NEBRASKA SCHOOL ACTIVITIES ASSOCIATION
8230 Beechwood Drive, P. O. Box 5447
Lincoln, Nebraska 68505
http:\\www.nsaahome.org
This DEBATE MANUAL has been prepared and designed to provide general information in the
administration of NSAA debate competition. The sections of the Nebraska School Activities Association
Bylaws and Approved Rulings related to this activity are included in this Manual. Supplementary
information will be included in the NSAA Bulletin. The regulations in this Manual shall be considered
official unless schools are notified of a change.
All activity directors and debate sponsors are urged to read this Manual carefully. Jennifer Schwartz,
Assistant Director, is the NSAA staff member assigned to this activity. If schools have questions
regarding this activity, they should be directed to her. She can be reached at (402)489-0386,
fax (402)-489-0934 or e-mail [email protected].
The deadline dates throughout this Manual and on the NSAA wall calendar should be noted carefully. It
is the responsibility of each school to see that all information is properly submitted.
Key Dates
Date of First Contest Policy/Lincoln-Douglas: Week 18, Friday, November 7, 2008
Debate On-Line Eligibility/Participation Due: Week 18, Friday, November 7, 2008
State Entries Due: Week 35, Monday, March 2, 2009
State Meet, Lincoln-Douglas: Week 37, March 20, 2009
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Table of Contents
KEY DATES ......................................................................................................................................... 1
NSAA BYLAWS GOVERNING DEBATE ......................................................................................... 3-4
LINCOLN-DOUGLAS DEBATE GENERAL GUIDELINES.................................................................. 5
Format ............................................................................................................................................ 5
Time................................................................................................................................................ 5
LINCOLN-DOUGLAS DEBATE STATE CONTEST............................................................................ 5
Entries............................................................................................................................................. 5
Failure to Compete ......................................................................................................................... 6
Eligibility.......................................................................................................................................... 6
Random Pairings ............................................................................................................................ 6
Competition Schedule .................................................................................................................... 6
State Contest Site........................................................................................................................... 6
Schedule of State Contest.............................................................................................................. 6
Assigning Judges to Rounds.......................................................................................................... 6
Flowing ........................................................................................................................................... 6
Prep Time ....................................................................................................................................... 7
Oral Critiques.................................................................................................................................. 7
Conduct of Coaches ....................................................................................................................... 7
Conduct of Debaters....................................................................................................................... 7
Observers ....................................................................................................................................... 7
State Debate Awards...................................................................................................................... 7
LINCOLN-DOUGLAS STATE CHAMPIONSHIP JUDGES’ GUIDELINES ......................................... 7
Judges ............................................................................................................................................ 7
Contract .......................................................................................................................................... 7
Judges’ Fees .................................................................................................................................. 8
Expenses........................................................................................................................................ 8
Dress Code..................................................................................................................................... 8
Constraints...................................................................................................................................... 8
Judges Expectations ...................................................................................................................... 8
Decisions ........................................................................................................................................ 8
REGISTERED DEBATE SCHOOLS ................................................................................................... 8
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NSAA Bylaws Governing Debate
A complete listing of NSAA bylaws and approved rulings may be found on the NSAA website.
4.1.1
4.2.1
4.3
4.3.1
4.3.1.1
4.3.2
4.3.1.2
4.3.2.1
4.3.2.2
4.3.3
4.4
4.4.1
4.4.2
4.5
4.5.1
4.5.2
4.5.3
4.5.4
4.5.5
4.5.6
The objective of this activity shall be the promotion of the science of argumentation and the art of debate among
the students of the secondary schools of Nebraska.
Debate activities shall be defined to include all interscholastic cross-examination format competition and
Lincoln–Douglas format competition.
ELIGIBILITY
Student Eligibility. In order for students to participate in varsity competition, they must meet the eligibility
requirements established for all activities. (Article 2) (Note: Participation for remuneration does not constitute
ineligibility.)
Each school shall certify the eligibility of all students in debate prior to interschool participation in the activity on a
form provided by the Association for certification of students in all activities. (Note: This process is now online,
see Page 6.)
Participation Limited to School. During the debate season, a student shall not participate in any debate
competition other than as a representative of his/her school. An exception is made for students participating in
the National Speech Tournament and in competition sponsored by governmental agencies or organizations
such as civic and service clubs.
In order to participate in a sub-district, district or state contest in a particular activity, a student is required to have
been a member of a school’s team or group in that particular activity for at least twenty school days prior to the
first day of the sub-district, district or state competition. An exception to this requirement would be if a student
was unable to be a member of a school’s team or group due to injury, illness or transfers from another school.
