2009 Home School Tournament Debate

 

 

Dear Debaters, Parents, and Coaches,

 

We are pleased to invite you to participate in the fourth annual Liberty National Home School Open Debate Tournament on January 9-10, 2009 at Liberty University in Lynchburg, VA. This tournament is your chance to debate in front of highly qualified judges with years of debate experience. The tournament will have Lincoln-Douglas and Team Policy debate and is open to all home school teams. This tournament has no effect on NCFCA national qualifications, though we will employ NCFCA rules in administering the tournament and will use the 2008-09 NCFCA National topics.

 

The tournament will feature four preliminary rounds in both Team Policy and LD.  Additionally, we will clear half of each division, providing more teams a chance to debate in elimination rounds. Tournament entries must be received by January 6, 2009. Entries after that date are subject to campus room availability. We have secured discounted rates at three area hotels. These rates are subject to availability, so we encourage you to make your reservations early.

 

Fees will be $20.00 per competitor in both Team Policy and Lincoln-Douglas.  Fees should be paid by cash or check at registration on the first day of the tournament. You do not need to send money at the time of your entry. We will provide awards, lunch on Saturday, and extensive snacks in our hospitality room. 

 

We are pleased to be offering a tournament for the home school debate community. We look forward to having you participate in this year’s tournament. If you have any questions, please call Bessie Grayson at (434) 582-2080.

  

Sincerely,

 

 

 

Michael Hall                John Nagy          Heather Hall    Garrett Halydier      Nick Ryan

Director of Debate      Asst. Director     Asst. Coach     Asst. Coach             Asst. Coach

 

Format: The debate topics for the tournament will be the 2008-2009 NCFCA topics in Team Policy and LD.

 

Time limits for policy speeches are 8-3-5 with 5 minutes of preparation time. Lincoln-Douglas will follow the standard LD times with 3 minutes of preparation time. There will be four preliminary rounds. Rounds one and two will be pre-set. Rounds three and four will be power matched. Both Team Policy and LD will be offered. We will break half of each division to elimination rounds. Debaters/teams from the same club will not debate each other in prelims unless it is absolutely necessary to pair the round. In elims, debaters/teams from the same club may debate.

 

Eligibility for participation in each division is governed by the NCFCA rules.

 

Entries: Please e-mail your entries by January 6, 2009 to Bessie Grayson at ludebate@liberty.edu.   Entries after this date are subject to campus room availability. Enter early as our room space may be limited. Be sure to phone or e-mail any last minute changes. Mrs. Grayson can be reached by phone at (434) 582-2080. Debaters dropped after January 6, 2009 at noon will still be assessed the entry fee.

 

Please provide the following information:

    Type of Debate (TP or LD)

    Name of Participant(s)

    Address

    Phone number

    E-mail

    Club Name (If Applicable)

    Name of Parents/Coaches

   

 

Awards: Permanent trophies will be awarded for the top eight teams in TP and LD and for the top ten speakers in TP and LD.

 

Fees: Entry fees are $20 per participant for both Team Policy and Lincoln-Douglas. Make checks payable to Liberty University Debate. Fees include trophies, lunch on Saturday and our famous hospitality room for all participants, coaches, and judges.

 

Dress Code: Debaters should dress in appropriate and modest professional attire according to the NCFCA dress code.

 

1.    The Kirkley Hotel (866-510-6333) is offering a rate of $69.00. Please mention you are attending the Liberty Home School Debate Tournament. If you have trouble making reservations, ask for Lori in group sales.

2.    The Days Inn (434-847-8655) is offering a rate of $67.45/night, including breakfast. Please mention that you are attending the Liberty Home School Debate Tournament and request the LU Discount Rate. Ask for Brian Knopp in group sales if you have problems.

3.    The Wingate Inn (434-845-1700) is offering a rate of 98.10/night, including breakfast. This hotel is practically on campus and is the most nicely appointed of the three hotels. Please mention that you are attending the Liberty Home School Debate Tournament and request the LU Discount Rate. Ask for Brian Knopp in group sales if you have problems.

