Forensic Friends,

The Pellissippi Forensics program would like to cordially invite you to attend its 8th annual Tennessee Valley Invitational Forensics tournament held on Pellissippi’s Hardin Valley campus in Knoxville, Tennessee on Friday, March 6 and Saturday, March 7, 2026.

On Friday, we will feature the International Public Debate Association (IPDA) and NPDA Debate with four preliminary rounds and appropriate out rounds. On Saturday, we will feature the 11 American Forensics Association (AFA) individual speaking events.

Lunch and snacks will be provided for all competitors, coaches, and judges free of charge on both days of the competition. A preparation room may or may be available for schools. Guest Wi-Fi is available once you arrive on campus.

Thanks to Dr. Barnes (UTK) and Dr. Richey (MTSU) for running the tab room. The staff will be using SpeechWire.
-All judging ballots will be electronic.
-All IPDA debaters and judges and IE speech judges will need an active SpeechWire account and an electronic device to submit their ballots.

- It is recommended that coaches add the email address for each judge and competitor from their SpeechWire account before the student and competitor creates an account.

If we can help by answering any questions or if we can do anything to accommodate your visit, please do not hesitate to ask us. We have included pertinent information in this invitation, so please read carefully. We hope you enjoy your time with us.

Respectfully,
Dr. Brian Long, Instructor of Communication Studies (Coach)

Hallie Workman, Instructor of Communication Studies (Coach) Dr. Shaq Marsh, Director of PSCC Forensics (somarsh@pstcc.edu)

Tournament Information

Registration and Tournament Information and Deadlines

All entries should be emailed to tournament director, Dr. Shaq Marsh, at somarsh@pstcc.edu by Monday, March 2, 2026. Entries may be altered until 5 pm (EST) on Tuesday, March 3, 2026. Alterations should be emailed to somarsh@pstcc.edu. After this deadline, all add and drop fees will be enforced. The tab room staff needs time to put everything in place before the tournament starts.

1. Entry Fees/Judge/Drops Information

   $40.00 per IPDA debater with requisite judges (one judge covers four debaters) $10 per individual speech event entry (1 judge covers six entries)

   Uncovered IPDA Debate Entries- $30 (plus entry fee) Uncovered Individual Event Entries- $20 (plus entry fee)

   Debate competitors drops between Wednesday 03/04-Thursday 03/05- $60 (plus entry fee per team) Debate competitors drops on Friday 03/06- $80 (plus entry fee per team)
   Dropped Debate Judges between Wednesday 03/04- Thursday 03/05-$60 (plus uncovered fee per entry to be covered)

   Dropped Debate Judges on Friday 03/06- $80 (plus uncovered fee per entry to be covered)

   IE Drops between Wednesday 03/04-Friday 03/06- $15 (plus entry fee)
   IE Drops on Saturday 03/07 $30 (plus entry fee)
   Dropped IE Judges between Wednesday 03/04-Friday 03/06 $20 (plus uncovered fee per entry to be covered)
   Dropped IE Judges on Saturday 03/07 $30 (plus uncovered fee per entry to be covered)

   All fees must be paid before or on upon your arrival at the competition unless approved by Dr. Shaq Marsh in writing via Pellissippi email (somarsh@pstcc.edu).

   If a school does not pay upon arrival at the competition, Dr. Shaq will drop the school from the competition, the team will be asked to leave the school, and Dr. Shaq will send the school an invoice for the fines for the late drops. It is expected that all schools pay upon arrival.

2. To pay for your tournament fees, please write a check using the information below. Pellissippi State Forensics Team
   10915 Hardin Valley Road
   Knoxville, Tennessee 37933-0990

   Pellissippi State is a cashless institution. We prefer checks.
   If you need to pay in cash, please email Dr. Shaq Marsh at somarsh@pstcc.edu.

3. We will be using International Parliamentary Debate Association rules. Violation of rules could result in removal from the tournament by the tournament director.

4. We will be using the American Forensics Association rules. Violation of rules could result in removal from the tournament by the tournament director.

5. AI Statement- This tournament prohibits the use of Artificial Intelligence for individual speech events. We ask that you disclose if you are using Artificial Intelligence to your competitors and judges for debate rounds.

6. There may be tournament observers at the competition. All tournament observers will engage in appropriate audience etiquette. Any complaints from anyone at the tournament about a tournament observer, coach, and/or debater could be subject to removal with assistance from the Pellissippi Police department. All concerns should be reported to Dr. Shaq Marsh immediately.

7. If anyone objects debaters or IE competitors object to an audience, it will become a closed round. A round may also limit the number of people in the audience if determined requested and determined reasonable by the tournament director.

8. No one is allowed to video or sound record a round without the explicit consent of everyone in the room. If one person objects, it will not be recorded. Any recording that involves a minor must have the written consent of a legal guardian. This will be enforced.

9. The tab room is closed to coaches, judges, and competitors. This will be enforced. Removal from the tournament is possible for individuals who enter the tab room with explicit verbal consent from the tournament director.

10. Please bring judges. All schools will be required to judge one round past their highest finisher. Competitors who do not advance in IPDA may be used as judges in the out-rounds.

Awards Information

IPDA-Top five speakers in each division (Novice and Varsity) Quarterfinalists, Semifinalists, Runner-Up, and Champion

NPDA- Top five speakers in each division (Novice and Varsity) Semifinalists, Runner-Up, and Champion

Individual Speech Events- Pentathlon awards for top five speakers in at least 5 events Top five speakers in each event

Top novice speaker in each event
-Sweeps Awards- Top three 4 year and 2-year schools in IPDA and IE

Top 2 Overall Community College Award

Overall Grand Champion (IE IPDA)
To earn the last two awards, your team must be entered in IPDA and IE.

Sweepstakes will follow the season-long sweepstakes formula for IPDA:

All wins and byes will be awarded 1 point. Each person breaking to out-round will receive 1 point. Out-round victories will receive 2 points.

Novice and Varsity will count toward the tournament sweepstakes. There is no limit on entries, but only the top three competitors in each division will count toward the sweepstakes.

IEs
6th place- 2 points
5th place – 4 points
4th place – 6 points
3rd place – 8 points
2nd place – 10 points 1st place – 12 points Individual Events will follow AFA-NST

guidelines. To keep a timely schedule, competitors can enter up to four events per flight of competition. A student is allowed to enter two separate duo’s as long as the person has two different pieces of literature with two separate duo partners.

Tennessee Valley Invitational Flights and Event Rules

Flight A Events

Extemporaneous Speaking, Persuasive Speaking, Poetry Interpretation, Prose Interpretation, Programmed Oral Interpretation, After Dinner Speaking

Flight B Events

Impromptu Speaking, Informative Speaking, Communication Analysis, Dramatic Interpretation, Duo Interpretation