RULES
Event Guides
Our event guides are now updated for October 2024! Please recycle all previous versions!
Rules Update Fall 2023:
Storytelling Websites:
The rules committee interprets that storytelling websites (e.g. The Moth) fall under the definition of Prose.
Social Media:
In a similar vein, the rules committee believes social media sites are published in accordance with the standards laid out in the tournament manual. If a competitor can prove that material was published (even temporarily) via a social media platform, then it is permissible to use as a published work.
The following changes were added to the tournament manual following the Fall Coaches’ Conference:
DEBATE:
Submissions for Legislation must be submitted to the COO by December 1st (updated from January 1st)
The State Tournament Congressional Docket will now be posted to the website by January 3rd
Congress Committee will submit 10-15 pieces of legislation to COO by Sept 1st & Nov 1st
Congress Docket will be published by Sept 5th & Nov 5th
Legislation may now come from simply “any credible sources”
World Schools Committee will submit 7-10 pieces of legislation to COO by Sept & Nov 1st
WSD Docket will be published by Sept & Nov 5th
SPEECH:
At Sectionals, an event must have 24 entries before needings a Semifinal round, this was changed from the previous threshold of 17 in previous year.
The following language was added to include both Declamation and all Interp Events:
For non-English print material that a competitor will perform in English, the original source material in its original language must be publicly accessible. Competitors must present an official English translation to be used in the case of a protest. An official translation must be obtained in one of two ways: a. An official translation is obtained through the original source’s producer, licensing agent, or copyright holder. b. Or, an official translation is obtained through a translation service which uses non-automated, manual translation. Then, the competitor receives approval to perform the translation by the original source’s producer, licensing agent, or copyright holder.
Extemp Source Material should be provided with citation and available upon request
Extemp speeches may be written on electronic devices during prep
Cell Phones are acceptable for internet research during extemp prep
Statement on the use of Generative AI:
Generative artificial intelligence should not be cited as a source; while something like ChatGPT may be used to guide students to articles, ideas, and sources, the original source of any quoted or paraphrased evidence must be available if requested. Students are prohibited from quoting or paraphrasing text directly from generative AI sources like ChatGPT in events in which speeches must be the original created work of a competitor.
Tournament Manual Changes - ISSDA State Debate 1-7-23
Laptop Use in all debate events except for World Schools Debate:
Wireless internet connections and use of the internet are permitted during rounds.
Communication with outside sources such as coaches, teammates, etc. is not permitted.
World Schools Debate Order of Motions:
Below is the new order of motions:
Round 1 Prelims-Prepared Motion
Round 2 Prelims Prepared Motion
Round 3 Prelims Impromptu Motion
Octofinal- Prepared Motion
Quarterfinal-Prepared Motion
Semifinal-Impromptu Motion
Final Round-Prepared Motion
A team’s failure to show up on time to the designated location for the impromptu round will result in less time of preparation for their impromptu round.
Ballot Release:
Preliminary round ballots will be released electronically to coaches at the conclusion of round 3.
At the conclusion of the semifinal round, elimination round ballots will be released electronically to coaches.
Final results and all ballots will be released to both coaches and contestants at the conclusion of the tournament.
State Debate Awards:
Policy Debate
Traveling Trophy: A traveling trophy is awarded to the first place policy debate team in the state. It is the responsibility of the winning team to attach the next plaque and return the trophy in good condition at the following year’s state tournament.
The First Place Team will receive trophies.
Second place and Semifinal teams will receive medals.
Non-advancing Quarterfinal and Octofinal teams will receive ribbons.
Congressional Debate:
The top Senator will receive a trophy.
The Second and Third place senators will receive medals.
The top 8 senators will receive ranked ribbons. All other finalists will receive a finalist ribbon.
The President of the Senate (Presiding Officer) will receive an official gavel and plaque.
Presiding Officer Plaque will be presented to the Presiding Officer voted as best in each Semi-Final round as well as the Final round.
The non-advancing Speakers of the House will receive gavels.
All non-advancing Semifinalists will receive ribbons.
Presiding Officers will be chosen by the competitors within the individual chambers at the State Tournament.
Lincoln-Douglas/Public Forum/World Schools Debate
The first place debater/team will receive trophies.
The second place and semifinalist debaters/teams will receive medals.
Non-advancing Quarterfinalists and Octofinalists will receive ribbons.
If any protest or challenge is unsuccessful, the entry initiating the protest will automatically forfeit the round. If that entry had won the round, the decision will be reversed and entered instead as a forfeit.
Welcome Back Declamation!
DECLAMATION RULES
These speeches are orations or excerpts of orations that have been publicly delivered at some time and place by their authors, who may or may not be expert speakers. The coach must be able to prove that the oration was given for the purpose of public address to an audience. Public address does not include poetry readings, singing performances, storytelling events, standup comedy routines, or speeches given in fictional works.
