The Thornton Academy Speech and Debate Teams are pleased to invite you to our tournament on January 7, 2017.
Registration deadline: 11:55 p.m. January 5 through Tabroom.com.
Judge hire request deadline: 11:55 p.m. January 5
Drop deadline: 5:00 p.m. January 6
Any questions, please contact David Arenstam, Tournament Director, by email, phone, or text: [email protected], (cell) 207-229-4377.
Registration
Registration must be completed through Tabroom.com by 11:55 p.m. Thursday, Jan 5
Entry fees
- $7.00 per entry (New schools $3.50)
- Teams (Duo and PF) are two entries ($14)
Drops
Drops and changes will be accepted until Friday, January 6 at 5:00 p.m. Invoices will be prepared at that time. Late add requests are not encouraged and will be accepted only at the discretion of the tournament host. Saturday drops at registration will be assessed an additional charge of $10 per entry.
Call or text the MFA hotline (207-370-4632) Saturday morning once you are en route to the tournament to confirm your team and judge attendance. Drops communicated prior to arrival will be waived the $10 penalty.
Events
- LD: 3 levels, if numbers allow
- PF: 2 levels, if numbers allow
- Congressional Debate: Senate and House, as needed
- Speech: All State Tournament categories
Novice level is for students competing in their first year of high school forensics (i.e. first year competitors). Note that Oratorical Declamation is limited to freshmen and sophomore students only.
JV level is primarily for second-year competitors, but also first year competitors who have enjoyed success.
Varsity level is for competitors with more than one year of experience who wish to try a higher level of competition.
Debate topics
LD resolution
Resolved: Public colleges and universities in the United States ought not restrict any constitutionally protected speech.
PF resolution
Resolved: In order to better respond to international conflicts, the United States should significantly increase its military spending.
Congress
Judge Requirements
Help the meet run smoothly and fairly by supplying your required, trained judges, including unaffiliated, in accordance with MFA rules.
Note judge conflicts or shadow needs in your judge registration on Tabroom.com. Email the tournament host for any complex judge situations. Remember a parent cannot judge the category in which their child is competing.
Fractional entries round up (i.e. three LD entries = 2 judges). Third, fifth, and seventh judge must be neutral for Speech, LD, PF.
- LD: one judge for every 2 LD entries
- PF: one judge for every 2 teams
- Speech or Congressional Debate: one judge for every 5 entries
Judges are expected to be available for ALL rounds of competition. Fines will be assessed for judges departing early unless cleared through Tabulation.
Hiring Judges
There will be a limited number of extra judges available for hire. Fees for purchasing judges will be $60 per judge.
Have all your judges finalized by 5:00 p.m. Friday, January 6. Submit requests to hire judges via Tabroom.com by 11:55 p.m. Thursday, January 5.
If you have extra judges, contact the Tournament Director so the judge can be added to the judge hire pool.
Food
Students: Light breakfast items, lunch and snacks will be on sale for students in the cafeteria. Students should not leave the school.
Coach and judges: Complimentary breakfast, lunch and snacks will be provided for coaches and judges.
Awards
Individual recognition for first through fifth in each category, and honorable mention as determined by Tab. Awards for first through third
Note that ties in record will be broken first by MFA guidelines.
Tabulation of awards follows standards adopted by MFA.
Schedule
8:15-8:30 Registration (arrive early, please)
8:40 Judges meeting in Judges’ Lounge; Student meeting in Cafeteria
9:00 Rounds begin following briefings
5:00 Awards (sooner if possible) in the cafeteria
Directions
438 Main Street, Saco, ME 04072
Buses should park in the back parking lot near the football stadium. Entrance through the front door, please.