To determined if a school is in violation or permitting students to participate in unauthorized debate competition,
the following factors will be considered:
(a) Did the coach or sponsor of the debate team or organization enter the individuals in the competition?
(b) Were school funds used to pay entry fees or any expenses for the individual students?
(c) Were school-purchased equipment or materials used by the student?
(d) Were the individual students under the supervision of the school while traveling to and from the site of
such competition and/or during the competition?
(e) Did the individual student actually debate, speak or in any way perform in the debate competition?
(f) Was the school name or a name which might be interpreted as a school name used?
A school in violation shall be subject to a penalty as set forth in Section 2.11 NSAA Bylaws.
Supervision. The sponsor, coach, or an authorized faculty member must accompany the team or individual(s)
in all interschool competition.
SANCTIONING OF DEBATE COMPETITION
Intrastate Competition. Debate tournaments involving only Nebraska high schools do not require a sanction.
Interstate Competition. Members of the NSAA may participate in debate tournaments at an out-of-state school
provided the host school has complied with the rules and regulations of its own State Association and the
accreditation regulations of the North Central Association. Sanctions must be granted by the Activities
Association of the host state or the National Association of Secondary School Principals. (Refer to Article 1.8,
NSAA Constitution for sanctioning procedure.)
SEASON AND PARTICIPATION LIMITIATIONS
Length of Season. The debate season is defined as the period of time from Friday immediately preceding the
first Saturday in November and including the State Lincoln-Douglas Debate Tournament.
First Date of Competition. No school may participate in any interscholastic debate tournament held prior to the
Friday immediately preceding the first Saturday in November.
End of Season. The debate season shall end with the State Lincoln-Douglas Tournament, which shall be held
no later than the last week in March. No schools may participate in debate tournaments after this date, with the
exception of the National Speech Tournament.
One Contest Per Week. Participation in interscholastic debate competition by any high school student shall be
limited to one meet per calendar week (Monday through Saturday), with a maximum of twelve (12) meets in
addition to the state sponsored series of tournaments from the date of the first permitted contest to the close of
the State Debate Tournament.
Days Competition Permitted. Schools shall compete in debate tournaments on Friday and Saturday only.
There shall be no interscholastic debate competition on Sunday.
December Moratorium. Each school year there will be five consecutive days in December where there shall
be no practice or interschool competition by individuals or teams in any debate activity. The specific dates of
each five-day period will be set by the Board of Control three years in advance.
2008 December 24, 25, 26, 27, 28
2009 December 23, 24, 25, 26, 27
2010 December 22, 23, 24, 25, 26
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4.6
4.6.1
4.6.2
4.6.3
4.6.4
4.7
4.7.1
4.7.1.1
4.7.1.2
4.7.2
4.8
4.8.1
4.8.2
4.8.3
4.9
4.9.1
4.9.2
2.15
STATE TOURNAMENT
Director. The Executive Director of the Nebraska School Activities Association shall appoint a tournament
director to conduct a State Lincoln-Douglas Debate Tournament. The tournament shall have full authority to
organize and conduct the tournament under his/her jurisdiction.
District Competition. In addition to the State Tournament, district debate tournaments may be conducted by,
and at the option of, the District Managing Committees.
Event. Competition in the State Debate Tournament will be offered in the Lincoln-Douglas format.
Lincoln-Douglas. Competition involves two debaters, one from each high school. One speaker shall take the
affirmative and the other speaker the negative. The speakers shall debate a question of value.
TIME AND ORDER OF SPEAKERS
Cross-Examination Format. The sequence of speakers for cross-examination shall be as follows:
First Affirmative Constructive--8 minutes.
Cross-Examination of First Affirmative Constructive by one of the Negative team members--3 minutes.
First Negative Constructive--8 minutes.
Cross-Examination of First Negative Constructive by one of the Affirmative team members--3 minutes.
Second Affirmative Constructive--8 minutes.
Cross-Examination of Second Affirmative Constructive by other Negative team members --3 minutes.
Second Negative Constructive--8 minutes.
Cross-Examination of Second Negative Constructive by other Affirmative team members -- 3 minutes.
First Negative Rebuttal--5 minutes.
First Affirmative Rebuttal--5 minutes.
Second Negative Rebuttal--5 minutes.
Second Affirmative Rebuttal--5 minutes.
Time shall not be taken out for applause, but shall be for unavoidable interruptions.
