We Didn't Start the Fire

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General information

This is a High School tournament in Colorado.

View manager contact information

Welcome to the third annual Overland High School 'We Didn't Start the Fire' Speech & Debate Tournament!

Events: We are offering three rounds and finals in the following events: Varsity Policy, Congress, Dramatic Interpretation, DUO Interpretation, Humorous Interpretation, Informative Speaking, Impromptu Speaking, Improvisational Pairs, International Extemp, LD, Original Oratory, Poetry Reading, POI, PF, US Extemp, and Original Spoken Word.

Rules:

· Each school (administration, teachers, and/or coaches) is responsible for ensuring they have proper parental permission for students to participate and to use the designated competition platforms.

· A responsible coach must be available ON-SITE and VIA CELL at all times.

· Competition is open to 9-12 grade students representing the school in which they are officially enrolled and doing so with the permission of their school administration and/or coaches.

· We will use CHSAA rules in all events, except Congressional Debate and Original Spoken Word. We will use NSDA rules in these events.

       - To review CHSAA rules, go to https://chsaanow.com/documents/2023/12/11//2023_24_Speech_Debate_Tournament_Handbook_N5_.pdf?id=2056

        - To review NSDA Congressional Debate rules, go to https://www.speechanddebate.org/wp-content/uploads/IntrotoPFandCongress_Bookblock.pdf

· We will use the NSDA cross-examination format in the final rounds of National and International Extemporaneous Speaking.

· All competitors and judges must have a Speechwire account to log in.

- Ben at Speechwire has provided video resources to explain the creation of student accounts, judging online, viewing ballots, and competing online. Please check them out. https://www.speechwire.com/p-video-resources.php

Doubling Rules:

• CX, PF, and LD Debaters may not double-enter.
• Congressional Debate students may not double-enter.
• Students in events may double-enter in two events. Students are responsible for making it to their rounds. Students must pay attention to the schedule because we may not be using a full wave system- some events will occur in the same time period.
• Students can only enter one Extemp event.
• Extempers who double-enter risk losing part of their prep time.

JV/Varsity CX Rules:

·      Varsity CX Debate is open to all debate teams.

·      JV CX Debate is limited to freshman and sophomore debaters or students in their first year of competition.

·      In JV CX Debate, no kritiks or counterplans are allowed.

·      In JV CX Debate, we will employ the NFHS Novice case limits, meaning that all teams should limit themselves to these case areas:

o   Exploration:

§  Early Warning Awareness: The U.S. should deploy sensors, drones, submarines, and/or satellites to improve early warning systems and monitor geopolitical threats in the Arctic.

§  Research Cooperation: The U.S. should restore scientific cooperation programs with Russia and/or China in the Arctic.

o   Development:

§  Renewable Energy Infrastructure: The U.S. should develop wind, solar, and geothermal energy projects in the Arctic to provide sustainable power for Arctic communities.

§  Oil and Gas Drilling: The U.S. should significantly increase offshore oil and natural gas drilling in the Arctic

 UPDATE 2/11: BECAUSE OF LOW PARTICIPATION, THE JV DIVISION OF POLICY DEBATE HAS BEEN REMOVED FROM OUR TOURNAMENT. ALL POLICY DEBATE TEAMS WILL NOW COMPETE IN THE VARSITY DIVISION.

Debate Resolutions: We will use the 2025-26 NSDA CX topic (the Arctic), the January/February NSDA LD topic (nuclear weapons), and the February NSDA PF topic (sports betting).

Extemp/Impromptu/Improvisational Pairs Topics:

USX

Round 1: Technology

Round 2: Education

Round 3: Economy

FINALS: First Amendment Rights

We will use the NSDA cross-examination format in the final rounds of National and International Extemporaneous Speaking.

Round 2: East Asia

Round 3: Central America

FINALS: International Protests

Round 2: In Honor of National Heart Month: Quotes about the heart

Round 3: Fortune Cookie Quotes (served on actual fortune cookies!)

FINALS: In Honor of Black History Month: Quotes from Civil Rights Activists and Abolitionists

Round 2: Celebrations at the Wrong Venue (e.g., a sweet 16 at a retirement home)

Round 3: Trapped in a Store Overnight (e.g., trapped in a Home Depot overnight)

FINALS: Unlikely Fictional Character Duos (e.g., Mickey Mouse from Disney and Optimus Prime from Transformers)

Entries: A maximum of four (4) entries will be allowed in each event, except Congress, which will be limited to ten (10) entries per school. Additional entries may be placed on the waitlist, and we will accommodate those entries if space is available.

Registration: All registration will occur at www.speechwire.com. Registration will close on Wednesday, February 18. Registrations are handled on a first-come, first-served basis.

Fees and Payment: The entry fee will be $8.00 per student for events and $6.00 per student for Congress, based on the pre-registration numbers as of Tuesday, February 17. Changes in pre-registration will be reflected in the final entry fees if made via the website by February 17. After that time, net increases in entries will result in increases in final entry fees, while net decreases in entries will not reduce your final entry fees. Dropping entries after February 18 will also result in a drop fee.

·      Please make checks payable to OHS Speech and Debate Team. Please mail payment to Cayley Olsen, 12400 E Jewell Ave, Aurora, CO 80012

Mission, Vision, Inclusion, Harassment, and Discrimination:

Registration and Schedule:  Check-in will be held from 7:00 am-7:30 am. All schools must check in by 7:30 am. Rounds will begin promptly at 8:00 am. Awards are scheduled for 7:00 pm.

Awards: We will be awarding trophies or medals to all finalists.

Congressional Debate: The docket will be posted at www.speechwire.com. The docket was finalized and released as of 7:00 p.m. on February 11. We apologize for the delay.

Judging:  Each school is responsible for providing judges to cover their entries. Judges must be available for the three preliminary rounds and the final round. One judge must be provided for every two debaters. One judge must be provided for every 6 events entries. Judges must be entered in Speechwire by Thursday, February 19. Judges are responsible for checking for ballots at the appropriate times. Judge fees will be imposed for missing judges and for judges who miss ballots.

Site:  The tournament is being held at Overland High School: 12400 E Jewell Ave, Aurora, CO 80012

Questions and Concerns: Please feel free to contact Emily Barrette at Overland High School, 720-345-8885 (cell), ebarrette@cherrycreekschools.org

Important tournament rooms

Improvisational Pairs Prep - 201A
Student Gathering Area - Cafeteria
Judges Lounge - Flex Space
Extemp Prep - Library
Tab Room - Post-Grad

Manager contact information

Emily Barrette
Email address: ebarrette@cherrycreekschools.org
Phone number: 7203458885

Mailing address

12400 E Jewell Ave
Aurora, CO 80012