Dear Coach,

 

We would like to invite you to Westminster’s Novice and Junior Varsity Policy Tournament on Saturday, September 5^th.  In addition to the tournament, we will host a training session for new debaters and coaches (although we will focus some on policy debate, it is a useful session for all new debate coaches).

 

Tournament:  

Policy debate only.  A novice debater is defined as one who is debating his/her first national high school resolution at high school tournaments. A J.V. debater is debating his/her second national high school resolution. Junior high experience does not impact high school eligibility. 

  

Training session:

The training workshop is for squads who are very new to debate and are not prepared for tournament competition. Established squads ought to enter first year debaters into the novice tournament division. Please come to registration to pay fees and get directions to the meetings.  We will run on the same schedule as the tournament. Please have each student bring a copy of the novice evidence packet, a legal pad, empty file folders or accordion files, a tub or file box and a timer.  The novice packet will be posted at thegfca.org/novice/  New coaches will meet to discuss debate logistics and will be given an introductory set of materials that is designed to get new programs ready for tournament competition. Coaches should also bring a copy of the evidence packet. 

  

Judges:

We will only have a few judges for hire. You must e-mail Jenny about hired judge needs by September 1^st. jennyh@westminster.net  You will not be able to hire judges at registration.  If you show up with teams and no judges, they probably will not be able to compete.  You may use varsity level debaters as judges (12^th grade preferred, 11^th grade if they are mature and experienced, no 10^th graders allowed) but they need to aware that all criticism must be constructive.

 

Rules:

Both divisions will use the 8-3-5 format with 10 minutes of preparation time.  The first round will begin promptly at 9:00am.  Late arrivals will forfeit the first round, but will be allowed to register late and begin debating round two. We need your assistance in keeping the tournament on time. Once pairings are given out, you will have fifteen minutes to begin the round or forfeit that round. 

 

Entry information:

No changes will be allowed after noon on Friday, September 4^th.  Full fees will be charged for any drops after that time.Schools will be limited to 7 entries in each division (except the training session). 

We look forward to seeing you soon!  Jenny Heidt & Eric Brannen