Here is where you will find all about the Varsity State Policy Debate Tournament for 2011-2012.
It will be held at Petoskey High School on January 6 & 7, 2012. There are two divisions broken into "Tiers."
It is imperative you register your team as soon as possible so that we can configure the number of preliminary and elimination rounds for your division. You may register here.
Here is what the welcome speech will contain. If you see it ahead of time and act accordingly, it will be appreciated and will help keep us on track. Thanks in advance. 
 
Host comments
Principal comments
 
Welcome! Thanks to Tina DeMoore, our host for all her hard work, hotels, restaurants, facilities, etc. Thanks to principal for the use of this facility. Historic in that I don't believe we have ever been to Petoskey for a State Tournament before.
 
Thanks to Ruth Kay of DCDS and Kevin Weisner of Dexter for excellent work at Novice State.
 
Thanks this weekend to Ruth Kay and Debora Marsh of Dexter for tab work.
 
Remember TAB is closed, but postings will happen. (Last round after all byes are concluded.)
 
TIMING CHALLENGES: 
 
Thanks to all of you who met deadlines, even changing ones.
 
Others, we gotta get this together. Check the website daily as a tournament approaches. 
 
TIER 1-
Had a late yesterday drop. Hamilton.  Therefore 6 teams and yet another change in format. %debate round robin. Rd 1-4 sides assigned by computer. Rd 5 is flip in round. Finals only.
 
Remember all judges, even Tier 1 judges are committed through the beginning of all Final rounds.
 
TIER 2-
7 teams, no perfect way to do this. You will have 4 rounds in a "magic number" configuration based on the seeds we received through 7 pm yesterday. It was nearly consensus. 
Sides are set by computer.
Bye round for 4 teams, NO FLIP in Tier 2.
 
Semis and finals with 3 judges. All judges obligated through beginning of last final round.
 
Because four rounds is a small tournament, we will use a two judge per round format. Theoretically, this will reduce the impact of any poor decisions. Of course, if you think there are poor decisions, this also doubles the likelihood that you will get one.  JUDGES, DO NOT START A ROUND WITH ONLY ONE JUDGE. Do not critique debaters until BOTH judges have made their decisions. Bring ballots to the tab room as soon as possible. Then, if time permits, critique away. I get growly when critiques go on beyond end time for a debate.
 
Please note on paradigms, some are reporting that paradigms don't show up on themifa.wikispaces.com but that is only because they haven't been moved to the front page. Use the Search Wiki box with name of judge and you'll find it. 
 
We will distribute Rd I schematics only right now. The intent of the tournament is to distribute all rounds at once, but w/o paradigms from all judges we couldn't do preferences. Without preferences, we couldn't do judge pairings. 
 
COACHES, if you have ONE judge you want to keep away from your teams, let Deb marsh, Ruth Kay or myself know right away and we will do everything in our power to prevent that from happening in round one. Other than that, judging is being assigned randomly. Clearly you must make that known immediately. When the schematic comes out, we won't change judge assignments at that point. Write your school name and your "anti-preference" on a piece of paper and hand it to one of the tab staff. Thanks.
 
Students, have a great time. Your choice is excellent……
 
Students and coaches are free to leave the room.
 
JUDGES, PLEASE REMAIN HERE FOR A BRIEF MEETING AFTER THIS:
 
ALL JUDGES, I expect you to uphold the highest standards of professionalism. I do not expect you to use foul or otherwise inappropriate language. I expect all evaluations and oral comments to be positive and constructive. If I hear of rude, inappropriate or boorish behavior from judges I will remove you from the tournament and bill your representative schools for the rounds you miss. Please, stay professional.
 
If you don't have an accessible paradigm, we will not be able to assign you until you do.