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PBMST #4 - 2026
General information
This is a Middle School tournament in Florida. View manager contact information
Palm Beach Middle School Speech and Debate League Tournament #4
(PBMST #4) 2026 Invitation
COACHES - PLEASE READ THE ENTIRE INVITATION CAREFULLY!
Date: Wednesday, December 9, 2026
Location: West Boca High School
12811 Glades Rd,
Boca Raton, FL 33498
Time: 3:30 PM - 7:30 PM
Deadlines:
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Wednesday, Dec. 2, 5:00 P.M. is the deadline for entering students.
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Friday, Dec. 4, 5:00 P.M. is the deadline for entering judges and meals.
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**You are REQUIRED to buy meals for all judges and coaches; the meal is included in the entry fee for students.**
Only the Head Coach of a PBMSS&DL member school should contact PBMSS&DL officers. Students, Parents, and Judges must bring any questions or concerns to the Head Coach.
Tournament Guidelines:
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This tournament is open to all students from PBMSS&DL member schools.
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The following events will be offered: Congressional Debate (separate Novice and Varsity divisions), Declamation, Dramatic Performance, Duo Interpretation, Extemporaneous Speaking, Impromptu Speaking (separate Novice and Varsity divisions), Lincoln-Douglas Debate, Poetry, Informative Speaking, Original Oratory, Public Forum Debate, and Storytelling.
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There is an option to enter students as “observers.” Again, this is for STUDENTS-ONLY!
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The top six students in each event/division will receive awards
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Speech students may double enter.
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In Novice Congressional Debate, a high school Presiding Officer will be provided at PBMST #4.
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The docket is set in Novice Congress chambers; the order of the docket must be voted on in the Varsity Congress chambers.
*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:
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The entry fee shall be $15 per student. A student who is double-entered (when applicable) pays only one fee. This fee covers administrative and food costs for the tournament.
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The entry fee is $7 for observers. This entry fee covers the cost of dinner.
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Schools are REQUIRED to buy meals for all judges and coaches at $7 per person.
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Students dropped after Wed., Dec. 2 at 5:00 P.M. will forfeit their $15 entry fee.
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Students dropped after Fri, Dec. 4, 5:00 will incur a $15 drop fee, in addition to forfeiting the cost of entry ($30 total).
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Students dropped on the day of the tournament will incur an additional $15.00 fee ($45).
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Any student adds or changes to a student’s event entry made after the registration deadline will incur a $30 nuisance fee, if the change can be accommodated. This includes adding a new student or shifting a student from one event to another. Changes are not guaranteed after the deadline.
Meals:
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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.
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The meal will include pizza (cheese or pepperoni), chips, and water.
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*You must enter your meals on SpeechWire under “Update your Meal Order” by Friday, Dec. 4, 5:00 P.M.
Limited Prep Events:
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Students who are double-entered in Impromptu and Extemporaneous Speaking should report to Impromptu first and notify the judge that they are double-entered. They should be permitted to speak early in the round and then report directly to the Extemp Prep Room.
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Notecards are not allowed in Impromptu or Extemp. If notecards are used by a student, judges must rank the student last and give that student a speaker point of 90.
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No object may be used as a prop in Limited-Prep Events.
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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 Monday, December 7.
Judge Information:
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Schools are required to provide a specific number of TRAINED judges based on their entries (judge quotas are listed below).
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Judges MUST provide a cell phone contact number on SpeechWire.
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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)).
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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 use e-ballots on SpeechWire.
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Judges MUST bring a CHARGED laptop or tablet! No judging on a cell phone.
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Included in the "Files for Download" section are guidelines for judging each event.
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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.
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Judges will not be added after the judge deadline has passed.
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Any high school sophomore, junior, or senior with 150 NSDA points is allowed to judge.
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Judge no-shows that result in a ballot reassignment will incur a $50 penalty. Additional penalties may apply for undisclosed (“hidden”) judge drops.
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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, please email or text the League President 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
*In SpeechWire, judges in Public Forum and Lincoln-Douglas will be labeled as “Debate” judges and may be used in either event; thus, they are required to be trained in both events.*
Topics:
Lincoln-Douglas Debate will use the Nov/Dec Topic: "Resolved: De-extinction is unethical.”
Public Forum Debate will use the Nov/Dec Topic: "Resolved: European members of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization should ratify the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons.”
Impromptu Topics:
Round 1: British Kings & Queens
Round 2: Beverages/Drinks
Extemporaneous Speaking Topic Areas:
Round 1: Domestic Social and Economic Issues
Round 2: Europe
Congressional Debate legislation is posted under “Files for Download.”
Manager contact information Emily Stegawski
Email address: pbms.speechdebate@gmail.com
Phone number: Please Email Mailing address 1540 S W 8TH STREET
Boynton Beach, FL 33426
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