DEBATE PROTOCOL & INFORMATION
SUPPLIES
All LD & CX debaters need a timer for tournaments. Radio Shack sells good ones for $12-$15. Mr. Mast actually recommends that students bring two timers to tournaments, one to lend to judges and one to use themselves. Mr. Mast will no longer lend out timers because students do not return them.
Students in extemp & oratory are encouraged to have a stopwatch or timer at school for practice rounds in class.
Students who participate in LD also may wish to invest in a briefcase or professional bag for their materials at tournaments.
In addition, debaters will need pens and legal pads or flow paper for rounds. Students in extemp will be supplied news sources in class, but also may wish to subscribe at home. The N.Y. Times is highly recommended, as well as Newsweek and Time.
WHAT TO WEAR
Students are expected to dress professionally for competitions. You will be judged on how you look, as well as on how you speak. You need to dress tastefully and conservatively. A good guide is to look like a lawyer entering the courtroom.
Ø Men: Slacks/dress shirt/blazer or suit, tie, dark socks, hard shoes.
Ø Women: Professional dresses or suites or skirt/slacks with blouse, pantyhose, hard shoes. You will be on your feet a lot, so consider that when choosing your shoes.
TOURNAMENT ARRIVAL
Always arrive 20 minutes before your first round and find the team in the cafeteria. CHECK IN!! As Mr. Mast will often have judging/tab room duties, it is the student’s responsibility to know when and where rounds start. Be at your assigned room before your round is scheduled to begin. Debaters should be pre-flowed when they arrive on campus. Don’t make judges wait for you and avoid asking them for prep time prior to starting a round.
TRANSPORTATION
As of now and for the foreseeable future, Austin High does not provide transportation to tournaments. Students who drive are encouraged to provide their own transportation. Other students may be able to carpool with Mr. Mast, Ms. Finney, or teammates with parent permission. Make arrangements in advance to ensure you are not left behind. Parent volunteers will be solicited for out-of-town competitions. We need parent help, or we can’t travel. If your parents are willing to drive/chaperone for any of the out-of-town tournaments on our schedule, please have them contact Mr. Mast. All team members must have a signed transportation permit on file with Mr. Mast.
SCHEDULES & FOOD
Most tournaments last two days (Friday afternoons & all day Saturday). Students and parents should expect tournaments to run behind, up to several hours late. Competitions never stick to their original schedule. Plan for this. Students in LD and CX will put in the most hours. It is not uncommon for students in these events to be at tournaments from late Friday afternoon until after midnight, only to return early Saturday morning. Mr. Mast is willing to drive students home at night if space in his car allows. Most individual events (extemp, oratory, and interp) are held Friday afternoon and Saturday morning. Students who advance beyond preliminary rounds must stay later. Students should bring money for food or pack a lunch. Schools will usually sell breakfast, lunch, and snacks at concession stands. Students may request to leave campus for meals when time permits.
ELIGIBILITY
The “no pass, no play” rule applies to all speech and debate competitions. Students must be passing all classes at the end of each six-week grading term in order to compete. Eligibility is based on six-week averages, not on semester averages. (Students may have a 60-69 in all AP class and still be eligible.) Students who lose eligibility can regain it after three weeks if they are passing all their classes. Students should not sign-up for tournaments if they know they are ineligible. If a students has to be dropped from a tournament due to ineligibility, the student will be responsible for any registration and/or drop fees. Students can miss a class period a maximum of 10 times due to competition “field trips” (in debate, athletics, drama, music, etc.) and still be eligible for UIL activities. Almost all events we participate in are governed by the Texas Forensic Association. Students who compete in UIL events outside debate are personally responsible for keeping track of their absences so as not to jeopardize their ability to participate in these other activities.
MISSED CLASSES
For local tournaments, participating students may be excused from one to three classes (fifth to seventh periods) so that they may go home, get dressed, and be at their first round on time. Students may sometimes need to bring their tournament dress to school and change at the competition due to scheduling. Students may only miss the classes from which Mr. Mast has excused them. Students who skip classes and blame it on debate will be receive a disciplinary referral. If your first round starts after 6:15 p.m. on Friday, you will not be excused. When students miss classes due to competition, it is their responsibility to make up all work missed. Students should make every effort to get assignments in advance. There is time at tournaments to do homework. Each student needs to maintain positive relations with their teachers in terms of missed class. How you handle this issue effects the entire program, not just you. Please avoid being absent the day after a debate trip. Don’t let your choices jeopardize our ability to travel as a team.
IN-ROUND PROTOCOL
Never enter a classroom without a judge. Doing so will get you disqualified. Students in oratory and interpretation must stay in rounds until all participants have finished presenting unless double entered. Students who leave rounds early will only receive half credit for tournament competition. When double entered, politely ask to be excused to participate in your second event as soon as you finish your first. Debaters should not stay for critiques in this situation. Always thank your judge.
