Inclement weather policy

   In case of inclement weather, each individual director and the director of the particular tournament must reach certain decisions regarding participation. In any circumstance, the directors of various speech programs at a particular school should be aware of the travel policy of the school district. In the case of inclement weather, the director of a particular speech program should reach a decision on participation in a tournament in conjunction with the appropriate school administrator.
     It is assumed that the various debate and individual events leagues will have an inclement weather policy that is developed by the participating schools. A league inclement weather policy should be compatible with the policies of the various school districts comprising the league membership.
     For tournaments administered by the MIFA, the process to determine the conduct or cancellation of a tournament in the case of inclement weather is as follows:

  1. The tournament will be held as scheduled unless more than forty percent of the pre-registered schools withdraw 24 or more hours prior to the time for the tournament registration because of inclement weather. Further, in the preceding circumstance, the withdrawal is to be made by the superintendent, or assistant superintendent, or principal, or assistant principal to the MIFA Executive Director and/or the director of the tournament; or
  2. The MIFA Executive Director and two members of the Forensic Council may decide to cancel a tournament because of inclement weather up to eighteen hours prior to the time for the tournament registration. The decision to cancel the tournament will be determined, in part, on the basis of AAA weather advisories and State Police reports. In case of a cancellation in this time period, the Forensic Council and/or the tournament director will notify each school of the cancellation by telephone. Each school will assume the responsibility to notify the appropriate director of the speech activity of the cancellation.
  3. If either of the preceding conditions is in effect, an alternative tournament will be conducted. Otherwise, unless conditions develop, it should be assumed that a particular tournament will be held as scheduled.