Palm Beach Middle School Forensic League Tournament #4 (PBMSFL #4) Invitation

 

COACHES - PLEASE READ THE ENTIRE INVITATION CAREFULLY!

 

Date: Wednesday, December 13th, 2023

 

Location: American Heritage

 

 

Time: 3:55 PM - 7:30 PM

*PLEASE DO NOT ARRIVE BEFORE 3:55 DUE TO BUS AND PARENT TRAFFIC*

 

Deadlines:

Wednesday, Dec 6th, 5:00 PM is the deadline for entering students.

 

Friday, Dec 8th, 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, Oral Interpretation, 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 seperately.
• 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, Dec. 6th, 5:00 will incur a $15 drop fee, in addition to forfeiting the cost of entry ($30 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, Dec. 8th, 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 Nov/Dec Topic: "Resolved: The United States ought to prohibit the extraction of fossil fuels from federal public lands and waters.

 

Public Forum Debate will use the Nov/Dec: "The United States federal government should forgive all federal student loan debt."

 

Impromptu Topics:

1) National Dishes

2) Percy Jackson Quotes

 

Extemporaneous Speaking Topic Areas:

1) International Relations (South Asia)

2) US Supreme Court

 

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

 

Round 1 of Oral Interpretation will be PROSE. Round 2 of Oral Interpretation will be POETRY.

(vr)