Examples of LEGAL pieces:
Commencement Addresses (e.g. John Kennedy @ American University)
TED Talks (e.g. Do Schools Kill Creativity; Sir Ken Robinson)
GOP/DNC addresses (e.g. Barack Obama @ the 2004 DNC)
Examples of ILLEGAL PIECES:
TED Talks recognized as poetry (e.g. To This Day; Shane Koyczan)
Speeches From Fiction (e.g. Always Be Closing speech; from Glengerry Glen Ross)
Moth Readings or Button Poetry
The full list of rules is available on page 42 of the Tournament Manual.
If you have any questions about the eligibility of a piece, please contact our Rules Committee Chair at cchenowith@ihsfa.org
Summer 2022 - Revisions
The ISSDA Board voted to allow Extemp students to double in all events with the exception of Broadcasting, Discussion, and the other Extemp. Extemp competitors now have the opportunity to compete in an additional seven events (i.e. Interp).
Jan. 2022 Revisions
The following rules will now apply as we enter Speech Sectionals and State:
1. Extemp competitors are now permitted to use the internet during their prep. Students may NOT use the internet to communicate or collaborate with others during their prep time as all other rules regarding Extemp still apply. (X.C.4)
2. Sectional Tournament directors are encouraged to use e-ballots at Sectional tournaments if possible. (VII.D.12.d)
3. The State Speech tournament will use e-balloting for the entirety of the tournament. (VII.E.4.e)
Tournament Manual Updates for 2021-2022 Season
Sectional Entry Cap Adjusted to 36 Entries
After much discussion, the board voted to adjust the entry cap at Sectionals from forty to thirty-six entries. This will hopefully help close the gap between larger and smaller programs during the postseason. Further, this will prevent larger programs from packing events that typically draw fewer competitors. This change was added to the tournament manual over the weekend of our Coaches’ Conference and will be in effect during the 2022 Sectional Tournament.
Interp Rules
Multiple rules have been contracted into fewer and more easily understandable bullet points. A focus is also added in clarifying:
A single poem may be used in DRAMA, HUMOR, and DUO; multiple poems may still be used in POI and POETRY
There are now clearer rules concerning the introduction of pieces. If a competitor has multiple poems by the same author, you only need to mention the author once after naming the collection of works.
Maintaining a theme in POETRY and judging OP based on theme/writing are not rules, but judge guidelines.
Congress
Judges will now be replaced in the preliminary rounds of Congress at State Debate
Judge Strike List (also known as the Judge Scratch List)
At State Debate a Judge Strike List will no longer be offered
Virtual Rules Summary for Coaches, Judges, and Competitors:
This document is not a full summary of the rules, but a guide to major rules that have been created or retained for the Virtual State Speech Tournament. For the definitive manual regarding the updated rules, please consult the Virtual Rules on the IHSFA Website. These are also available in Appendix D of the Tournament Manual.
Event Guidelines:
1. Broadcasting will not permit the use of electronically generated sounds.
2. Discussion IS allowing microphones to remain ON during rounds. Discussion competitors may consult the internet during rounds.
3. Duos (as well as OP Duos) must perform from separate cameras. Masks are NOT required. Consult the IHSFA website for a tutorial video.
4. Impromptu must remain on screen during prep time. This will ensure that competitors are NOT using the internet.
5. Extemporaneous competitors may use the internet during their prep time.
6. No special video effects are permitted. Backgrounds should maintain a professional tone.
7. Observers are NOT permitted in the virtual rooms. Physical observers are permitted, but must not be visible, audible, or offering any aid during performances.
Maintained Rules to Keep in Mind
*While these are not in the Virtual Rules, they are retained from the Tournament Manual
1. Recording of performances is not permitted by any means.
2. A student may not use material from the same source in more than one year or in more than one event.
3. Even though Informative students are using internet enabled devices in order to perform virtually, the use of any other electronic devices is still prohibited.
4. If at any time you are uncertain about the rules for this season, please consult Tab Staff before implementing them or using them to inform scoring.
January 2021 Update Summary:
Judge Descriptions:
The Tournament Manual now provides explicit definitions of A, B, and C judges. These can be found in I.C.14 of the Tournament Manual.
Public Forum Debate Prep Time
Prep time has been extended from 2 minutes to 3 minutes. This change has been applied in III.C.7
Programmed Oral Interpretation (POI)
Language has been added to clarify introduction of selections. This is more aligned with what NSDA is doing with regard to news articles. So, instead of giving the title and name of the reporter for an article, the student would say an article from NY Times. This update was added as X.F.5.a & X.F.5.b
Virtual Rules
Virtual Debate Rules are now listed in Appendix D
Virtual Speech Rules are now listed in Appendix D