Time shall be kept with time cards and timekeeper shall stand when time has elapsed and remain standing until
the debater ceases talking. The debater may complete a last sentence (with limitations) before retiring.
2008-09 TOPIC: Alternative Energy. Resolved: The United States federal government should
substantially increase alternative energy incentives in the United States.
Lincoln-Douglas Format. The following format shall be used for Lincoln-Douglas Debate:
Six-minute Affirmative constructive speech.
Three-minute Negative cross-examination period.
Seven-minute Negative constructive speech.
Three-minute Affirmative cross-examination period.
Four-minute Affirmative rebuttal
Six-minute Negative rebuttal.
Three-minute Affirmative rebuttal
CONDUCT OF PARTICIPANTS
Scouting. Scouting is not permitted.
Coaching. Debaters shall receive no coaching or signals from their coach or students from their school while
the debate is in progress.
Penalties. Judges are authorized to penalize debate teams for any unethical practices.
THE DEBATE QUESTION
Cross-Examination Question. The National Federation of State High School Association question shall be
used unless the majority of the schools registered for participation in debate with the Nebraska School
Activities Association decide by referendum to use some other question.
Lincoln-Douglas Question. The topic will be a question of value and will be the spring topic for that year
selected by the National Forensic League. The topic will be announced to all schools in early February.
Awards to Students and Schools.
No award of a utilitarian character shall be given, or be permitted to be given, by the schools of this Association
to any member of an interscholastic team.
Awards may be purchased and presented by the student’s parents in good faith, or purchased by the student
with money earned or secured through his/her efforts, and not with the intent in any instance of violating the
awards rule.
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LINCOLN-DOUGLAS DEBATE GENERAL GUIDELINES
Lincoln-Douglas debate (L-D) involves two debaters, one affirmative and one negative speaker,
debating a question of value or judgment.
Lincoln-Douglas debaters are encouraged to adopt a delivery speed and style that is readily
understandable by lay judges.
Lincoln-Douglas debate places greater emphasis on traditional oratorical and persuasive skills than it
does on quantity of arguments, amount of evidence, and fast delivery.
Format.
6 Minute Affirmative Constructive Speech
3 Minute Negative Cross-Examination Period
7 Minute Negative Constructive Speech
3 Minute Affirmative Cross-Examination Period
4 Minute Affirmative Rebuttal
6 Minute Negative Rebuttal
3 Minute Affirmative Rebuttal
Time. Each student is allocated five minutes of preparation time, to be used at the discretion of the
student between speeches. After preparation time has expired, time will be deducted from speech time.
NSAA STATE LINCOLN-DOUGLAS DEBATE
CHAMPIONSHIP
Entries. Each school is responsible for entering its student(s) in the state Lincoln-Douglas Contest.
Entries are to be submitted online by March 2.
1. The Athletic/Activities director will give the certified coach the login passcode for this activity.
2. Go to the NSAA website (www.nsaahome.org) and click on “School Login.”
3. Click on “View/Edit your form” and this will take you to the Debate Entry Form.
4. A list of eligible debaters will appear.
5. Place a check next to the debaters you are entering. Schools may enter one or two debaters.
6. Enter the judge/coach information. If there are no constraints enter “none.”
7. You do not need to fax a copy of the entry form to the NSAA.
8. Changes to this form may be made up to the due date. After this, contact the NSAA.
NO LATE ENTRIES WILL BE ACCEPTED!
Substitution for debater after the tournament begins will be prohibited.
5
Failure to Compete. A school entering students in the State Debate Contest shall compete in all
rounds until eliminated. A school failing to compete will be subject to penalty by the NSAA Board of
Control.
Eligibility. All schools paying the NSAA registration fee for debate may enter eligible debaters.
Random Pairings. A school will not indicate which of their entries will be A or B. Upon receipt of
entries into the NSAA office, the NSAA will draw and assign the A or B designation to each entry.
Competition Schedule. There will be 5 preliminary rounds of competition.
Students qualify for elimination rounds on the basis of:
Total wins.
Total points.
Dropping high and low points.
Dropping the two lowest points.
Opposition record.
Standard NSAA brackets will be used and will not be broken to avoid two students from the same
school meeting.
Site: University of Nebraska-Kearney
Schedule of State Contest: Friday, March 20, 2009
7:30 am Registration/Welcome
8:00 am Round 1
9:00 am Round 2
10:00 am Round 3
11:00 am Round 4
12:00 pm Round 5
2:00 pm Quarterfinals
3:00 pm Semifinals
4:00 pm Finals
5:30 pm Awards Presentation
• Schedule includes travel time between rounds.
