s) and year of publication. Any other information such as qualifications etc… may be given, but not required.

· Judges are responsible for resolving disputes between debaters – both oral and written sources.

· Judge decisions may not be appealed unless – judge misapplied, misinterpreted, or ignored the rule.

Extemporaneous Speaking: students can access information on jump drives, which will be screened by a tournament official/extemp prep room proctor. Competitors will be permitted to use the internet at all FFL sanctioned tournaments when internet access is publicly available. In the event that internet access cannot be made available to all competitors, contestants shall be prohibited from the use of any electronic retrieval system (recording or information retrieval system) now known or to be invented during any round in any event at any FFL-sanctioned tournament including the Extemporaneous Speaking preparation room(s), except that electric or electronic devices that are incapable of sending or receiving information between persons may be used for the sole purpose of keeping time. The League will make accommodations for students with disabilities in regards to the use of technology. Documentation of the disability must be provided ten days prior to the Regional Tournament and State Tournaments. The documentation must be available for review by the Executive Board.

Policy Debate: Resolved: The United States federal government should substantially increase its economic and/or diplomatic engagement with the People’s Republic of China

Lincoln Douglas: Resolved: The United States ought to guarantee the right to housing

Public Forum: Resolved: The United States should no longer pressure Israel to work toward a two-state solution.

Carol Cecil
Email address: ccecil@dadeschools.net
Phone number: (954) 790-8160

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