Speech Activities (The "Rule Book")

In August 2018, the Forensic Council established a Rules Committee to update Speech Activities. The committee is comprised of various representatives of the existing event committees. The initial revisions are complete and posted below.
​If you have any questions please feel free to contact any of the reps listed below or MIFA staff. 
Rules Committee 
Chair: Ruth Kay, Detroit Country Day School
Debate: Ryan Nierman, WE Groves HS
IE: Katarina Moore, Mason County Central HS
Middle Level: Dan Jacobs, The Roeper School
Original: vacant
Theatre: Jackie Charneski, St. Johns HS

GENERAL POLICY

Changes for 2023-24

• addition of Artificial Intelligence policy for all events

General Policy 
​Policy on the Use of Artificial Intelligence

DEBATE EVENTS

Policy & Public Forum Changes for 2023-2024

• ​formal addition of "tech time" - 15 minutes to address tech issues 
• new protocol for BYE rounds

Congressional Changes for 2023-2024

• new tie breaker for Presiding Officers
• direct questioning will be used in all rounds
• formatting for legislation standardized to use NSDA template

Rules for Debate Events

• Legislative
• Policy
• Public Forum

Individual Events

Changes for 2022-2023

• Added two new events: Program Oral Interpretation (POI) to Interp and Duo Commentary to Limited Prep Public Address and related rules/ballots (ballots available on resources page soon)
• ​Removed “single selection” limitation from Dramatic Interpretation (pg 3)
• Removed memorization requirement from Storytelling (pg 4)
• Cast size for Multiple reduced from 3-8 to 3-5 (this is a non-restrictive year for Multiple genre)
• Several changes to advancement from Regionals to States detailed below
• Judges only need to be 1 year post high school to judge

Rules for High School Individual Events
Remember: All ballots are also art of SA Rules​ and can be found on the IE Resources page 

2022-23 IE Updates FAQ
2022-23 IE Updates Video
2022-23 IE Updates Presentation

Past Information:
- 2013-14: IE FAQs - currently under review

Middle School Level Debate

Changes for 2022-23

• Middle level debate will use the Sept/Oct topic for the MIFA December State tournament. Invitational tournaments may vary. Check with tournament directors. 

Rules for Middle Level Public Forum Debate - see Debate

Middle School Level Individual Events 

Changes for 2022-23​

• ​The fall middle level event will be feature a tournament and workshop offering. See the Fall Event page for more details. 
• Students may use the same piece in fall 2022 and spring 2023. 

Rules for Middle School Individual Events
All ballots are part of SA Rules​ and can be found on the Resources page

Middle School Level Theatre Festival

Changes for 2022-23

• ​See High School Theatre
• Middle School Theatre will target high school district event dates. More information forthcoming. 

Rules for Middle Level Theatre - see High School for 2020-21

Original Content Events

Changes for 2022-23

Rules for Discussion
​Rules for Original Poetry/Original Prose
Rules for Poetry Slam
​Rules for POI
Rules for 15-minute Play / Short Film

Theatre Festival Events

Changes for 2022-23 to Main Stage

• No changes. Just clarifications to bring rules in line with practice

Changes for 2022-23 to Studio Productions

• No changes. Just clarifications to bring rules in line with practice

​Rules for HS Theatre Events including:
Main Stage
​Studio Productions