GFCA State Bid List

The Georgia Forensic Coaches’ Association has posted a list of teams that have already recieved a bid to the State Tournament. The link is : http://thegfca.org/state/. Teams qualify for state either through getting to the Semifinals of a state tournament or being in the top four teams of the Area Tournament. All teams must go to at least two tournaments in-state together as a prequisite to qualify.

The tournament is scheduled for March 25-26, 2011.

GFCA rejects proposed bylaws on the State Tournament 8-10; approves other proposed sections

Update: The GFCA website has updated the tallies. It now reads 8 to 10 on the rejected section. An even closer vote.

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The Georgia Forensic Coaches’ Association has rejected a series of proposed bylaws in regards to the organization of the State Tournament (i.e. Varsity State Championships) on a 7-10 vote. Three other sections were agreed to by about two-thirds of voting schools while the section on the organization of the GFCA itself was approved unanimously.

Nearly all objections to Bylaw 4.0 dealt with its policy on computer usage/paperless debate practices at the state tournament. Bylaw 4.41 was the specific provision here which some coaches felt “needs to be clarified”.  Specific concerns dealt with electronic transfers with evidence, requirements/responsibilities to provide evidence to opponents, and the practice of jumping speeches.

The GFCA will likely revise the Bylaw in the coming weeks and months.

As first reported here (on the official GFCA website): http://thegfca.org/2010/11/voting-results-on-the-by-laws/#more-826

Space and China are 2011 Topic Finalists

The National Federation of High Schools announced today that the finalists for the 2011-2012 policy debate topic are Space and China. The resolutions are as follows:

SPACE

Resolved: The United States federal government should substantially increase its exploration and/or development of space beyond the Earth’s mesosphere.

CHINA

Resolved: The United States federal government should substantially increase its economic engagement with the People’s Republic of China on one or more of the following issues: trade, economy, environment.

GFCA set to impose policy on paperless debating

Important Georgia Forensic Coaches Association decision is coming up on paperless policies. The link to the full by-law proposal is below. Below that though, is proposed bylaw 4.41, which is the most interesting:

http://thegfca.org/2010/10/the-by-laws/

Rule 4.41

Contestants choosing to use laptop computers and related equipment accept the risk of equipment failure.

Judges and/or contest directors will give no special consideration or accommodation, including no additional speech time or prep time, should equipment failure occur.

NDCA Open Evidence Website

Here is the link to the NDCA Open Evidence Website:

http://www.debatecoaches.org/page/open-evidence-project

Its purpose is to proliferate camp files to schools across the country so that the start of the topic can have a strong foundation. The shape and form of the topic is roughly designed over the Summer and smoothed out through the first few months of competition.

2011 Topic Finalists

The final list of topic candidates for the 2011-2012 season is as follows:

1. Cyber Warfare: The United States federal government should establish rules of engagement governing its use of cyber warfare.

2. Southeast Asia: The United States federal government should substantially increase its development assistance to Southeast Asia.

3. Space: The United States federal government should substantially increase its exploration and/or development of space beyond the Earth’s mesosphere.

4. India: The United States federal government should substantially increase its cooperation with India in one or more of the following areas: civilian space programs, nuclear proliferation, trade.

5. China: The United States federal government should substantially increase its economic engagement with the People’s Republic of China on one or more of the following issues: trade, currency, environment.

This list will be voted on by schools throughout the country via the state and national debate organizations. The results will come out in the late Fall with the final two being on a separate ballot. Then in early January 2011, the final decision will be announced.