• Delay in arriving and starting a round on time will be deducted from a debater’s preparation time.
• A debater more than ten minutes late for a round will forfeit that round.
Assigning Judges to Rounds. When assigning judges to a round, a random assignment will be used
for the preliminary rounds. Preliminary rounds will use a single judge. Elimination rounds will use a
three-judge panel.
Flowing. Observers may flow any elimination round, however, no flowing will be allowed during
preliminary rounds.
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Prep Time. Before a round starts, a coach may meet with his/her debater for no more than five
minutes. This will be strictly enforced to keep the tournament moving.
Oral Critiques. Oral critiques will NOT be given at the State Contest. Judges are required to place
written comments on the ballots.
Conduct of Coaches. A school's coach shall be in attendance at the tournament site and
available to tournament personnel throughout the tournament.
Coaches shall conduct themselves as professionals at all times. Any unprofessional
conduct observed will be submitted in writing to that coach's administration
immediately following the tournament.
Conduct of Debaters. Scouting by a school to procure the arguments of another debater is prohibited.
Debaters may not receive coaching or signals from their coach or students from their school while the
debate is in progress. Judges should feel free to penalize a debater for unethical practice.
Observers. All elimination rounds are open to anyone who wishes to observe.
State Debate Awards. An awards ceremony will be held following the finals.
• Medals will be awarded to the champion and runner-up place finishers.
• An award will be given to the coach of the debater who wins the contest.
• Medals will also be awarded to the quarterfinalists and semifinalists.
• Team trophies will not be awarded because this tournament does not award team
points.
NSAA STATE LINCOLN-DOUGLAS CHAMPIONSHIP
JUDGES’ GUIDELINES
Judges. Each school is required to provide one judge with each Lincoln-Douglas entry. The first judge
listed will be the coach from the school submitting the entry. The school will indicate the judge’s name
and the judge’s constraints on the state online entry form. If there are no constraints indicate that as
“none.”
Contract. A contract in that judge's name will be sent to the judge or the school, which has submitted
that judge's name. The signed contract must be returned to the NSAA by the date specified on the
contract.
Judges provided will be a representative of the school that has provided that judges'
name. Any concerns that arise regarding that judge will be handled through that
school's administration. The judge shall be available to judge all preliminary rounds
plus one elimination round.
The NSAA has final approval of any judge submitted. In the event additional
judges are required for the state contest, the NSAA will work with the State
Contest Director in obtaining impartial judges.
7
A single judge will be used in preliminary rounds.
Panels of three judges each will be used in the elimination rounds.
Judges Fees. Judges will receive $10.00 per round.
Expenses. Judges are expected to travel with the participating school. Mileage will not be paid unless
pre-approved in writing by the NSAA.
Dress Code. Judge's dress code shall be appropriate. Non-appropriate attire includes jeans, shorts
and t-shirts.
Constraints. Once judging constraints have been recognized and judges assigned to a round, there
shall be no changes. Note: Judging constraints will be recognized if a judge affiliation to a school is two
years or less.
Judges Expectations. Judges are not to inform debaters of their expectations prior to
competition. If asked, the judge may express their paradigms. Judges are not to ask a
debater for their school affiliation.
Decisions. In reaching a decision, a judge should ask the following questions:
• Which debater was more persuasive?
• Which debater communicated more effectively?
• Did the debater support his/her position appropriately, using logical argumentation throughout and
evidence where necessary?
2008-2009 REGISTERED DEBATE SCHOOLS
Cross-Examination
Lincoln-Douglas
Bellevue East
Bellevue West
Blair
Elkhorn
Fremont
Grand Island
Hastings
Kearney
Lincoln East
Lincoln High
Lincoln North Star
Lincoln Northeast
Lincoln Pius X
Lincoln Southeast
Lincoln Southwest
Millard North
Millard South
Millard West
Norfolk
North Platte
Omaha Central
Omaha Skutt Catholic
Omaha Westside
Ord
Papillion-La Vista
Papillion-La Vista South
Ralston
Blair
Centura
Fremont
Hastings
Kearney
Lincoln East
Lincoln High
Lincoln North Star
Lincoln Northeast
Lincoln Southeast
Millard North
Millard South
Millard West
8
Norfolk
North Platte
Omaha Central
Omaha Westside
Papillion-La Vista
Papillion-La Vista South