January 1st, 2010
Dear Director of Debate:
We invite your top second year and novice competitors to attend the 2010 Second Year and Novice National Championships hosted by Woodward Academy on March 26-28. We are determined to continue our dedication to providing the highest quality of judging and an enjoyable atmosphere for everyone. Given the nature of this tournament, we take great pride in aspiring for this event to be a competitive as well as teaching tournament.
Here are some important notes and changes for this year’s event:
- The LD topic will be the January/February topic-- Resolved: Economic sanctions ought not be used to achieve foreign policy objectives.
We choose the January/February topic from the many coach suggestions that this makes it easier for younger students to compete given the lack of opportunities for first and second year LD tournaments in March/April.
- There will be two divisions of LD. For now, coaches may register LD entries in one division. The tabulation director for LD will contact coaches closer to th e tournament to determine which entries belong in the novice division and which entries belong in the second-year division
- Six rounds of preliminary debates in all Divisions of Second Year and Novice Policy and Lincoln Douglas.
-Team limits of four teams/competitors within each Division. We will establish a wait list if and when 72 teams are entered in a division. Schools can have more then four entries if we are fewer than 72 teams/competitors.
-The Novice Policy Division will not have argument restrictions. Given the national draw of this end of the year event, we do not require novices to observe the Georgia Forensics Coaches Association argument restrictions for Novice Divisions.
We offer 3 divisions of competition: Second Year Policy Debate, Novice Policy Debate and Second Year/Novice Lincoln-Douglas Debate. Each school may enterup to four teams/competitors in each division. We are committed to limiting each division to a maximum of 72 teams to maintain the integrity of the Octafinals. Specific eligibility criteria are included so please read them carefully before entering teams. Both policy divisions will use an 8-3-5, switch side format (there will be NO 4-PERSON DIVISION) and debate the 2009-10 resolution (Social Services). The Lincoln-Douglas divisions will use the January-February NFL topic.
We hope everyone who applies to the tournament will be able to participate. But, we are serious about 72 team limits in both policy divisions. Please apply early to guarantee your teams every opportunity to attend.
If you need additional information, please email me at rlevkov@gmail.com The entire Woodward Academy debate team looks forward to hosting you this spring.
Roy Levkovitz, Paula Nettles, Whit Whitmore