Judges will not always disclose or critique. Do not insist that they do so. Never argue with a judge or opponent after a round. If the judge gives a critique, listen quietly, thank him/her, and then leave without any show of frustration if you have lost or celebration if you have won. If you feel you have been the victim of a bad decision or of rude conduct, remember the 10-minute, 10-mile rule. Save your complaints until you leave the host campus or quietly speak with Mr. Mast outside. The debate circuit is small. Avoid making enemies. Your behavior will come back to haunt you as you will see many of your judges and opponents again and again.
It is vital that we are not only a team with talent but also a team with character. No matter how other people behave, SFA debaters will show respect at all times for what we do and for ALL people involved no matter their level of experience. We have the reputation of having friendly, polite, and professional students. Let’s keep it that way.
BETWEEN-ROUND PROTOCOL
There will be a lot of time between rounds. We usually stake out a table in the host school’s cafeteria for the team. You may eat, visit, study, etc., as long as Mr. Mast knows where you are. Do no leave the tournament without permission. You are responsible for keeping track of the time. There are strict penalties for missing rounds, including grade reductions and loss of all traveling privileges.
AFTER ELIMINATION
Do not assume you have been eliminated from the competition until results have been posted! In the past, some students have missed semifinal and final rounds because they assumed they had not performed well and went home. Missing an elimination round is embarrassing! You may not leave a tournament until you are excused and have checked out with Mr. Mast. Remain ready to compete until excused. Others students would have loved to have earned your spot. If you cannot stay through finals, do not sign up for a competition. Mr. Mast takes this extremely seriously. See the forfeit penalties in this handbook for effects on your grade. Tiresome schedules are part of this activity. We all have to adapt. No whining! Bring a book, game, cards, a pillow …
BALLOTS
Mr. Mast will distribute ballots after students have completed their preliminary rounds. DO NOT ASK FOR THEM BEFORE THAT TIME! All ballots must be returned to Mr. Mast before you leave the tournament so that we can record your NFL points. Ballots lost by students will result in loss of NFL points for the round in question. Debaters should save flows for class discussions, and extempers should write down the questions they saw at tournaments.
REGISTRATION
Tournaments limit how many students a school can enter in each event. Some are very strict. Sign up as early as possible, so Mr. Mast knows who wants to attend. Additional spots will be give to Debate I students. If you fail to sign up in a timely manner, do not complain where there is no space for you or when somebody less experienced is attending instead of you. Debate I students will not be dropped due to your tardiness. If you have to drop out of a tournament, do so as early as possible. Drop fees, for which the student is responsible, grow steeper the closer we get to a tournament and can increase up to triple the entry fee on the day of the competition.
All LD & CX debaters need a timer for tournaments. Radio Shack sells good ones for $12-$15. Mr. Mast actually recommends that students bring two timers to tournaments, one to lend to judges and one to use themselves. Mr. Mast will no longer lend out timers because students do not return them.
Students in extemp & oratory are encouraged to have a stopwatch or timer at school for practice rounds in class.
Students who participate in LD also may wish to invest in a briefcase or professional bag for their materials at tournaments.
In addition, debaters will need pens and legal pads or flow paper for rounds. Students in extemp will be supplied news sources in class, but also may wish to subscribe at home. The N.Y. Times is highly recommended, as well as Newsweek and Time.
WHAT TO WEAR
Students are expected to dress professionally for competitions. You will be judged on how you look, as well as on how you speak. You need to dress tastefully and conservatively. A good guide is to look like a lawyer entering the courtroom.
Ø Men: Slacks/dress shirt/blazer or suit, tie, dark socks, hard shoes.
Ø Women: Professional dresses or suites or skirt/slacks with blouse, pantyhose, hard shoes. You will be on your feet a lot, so consider that when choosing your shoes.
TOURNAMENT ARRIVAL
Always arrive 20 minutes before your first round and find the team in the cafeteria. CHECK IN!! As Mr. Mast will often have judging/tab room duties, it is the student’s responsibility to know when and where rounds start. Be at your assigned room before your round is scheduled to begin. Debaters should be pre-flowed when they arrive on campus. Don’t make judges wait for you and avoid asking them for prep time prior to starting a round.
TRANSPORTATION
As of now and for the foreseeable future, Austin High does not provide transportation to tournaments. Students who drive are encouraged to provide their own transportation. Other students may be able to carpool with Mr. Mast, Ms. Finney, or teammates with parent permission. Make arrangements in advance to ensure you are not left behind. Parent volunteers will be solicited for out-of-town competitions. We need parent help, or we can’t travel. If your parents are willing to drive/chaperone for any of the out-of-town tournaments on our schedule, please have them contact Mr. Mast. All team members must have a signed transportation permit on file with Mr. Mast.
SCHEDULES & FOOD
Most tournaments last two days (Friday afternoons & all day Saturday). Students and parents should expect tournaments to run behind, up to several hours late. Competitions never stick to their original schedule. Plan for this. Students in LD and CX will put in the most hours. It is not uncommon for students in these events to be at tournaments from late Friday afternoon until after midnight, only to return early Saturday morning. Mr. Mast is willing to drive students home at night if space in his car allows. Most individual events (extemp, oratory, and interp) are held Friday afternoon and Saturday morning. Students who advance beyond preliminary rounds must stay later. Students should bring money for food or pack a lunch. Schools will usually sell breakfast, lunch, and snacks at concession stands. Students may request to leave campus for meals when time permits.
