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2008-2009 Debate Information

Submitted by webmaster on Tue, 09/02/2008 - 4:26pm.

GENERAL INFORMATION

  1. Debate is a classified event with two state championships: AAAAA and AAAA schools will constitute one classification; AAA, AA, and A schools will form another classification.

  2. Qualifying for the State Debates must be completed by January 17, 2009.

  3. The State Debate Topic will always be the same as the National Topic.
    1. Topic for 2008-09: “Resolved: The United States federal government should substantially increase alternative energy incentives in the United States.”
    2. Debate materials can be ordered from: National Federation of State High School Associations (NFHS) P. O. Box 690 Indianapolis, IN 46206 Phone: 317-972-6900 Fax: 317-822-5700 www.nfhs.org

  4. The Debate event is administered by the Georgia Forensics Coaches Association. Information can be obtained from the GHSA State Coordinator for Debate, Richard Bracknell, Carrollton High School. Questions concerning Debate can be addressed to Mr. Bracknell at 770-834-7726 or vian email at: Richard.Bracknell@carrolltoncityschools.net.

  5. Specific contest rules:
    1. Time for the preparation of speeches shall be given.
      1. Each team will have a total of ten (10) minutes of preparation time for the entire debate.
      2. The allocation of each team's preparation time will be left to the discretion of the team.
      3. Any team utilizing more than the allotted preparation time will lose speech time.
    2. In all contests, time and order of speeches shall be as follows:
      1. Main Speeches
        1. First Affirmative Speaker 8 minutes
          Cross-examination by second negative speaker 3 minutes
        2. First Negative Speaker 8 minutes
          Cross-examination by first affirmative 3 minutes
        3. Second Affirmative Speaker 8 minutes
          Cross-examination by first negative speaker 3 minutes
        4. Second Negative Speaker 8 minutes
          Cross-examination by second affirmative 3 minutes
      2. Rebuttal Speeches
        1. First Negative Speaker 5 minutes
        2. First Affirmative Speaker 5 minutes
        3. Second Negative Speaker 5 minutes
        4. Second Affirmative Speaker 5 minutes
      3. Speakers on respective sides must speak in the same order in rebuttals as in main speech.
      4. No speaker can switch position after competition begins.
    3. In all contests, the debaters shall be separated from the audience and shall receive no coaching while the debate is in progress.
    4. No speaker shall be interrupted during the main speech or rebuttal.
    5. When a contestant has used all the time allotted, the timekeeper shall say, “Stop,” and the contestant must stop.

  6. Tournament Format:
    1. The first two rounds of a tournament will be randomly paired with randomly selected judges.
    2. Remaining rounds will be paired based on the high/low principle with randomly selected judges.

  7. A school entering debate and dropping out without giving notice to the Georgia Forensics Coaches Association at least ten (10) days prior to the date of the State Debate will be guilty of an eligibility violation. Schools violating this provision shall be subject to forfeiture, fine, or other penalties as directed by the GHSA Executive Director.

RULES FOR STATE DEBATE:

  1. The top sixteen schools in each of the two classifications (AAAAA/AAAA and AAA/AA/A) will advance to the State Debate Tournament.
    1. The sixteen teams will be determined by the number of points achieved at the required participation of three (3) GHSA sanctioned tournaments in Georgia.
    2. Schools may still participate in the maximum allowed number of eighteen (18) varsity competitions but only three (3) will be used for determining advancement to the State Debate Tournament. Schools will designate the three (3) tournaments for the participation requirement to the Georgia Forensics Coaches Association.
    3. Schools may choose a one-day tournament, a two-day tournament, or a combination of these tournaments, but the tournaments must be varsity competition level, open to any GHSA team to enter, and be a GHSA sanctioned tournament in Georgia.
    4. Points will be awarded based on the number of teams participating in the varsity division in a particular tournament. The number of wins by a school's team (affirmative and negative teams) will be multiplied by the number of teams in the varsity division of that tournament. Points will be based on preliminary competition rounds.
    5. All debaters at the State Debate Tournament must participate in the three (3) required regular season tournaments and there will be no substitutions in the debate team that accumulated the points for advancement to the State Tournament.

  2. Points will be recorded by the Georgia Forensic Coaches’ Association.

  3. Coaching must be done by a coach/teacher of the school.
    1. Coaches may give preparatory instruction in the art of debating and in drill or delivery.
    2. Coaches may give advice, suggestions, directions, and criticism on both the form and the content of the debate material.
    3. Coaches may not coach during a debate.

  4. Debaters may not change speaker positions or affirmative/negative sides during state competition.

STATE COMPETITION:

  1. The State Debate competition for both classifications will be held on February 6-7, 2009 at a site determined by the GHSA Executive Director.
    1. The top sixteen teams in each classification will compete in a regularly formatted tournament.
    2. Three rounds will be held on Friday, and three rounds on Saturday. The first two rounds will be randomly paired using Rich Edwards’ computer program “Tab Room for the PC.”
      1. Friday's Schedule
        2:30-3:45 pmRegistration
        4:00 pmAssembly
        4:30 pmRound 1
        6:30 pmRound 2
        8:30 pmRound 3
      2. Saturday's Schedule
        8:30 amRound 4
        10:30 amRound 5
        12:00 noonLunch
        12:30 pmRound 6
        4:00 pmAwards (both Classifications)
    3. The winner will be determined by the total number of ballots won at at the end of the tournament.
      1. In case of ties, the winner will be determined by the total speaker points.
      2. If ties remain after considering speaker points, the tie will be broken by dropping high-low points.
    4. Individual medals will be awarded to the top Affirmative and top Negative speakers.

  2. Each qualifying school will be required to provide one judge. The State Debate Meet Director and the Georgia Forensics Coaches Association will be responsible for securing additional judges.
    1. High school students cannot be used as judges in state competition.
    2. One judge shall be used in each debate.
    3. After each debate, the judge shall deliver the ballot to the State Meet Director.
    4. Decisions are NOT to be revealed and oral critiques are NOT to be given.
    5. The State Meet Director will tabulate the results and announce the winner.