Fire Debate Tournament - NPDA & BP - Southeastern University - Fall 2023 In Person

On behalf of the Southeastern University Debate Team, we invite you to participate in the Fall 2023 Fire Debate Tournament on September 23-24, 2023. The competition will be held at the Southeastern University main campus location in Lakeland, Florida. On Saturday, we will have four preliminary rounds of NPDA followed by semifinals and finals. On Sunday, we will have four preliminary rounds of BP followed by finals. Teams may participate in one or both days of competition. We look forward to kicking off a great year of competition and eagerly invite you to join us!

Deadline for entry: Tuesday, September 19 at 5:00 pm. Please enter through

https://forensicstournament.net/fire/23 (include novice designation for students in their first competitive year in any style of collegiate debate).

NPDA Schedule

Saturday, September 23rd (Buena Vida East):

8:30 – 8:50 am Check-In

8:50 am Welcome & Announcements

9:00 am Round 1 NPDA Topic Announce

9:20 am Round 1 NPDA

10:35 am Round 2 NPDA Topic Announce

10:55 am Round 2 NPDA

12:05 – 12:40 pm Lunch (provided by Southeastern University)

12:40 pm Round 3 NPDA Topic Announce

1:00 pm Round 3 NPDA

2:15 pm Round 4 NPDA Topic Announce

2:35 pm Round 4 NPDA

3:50 pm Semi-Finals NPDA Topic Announce

4:10 pm Semi-Finals NPDA

5:20 pm Awards

5:40 pm Finals NPDA Topic Announce

6:00 pm Finals NPDA

BP Schedule

Sunday, September 24th (Buena Vida East):

8:30 – 8:50 am Check-In

8:50 am Welcome & Announcements

9:00 am Round 1 BP Topic Announce

9:20 am Round 1 BP

11:00 am Round 2 BP Topic Announce

11:20 am Round 2 BP

1:00 – 1:45 pm Lunch (provided by Southeastern University)

1:45 pm Round 3 BP Topic Announce

2:05 pm Round 3 BP

4:05 pm Round 4 BP Topic Announce

4:25 pm Round 4 BP

6:05 pm Awards

6:35 pm Finals BP Topic Announce

6:55 pm Finals BP

Tournament Details

• Southeastern University students will be eligible to compete and win awards.

• Many of the rounds may be “lay” rounds where the judges are members of the Southeastern University faculty or staff, depending on judge coverage from participating schools. SEU students may be judged by SEU faculty, though SEU debate coaches will not judge SEU debaters.

• Lunch will be provided by SEU on both competition days. Please email sedalton@seu.edu with any dietary restrictions so we can accommodate all.

• NO REGISTRATION FEE

Details for NPDA (Saturday):

•  NPDA rules will be followed, with Points of Order at the judge's discretion

(Competitors should ask their judge before the round). Per NPDA rules, 

rounds have flex time.

• There will be three rounds of policy and one value or metaphor in preliminary rounds.

• Awards will be given to competitors advancing to elimination rounds. Speaker awards will be given to the top five competitors in the open division and speaker awards will be given to the top three competitors in the novice division. Novices are eligible to receive open speaker awards as well.

• Speaker points will be scored on a scale of 25-30 for NPDA rounds to ensure consistency among judges for tabulation and ranking purposes.

• We request that for every two teams a school provides, they provide one judge as well. Accommodations may be made for student-run or uncovered teams. Please email sedalton@seu.edu regarding this matter if applicable.

Details for BP (Sunday):

• Awards will be given to competitors advancing to finals. Speaker awards will be given to the top five competitors in open division and speaker awards will be given to the top three competitors in the novice division. Novices are also eligible to receive open speaker awards.

• Speaker points will be scored on a scale of 70-80 points for BP rounds to ensure consistency among judges for tabulation and ranking purposes. There are no “low point wins” in BP.

• Topic areas will not be announced prior to the tournament, however, an informational slide may be provided to accompany a resolution on an as-needed basis.

• We ask that competing schools bring a minimum of one judge and additional judges according to the n-1 team formula (1 judge covers the first two teams; 2 judges for three teams; 3 judges for four teams). In BP debate, experienced students can serve as judges. If you have four teams and no judges, instead, bring three teams and have the other two students judge. Because of the collaborative nature of judging, it can be a great way to gain experience. Accommodations may be made for student-run or uncovered teams. Please email sedalton@seu.edu regarding this matter if applicable.

We look forward to seeing you!

Serena Dalton

SEU Debate Team President

Student Government Association Chief Justice

Legal Studies Major & Creative Writing Minor

P (816) 868-3153

E sedalton@seu.edu

Southeastern University
1000 Longfellow Blvd.
Lakeland, Florida 33801-6034