Hello Forensic Friends.

 

It is my pleasure to invite you to the 2019 Missouri Association of Forensic Activities (MAFA) Championship Tournament. This is the Missouri State Tournament, but we also welcome our friends from other states. Please consider joining us at Webster University in St. Louis, MO on Friday, February 22^nd  and Saturday, February 23^rd for two days of comprehensive forensic education and competition. While the invitation outlines the specifics of the tournament, highlights include…

• Four rounds of debate in three formats with novice divisions where entries warrant
• A full slate of AFA-NIET individual events
• Dinner Friday, lunch Saturday, and a continental breakfast both days
• Awards for all elimination round competitors in all events
• A full slate of events in a two-day schedule, allowing for a Sunday of either leisurely travel back home, or a day at home without forensics
• Affordable fees
• The majority of the competitive rounds within an easy walk

 

As has become our tradition, the top Missouri student in each event will receive a special award as the State Champion in that event. We will award individual event, debate, and combined sweepstakes for both the overall tournament, as well as entry-based divisions; we will also recognize the top school in quality performance. We also award a top forensicator award to our top students who participate in both individual events and debate. Additionally, the top two Missouri students in oratory will earn a trip to the Interstate Oratorical Contest.

 

Beyond student and school recognition, we encourage you to nominate individuals for the two awards we present annually to professionals in our activity—Coach of the Year Award and Distinguished Service Award. Information for each of these awards is included in this invitation.

 

This year’s tournament will once again also feature an engagement with MAFA’s advocacy project—#MeToo Extended. This project is intended to help abused women by collecting toiletries for Our Lady’s Inn–a local domestic abuse shelter for pregnant women. We will also feature other collection activities such as selling snacks and pass the hat.

 

Tournament entries are to be made on Forensictournament.net. Entries should be made by no later than 5:00pm Monday, February 18^th. Fees will be assessed at 5:00 Tuesday, February 19^th  Hotel reservations should be made at your earliest convenience as there is no guarantee of room availability once the block is full or released. Detailed and updated tournament information will be emailed with confirmations once fees are assessed Tuesday night.

 

On behalf of MAFA and it’s officers, I hope to see you on Webster University’s campus in February!

 

Sincerely,

 

 

Tom Serfass

President, Missouri Association of Forensic Activities

Assistant Director of Forensics, Webster University

Thomasserfass31@webster.edu

2019 MAFA State Championship Tournament Schedule

Please note that schedule and rooms should be considered tentative dependent upon tournament size. A confirmed schedule will be sent out after registration closes.

 

Friday, February 22tnd

Continental breakfast provided 

7:30      Registration in University Center

8:00      NPDA Topic Announcement

8:20      NPDA and Public Forum Debate Round 1

9:15      NPDA Topic Announcement

9:35      NPDA and Public Forum Debate Round 2

10:30    LD Debate Round 1

11:30    Lunch On Your Own – University Center Food Court and Marletto’s Cafeteria will be open on campus  McDonalds, Subway, pizza, and Chinese cuisine (among other options) are all within walking distance

12:30    LD Debate, Round 2

1:30      NPDA Topic Announcement

1:50      NPDA and Public Forum Debate Round 3

2:45      LD Debate, Round 3

3:45      NPDA Topic Announcement

4:05      NPDA and Public Forum Debate Round 4

5:00      LD Debate, Round 4

6:00      Dinner Break – Pizza Provided

7:00      NPDA Topic Announcement

7:20      NPDA and Public Forum Debate Elimination Round 1

8:15      LD Debate Elimination Round 1

 

Saturday, February 23rd

Continental breakfast provided 

7:15      Registration for IE only schools-University Center

7:30      Extemp Draw (internet accessible, but not guaranteed)

8:00      Individual Events, Round 1-A (Extemp, Oratory, DI, Poetry, Informative, Prose)

9:15      Individual Events, Round 1-B (Impromptu, POI, Duo, ADS, CA)

LD Debate, Elimination Round 2

10:30    Extemp Draw

11:00    Individual Events, Round 2-A (Extemp, Oratory, DI, Poetry, Informative, Prose)

12:15    Lunch Break Provided by MAFA—University Center

Lunch and Coaches’ Meeting—MAFA Member Schools

NPDA Topic Announcement

12:35    NPDA and Public Forum Debate Elimination Round 2

1:30      Individual Events, Round 2-B (Impromptu, POI, Duo, ADS, CA)

