The teams from George Mason University and James Madison University cordially invite you and your students to attend the 2026 “Virginia is for Lovers” Fall Swing, October 10-11, 2026. Both tournaments will take place in Harrisonburg, Virginia, on the campus of James Madison University. However, if the need arises, the swing may embrace a hybrid model for one or both days of competition. We will offer all 11 AFA-NST events at both halves of the swing. The following information should make your trip easier to plan:

 

TOURNAMENT SCHEDULE

We’ll use the same schedule for both days.

8:00am - 8:30am           Registration in Harrison Hall’s main lobby on Saturday

8:30am                          Extemp Draw

9:00am                          IA (Duo/Ext/Info/Per/POI/Pro)

10:15am                        IB (ADS/CA/DI/Imp/Poe)

11:30am                        Lunch Break

12:00pm                       Extemp Draw

12:30pm                       IIA

1:45pm                         IIB

3:00pm                         Extemp Draw

3:30pm                         Finals A

4:45pm                         Finals B

6:15pm                         Awards

 

ACCESSIBILITY AND DIETARY NEEDS

We plan on keeping the swing limited to three close buildings: Harrison Hall, Darcus Johnson Hall, and Roop Hall. Please reach out to Mallory (marshml@jmu.edu) no later than the entry deadline with any accessibility needs or any airborne allergies that should be considered.

 

“SPREAD THE LOVE”

We encourage teams who have limited budgets (or those which are student-run programs) to reach out so that we might find a way to make competition for all students at this swing possible.

 

ENTRY INFORMATION

1. There is no limit on team entries in any event.

2. Students may enter a maximum of three events per bracket; two duos count as two events.

3. The deadline for entries is Tuesday, October 6, at 5 pm Eastern.

4. Entry fees are $8 per event slot. Qualified judges cover six slots. Uncovered entries are an additional $15 per slot.

5. Each entry dropped after Wednesday, October 7, at 5 pm Eastern will incur an additional $10 penalty. Each entry dropped on Saturday and/or Sunday will incur an additional $20 penalty. Dropped judges after Wednesday, October 7, at 5 pm Eastern will incur an additional $50 penalty. Dropped judges on Saturday and/or Sunday will incur an additional $100 penalty.

6. Judges should submit electronic ranks/ratings ASAP following each round and must provide educational written comments for each ballot prior to the respective day’s award ceremony.

7. To register for both tournaments included in the swing, please go to www.speechwire.com, and submit your entry separately for each half of the swing. You will receive a confirmation email detailing each tournament’s entry later in the week. Please be sure to check the entries you submitted and immediately correct any errors directly on SpeechWire.

 

COMPETITION AND RECOGNITION

1.  Tournament directors will “spot check” ballots throughout the swing to ensure educational written comments are provided by judges.

2.  Both tournaments will offer 2 rounds of preliminary competition in all events and, when warranted, a final round.

3.  Any event with more than 50 entries competing in both preliminary rounds will feature a semifinal round in addition to a final round. Schedules will be adjusted accordingly.

4.  We will recognize the finalists in each event, the top individual sweeps winners, and the top schools at each tournament.

5.  The top overall speaker for both halves and the top overall team for both halves will be recognized on Sunday.

6.  We will use AFA-NST style rules and tabulation.

 

We hope you will join us for what will surely be a fun and competitive event!

 

 

Mallory Marsh                                                                                                   Dawn Lowry

Tournament Director                                                                                         Tournament Director

James Madison University                                                                                George Mason University

marshml@jmu.edu                                                                                            dlowry4@gmu.edu

 

Jake Cruz                                                                                                         Abigail Lizotte and Camilas Canelas Soto

Student Tournament Director                                                                           Student Tournament Directors

James Madison University                                                                               George Mason University

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