Wakefield Flying L

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General information

This is a High School tournament in Florida.

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29th Wakefield Flying L Invitational

Speech & Debate Tournament

Saturday, September 26th, 2026

Fort Lauderdale High School Speech and Debate Team cordially invites you to the 2026 Wakefield Flying L Invitational tournament, honoring the memory of our former coach, Jim Wakefield.

Mr. Wakefield touched thousands of lives during his decades-long tenure at FLHS, and left an impact on the South Florida speech and debate community that is impossible to understate.

This year, we are excited to add After Dinner Speaking to our tournament. Please see the “Events” section below for details.

The 1996 edition of the Flying L Invitational

Please read the invitation carefully and adhere to all deadlines. Space is limited so enter as soon as possible. Last Flying L, the tournament had wait-lists that could not be cleared.  Please be as accurate as possible as soon as possible.  We look forward to seeing you soon!

Important Dates:

Congress legislation deadline - Friday 9/4/26 @ 11:00pm

(See Congressional Debate section below for information on how to submit)

Deadline for Registration (Entries and Judges) - Friday 9/18/26 @ 11:00pm

Drop Deadline - Tuesday 9/22/26 @ 11:00pm

Please see Fees section below for information on late drop penalties and fees.

Events

Debate

 Please note: Middle school events with low registration may be collapsed with high school novice events, if necessary.

Lincoln Douglas Debate  (Varsity)

**Sept-Oct Topic**

Resolved: Outer space colonization is a moral imperative. 

Lincoln Douglas Debate (Novice and Middle School)

**Sept-Oct Topic**

Resolved: In the United States, national service ought to be mandatory.

Public Forum (Novice and Varsity) 

**Sept/Oct. Topic**   

Resolved: The United States federal government should enact a moratorium on hyperscale data center construction. 

Public Forum (Middle School)

**Sept/Oct. Topic**   

Resolved: The United States federal government should enact a moratorium on hyperscale data center construction. 

Congressional Debate

All congress divisions (Novice, Varsity, and Middle School) will feature three rounds. The top 6 in each chamber will be recognized. The bills will be provided on Speechwire in the “files for download” section soon after the legislation submission deadline. It is encouraged that the students attempt to debate at least 3 bills per session and attempt to fill the 2 hour block allocated for each round. The docket will be set by students at the tournament.

IMPORTANT NOTE FOR MS/NOVICE CONGRESS:

After considering feedback from coaches and students, we have decided to assign the bills for each of the three rounds. Students are still encouraged to nominate agendas with different orders of the five corresponding pieces of legislation for a chamber vote at the start of each round.

We aim to reduce overwhelm for novice students and ensure that every student gets a chance to share a speech, while at the same time maintaining student agency in-round by giving them control over the order. 

This order only applies to the MIDDLE SCHOOL AND NOVICE DIVISIONS. Varsity Congress competitors are free to select any of the bills in any round. 

Submitting legislation:

Any schools interested in submitting legislation should email debate.flhs@gmail.com with the subject line “Flying L Legislation” by Friday 9/4/26. The legislation packet will be released shortly thereafter.
 

Worlds Schools Debate

The WSD competition will feature two rounds with prepared motions, and two rounds with impromptu motions.

Prepared Motion 1 - This House believes constitutional courts hold too much power in modern democracies.

Prepared Motion 2 - This House, as a developing country, would prioritize protectionist economic policies over free trade.

Speech

Please note - Middle school events with low registration may be collapsed with high school novice events, if necessary.

 All events will be 5 random rounds. NSDA rules for all except Mixed Extemp CFL guidelines. 

a.      Dramatic Interpretation (High School/Middle School)

b.      Humorous Interpretation (High School/Middle School)

c.      Program Oral Interpretation  (High School)

d.      Mixed Extemporaneous Speaking [CFL rules] (High School/Middle School)  

EXTEMP DRAW LOCATED IN ROOM 506

Topics:

Round 1 (US): TBD  

Round 2 (INT): TBD 

Round 3 (US): TBD 

Round 4 (INT): TBD 

Round 5 (US): TBD 

e.      Informative Speaking (High School/Middle School)  

f.      Duo Interpretation (High School/Middle School)  

g.     Original Oratory (High School/Middle School)  

h.      Impromptu (High School/Middle School)  

Topics:

Round 1: TBD 

Round 2: TBD 

Round 3: TBD 

Round 4: TBD 

Round 5: TBD 

i.      Declamation (Middle School)

j.      Storytelling (Middle School)

k.     Poetry and Prose (Middle School)  

l.      After Dinner Speaking (High School)

Judging and General Event Information

Limits: 

6 entries per event; all others will be wait-listed!  Any event that does not reach a 12-person (or 12-team) field by the registration deadline may be eliminated or combined.

Double Entries:  Doubling is permitted in any two speech events.  No doubling in a debate event.

Judge Requirements:

a.      1 judge per LD/PF/WSD

b.      1 judge per 5 IE/Congress

c.      LIMITED number of judges for hire at $150.00. Let us know early!

WE WILL USE ELECTRONIC BALLOTS ON SPEECHWIRE.  PLEASE HAVE ALL JUDGES BRING A LAPTOP OR ELECTRONIC DEVICE. THEY NEED TO BE APPROPRIATELY TRAINED ON ELECTRONIC BALLOTS AND REGISTERED ON SPEECHWIRE. 

Please have all judges trained prior to the tournament.  The NSDA judge training videos are a great place to send inexperienced judges.

Unless previously stated, all standard NSDA rules will be used for this tournament

Additional Tournament Info:

Lunch:

In past years we have provided a box lunch consisting of  Turkey, Ham, Italian, or Veggie subs, chips, cookies, and lemonade/sweet tea. However, we are currently evaluating new vendor options. We expect to offer a similar selection as last year, but that may yet change. Please check back here for further updates. 

If there are any important dietary restrictions for a student or judge, please email Mr. Kulawik directly at arthur.kulawik@browardschools.com.

Fees:

$30.00 per person per event. (meaning $60.00 per entry per team event.) This includes lunch! Entries close on Friday 9/18/26 @ 11:00pm. Under-registered events will be announced that same day. Wait-listed students will be notified of their status as soon as possible.

Drops will forfeit entry fee and judge meal fees beginning Sept 19th.

After the drop deadline on 9/18, late drops will be assessed a $30 fee in addition to forfeiting the associated entry fee.

Day of tournament drops will be assessed a $90 fee in addition to forfeiting the associated entry fee.

Please make school checks payable to Fort Lauderdale H.S. Speech and Debate.  Please limit personal checks.

Schedule:

Registration will begin at 7:00am and end promptly at 8:00am.   All judges should report to the registration area. Students may congregate in the cafeteria courtyard or cafeteria itself.   Extemp draw will take place in room 506.  Postings will be in the cafeteria area.   

Directions:  

Interstate 95 to Sunrise Blvd.  Go East on Sunrise to NE 4th Ave (Flying L Drive).  Go North to 16th St.  The school is on the right. Parking will be in the lots closest to the school.  

Host contact information

Arthur Kulawik, Coach

Email address: arthur.kulawik@browardschools.com 

Cell phone number: (954) 682-2443 (feel free to text)

Classroom phone (7:20am-3:00pm) : (754) 322-1119     

Mailing and GPS address:

1600 NE 4th Ave

Ft Lauderdale, FL 33305

Manager contact information

Arthur Kulawik
Email address: arthur.kulawik@browardschools.com
Phone number: 9546822443

Mailing address

1600 NE 4th Ave
Ft Lauderdale, FL 33305