State Debate
January 29 - 30, 2021 - Online
Platforms
The state series will use Speechwire for tournament management and NSDA Campus for the video component.
All students and judges will need to create an account with Speechwire.com. For help on creating student accounts visit - https://youtu.be/dcGivaEKSuk
Topics
WSD -
Round 1 - This House would call on the United Nations to investigate Human Rights abuses on the US-Mexico border.
Round 2 - Impromptu
Round 3 - The house believes that the COVID pandemic was inevitable and could not have been contained.
Quarter Final - Impromptu
Semifinal - This house supports statehood for Washington, D.C.
Final- Impromptu
PF -
Resolved: The National Security Agency should end its surveillance of U.S. citizens and lawful permanent residents.
LD -
Resolved: States ought to ban lethal autonomous weapons.
Policy -
Resolved: The United States federal government should enact substantial criminal justice reform in the United States in one or more of the following: forensic science, policing, sentencing.
Congress -
Entries
Each member school may enter -
a maximum of 4 Policy teams
a maximum of 4 Public Forum teams
a maximum of 4 Lincoln Douglas contestants
a maximum of 4 Congressional debates
a maximum of 2 World Schools Debate teams
Fees
Policy & PF - $20/team
LD - $12/entry
Congress - $6/student
World Schools - $6/student
Entry drop on the day of - $25
Judges
Policy, PF and World Schools Debate - 1 judge per entry (1 team = 1 judge)
Lincoln Douglas - 1 judge for 1-2 entries, 2 judges for 3-4 entries
Congress - 1 judge for 1-4 entries
ONLINE REGISTRATION OF JUDGES:
Coaches will register Judges online with SpeechWire, but it is also important to complete the IHSFA JUDGE RATING CARD for each judge. The link will be sent to coaches after entering the tournament. This questionnaire will allow us to schedule judges based on availability, to code judges properly for experience, and to avoid assigning judges to rounds in which they may have a conflict due to affiliations with more than one school or team. Coaches will need to complete a questionnaire for each judge they provide.
Scholarships
Each year the IHSFA presents three scholarship awards to recognize outstanding student participants in our organization. These awards, presented at the state debate and speech tournaments, honor three legendary Indiana coaches of speech and debate: Jim Hawker, Bob Brittain, and Bill Hicks. Recipients demonstrate speech and debate acumen, but they also exhibit positive mental attitude and fine character. According to the IHSFA Tournament Manual, each school entered into the state speech and debate tournaments may nominate a senior member who participates in the state tournament to be considered for the award.
FAQ
We are working to address coach and competitor concerns as we prepare for the tournament. Please visit the FAQ for more information. If you have a question that has not been addressed, please contact your Sectional Representative.