LD Debate, Elimination Round 3

2:45      NPDA Topic Announcement

3:05      NPDA and Public Forum Debate, Elimination Round 3

4:00      Extemp Draw

4:15      Individual Events, Finals-A

5:30      Individual Events, Finals-B

7:15      Awards

ASAP   All Debate, Elimination Rounds Continue

General Tournament Notes

Sweepstakes

This policy seeks to maintain independent sweepstakes calculations for two parts (debate and individual events) of the tournament and then to arithmetically equalize the value. This policy maintains independent sweepstakes for the two parts of the overall sweepstakes. Sweepstakes will be calculated through the following formula: 6 points per NPDA/PF debate prelim win, 3 points per LD debate prelim win, and individual events as 3-2-1 for prelims and 12-10-8-6-4-2-1 for finals. Should a semi-final round be held, all competitors in that round will receive 1 point. After sweepstakes points are computed, each team’s score is calculated as a percentage of the total sweepstakes “pot” in each sweepstakes competition. Hence, there will be forced equality of 100 possible points for debate and 100 points for individual events. The percentage scores of each team will be added together to calculate sweepstakes for the overall category. Overall sweepstakes trophies will be presented to the top three schools entered in both individual events and debate. An award will also be presented to the top point-earning two-year school; the winner of this award does not need to be entered in both individual events and debate.

The tie-breaking formula for individual events and debate will be as follows:

 

Individual Event Sweepstakes

1. Total individual events points earned
2. Number of events in finals
3. Comparative ranks of events in finals (Comparative ranks examines the number of 1st place finishes, if tied, then number of 2nd place finishes, etc.)

 

Debate Sweepstakes

1. Total debate points earned
2. Number of debate entries in elimination rounds
3. Highest placing of debate entries in elimination rounds
4. Comparative finishes in debate entries in elimination rounds (Compare number of finalists, if ties, then number of semifinalists, etc.)

 

Three additional sweepstakes awards will be presented, in addition to those for overall, individual events, debate in the open division, and two-year school competitions.

 

Quality Award

The Quality Award is determined by dividing the total sweepstakes points earned by a school by the number of slots that school entered. The school with the highest points earned per slot entered at the tournament will win this award.

 

President’s Division

MAFA shall award Team Sweepstakes Awards in both an Open division and a President’s division for Individual Events, Debate and Overall Team Sweepstakes Awards. Divisions will be determined by the median entry for the tournament as determined at the close of registration for the tournament. All schools entered at the tournament will be eligible for the Open division. Schools with entries at or below the median will be entered in the President’s division.

 

 

 

Director’s Award

The Director’s Award is a traveling trophy that tracks a schools sweepstakes points earned over subsequent MAFA Championship Tournaments. For this award, the sweepstakes points earned at previous MAFA Championship tournaments are added to the current year’s points. The school with the highest cumulative total points is named the champion until the next MAFA Championship Tournament. Once a school wins this award, their sweepstakes point total is reset to zero.

 

Debate Guidelines

 

Each school is allowed 18 entries, not to exceed 6 NPDA/Public Forum teams and 12 LD debaters. A student may enter both NPDA and LD or Public Forum and LD. There will be both open and novice divisions if numbers allow. Any student competing in his/her first two semesters of college debate may be classified as a novice. All divisions will debate four (4) preliminary rounds and break to their appropriate elimination round. Lincoln-Douglas debaters may enter one event in flight B of individual events.

 

Debate trophies will be presented to all open quarterfinalists. The top novice in each division will receive a trophy. The top six speakers in each division will receive speaker awards. The top three schools who earn the most total points across all divisions will receive team sweepstakes trophies.

 

Debate sweepstakes calculations will be made using the preliminary records of the top twelve debaters across the three debate genres. An NPDA or Public Forum team is two debaters. An LD debater is one. Six points will be assigned for each preliminary round win in NPDA and Public Forum, and three will be assigned to the same in LD. Elimination round wins will not count toward sweepstakes.

 

 

Individual Events Guidelines & Conflict Patterns

 

Pattern A: Extemp, Oratory, DI, Poetry, Informative, Prose

Pattern B: Impromptu, POI, After Dinner, Communication Analysis, Duo

 

Schools may enter up to 44 slots in individual events, distributed across all events. Trophies will be presented to the top six contestants in each event. There will be three individual events sweepstakes trophies. A top novice award will also be given for each event. Novices are defined as students in their first year of competition at the collegiate level. All individual events will follow the description, rules and guidelines of the American Forensic Association except where the rules for Oratory and Persuasion are in conflict (time, word limit, etc.), in which case Interstate Oratorical Contest rules will be followed. Only a school’s top six entrants in any one event will count toward sweepstakes.

