EVENT INSTRUCTIONS

EVENT INSTRUCTIONS

Public Forum Guide

• We will be using a 30-point scale that allows for tenth points for speaker points. Both low-point wins and ties are permitted.

• All debates must have one winner and one loser

• For Public Forum, there will be 3-minutes of preparation time allowed

• Public Forum will be utilizing the November /December topic

• In Public Forum, mavericks are not able to clear or advance. To advance, the team must have debated together for 4 rounds in prelims.

• The tournament will be utilizing Tabroom’s coin flip feature. This will work as follows: prior to the round, the service will determine the winner of the coin toss. The team that wins the flip may choose one of two options: EITHER the side of the topic they wish to defend OR the speaking position they wish to have (begin the debate or end the debate). Once the coin toss winners select their favored option, the other team makes a choice with the remaining option. There is no ability to “redo” the coinflip. Only system-wide failure of Tabroom.com will be reasons to redetermine the winner of a coin toss

• All teams with a 4-2 record or better will clear to elimination rounds. Participants and rankings will be determined in the following order: Ballots, H2H, Opp Wins, Drop H/L pts, Total pts, J. Var

• Only the tab room can declare forfeitures. Students not present ten minutes are the pairing time are eligible to be forfeited

• Power matching will occur at the end of Round 2 and Punta Cana International Cup will be utilizing a high/low pairing within brackets

• Participants are permitted to utilize internet-enabled devices such as laptops, tablets, and smartphones during events. However, engaging with external contacts during debates is prohibited. Breaking this rule results in losing the debate and receiving zero points. Making calls or messaging with external is not acceptable.

• Will be 5 prelims, break to Octos.

Impromptu Guide

• Time limits for ISP will be 7 minutes maximum

• All rounds are open to authorized guests of the tournament

• We will break to semi-finals (14 competitors) and then finals (5 competitors). Should there be two competitors with the exact same ranking going into finals, we will allow a round of 7 competitors.

• Students should clarify with the judge their name and how time signals will be given in round

• Will be 5 prelims, break to Semifinals.

World School Guide

• Punta Cana International Cup will utilize NSDA rules for all World Schools Debate procedures

• Time limits for substantive speeches will be 8 minutes maximum while for reply speeches they will be 4 minutes

• Interruptions: During a substantive speech, a competitor from the opposing team is permitted to offer a point of information, aside from the first full minute and the last full minute of the substantive speech. The speaker is allowed to accept or reject this point of information

• Rounds 1, 2 and 3 will be using prepared motions that will be released ahead of time and thus will not require a roll call

• All teams with a 4-2 record or better will clear to elimination rounds. Participants and rankings will be determined in the following order: Ballots, H2H, Opp Wins, Drop H/L pts, Total pts, J. Var

• Will be 5 prelims, break to Quarters.