The Gold Coast Swing – NPDA & BP

Lynn University – Fall 2024 in person

On behalf of the Lynn University Debate Team, we are pleased to invite you to participate in the Fall 2024 Gold Coast Swing Tournament on November 9 - 10, 2024. Competition is held at Lynn University’s campus in Boca Raton, Florida. On Saturday we will have four rounds of NPDA preliminary competition followed by semifinals and finals. On Sunday we will have four rounds of preliminary BP competition and finals.  Teams may participate in one or both days of competition. 

Deadline for entry:  Tuesday, November 5 at 5:00 pm.  Please enter through forensicstournament.net/goldcoast/24

ALL TIMES LISTED IN U.S. EASTERN TIME

NPDA Schedule

Saturday, November 9 (Assaf Building): 

8:30 – 8:50 am Check-In / Light Breakfast (provided by Lynn University) 

8:50am Welcome and 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 Lynn 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, November 10 (Assaf Building): 

8:30 – 8:50 am Check-In / Light Breakfast (provided by Lynn University)

8:50am Welcome and 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 Lynn 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 

Logistics for both days: 

• Lynn students will be eligible to compete and win awards. 

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

• On both days, a light breakfast, a full lunch, and snacks are provided by Lynn University College of Arts and Sciences.  Please email with any dietary restrictions so we can make appropriate accommodations. 

Details for NPDA (Saturday):

• NPDA Rules will be followed, with Points of Order at judge discretion (competitors should ask their judge before the round).  Per NPDA rules, rounds have flex time. Refer to https://www.parlidebate.org/npda-rules.
  
  

• 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 open division; speaker awards will be given to the top three competitors in novice. Novices are eligible to receive open speaker awards.  If registration is sufficient, there will be a separate novice division with their own awards.

• In the interests of scoring consistency, judges are asked to score NPDA on a scale of 25 – 30 points. Keeping to this standard will ensure fair speaker rankings across judges.
  
  

• We request that competing schools commit one judge for every two teams they enter (rounding up).  Student run or uncovered teams may still be accommodated on a first come, first served basis. Please email to check (rhamm@lynn.edu).

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; speaker awards will be given to the top three competitors in novice. Novices are eligible to receive open speaker awards. 

• In the interests of scoring consistency, judges are asked to score BP on a scale of 70 – 80 points. Keeping to this standard will ensure fair speaker rankings across judges.  There are no “low point wins” in BP. 

• Topic areas will not be announced before the tournament, though for more esoteric resolutions an informational slide will precede the resolution. 

• 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.  Uncovered teams may still be accommodated on a first come, first served basis. Please email to check (rhamm@lynn.edu). 

As always, there is NO REGISTRATION FEE for attending Lynn tournaments to encourage inclusive, accessible, and educational Florida debate opportunities. 

We look forward to seeing you! 

Eric Hamm

Associate Professor

College of Arts and Sciences 

Director of Forensics

Lynn University

Boca Raton, FL 33431 

T: +1 561-237-7617

RHamm@lynn.edu

+1 561-237-7000 | lynn.edu

Kate Hamm

Assistant Professor

College of Arts and Sciences 

Assistant Director of Forensics

Lynn University

Boca Raton, FL 33431 

T: +1 561-237-7726

KHamm@lynn.edu

+1 561-237-7000 | lynn.edu