 

AFA rules will be followed for all individual events. Students should not enter material that has been used in competition before September 1, 2018. The tournament will follow AFA tabulation procedures. Extemp topics will cover issues pertinent to the socio-political realm with emphasis upon: international affairs, politics, and the economy. The use of the Internet in extemp prep is permitted, but as always we cannot guarantee that access. We will do our best to provide access to our campus wireless but you may wish to have backup files if there is a problem in prep. There be no access to electricity for devices inside the draw room during any draw periods. Impromptu participants will choose between two topics that will vary by round and section. Topics may be drawn from philosophical quotations, song lyrics, and/or quotations from popular films.

 

MAFA traditionally does not restrict the number of individual events a competitor can enter in a given flight, so students are free to enter as many as they wish (except for the LD debaters who are limited to only one event in pattern B). HOWEVER, we strongly suggest that competitors and their coaches limit themselves to only three individual events per pattern per student out of respect for the tournament schedule and staff. Do your part to make sure the tournament runs on time. Competitors will be responsible for making it to each of their events within the time allotted for each round.

 

Eligibility

Eligibility will follow the AFA guidelines. A student must be enrolled in at least six hours of classes at the school they are representing. The student must also not have used more than eight semesters of eligibility (3 or more tournaments of competition constitutes a semester) as defined by the AFA, and must not have had more than four national tournament years (completed in four years in which a national tournament- NFA, AFA, NSC, NPDA, NDT, CEDA, Phi Rho PI, PKD, DSR, etc. was attended by the student). The expectation is that the Director of Forensics for the entries will enforce these rules.

 

Interstate Oratory

Original Oratory will be offered instead of persuasion. However, this event will still serve as an NFA or AFA qualifier for persuasion. The top two speakers in Original Oratory will represent Missouri at the 2019 Interstate Oratorical competition in late April.

 

The contest rules are as follows:

An oration written by the student, persuasive in nature and delivered without the aid of notes. No oration shall contain more than 1800 words. Although no minimum word limit is mandated, a 1500 word minimum is suggested. Quoted words are those written or spoken by a person other than the orator. Such quoted material should be limited to 20 percent of the total number of words in the oration. Direct disclosure, dialogue, or other stylistic devices within quotation marks created by the orator shall not be included in the 20 percent total. All quoted material shall be documented. There is NOT a time limit in this event.

 

Multiple critics will be used in the preliminary rounds with the worst preliminary round rank and rating disregarded when deciding finalists. A copy of each contestant’s speech is REQUIRED upon registration. (We recommend a cover/title page on which the number of words and the number of quoted words of listed along with the student’s name and school.) Words and quoted material will be recounted at the tournament and students WILL BE DISQUALIFIED if there is an infraction concerning the number of words or percentage of quoted material.

 

It is important for our state to be well represented in this historic tournament. Therefore, if you have a student place in the top two but do not intend to attend Interstate for whatever reason, please inform the MAFA President at the tournament so we can assign an alternate in their place. Alternates will be the next best Missouri student in the event until two Missouri representatives are confirmed.

 

Judging Requirements

One judge covers two parliamentary or public forum debate teams. One judge covers 10 individual events slots overall (not per flight). One judge covers two LD debaters. (However, judges may be cross-assigned between the two divisions as needed to maximize the “cleanliness” of the pool.)

 

Hired judges will cost $75 per uncovered LD slot. Each hired parliamentary or public forum judge will cost $75 per uncovered team. A hired individual events judge will cost $10 per uncovered IE slot. Please remember—judges are expected to be available one round after their students are eliminated. Coaches are responsible for the attendance of both themselves and their hired judges. Please make sure your hired judges meet their obligations.

 

Please make every effort to cover your entry and judging obligations so we can have qualified judges and a smooth schedule. We would rather have your judges than your money.

 

Pentathlon

For pentathlon, a student must be in five or more individual events. Students must compete in at least two genres (interpretation, limited preparation, public address), although greater breadth is certainly encouraged. The student’s best five events will count toward pentathlon. Points will be awarded according to the same formula used for individual event sweepstakes.

 

Overall Forensicator Award

To reward exceptional competition efforts in both individual events and debate, two (2) awards will be offered in the Overall Forensicator competition. The top two students will be recognized who compete in five or more individual events and at least one format of debate. Points for this award shall include a maximum of five individual events and all forms of debate in which the student competes. Only preliminary round points will count for this award. No team sweepstakes points will be awarded for this event. Ties will be broken based on the following:

1. Total preliminary sweepstakes points earned in both individual events and debate. Team debate points earned will be divided in half.
2. Number of events in elimination rounds.
3. Highest placing of events in elimination rounds.
4. If still tied, awards shall be given to the tied speakers.

 

Lodging Information

We suggest the Sheraton Westport Lakeside Chalet Hotel.  For reservations, call (314) 878-1500.