ELIGIBILITY
The “no pass, no play” rule applies to all speech and debate competitions. Students must be passing all classes at the end of each six-week grading term in order to compete. Eligibility is based on six-week averages, not on semester averages. (Students may have a 60-69 in all AP class and still be eligible.) Students who lose eligibility can regain it after three weeks if they are passing all their classes. Students should not sign-up for tournaments if they know they are ineligible. If a students has to be dropped from a tournament due to ineligibility, the student will be responsible for any registration and/or drop fees. Students can miss a class period a maximum of 10 times due to competition “field trips” (in debate, athletics, drama, music, etc.) and still be eligible for UIL activities. Almost all events we participate in are governed by the Texas Forensic Association. Students who compete in UIL events outside debate are personally responsible for keeping track of their absences so as not to jeopardize their ability to participate in these other activities.
MISSED CLASSES
For local tournaments, participating students may be excused from one to three classes (fifth to seventh periods) so that they may go home, get dressed, and be at their first round on time. Students may sometimes need to bring their tournament dress to school and change at the competition due to scheduling. Students may only miss the classes from which Mr. Mast has excused them. Students who skip classes and blame it on debate will be receive a disciplinary referral. If your first round starts after 6:15 p.m. on Friday, you will not be excused. When students miss classes due to competition, it is their responsibility to make up all work missed. Students should make every effort to get assignments in advance. There is time at tournaments to do homework. Each student needs to maintain positive relations with their teachers in terms of missed class. How you handle this issue effects the entire program, not just you. Please avoid being absent the day after a debate trip. Don’t let your choices jeopardize our ability to travel as a team.
IN-ROUND PROTOCOL
Never enter a classroom without a judge. Doing so will get you disqualified. Students in oratory and interpretation must stay in rounds until all participants have finished presenting unless double entered. Students who leave rounds early will only receive half credit for tournament competition. When double entered, politely ask to be excused to participate in your second event as soon as you finish your first. Debaters should not stay for critiques in this situation. Always thank your judge.
Judges will not always disclose or critique. Do not insist that they do so. Never argue with a judge or opponent after a round. If the judge gives a critique, listen quietly, thank him/her, and then leave without any show of frustration if you have lost or celebration if you have won. If you feel you have been the victim of a bad decision or of rude conduct, remember the 10-minute, 10-mile rule. Save your complaints until you leave the host campus or quietly speak with Mr. Mast outside. The debate circuit is small. Avoid making enemies. Your behavior will come back to haunt you as you will see many of your judges and opponents again and again.
It is vital that we are not only a team with talent but also a team with character. No matter how other people behave, SFA debaters will show respect at all times for what we do and for ALL people involved no matter their level of experience. We have the reputation of having friendly, polite, and professional students. Let’s keep it that way.
BETWEEN-ROUND PROTOCOL
There will be a lot of time between rounds. We usually stake out a table in the host school’s cafeteria for the team. You may eat, visit, study, etc., as long as Mr. Mast knows where you are. Do no leave the tournament without permission. You are responsible for keeping track of the time. There are strict penalties for missing rounds, including grade reductions and loss of all traveling privileges.
AFTER ELIMINATION
Do not assume you have been eliminated from the competition until results have been posted! In the past, some students have missed semifinal and final rounds because they assumed they had not performed well and went home. Missing an elimination round is embarrassing! You may not leave a tournament until you are excused and have checked out with Mr. Mast. Remain ready to compete until excused. Others students would have loved to have earned your spot. If you cannot stay through finals, do not sign up for a competition. Mr. Mast takes this extremely seriously. See the forfeit penalties in this handbook for effects on your grade. Tiresome schedules are part of this activity. We all have to adapt. No whining! Bring a book, game, cards, a pillow …
BALLOTS
Mr. Mast will distribute ballots after students have completed their preliminary rounds. DO NOT ASK FOR THEM BEFORE THAT TIME! All ballots must be returned to Mr. Mast before you leave the tournament so that we can record your NFL points. Ballots lost by students will result in loss of NFL points for the round in question. Debaters should save flows for class discussions, and extempers should write down the questions they saw at tournaments.
REGISTRATION
Tournaments limit how many students a school can enter in each event. Some are very strict. Sign up as early as possible, so Mr. Mast knows who wants to attend. Additional spots will be give to Debate I students. If you fail to sign up in a timely manner, do not complain where there is no space for you or when somebody less experienced is attending instead of you. Debate I students will not be dropped due to your tardiness. If you have to drop out of a tournament, do so as early as possible. Drop fees, for which the student is responsible, grow steeper the closer we get to a tournament and can increase up to triple the entry fee on the day of the competition.