 

Tournament Registration: Each debater must register individually in the DeMoss Hall Lobby (follow signs on campus) on Friday afternoon from 12:00 p.m.-1:30p.m. 

 

 Transportation Assistance: If you are flying to the tournament, you should make reservations for Lynchburg Regional Airport. Rental cars and vans are available.

 

Directions: To Liberty University: Liberty University is located on Candler’s Mountain Road in the Southeast corner of Lynchburg, Virginia. Major roads through Lynchburg going North and South include Interstate 29 and State Highway 501. Divided Highway 460 serves Lynchburg from the East and West. Signs mark campus exits on both Interstate 29 and 460.

 

 

TRAVELING 29 SOUTH CONTINUE STRAIGHT ON 29 SOUTH UNTIL YOU COME TO AMHERST COUNTY. TAKE THE MADISON HEIGHTS BUSINESS 29 SOUTH EXIT. AS YOU ENTER LYNCHBURG THE EXITS BEGIN AT #1. TAKE THE #7 EXIT FOR ODD FELLOWS ROAD.

 

 

TRAVELING 29 NORTH AFTER YOU PASS THE LYNCHBURG AIRPORT, TAKE THE 460 EAST APPOMATTOX/LIBERITY UNIVERISTY RAMP ON THE RIGHT. TRAVELING 460 EAST, TAKE THE SECOND CANDLERS MOUNTAIN ROAD/501 NORTH EXIT. AT THE STOP LIGHT, TURN RIGHT ON MAYFLOWER DRIVE. CONTINUE FOR APPROXIMATLEY 1 MILE AND AT THE STOP LIGHT TURN LEFT ON ODD FELLOWS ROAD. GO ½ MILE THE HOTEL IS ON THE LEFT

 

TRAVELING 460 WEST TAKE THE CANDLERS MOUNTAIN ROAD / 501 NORTH EXIT ON THE RIGHT HAND RAMP. AT THE STOP LIGHT TURN RIGHT ON MAYFLOWER DRIVE CONTINUE FOR APPROXIMATLEY 1 MILE AND AT THE STOP LIGHT TURN LEFT ON ODD FELLOWS ROAD. GO ½ MILE THE HOTEL IS ON THE LEFT

 

TRAVELING 460 EAST TAKE THE SECOND CANDLERS MOUNTAIN ROAD/501 NORTH EXIT. THIS IS A LEFT RAMP AT THE STOP LIGHT. TURN RIGHT ON MAYFLOWER DRIVE. CONTINUE FOR APPROXIMATLEY 1 MILE AND AT THE STOP LIGHT TURN LEFT ON ODD FELLOWS ROAD. GO ½ MILE THE HOTEL IS ON THE LEFT.

 

Public Transportation: Public transportation systems serving the Lynchburg area include USAir, Delta Airlines, and Greyhound bus line. Check with your local travel agency for schedules and rates.

 

 

TOURNAMENT SCHEDULE

 

  

Friday, January 9

 

        12:00 - 1:30 pm   Registration-DeMoss Hall Lobby

 

         2:00 pm              Pairings Released for Rounds 1 and 2

 

         2:30 pm              Round 1

 

         4:30 pm              Round 2

 

 

 

 

 

Saturday, January 10

 

         7:15 am              Pairings Released for Rounds 4 and 5

 

         8:00 am              Round 4

 

         10:00 am                        Round 5

 

         12:00 pm            Lunch (provided) 

 

         1:00 pm              Quarterfinals

 

         3:30 pm              Semifinals

 

         5:30 pm              Finals

 

 

Please note that no continental breakfasts are being provided at Liberty as the hotels offer breakfast. Coffee and tea will be available at Liberty in DeMoss Hall. Also, those who would like to eat dinner before the debates end on Friday, please feel free to pick up food and bring it back to campus. The debaters should have a enough time to eat a few bites between rounds 2 and 3. For those planning on eating after round 3, we will have a variety of healthy and not-so-healthy snacks available to help you make it to the end of the day.