Dear PSCFA Community,

Welcome to the 2025-2026 forensics season! It is time to get the competition year started at the PSCFA Warm-up at El Camino College on Saturday 27th and Sunday the 28th. The tournament will be HQ out of the Social Science building instead of the Music building this year. Parking permits have been reinstated for $3 per day paid in cash at kiosks but you may park in staff lots. 

There are numerous reasons why your team should choose the Warm-Up to start off the competitive year. First, the Warm-Up is a great way to introduce students who are new to competitive collegiate forensics to the activity in a relaxed environment. It also allows returning students to ease into the new year. Second, it is a wonderful way to catch up with all of your forensics colleagues and meet coaches who are new to our region. Finally, it provides the opportunity to try out new topics and approaches to our activity.

Be sure to double check the invite after coaches conference for potential rule changes. 

KEY POINTS:

• Registration: Entries are due by Tuesday, September 23rd at 6:00 PM on the Forensics Tournament website.

• Judging: Each school must cover its judging commitment (you may only enter uncovered slots if prior tournament approval is granted). All judges must read and sign the PSCFA Judge’s handbook and complete the F.R.E.D. Certification each year. Any judges you wish to pay through the tournament need to be designated as ICC judges when you enter them.

• Direction: El Camino College’s address is 16007 Crenshaw Blvd. Torrance, CA 90506. The tournament headquarters and registration will be in the Social Science building.

• Parking: Attendees should park in Lots J or K (Closest to the Music and Social Science buildings). These are staff parking lots BUT you are allowed to park there on the weekend for free!

• Tournament Service: On Saturday, the 27th, we will offer four rounds of Open, Junior, and Novice NFA-LD, NPDA and IPDA debate. On Sunday, the 28th, we will offer two rounds of all PSCFA individual events for Open, Junior, and Novice competitors. Divisions may be collapsed due to lack of entries.

New Rules/Policies from the Coaches Conference:

• IE Sections & Judge Coverage: There will be up to 6 competitors in each section for IEs and 1 judge will cover 5 IE entries/slots.

• NPDA Flex Time: There will no longer be flex time in NPDA debate. The speaking times are listed under the event below. 

• NPDA Group Prep: There will no longer be group prep in NPDA debate. Students may only consult the internet and their partner in preparation time. Students may NOT consult coaches or peers other than their partners during prep time. 

• E-Flowing: With the exception of ADA accommodations, students are not allowed to use electronic devices during NPDA debate rounds. All materials used during the debate should be prepared on paper and students should only flow using paper.  

• Eligibility: New eligibility standards are as follows:

• Rookie: The rookie division is limited to students at their first forensics tournament.

• Novice: The novice division is limited to students in their first two semesters of forensics who have no prior competitive experience in speech/debate. Students who have prior competitive experience in speech and are competing in debate will be excluded and vice versa. 

• Junior: The junior division is limited to students in their first four semesters of forensics (prior forensics experience is ok).

• Open: The open division is open to all eligible students.

• BP: BP will no longer be offered as an event for competition. 

• Fun: PSCFA will be experimenting with incorporating fun activities during tournaments. Stay tuned for what we have planned for the Warm Up! 

• Appeals: All appeals must take place after the completion of a round, which includes the judge(s) submission of ballots.

We look forward to seeing you at PSCFA Warm-Up! For questions, please contact:

Steven Suarez, Irvine Valley College  

Email: ssuarez@ivc.edu | Phone/Text: 805.405.9287