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Georgia Northern Mountain 2012 NFL District Tournament
LOCATION: Central Gwinnett High School, Lawrenceville, GA PHONE: 404-242-2297 (Mario’s cell)
It is a pleasure to invite you to the 2012 Georgia Northern Mountain District Tournament. As we ready for our District Qualifier, it is important that everyone be familiar with NFL rules, as they are quite different from rules at Georgia tournaments. Qualifiers from this tournament, once the audit is completed at the National Office in Ripon, Wisconsin, go on to represent the District at the National Speech and Debate Tournament. This year's tournament is June 10-15, 2012, in Dallas, TX. ALL qualifying events, EXCLUDING Student Congress will be held at this District tournament. ALL non-Congress events will compete on both Friday and Saturday. This is a different from traditional Georgia tournaments, so please plan accordingly. I have listed some of the major differences and necessities of the tournament below. Some are repeated on the "Rules/Restrictions" page of the website just to make sure you receive the information. What are the events being offered at the tournament? The NFL District Tournament will offer Policy Debate, Public Forum Debate, Lincoln-Douglas Debate, International Extemporaneous Speaking, United States Extemporaneous Speaking, Original Oratory, Dramatic Interpretation, Humorous Interpretation, and Duo Interpretation. Note that there are TWO divisions of Extemporaneous Speaking! How many students qualify in each event from our District? The total number of qualifiers in each event is based upon the total number of entries that actually compete at the tournament. Here is a run-down of those entry numbers: Original Oratory- to qualify two orators to Nationals, we need at least 12 entries total.
How many students from each school may attend the tournament? The total number of entries for each school is determined by the total number of Members and Degrees the school has earned in the current school year. You can see how many entries your school qualifies to send to the District Tournament by going to www.nflonline.org, then clicking on the “Click Here to Enter Points” tab at the top of the page, then choosing “membership reports” located on the menu to the left, then choosing “District” in the information box, then choosing “Georgia Northern Mountain” district located on the drop-down menu. If you would like some assistance with this, don’t hesitate to contact any of the District Committee. Only students who are members of the National Forensic League may compete in the tournament. ALL points must be on record no later than February 17, 2012 to count toward the District Tournament. Also, if a student enters more than one event (including Student Congress) they MUST sign a single-entry letter of intent choosing what event they will enter at the National Tournament should they qualify in more than one event. If in a team event, the student must go in the team event unless both members of the team have qualified in another event AND they have signed the Letter of Intent prior to the tournament. Students may NOT be in more than one team event UNLESS both students are in both teams. Are there major differences from a traditional Georgia tournament? - Students may double-enter, EXCEPT: Students may not enter both divisions of Extemp and they may not enter more than one flavor of debate. Under no circumstance may a student enter more than two events (excluding Student Congress). - The tournament utilizes an “Up-Down” system. In debate, this means that that after two losses, the debater/team is out of the tournament. The tournament continues until the top two debaters (assuming entry requirements and rules are followed) are left standing. There is NO way to know exactly how many rounds will be required, but I can tell you that it is exciting to see how all debaters progress! As far as individual events, the use the “Up-Down” system is also utilized. In these events, students must place in the top half of their competition rooms to receive an “Up.” If they place in the bottom half of the room, they receive a “Down.” In a room of 5 competitors, the top 3 competitors receive an “Up.” In a room of 7, four contestants are only marked up IF there is a tie of some type. Exact rules can be found in the District Tournament Manual. The number of rounds is determined by the math: we are in the final rounds of individual events when there are six competitors in the round. - After the first two randomly-paired rounds of all forms of debate, the tournament is power-matched by win-loss record ONLY. Schools may not meet debaters from their own school unless it is unavoidable. - One judge is utilized in all events until there are 8 debate teams/competitors or less, or there are 12 or fewer in the individual events/duo. - There are MANY materials that must be turned in to the Committee before entry is allowed: Original Orators must submit their speeches with all quoted and paraphrased words clearly noted. Speeches may NOT have more than 150 quoted or extensively paraphrased words. - Interpers MUST turn in a copy of their cutting with all lines of transition clearly marked. Coaches should bring the original script to registration. A copy will ONLY be accepted if an original is not available. In this instance, a copy of the ENTIRE selection must be shown at registration. - No outlines may be used in extemp; extemp boxes will be checked periodically in prep. Also, articles may be highlighted in only ONE color or in one manner. Otherwise the article will be collected by the Extemp Prep Proctor and given to the head coach to hold to until the end of the tournament. Extempers may not leave prep with notes of any kind. - Computers may be used ONLY in policy debate, and then only by following NFL guidelines (if your debaters are familiar with Texas UIL rules regarding computers, that is what NFL rules are based upon). Rules may be found in the District Tournament Manual. Exceptions are granted by the National Office, and must be requested in writing to the District Chair no later than three days before the tournament. As questions arise, please feel free to contact Mario Herrera, District Chair. Yours,
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