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PBMST #5

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General information

This is a Middle School tournament in Florida.

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Palm Beach Middle School Speech and Debate League Tournament #5 (PBMST #5) Invitation

COACHES - PLEASE READ THE ENTIRE INVITATION CAREFULLY!

Date: Wednesday, January 21, 2026

 

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 P.M. - 7:30 P.M.

 

Deadlines:

  • Wednesday, Jan. 14, 5:00 P.M. is the deadline for entering students.
  • Friday, Jan. 16, 5:00 P.M. 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:

  • No varsity member(s) may compete in a novice event. Novice students are defined as a student in his/her first year of debate. Varsity students are defined as having participated in at least one tournament in the past year. Violation of this bylaw shall be punishable by disqualification from the tournament and re-ranking of all affected competitors. If the problem is discovered after the results are announced the results will be recalculated, and any trophy or ribbon awarded to the violator must be returned to the PBMSS&DL for proper distribution.
  • This tournament is open to all students from PBMSS&DL 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
  • No photography or videography of any kind can be used during rounds.
  • Speech students may double enter. (There cannot be double-entered students in PF, LD, or Congress!

*Due to the limitations of a 2-hour competition, we are limiting extemp entries to 2 per school. Based on the number of total entries, we may be able to admit waitlisted students AFTER the registration deadline.

 

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.
  • Judges dropped on the day of the tournament for any reason will incur a $30 fee.
  • Students dropped after Wed, Jan. 14, will forfeit the drop of the entry fee.
  • Students dropped after Fri, Jan. 16, 5:00 will incur a $15 drop fee, in addition to forfeiting the cost of entry ($30 total).
  • Students added or dropped the day of the tournament, Wednesday, Jan. 21, will incur an additional $30 fee, in addition to the cost of entry ($45 total).
  • While we will attempt to add students after the deadline passes, we cannot guarantee it. If we are able, there will be a nuisance fee of $30.

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, Jan. 16, 5:00 P.M..

 

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)).
  • Included in the "Files for Download" section is the Judge Cheat Sheet, and guidelines for judging impromptu.
  • Remind your judges that double-entered students are allowed to leave their competition room early to go to their other event.
  • Only judges with an e-ballot are permitted to be in the competition rooms. Adults without e-ballots should stay in their designated waiting area.  
  • Judges who are not in the judge lounge by Round 1 Schematics will be dropped from the tournament, and potential fees will incur.
  • Judges will not be added after the judge deadline has passed.
  • 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!
  • Any high school sophomore, junior, or senior with 150 NSDA points is allowed 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.

**If there are any student or judge entry changes after the deadline, coaches should email Emily Stegawski ASAP**

 

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 a fraction thereof

 

Topics:

Lincoln Douglas Debate will use the Jan/Feb Topic: "Resolved: The possession of nuclear weapons is immoral."

 

Public Forum Debate will use the January Topic: "Resolved: The People’s Republic of China should substantially reduce its international extraction of natural resources."

 

Impromptu Topics:

Round 1: MLK, Jr. Quotes

Round 2: Australian Animals

 

Extemporaneous Speaking Topic Areas:

Round 1: Global Security

Round 2: U.S. Immigration & Border Policies

 

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

 

Extemp Students should be in the prep room for Round 1 by 4:15 at the latest!! The Prep Room will be noted on Speechwire by January 19.

Manager contact information

Emily Stegawski
Email address: emily.stegawski@ahschool.com
Phone number: Please Email

Mailing address

1540 S W 8TH STREET
Boynton Beach, FL 33426

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