 

Entry Deadlines and Instructions

Entries may be submitted on Forensicstournament.net. Entries must be received no later than Monday February 18, 2019 by 5:00 pm Central Time. From that time, only drops will be allowed until 5:00 pm, Tuesday, February 19, 2019. Fees will be assessed based on your entry as it stands at 5:01 pm Tuesday evening (plus any nuisance fees for drops after the official drop time). All changes after 5:00 Tuesday afternoon must be emailed to Thomasserfass31@webster.edu. No changes will be official until confirmed by a member of the tournament staff. Fees invoices will be emailed within 24 hours of the fees assessed deadline. A hard copy receipt will be made available at registration.

 

Fee Information

MAFA Membership dues @ $50 per school (Missouri) $__________________

LD entries @ $25 each………………………………… $__________________

Uncovered LD entries @ $75 each………………..….. $__________________

NPDA entries @ $50 per team………………………… $__________________

Public Forum entries @ $50 per team………………….$__________________

Uncovered NPDA entries @ $75 each…………….. ….$__________________

Uncovered Public Forum entries @ $75 each…………. $__________________

IE entries @ $8 per slot……………………………. ….$__________________

Uncovered IE entries @ $10 per slot…………………. $__________________

Participation Fee (Fri.) @ $10 per participant..………. $__________________

Participation Fee (Sat.) @ $10 per participant..…… ….$__________________

Nuisance fees late drops (2/14/18) @ $20 per drop ….. $__________________

Total Due……………………………………………… $__________________

Make checks payable to:

Missouri Association of Forensic Activities

The Missouri Association of Forensic Activities annually recognizes two forensic professionals as recipients of two special awards. Nomination packets for each of these two awards should be emailed as Word or PDF files to Dr. Nicole Freeman, Awards Committee Chairperson at nfreeman@ucmo.edu. Nomination packets must be received no later than Saturday February 2, 2019.

Coach of the Year Award

The “MAFA Coach of the Year” award honors a coach who has demonstrated superior coaching and program directing ability in Intercollegiate Missouri speech and debate related activities throughout the last year’s competitive season. The recipient must be a member of the Missouri Association of Forensics Activities for that year. This award is open to all with school-recognized coaching positions, including Directors and Assistant Directors of Forensics, Graduate Assistants, etc.

Criteria for the award includes:

• Displays a strong rapport with students, coaches, and judges of the MAFA community;
• Models for our students appropriate behaviors that prepare them for success both in and outside of forensics;
• Supports and attends regional tournaments. However, we fully recognize that some programs must travel a different circuit due to specific program foci, which makes it difficult to attend regional tournaments. In those cases, (particularly parliamentary and CEDA squads), this criterion will be waved;
• Is active in the support and advancement of speech related activities at various levels. Examples include, but are not limited to: Hosting tournaments, volunteering at tournaments, volunteering for other types of public speaking events (like FFA, 4-H, FBLA), publishing articles, presenting at conferences, holding regional/national offices in governing bodies, etc.;
• Exhibits knowledge of activity through understanding of rules and systems of play.

 

Candidates may be nominated by students or coaches by submitting a nomination letter to the Chairperson of the Awards Committee, Dr. Nicole Freeman. Schools are limited to one nomination in this category per year. A school is not required to nominate anyone. Schools may nominate individuals from other programs. The MAFA President will appoint a committee to consider all nominations and pair the nominees down to a slate of two or three names. The committee will submit the panel of potential honorees along with nomination packet information to the MAFA membership for a vote. Each coaching staff is afforded one vote and each team of students is afforded one vote, resulting in two votes. The votes do not need to be the same. Previous winners may be considered for awards. If no suitable nominee can be found, the award should not be presented.

Distinguished Service Award

The “MAFA Distinguished Service” award honors those who continuously support forensic activities. Recipients can be former or retired members of MAFA that demonstrated superior coaching and program directing while in their tenure, or administrators that value forensics and continuously strive to support forensics at their institution. This award is not bound to the previous competitive year.

Criteria for the award includes:

• Exceptionally meritorious performance in coaching, directing or administration;
• Continued support of speech and debate related activities;
• Significant achievements and contributions to the forensics community;
• Represents important creative effort or accomplishment with educational value.

 

Candidates may be nominated by coaches by submitting a nomination letter to Dr. Nicole Freeman, Head of the Awards committee. Schools are limited to one nomination in this category per year. A school is not required to nominate anyone. Schools may nominate individuals from other programs. The MAFA President will appoint a committee to consider all nominations and pair the nominees down to a slate of two or three names. The committee will submit the panel of potential honorees along with nomination packet information to the MAFA membership for a vote. Each coaching staff is afforded one vote and each team of students is afforded one vote, resulting in two votes. The votes do not need to be the same. Previous winners may be considered for awards. If no suitable nominee can be found, the award should not be presented.